Barbara M. reviewed on 5/9/2019 + 150 more book reviews

This is the second book I've read by P.J. Tracy, a local author (mom/daughter duo--mom died 12/2016). I had heard of the author and Monkeewrench series a few years back but didn't actually decide to read the books until last year. I thought I'd start with Book 1 (Want to Play), which I read last year, and go in order. The writing style is light/breezy so one can easily read a book in a couple days. Thus far, the storylines of the first two books have been intriguing. Book 1 centered around the Monkeewrench computer company; in Book 2 the focus is on two detectives of Mpls. PD and the Monkeewrench crew barely makes an appearance.

The banter between Magozzi and Geno, the two detectives, comes across as a bit "cutesy" or forced. Also, the two large ladies--Annie Belinksy, one of the Monkeewrench crew, and Gloria, a black woman who works at Mpls. PD--dress in wild, brightly colored outfits and have pretty much all men lusting after them. The two men of the Monkeewrench crew--Harley Davidson and Roadrunner--are also eccentric, colorful characters (i.e., Roadrunner is a stringbean who wears neon-colored spandex outfits). Annie, Gloria, Harley, and Roadrunner are so over-the-top that they seem to be cartoonish instead of believable characters.

In spite of these shortcomings, I will continue to read the series.

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