by P. J. Tracy
Part of Monkeewrench, book 2
First published 2004
Minneapolis detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth have grown restless during a prolonged murder-free period following their successful Monkeewrench investigation. The quiet breaks when Morey Gilbert turns up dead at the plant nursery he operates alongside his wife Lily. The victim appears saintly, lacking any obvious enemies who might want him killed. His diminutive, irritable wife Lily offers little assistance and becomes a potential suspect herself. Morey's alienated son Jack works as a notorious personal injury attorney with plenty of adversaries, while son-in-law Marty Pullman, a former police officer, battles severe depression after losing his wife the previous year. Additional elderly victims emerge, creating panic throughout the city. The detectives hope Grace MacBride's specialized software for analyzing cold cases might reveal the connection they need. The investigation forces them to navigate family secrets and hidden motives while racing to prevent more deaths in their community.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Minneapolis
Period: 21st-century
Hardcover · Putnam
Content warnings: depression, mental-illness