Snow Blind

PJ Tracy is the pseudonym of a mother-daughter writing duo P.J. and Traci Lambrecht, (I am not too sure how this works?). Their first three novels, Monkeewrench, Live Bait and Dead Run, have become national and international bestsellers. They have also become best selling author's in the UK. The book certainly has an unusual twist to it and I found it entertaining reading. It is the kind of book that does not make you have to think too much if you know what I mean and sometimes that is a good thing. You can just sit and relax and enjoy the book without any distractions. Begins in Minneapolis during a hard spell of winter, residents often joke that it is the season that lasts for eleven months of the year. Someone has the bright idea of brightening up the dreary season by sponsoring a snowman building contest and in a matter of hours the local park is ringing with the laughter of children building their creations. It is not until a while later that a macabre secret is unveiled. The bodies of two Minneapolis police officers are found within two of the snowmen. This puts the Minneapolis police department on red alert. The following day yet another officer is found dead. This encourages the Monkeewrench team of crack computer buffs to become involved in trawling the net for clues and eventually a terrifying link emerges connecting the dead cops . . .

Detectives Magozzi and Rolseth are on the case again, this time at a snowman building contest. On the first day, two Minneapolis officers are found dead inside snowmen. Now snowman deaths are popping up all over the country and the Monkeewrench team is needed to assist when a chat room is giving instructions on making dead body snowmen. Tracking down the chatter is not easy. Monkeewrench is dealing with a computer guru like none they have ever encountered. Neighboring Dundas County, another snowman is found and may be the work of the same killer. This time it is a parole officer murdered and a parolee on the loose, looking for his wife. Copycat or the real thing, either way it is a race against time and no one can see this end coming. P.J. Tracy is the pseudonym of the mother and daughter team made up of P.J. Lambrecht and Traci Lambrecht. As always they come through with another thriller that throws such a twist that it is impossible to know what is going to happen. The twosome never disappoints and proves two heads are better than one. This is a must have for anyone who is rarely surprised by an ending. Like the other books in the Monkeewrench series, it is impossible tear away from. The personalities in each of the characters complement each other perfectly. Snow Blind and the rest of the series including Monkeewrench, Live Bait and Dead Run are must reads for anyone craving a suspenseful tale. Reviewed by Joyce Courtesy of C2K'S Kwips and Kritiques

I started this series pretty much by accident after receiving Monkeewrench in a box of books I was given by a co-worker; however, I haven't looked back since reading that first book. Gino and Leo - the two Minneapolis detectives around whom the series revolves - and the Monkeewrench crew - the computer programmers who are the secondary cast - are wonderfully crafted and lovingly developed. Snow Blind is beautifully done and the story is developed in such a way as to leave you guessing until well into the book as to what has actually happened. Once you figure it out, you are left just as conflicted as everyone else. Is this particular story completely resolved? Not really - but due to the nature of the set up, it can't be; not and have true justice be done. I can't give any more details than that without ruining it for you, but you will understand once you have read it - believe me, you will not be disappointed.

The latest in the Monkeewrench series leads me to the conclusion that the Monkeewrench gang are not the main characters of this series. It finally dawned on me that Magozzi and Rolseth are the main characters, and the Monkeewrench gang are wonderful side characters (and deus ex machina). This said, this book is just as riveting as the first one (Monkeewrench) and better than the 2nd and 3rd ones. The book can be read equally as a stand-alone or part of a series. If you read this one first, however, make sure you go back and read Monkeewrench before the others. The plot revolves around multiple homicides in different locations that appear linked. Investigation by the different jurisdictions of police (Magozzi & Rolseth representing the Minneapolis contingent; a brand-new female sheriff representing an isolated MN county where much of the action occurs) separate the investigations, then merge them back together in a truly stunning conclusion. The writing in the book is crisp and humorous. The mother/daughter authors do not have any problem projecting the story in one voice. They use the tension between the new woman sherriff and the expereienced Minneapolis detectives to insert several pithy observations that will cause you to chuckle ["That, she decided, was the secret to communicating with men. Whenever possible, use signals instead of words. Words just confused them."] On the whole, do not start this book at night -after the slightly slow start, it rockets through right to the end at breakneck pace.

I just finished Snow Blind this morning and loved it! It's another perfect beach read, and not as "military-ish" as their last novel. It's obviously a quick read, which is the only bummer. I wish they had written a longer book! But, the suspense is still great, and they still have the edge on the more intelligent murder/mystery novels. A perfect book for vacation, or for a really hot day, as there is much talk of freezing temperatures/snow/sleet.