Live Bait [Hardcover]

A year after the Monkeewrench killing spree paralyzed the city, Minneapolis's finest are still reeling. It's been a slow few months in the homicide department, but on a rainy April night, two murders are called in. At first, the two crimes seem unrelated --- the only connection is that both victims are senior citizens. As Detective Magozzi and his team investigate, though, it soon becomes clear that the two murders are connected, but not in a way that anyone would have imagined.

The surprising connection between two seemingly unrelated murders is just one of LIVE BAIT's plot twists that will keep readers hooked. In addition to the compelling mystery story, Tracy's clever, sharp-tongued prose and wry observations add depth to the novel. One detective, for instance, describes the muggy spring day by saying, "I feel like Frosty the Snowman when he got locked in the greenhouse with all the poinsettias." The weather is, in fact, a major force in the novel, as a tornado bears down on the city just as the Minneapolis police bear down on their suspect.

Most of the favorite characters from MONKEEWRENCH are back for this second installment. Many of them are still bruised from their earlier adventures, none more so than Marty Pullman, the cop whose wife was murdered by the Monkeewrench killer. Unable to work, haunted by memories of his wife and his own dark secrets, Marty is a tragic character, consumed by loss and alcoholism. Beautiful but fragile Grace MacBride is also back, trying hard to live a normal life now that she's no longer in mortal danger.

Grace's motley band of software developers --- the central characters of MONKEEWRENCH --- are here, too, but in LIVE BAIT, they serve primarily as comic relief rather than as fully developed characters. Their connection to the plot is tenuous at best, although the author does seem to be setting up a larger role for this quirky crew in the next installment of this winning mystery series. Stay tuned!

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

The characters to a certain extent are more caricature, than character. They are a bit overblown and far from believable. But they are fun.

Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are Minneapolis homicide detectives. A lengthy drought of murders comes to an abrupt end when a seemingly harmless old man is murdered at his plant nursery. Why would anyone murder this local saint? Before that question can be answered, the bodies start piling up. All elderly, all leading seemingly innocuous lives.

As Magozzi and Rolseth and cases work their cases, we learn that not all is at it seems to be. The plot twists come thick and fast. The pacing is excellent - and the ending may come as a surprise.

In all, a delightful read, even if the characters aren't overly believable.

Jerry