Review: ‘Deep into the Dark’ by P.J. Tracy
Deep into the Dark
by P.J. TracySeries: Detective Margaret Nolan #1
Published by Minotaur on January 12, 2021
SubGenres: Mystery
Format: AudioBook, eBook
Pages: 339
Narrator: Abby Craden
Length: 9 Hours
Source: Kindle Unlimited, Library - Libby
Audience: 18+/Adult
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Sam Easton—a true survivor—is home from Afghanistan, trying to rebuild a life in his hometown of LA. Separated from his wife, bartending and therapy sessions are what occupy his days and nights. When friend and colleague Melody Traeger is beaten by her boyfriend, she turns to Sam for help. When the boyfriend turns up dead the next day, a hard case like Sam is the perfect suspect.
But LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan, whose brother recently died serving overseas, is sympathetic to Sam's troubles, and can't quite see him as a killer. She's more interested in the secrets Melody might be keeping and the developments in another murder case on the other side of town.
I was in the mood for a mystery when I came across Deep Into the Dark by P.J. Tracy on Goodreads. This is the first novel I’ve read by this author, and I plan on reading more from this author. I’ve heard good things about the other series that the author co-wrote with her mother, and I definitely plan on checking it out soon.
I liked this book but did have some problems, while reading it. It was slow-paced and had several points of view that were hard to keep up with at first until I finally got used to it. I thought the book was going to focus on Detective Margaret Nolan being the main character due to the series being named after her, but she played a minor role. The characters, Sam Easton, who is a military veteran who has PTSD, and his co-worker, Melody Traeger, were the main characters for most of the book since I felt their POVs took over more than Detective Margaret’s POV. I think I understood why the author focused on those two characters more since they played a role in who possibly was behind the murders in the book, especially since they were considered suspects at first. I wish the book would have been more of a police procedural book and had Detective Margaret and her partner have more POVs because maybe then I wouldn’t have found out who the serial killer was, immediately.
This book deals with PTSD and may be triggering to some readers. I felt for Sam, and I’m glad the author tackled PTSD and wrote scenes with him getting help. I’m also happy he became friends with Melody Traeger because these two characters definitely needed each other, especially with a serial killer on the loose and close to them. Sam was not only dealing with PTSD but also dealing with separation from his wife, who wanted a divorce from him.
I wished I had liked this book more because the case was interesting, and I enjoyed each of the characters, but sadly, it’s only getting three stars from me. I do plan on reading the second book and hope that I enjoy it more.
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About P.J. Tracy
PJ Tracy is the pseudonym of mother-daughter writing duo P.J. and Traci Lambrecht, winners of the Anthony, Barry, Gumshoe, and Minnesota Book Awards. Their ten novels in the Monkeewrench series, MONKEEWRENCH, LIVE BAIT, DEAD RUN, SNOW BLIND, SHOOT TO THRILL, OFF THE GRID, THE SIXTH IDEA, NOTHING STAYS BURIED, THE GUILTY DEAD, and ICE COLD HEART have become national and international bestsellers. PJ passed away in December 2016, and Traci started a new series set in Los Angeles, featuring Detective Margaret Nolan. DEEP INTO THE DARK and DESOLATION CANYON are availabe now, and the third in the series, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, will be released in January 2023.
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