Another great thriller from P J Tracy. This time a serial killer is on the loose, put that together with a missing girl, drug cartels, FBI agents and tornadoes and you have one brilliant story. Gino and Magozziare are at their best as are the rest of the monkeywrench team, it's also wonderful to see Grace gaining more inner peace. If you haven't read this series before this book is so good it could be a standalone, it will also make you want to read all the previous books.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book honestly.

Minneapolis has another serial killer for Gino and Magozzi to apprehend and this one shows no sign of ending his reign of terror. Leaving a playing card at the scene of every brutal murder, the detectives wonder whether his aim is to complete the deck. Meanwhile the Monkeewrench team have travelled to the countryside to help a father search for his daughter who has vanished without trace from the side of the road. When the two cases become entwined, it is a race against time to stop the killer before even more lives are ruined.

Nothing Stays Buried is the eighth book in the Monkeewrench series and is a very welcome addition. For the uninitiated, this series of books is based around a team of computer experts who have, in the course of their work, developed a program that has become vital to the police in aiding their investigations. This program, and the expertise of the team, is the reason they are on the trail of Marla, the missing woman. As in other books, detectives Magozzi and Gino are working closely alongside the Monkeewrench team and it is inevitable that their cases will eventually collide.

One of the things I like most about this series is that each book is so different and this one is certainly no exception. What looks like being a straightforward serial killer story was actually a multifaceted tale of murder, cartels and undercover investigations and I enjoyed how each of the plots linked together to provide a satisfying and suitable ending.

As in all of the books, the characterisation is brilliant and I loved the interaction between the Monkeewrench team. I also really liked the addition of Walt, the father of the missing woman and willed him to have some good news by the end of the book. Throughout the series, it has been particularly satisfying to see the development of Grace's character and I can't wait to see what any future installments bring.

I was saddened to read that this book was one of the last ones to be written by the mother and daughter team of P. J. Tracy due to the untimely death of P. J. Lambrecht and I hope that Traci can continue the series.

Okay. This was my first introduction to the Monkeewrench team and I can already tell you that this is a massive faux pas on my part. From the very beginning I was hooked into this story and I didn’t want to have to walk away. The book opens on the scene of a young woman who is driving to her father’s place for dinner. She never arrives and her disappearance devastates not just her father, but her whole community. When the local Sheriff calls in the Monkeewrench team to try and help locate her, the father’s honest reaction as to what has likely happened spurs them into taking the case, if only to provide closure. Meanwhile back in the city, Detectives Gino and Magozzi are on the trail of a serial killer targeting lone female joggers. The murders are brutal, the clues puzzling. The story … totally thrilling.

I don’t know quite what it was that drew me in to this book, but drawn in I was. The writing style was fluid and engaging, so very easy to read that although I was new to the team, new to the series, I very quickly felt as though I knew them. This book can be read as a standalone, it is a very self contained story, however there are clues as to a shady and dangerous past which make me want to go back and read the first seven books as soon as I can. I’ve been finding it hard to settle into book of late but this book seemed to be a turning point for me, a natural flow to it which pulled me along and had me on metaphorical edge of my seat as I waited to see quite what happened.

The pacing in this book ebbs and flows, sometimes fast and frenetic in pace, no more so than near the end when the heroes are racing against the clock to not only catch the killer, but also to avoid a heavy storm front which threatens to destroy more than just a few vacant buildings. There is also a moment when one of the key players in this story puts themselves in a position of jeopardy in order to draw out the evil. These moments are truly heart in the mouth moments, the authors managing to create a palpable tension through the writing. Then there are moments where the pace is less strained, where the Monkeewrench team are out in the country trying to piece together the facts behind Marla Gustafson’s disappearance. These scene’s feel authentic and the pace suits not only the melancholy and resignation of Marla’s father who has already lost so much in his life, but also the pace of life in the country.

I loved the characters in this story. Magozzi and Gino are a brilliant pairing and I loved the banter and camaraderie between them. Even McLaren made me smile, his personality shining through in spite of the serious nature of the case they were investigating. And the banter between the Monkeewrench crew was fun and light, and yet all seemed committed possessed of great skills from a tech perspective. A perfect bunch of misfits that just seem to fit with each other. I particularly loved the relationship between Grace and Magozzi, the way in which Grace’s impending motherhood is reflected in her thoughts and feelings about Marla’s case. I can’t say how this compares to her character before, only how it works in this novel and for me it seemed to fit.

And the killer? Well they were remorseless, determined, highly skilled and yet were still able to surprise. You can question if their motives were driven by nature or (lack of) nurture, but their feelings towards their victims were harsh and fuelled by a complete lack of respect which kind of makes the final scenes of the novel all the more surprising and even a little heartwarming. I don’t mind admitting that there was one particular bit which got me a little in the old tear ducts. And the vital clue – the one that brings everything together… Well that’s the most unusual of all. Completely crazy, completely implausible and unbelievable, and yet somehow it just fits.

I've been a fan of this crime writing partnership since their first title made the Richard and Judy book club in the U.K. way back when. So sad to read at the start of the novel that PJ has passed away but this new title does not disappoint. Great to catch up with the Monkeewrench crew again, and see how Grace is doing. What seems like a simple missing persons case, with Grace and her team sent to a farm in rural Minnesota, turns into something far more sinister. I was hooked from grisly start to teary finish. Great stuff!

I found this book to be extremely riveting so much so that I could not put it down. Would definitely recommend this book.

This was a cracking good read. Really descriptive and great storytelling

The Monkeewrench series is one that I followed in its early years and I was quite surprised when I saw how many books had now been published. I have only read a couple, so now I can add the books I’ve not read to all the other series’ I want to catch up on. Even though I was familiar with a couple of the characters, I really read this as a standalone novel without any problems with missing any back story.
Initially both teams are working different cases, but as the body count rises Gino and Magozzi realise that they are linked. They make contact with Grace and the others and head straight into a different type of danger on their way to join them. A tornado.
I’ve never a read series before where two different types of investigators have equal coverage in a novel. Whilst Monkeewrench dealt with technology they left the detecting to the police and they worked well together with a mutual respect. It looked like an established formula that was easy and interesting to read.
The main characters had strong personalities and all were believable. There were hang ups from some, and a few unexplained issues but I’m sure I will get to know them all very well when I read the earlier books. Both Annie and Roadrunner especially were very intriguing. Walt was a character that I adored. He is not a regular character, it is his daughter who has gone missing. Marla is all he has left in the world after his wife and son died a few years earlier. I was hoping that they could bring her home and he could get some happiness again. He coped beautifully with the arrival of Monkeewrench, many of who were a mixed bag of personalities. Probably nothing that a down to earth farmer had ever seen before.
The storyline concerning the tornado was just as intimidating as that of the killer. Living in the U.K we have no idea how powerful the weather can be in other parts of the world. The speed and the depth of the destruction left behind was frightening.
I am delighted that I have two books to giveaway today ( U.K. only) courtesy of the publishers Michael Joseph. I will pick two winners using a random number generator from blog shares and retweets of the pinned blog post on twitter. I will then pass the winners details on to Jenny Platt so she can send the books out. The competition will close at 12pm on Friday.

After recently rediscovering the Monkeewrench series with number 7 (Cold Kill), I was excited to see number 8 already available on net galley and jumped at the chance of reviewing it.
There are so many things that make this a great series: the bleak Minneapolis weather (last time it was snow, this time tornadoes) which make everything feel a little bit dark and dangerous; the clever plotting with plenty of twists, turns and red herrings; and the characters, all of whom I like and a few of whom I love.
In the love category go Magozzi and Gino, who have a brilliant partnership and friendship.  They slip easily between personal talk and police talk and know and care for each other.  They work well together, picking apart crime scenes and doggedly pursuing their killer (in this case, one who likes to cut up women and leaves playing cards in his wake – though thankfully never too gruesomely described, which can put me off).
Because this is a well developed series the play between Magozzi and Gino and Magozzi and Grace (his partner and also a member of Monkeewrench) feels so natural it’s like meeting up with old friends.  Nothing in their relationships feel forced and the dialogue seems to flow.  I fell easily into the book as a result and was a little disappointed to be leaving them all at the end.
Monkeewrench also adds another dimension with the use of the high-tec to help solve crimes (though never taking away from the police work).  The team are an interesting mix of people who add flavour to the plots with their quirks and tension as they often seem to be in the middle of the action vs. behind their computer screens.  I remember the first in this series and wondering how it would play out – afraid too many clues would be found online – but it works well and I like it.
Given that this is the eighth in the series, I know it might put some people off but you don’t have to have read any other books to read this one.  It can be read as a standalone and I think it would be enjoyed just as much because it is a really clever plot, with two seemingly completely separate crimes slowly being interwoven until it all makes perfect sense and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it in the first place.  I do love those “doh” moments as a reader!
And I did love this book.  It was a great read and highly recommended.

I have read all the books in the Monkeewrench series and this one doesn’t disappoint. This is the 8th book in the series but, can easily read as a standalone. The old team is back and Grace MacBride is pregnant with Leo Magozzi’s baby. They are both happy together and Leo has brought a house by the lake that Grace stays there a few days a week.
The team are assigned a missing persons case which a woman called Marla has disappeared for the last two months in the farming community In Minnesota and Detective Magozzi and Rolseth are investigating a serial killer who trademark is leaving playing cards when he kills the women. They soon discover after a while that both cases are linked by a Mexican drug cartel.
I really enjoyed this. I thought it was one of the best books in the series. It had everything you want in a crime novel it was suspenseful, it kept you engaged throughout, it was kind of creepy too when they described the character of the serial killer. The characters where well developed and I liked the relationship between Grace and Leo. I loved it. I highly recommend.
Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book for an honest review.

As a huge fan of the Monkeewrench books I was pleased to see that after a 6 year break that two books were released in reasonably quick succession. Nothing Stays Buried is fast paced and full of twists and turns that keep you guessing to the end. This was the first book written solely by Traci Lambrecht after the death of her writing partner and Mother PJ Lambrecht and I have to say I felt a slight shift in writing, definitely for the better. The characters seemed to be much more emotional, the murders effected them deeply. In many other murder mystery/detective novels they are just pushed off as part of the job. This change definitely made me more emotionally involved and increased the suspense.

Although this is the eight book in the series featuring the Monkeewrench crew, it is the first that I have read and I found it worked really well despite not reading the earlier ones. It was easy to pick up the back story and the characters were already well rounded and well developed.
The Monkeewrench crew have developed powerful software which they use to help law enforcement in fighting crime. In this instance, they were tracking a serial killer, with connections to the Mexican drug cartels. This is a fast-paced thriller, full of suspense, with the final pursuit of the murderer taking place during all the upheaval and drama of a tornado. Despite the subject matter, there was no gratuitous violence and the ending nicely dovetails with the beginning. I certainly enjoyed it.

My, this was a fantastic read, and it certainly felt good to be back with the Monkeewrench team. Their last book, Cold Kill, was terrific in developing both the relationships between the key characters, and in particular the character of Grace. Nothing Stays Buried has taken these developments and run with them, so these relationships are just so natural and easy to read. I don't even think it would be a problem to dive straight in with this instalment in the series, even if you haven't read the preceding books; and that is coming from me who REALLY likes to read them in order!

The Monkeewrench team here seems much softer which has helped no end in fleshing them out even further; with the team getting more hands-on working on a case of the missing daughter of farm owner Walt. I loved Walt - he was just so kind and honest, and as a character, really managed to bring out the best in Grace. As with all the books, Nothing Stays Buried has you rooting for the good guys, but honestly you'll be hoping and praying that Walt gets some kind of closure as much as I was I'm sure.

The team of course aren't alone; Magozzi and Gino run their own case alongside, trying to capture a serial killer targeting lone females. As the case develops Magozzi once again finds solace and help in Monkeewrench, with the cases seemingly sharing a few details.

The action is steadily paced and kept me entertained throughout and, as usual, made me not want the book to end. In all honesty I think this is right up there with the best P J Tracy books, and I've loved the rest of them.

I'm not going to finish this review without mentioning the very sad news of the death of half of this crack-team, P. J. Lambrecht. Traci has written a beautiful dedication at the start of the book, and having lost my mum just a few months ago, my heart and sympathies go out to her. But thank you P.J, thank you for the many hours of reading pleasure you have given me, and for letting us all into the world of your imagination.

Always enjoyed the PJ Tracy series of Monkeewrench books. Sadly not sure if they will continue after Traci Lambrecht died last year (her daughter writing team Patricia makes up the other half of the writing duo).

The plot this time around has two main strands, a serial killer who leaves playing cards on the victims's bodies - detectives Magozzi and Rolseth are leading on this one - and the Monkeewrench crew help a father look for his daughter who disappeared in mysterious circumstances.

The plot and action moves along at a fast pace as is the trademark of these novels, along with some good one liners and banter between the main characters. A good page turning read and sure to please existing fans.

Coming back to the monkee wrench gang is like greeting old friends, it was a joy to follow Grace and her eccentric gang as they get called in to their latest mission, finding a missing girl who disappears on her way home, whilst Grace's boyfriend detective Magozzi and his partner track down a serial killer, Even If you've never read one of these books you will follow the story without needing to read the others but guaranteed you will go back and read the rest.. Well done PJ Tracy, keep,up,the good work.

Excellent book. Great main characters and a real page turner. I loved the plot and would recommend this book.

Another fantastic book in the Monkeewrench series, I'm really enjoying the character development and this one had an interesting story arc.
A nice eye for detail and some unusual ideals, added to great casting make these highly entertaining books.

The same great characters, with relationships and stories developing nicely.
Just the slight hint of something out of the ordinary. Great heroes, solid plot and tornadoes!
I love this series.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for an advance copy of Nothing Stays Buried, the 8th novel to feature Minneapolis based computer company Monkeewrench.

Harley is asked by a friend, Sheriff Jacob Emmett, to see if Monkeewrench can help Walt Gustafson find his missing daughter, Marla. Initially unsure, the rest of the team warm to Walt and head off to Buttonwillow to do what they can. In the meantime detectives Gino Rolseth and Leo Magozzi are investigating a murder which screams serial killer at them. How these 2 plot lines eventually merge is the substance of the novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed Nothing Stays Buried. It is an engrossing read which had me glued to the pages from start to finish. The plot has plenty of twists and turns as Gino and Leo try to put the pieces, which are initially very few, together and make sense of the insensible. I like the way they manage to build a picture and find a suspect gradually as more information trickles in. I felt the ending was a little rushed, coincidental and a bit pat but up until then it's an excellent read.

The crime solving element of this novel is very much about Gino and Leo with Monkeewrench taking a back seat as suppliers of information. They, however, come to fore in their interactions with Walt. Grace, one of the crew, is 6 months pregnant with Leo's baby so we see a mellower side to her and a supportive one from the rest of the crew. I really like this series with its mix of business and personal and as the series continues the crew almost seem like old friends although they are such a bunch of damaged individuals it might not work out in real life. Gino Rolseth is still my favourite character with his fixation on food and general joie de vivre.

The authors have a nice turn of metaphor and phrase and I found myself noticing the aptness more than once. It's not something I usually notice but it made an impression.

Nothing Stays Buried is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

A real return to form for the pj tracy team monkeywrench. A proper page turner. If you enjoyed the first few books you will really enjoy this one.