Monkeewrench

Monkeewrench, Book 1

By: P. J. Tracy

Narrated by: Buck Schirner

Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Haunted by a series of horrifying and violent episodes in their past, Grace McBride and the oddball crew of her software company, Monkeewrench, create a computer game where the killer is always caught, where the good guys always win. But their game becomes a nightmare when someone starts duplicating the fictional murders in real life, down to the last detail.

By the time the police realize what's happening, three people are dead, and with 17 more murder scenarios available online, there are 17 more potential victims. While the authorities scramble to find the killer in a city paralyzed by fear, the Monkeewrench staff are playing their own game, analyzing victim profiles in a frantic attempt to discover the murderer's next target.

In a thriller populated by characters both hilarious and heartbreaking, a rural Wisconsin sheriff, two Minneapolis police detectives, and Grace's gang are all caught in a web of decades-old secrets that could get them all killed.

©2004 P. J. Tracy (P)2004 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Liked the cops... didn't like the climax...

More than a 3... not quite a 4. I thought the police characters had good development... and the plot had the makings of something really good. I felt like it didn't come together with the pizazz that I expected after 7-8 hours of building you up to something. It fell a little flat compared to what it set you up for. Worth the listen but I was left wanting a little more substance to the end.

Ehhh.

Reads like a 90s cop show cross over episode - racist and sexist thinking it’s funny and progressive which ruined any of the plot that worked for me. Ah well.

Great Storyline!

I really liked this book, it keeps you engaged from beginning to end. The characters are well described and vivid.

Suspenseful

Any additional comments?

I am excited to have found a new series. I didn't want to stop listening until I finished. Very suspenseful story and I enjoyed all the character development and how they came together in the end. I just bought the second in the series and hope to find it just as good.

Good Summer Read

I read this in book form soon after in was released in 2003. I'd forgotten about the series until recently. A few weeks ago the local newspaper ran a review of an upcoming title by PJ Tracy. That prompted me to check Audible to see if any books in the series were available.

Fourteen years was enough time for me to forget almost all of the details of the story - I had no recollection of the plot. It's a good story with a pretty good mystery. The final complete solution came as a surprise to me - that's a good thing in this case.

There is some violence. There is more rude language than I care for - I notice it more when listening than when reading the printed page. I've seen and heard much worse in current books, and on television. There is humor in the book - one scene in particular had me laughing out loud.

Narrator Buck Schirner did a good job. The only thing that irritated me just a little was the way he "voiced" female characters.

During these pandemic times, I’ve been revisiting books from the Aughts

I read this book yonks ago, soon after it was released, so I’d forgotten the plot line. Here’s my second read of “Monkeewrench” #1, this time listening to narrator Buck Schirner voice-acting. Mr. Schirner needs to work on his female voices, but otherwise he’s easy to listen to.

The interwoven storylines are complex but were carefully planned and executed. The murders are chilling, and one in particular seemed like something a nerd might want to do. As soon as the villain’s big secret was revealed, I began box-ticking and correctly made my choice. I’m an avid crime fiction fan, so I also chose a “just in case” suspect. The major characters are well-developed and quite likable, and I enjoyed following the cops as they investigated.

Recommended.

it's the best

This book was so good, that I had to read it with my socks off. The story that follows a string of murders related to a video game that had me on edge the entire way through the book. Oh, and the twist at the end! Classic!!! Didn't see that one coming, at all! I can't believe Hollywood hasn't had it's way with this beautifuly crafted story.

more from author soonn?

loved it well done start to finish Audible excellant will listen again looking for more

One of my favorite mysteries

Love this series! The characters are fascinating, idiosyncratic and also likable. I hate grim books and while the mystery in this book is serious, the book is full of humor.
Performance was about adequate but not spectacular

Awesome!

I loved it. the characters are hilarious. the mystery is good. figured it out but it took a long time. Def recommend