Status
Available
Series
Genres
Description
With the holidays over and the long cold winter looming, January can be a bleak month in Minneapolis. So what better way to bring a little cheer to the good people of the city than by sponsoring an old-fashioned snowman-building contest? In a matter of hours, a local park is filled with the innocent laughter of children and their frosty creations. But things take an awful turn when the dead bodies of police officers are discovered inside two of the snowmen.--From publisher description.
User reviews
LibraryThing member pgchuis
Two police officers are discovered dead inside snowmen during a winter storm. There is a potential link to the murder of a parole officer in a rural community. Leo and Gino work with brand new sheriff Iris, and there is some involvement of the Monkeywrench crew.
I liked Iris and I always like Gino
I liked Iris and I always like Gino
Show More
and Leo. The plot was tight (once I had Laura and Ruth and Emily and Alice straight in my mind). I am deducting half a star for the relentless descriptions of snow and ice and weather generally. It was a page turner again, but it didn't move Grace and Leo forward at all. Show Less
LibraryThing member EvilynJ
On the eve of a big snowman-building charity benefit in Minneapolis, two cops are shot and buried in the park as snowmen. Then another snowman corpse is found in rural Dundas County. Detectives Magozzi and Rolseth travel north looking for a killer and a motive, while the computer gang at
Fourth book in the Monkeewrench series, but can be read independently. Likeable characters and a strong sense of place make this an engrossing read. Highly recommend.
Show More
Monkeewrench seeks clues on the Internet. Fourth book in the Monkeewrench series, but can be read independently. Likeable characters and a strong sense of place make this an engrossing read. Highly recommend.
Show Less
LibraryThing member norby
This is a library book that I was forced to buy. They said it was damaged to the point it could no longer be used by them. I disagree, but they were not going to listen.
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Best of the series so far. The plot holes aren't quite as gaping, the characters have a bit more spark and the imagintation is really flowing.
A deep winter in Minneapolis and Wisconsin. Gino and Leo find some bodies hidden in snowmen. As the body count mounts there seems to be little linking the
Much better.
A deep winter in Minneapolis and Wisconsin. Gino and Leo find some bodies hidden in snowmen. As the body count mounts there seems to be little linking the
Show More
victims, but no liklyhood of copycat killings either. As usual they turn to the Monkeywrench crew, who procide some crucial clues, but will Gino and leo be able to unearth enough evidence to prove who killers are, even when they know the answer. Help is provided by a brand new Sherrif.Much better.
Show Less
LibraryThing member slpenney07
Summary: Minneapolis police detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are participating in a snowman building contest after the first big snowfall of the year. Instead of creating a snowman, they are forced to destory hundreds of them, when a child discovers a dead body inside of a snowman.
The
The very best part of the book is the ending that, if I shared, would ruin the book for you. Trust, it's worth it.
Recommendation: While you don't need to start at the very beginning of the series, you'll want to, if you start with this one.
The
Show More
Take-Away: I love this series. The mother-daughter duo is fabulous. This is book four of the series, and the stakes get higher each and every book. The Monkeewrench group is back also, as part of the crime-fighting team. They are tied into the case in ways that neither they nor the detective anticipate.The very best part of the book is the ending that, if I shared, would ruin the book for you. Trust, it's worth it.
Recommendation: While you don't need to start at the very beginning of the series, you'll want to, if you start with this one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bookwitch24
And another stellar story from PJ Tracy. An incredibly interesting read that will keep you pulled in until the end.
LibraryThing member readafew
Snow Blind is the 4th book in the Monkeywrench series. I have not read any of the other 3 previous books which could effect my opinion of this work. I did enjoy the book and it had me thinking a little bit of John Sandford's Lucas Davenport books, both have cops as the main character and are
Not a bad book, enjoyable and fast-paced. Probably rates a PG-13 if it was a movie.
Show More
centered in Minneapolis. I would have to say that PJ & Traci are a bit less 'gritty' than Sandford. They don't really like doing 'bad' things to their protagonists, not to say bad things don't happen but most of the 'good' guys had them happen in the past and now things are going well for them. The biggest thing seems to be that they put men in general and Minnesota men in particular in a very bad light. The idea was to get push awareness of spousal abuse but it was a little lopsided in execution. Not a bad book, enjoyable and fast-paced. Probably rates a PG-13 if it was a movie.
Show Less
LibraryThing member reannon
Another excellent entry in an excellent series.
LibraryThing member kpapenfus
I enjoyed it, but it would have been better if the Monkeywrench crew was more involved. They are what make P.J. Tracy books unique and distinguishable from 100s of other cop storys.
LibraryThing member kayceel
Leo and Gino think they’re out for an entertaining winter carnival, but when two police officers are discovered encased in snowmen, they again must race to solve the mystery before more police officers die. I did not see all of the end here – so glad the books still surprise me…
LibraryThing member SonicQuack
Snow Blind is definitely odd. The premise of this tale of death in the snow is off-centre to start with and there's no predicting where the story goes from there. It's great to see original ideas and authors gambling with storylines the standard crime writers would steer clear of. It's paid off
Show More
with PJ Tracy's previous work, however Snow Blind doesn't quite seem true. The good news is that the characters are still enjoyable to see in action, with plenty of entertaining dialogue. The actual story is by no means dull, it just doesn't produce a gripping read. I feel that the authors were out to make a point rather than a great thriller. Show Less
LibraryThing member SandyLee
SNOW BLIND is the fourth in the Monkeewrench series. Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth investigate two murders where the victims’ bodies have been entombed as snowmen. Another victim is found in a small town where the new sheriff is a former teacher and way over her head in a murder
Show More
investigation. Grace MacBride and her Monkeewrench team assist in finding a link to the victims who are all in law enforcement, but their deaths have nothing to do with the cases they have worked. A highly enjoyable series. I would start with the first book in the series, MONKEEWRENCH, if you like to read a fabulous series in order. Show Less
LibraryThing member SimonW11
first the niggles The publishers cannot decide what the name of the first P J Tracy book is it "Monkeewrench" or "Want to play?" They changed the name for the british edition but can't seem to remember. It changes between the and dust jacket and the hardback. If they can't get it right how do they
Still a good clean edit apart from that and of course the line "For the fist time since the fence was built the gates to Bitteroot were wide open, and no one was checking who drove in."
Not much tension in this one from the mother and daughter writing team. but a good solid and enjoyable if unsuprising easy read.
Dead bodies are turning up in Snowmen. Two in Mineapolis. where the usual team investigate then a third is found in the county of a very wet behind the ears sheriff. It's her first day She has never done any real police work. She is glad of help she can get but also needs to look like she is in charge.It is pleasant watching the story develop even if the Tracy team do still seem to make up the computer stuff as they go along. Unlike some of the earlier books they have had the sense to leave characters on the periphery if they did not have someting to contribute to the plot.
Show More
expect us to?Still a good clean edit apart from that and of course the line "For the fist time since the fence was built the gates to Bitteroot were wide open, and no one was checking who drove in."
Not much tension in this one from the mother and daughter writing team. but a good solid and enjoyable if unsuprising easy read.
Dead bodies are turning up in Snowmen. Two in Mineapolis. where the usual team investigate then a third is found in the county of a very wet behind the ears sheriff. It's her first day She has never done any real police work. She is glad of help she can get but also needs to look like she is in charge.It is pleasant watching the story develop even if the Tracy team do still seem to make up the computer stuff as they go along. Unlike some of the earlier books they have had the sense to leave characters on the periphery if they did not have someting to contribute to the plot.
Show Less
LibraryThing member cslbooks
Another great title - fourth in the series - from the mother and daughter who write jointly as PJ Tracy. It mixes bodies in snowmen, spousal abuse and Minnesota winters in a pleasing and fast read (90 mins reading time). Less on the Monkeewrench gang than in prior books, and it seems a bit less on
Show More
the relationships side than I recall from earlier titles. Definitely worth reading - though it might help to start with earlier titles. Show Less
LibraryThing member OrchidJ
I was expecting a tense, trashy read to provide a bit of escapism, and on the whole that's what I got - until the end, where the 'who done it' was left partly unresolved. It's not written or constructed well enough for me to accept this frustrating ending - for me, this kind of book is all about
Show More
the resolution and I was left disappointed and feeling like I’d wasted my time. Show Less
LibraryThing member ReginaR
I enjoyed this installment in the Monkeewrench series. Like the others, I listened to the audio. It is not the best in the series, it is definitely shorter but I enoyed it. Unfortunatley, there is not enough of the Monkeewrench crew for my tastes but P.J. Tracy introduces some new characters --
This book can be read as a standalone. The mystery was easy to figure out and it was not very scary or thrilling. But still, Tracy writes characters well and ultimately, despite this being a mystery series the books are character driven. Decent, not great -- but good entertainment.
Show More
rural sheriffs and officers -- and an interesting twist to their serial killer theme. This book can be read as a standalone. The mystery was easy to figure out and it was not very scary or thrilling. But still, Tracy writes characters well and ultimately, despite this being a mystery series the books are character driven. Decent, not great -- but good entertainment.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ecw0647
Someone is killing cops and hiding the bodies in snowmen created for a children’s snow festival in Minneapolis. The Monkeewrench software gang are enlisted to help (although they play a relatively minor role in this novel.)
As a recovering northern Minnesota resident. I loved the descriptions of
Shift scenes to newly-elected-sheriff, ex-English-teacher, Iris Ricker, her first day on the job, and resented by just about every deputy in the county, in a blinding blizzard, who has to deal with two hardened Mpls. homicide detectives, Gino and Magozzi, and an sympathetic lieutenant Sampson, when they discover another snowman containing a body. (The felon who happened to be hiding in her barn was a bit too much of a coincidence.) Ricker and the relationship between the two homicide cops is what elevates this book above the usual. I loved the back-seat-driving of Gino who’s terrified at driving in the snow on the way up to the crime scene from Minneapolis. They take Kettering Hill to get to the sheriff’s office. (“No one ever takes Kettering Hill in the winter,” notes the helpful dispatcher after they arrive, white-knuckled.)
Some interesting characters and I loved the setting. Very well read by Mel Foster.
As a recovering northern Minnesota resident. I loved the descriptions of
Show More
winter, the intense desire for a garage while trying to pry the car door open and chipping off several inches of ice from the windshield; the felon who puts his car in a ditch without a blizzard kit (only those dumb enough to go out in a blizzard are too dumb to have a blizzard kit) and then trudges through the snow (never, ever, leave your car is another constantly repeated mantra) to find a lake (you can always find a lake) where there will inevitably be some kind of building (another given is that every lake has some kind of lodge around it at 10 foot intervals) and realize that he may freeze to death at the relatively warm temperature of 15 degrees which would be absolutely way too embarrassing.Shift scenes to newly-elected-sheriff, ex-English-teacher, Iris Ricker, her first day on the job, and resented by just about every deputy in the county, in a blinding blizzard, who has to deal with two hardened Mpls. homicide detectives, Gino and Magozzi, and an sympathetic lieutenant Sampson, when they discover another snowman containing a body. (The felon who happened to be hiding in her barn was a bit too much of a coincidence.) Ricker and the relationship between the two homicide cops is what elevates this book above the usual. I loved the back-seat-driving of Gino who’s terrified at driving in the snow on the way up to the crime scene from Minneapolis. They take Kettering Hill to get to the sheriff’s office. (“No one ever takes Kettering Hill in the winter,” notes the helpful dispatcher after they arrive, white-knuckled.)
Some interesting characters and I loved the setting. Very well read by Mel Foster.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Carl_Alves
Snowblind starts off with an interesting hook when two police officers are on hand for a snowman building contest, when the bodies of two dead police officers are found inside a couple of the snowmen. One of the detectives love-interests happens to be a big hacker type who belongs to a group called
This was an interesting novel, but nothing overly spectacular. Although the premise was good, the mystery component to the novel wasn’t as impressive. The Monkeewrench team weren’t very believable or well characterized. All the same, there was a good bit on tension in the novel and it moved at a decent pace. I would classify this novel as good but not great.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
Show More
Monkeewrench, who solve crimes with their computer skills. Another cop winds up dead in a snowman in another county. This leads the Monkeewrench team into strange chat rooms, trying to uncover the killer.This was an interesting novel, but nothing overly spectacular. Although the premise was good, the mystery component to the novel wasn’t as impressive. The Monkeewrench team weren’t very believable or well characterized. All the same, there was a good bit on tension in the novel and it moved at a decent pace. I would classify this novel as good but not great.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
Show Less
LibraryThing member kerryelizabeth
I will start off this review by saying that I really am a huge P.J. Tracy fan. I've followed their series from the beginning, way back when Want to Play first came out and hooked me. As the books have gone on, they've gradually been losing their sparkle, but are still enjoyable overall.
The latest
This book is brilliantly executed in regards to character development and how the book is actually written. Both members of the writing duo manipulate words elegantly and effectively, never overselling the story or inserting needless information. It seems like everything has a purpose within the book, nothing is just there to fill up the pages, which I really appreciate. The dialogue isn't clunky or difficult to read at all. I believe the authors are masters at their character development, though, and this is where their strong points are.
The only thing that lets this book down is the odd plot. At parts this book was unbelievable, and it seems that as the books go on, the twisty turny roller coaster ride disappears, leaving behind a pretty straight forward plot. I won't say whodunnit or how etc, but it is simple and straightforward, much unlike this duo famed for their complex mysteries. Although I did like the ending. The ending was unlike any other thriller I've read, but I will say no more!
The latest
Show More
case to be solved by the Monkeewrench team and MPD detectives (primarily Magozzi and Rolseth) is the oddest yet, I think. Deep within Minneapolis winter, buried amongst the laughter of children and parents alike, two dead cops are playing hide and seek within some snowmen. The next day, new Sheriff of Dundas County, Iris Rikker, finds yet another one. All three teams must work together in the race to find out who did it and why. This book is brilliantly executed in regards to character development and how the book is actually written. Both members of the writing duo manipulate words elegantly and effectively, never overselling the story or inserting needless information. It seems like everything has a purpose within the book, nothing is just there to fill up the pages, which I really appreciate. The dialogue isn't clunky or difficult to read at all. I believe the authors are masters at their character development, though, and this is where their strong points are.
The only thing that lets this book down is the odd plot. At parts this book was unbelievable, and it seems that as the books go on, the twisty turny roller coaster ride disappears, leaving behind a pretty straight forward plot. I won't say whodunnit or how etc, but it is simple and straightforward, much unlike this duo famed for their complex mysteries. Although I did like the ending. The ending was unlike any other thriller I've read, but I will say no more!
Show Less
LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are two homicide detectives with the Minneapolis Police Department. Gino is scheduled to do a charity event during WinterFest, which happens each year in Minneapolis to celebrate winter. One of the events that takes place during WinterFest is a snowman building contest.
Having read the previous books I was really looking forward to reading Snow Blind. Unfortunately I have been left with the feeling of wanting more. The story starts well with a good element of suspense and excitement but once it reached the middle of the story nothing much seemed to happen. I was anticipating a suspenseful plot twist at the end and was, sadly, disappointed. Based on the previous books I felt like this one could have been so much better. There was only a cameo appearance by the Monkeewrench Gang and I missed their humorous interplay. If you have read any of the prior Tracy books, you may be disappointed too.
Show More
As the sun begins to melt away the snow, a child finds a dead man hidden inside one of the snowman. This discovery leads to another body inside another snowman and eventually all the snowmen are completely destroyed to make sure there aren't any others. The identity of the snowmen is a shock. When another dead body is found in a snowman in nearby Dundas County, rookie sheriff Iris Rikker is starting her first day of work. Fearing that Rikker's inexperience will hamper the investigation, Magozzi and Rolseth head north in a huge blizzard to hunt for clues and see if there are any links to the Minneapolis Snowmen. Having read the previous books I was really looking forward to reading Snow Blind. Unfortunately I have been left with the feeling of wanting more. The story starts well with a good element of suspense and excitement but once it reached the middle of the story nothing much seemed to happen. I was anticipating a suspenseful plot twist at the end and was, sadly, disappointed. Based on the previous books I felt like this one could have been so much better. There was only a cameo appearance by the Monkeewrench Gang and I missed their humorous interplay. If you have read any of the prior Tracy books, you may be disappointed too.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lostkiwi
This is the second book by P.J. Tracey that I have read, the first being Dead Run.
I liked this story, but not as much as Dead Run. It felt kind of rushed to me, also the story was a bit disjointed, not as well fleshed out as Dead Run.
I now have the first three to read which will give me something
I liked this story, but not as much as Dead Run. It felt kind of rushed to me, also the story was a bit disjointed, not as well fleshed out as Dead Run.
I now have the first three to read which will give me something
Show More
to assess my rating of book 5 against. Show Less
LibraryThing member Andrew-theQM
It took me a while to get into the book but then I started to enjoy the plot and it was improving. However let down significantly at the end because it didn't come to a resolution. As a result this lost at least a star for the ending and this spoilt the book for me. It is not always easy reading as
Show More
it does relate to domestic abuse and there is a lot of sexism present in the attitude towards the new sheriff. In the end I gave this 2.5 stars. For me each book has got weaker and the authors need to reverse this trend as Monkeewrench is one of my favourite books. Show Less
LibraryThing member kmartin802
After a mild winter in Minnesota, April comes in with snow - lots and lots of snow. That is great for the police department festival which includes ski races and kids building snowmen. However, it also gives someone an opportunity to kill and encase their victims in snowmen.
Two of the snowmen
Meanwhile, the Monkeewrench gang, who did some security for Bitterroot but didn't know its purpose, have run across a mention of Minnesota snowmen in a secure chat room posted before the murdered cops were found. Even though they are computer geniuses, they are having a very hard time getting through the site's firewalls to find out who posted the messages.
This case cuts very close to home for Gino who has a daughter in her midteens. He can easily understand why a person would murder an abuser. But self-defense seems to be sliding into vigilantism. The only problem is that they can't prove what they believe.
This was an excellent thriller about a very timely topic and with a way of concealing murder victims that is quite haunting and very creepy. My only complaint about this story was that I wanted to see the Monkeewrench crew have a bigger role and more time on the page.
Two of the snowmen
Show More
contain the bodies of two police officers which gets Magozzi and Gino looking for reasons they were killed and the murderer. When another man embedded in a snowman is found in a Northern Minnesota county, Magozzi and Gino drive through a snowstorm looking for connections. What they find is a new, rookie Sheriff who is on her first day and feeling very much over her head. They also find a settlement called Bitterroot which houses almost 400 women who were victims of domestic abuse. Meanwhile, the Monkeewrench gang, who did some security for Bitterroot but didn't know its purpose, have run across a mention of Minnesota snowmen in a secure chat room posted before the murdered cops were found. Even though they are computer geniuses, they are having a very hard time getting through the site's firewalls to find out who posted the messages.
This case cuts very close to home for Gino who has a daughter in her midteens. He can easily understand why a person would murder an abuser. But self-defense seems to be sliding into vigilantism. The only problem is that they can't prove what they believe.
This was an excellent thriller about a very timely topic and with a way of concealing murder victims that is quite haunting and very creepy. My only complaint about this story was that I wanted to see the Monkeewrench crew have a bigger role and more time on the page.
Show Less
LibraryThing member susandennis
This is the latest in the Monkeewrench series. Police Detectives Magozzi and Rolseth are trying to unravel who and why someone is killing law enforcement personnel and stuffing them into snowmen. The only problem with this series is that there is not enough of them. Any one of the books is a
Show More
guaranteed good read and this one is no exception. Show Less
LibraryThing member chrissywest
OK, where do I start? How about some facts. This is the first time I’ve read anything by author, P.J. Tracy. P.J. Tracy is the pseudonym of mother-daughter writing duo P.J. and Traci Lambrecht. Snow Blind is the fourth book from the Monkeewrench Series.What did I think? There is no doubt about
Show More
it, the book was action-packed. The story was original. However I thought there was away too much going on. Also, way to many characters. In the prologue you meet Laura, Ruth, and Emily. There is no mention of Emily again till page 231. And Laura comes back into the picture on page 265. I was beginning to wonder why these characters were introduced in the first place. It did all tie together in the end. But it sure took a long time to get there. I also found the book to be very funny in places. I sometimes find, even if the plot is terrible, humor can make the book more tolerable.In regards to series. I think it’s very important that authors give a good detailed history of the reoccurring characters to benefit readers who maybe don’t read the series in order. Myself reading the fourth book of the series first. I didn’t feel there was a lot of character development.Overall Snow Blind didn’t really impress me. I am going to read the prior books from this series. In the hope of learning a little more about the characters. Show Less
Awards
Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award (Winner — 2006)