I started this book when it first came out and I couldn't get into it. I decided to pick it back up and once things started coming together, I enjoyed it.

I like a good mystery that leaves me with some unanswered questions. But one that doesn't bother to answer pretty much any questions not so much.

3.75 stars

This book was, as usual with the series, strong on character interaction and humor, but a little short on plot development. Unfortunately, I forgot to write a review after starting the next in the series, and I've gotten this particular story a little confused with the next one.

I enjoyed this book, but the plot was a little scattered, I think. One possible source of confusion might be that the action that opens the story, a kidnapping of young girls on an Indian reservation, isn't really a major part of the main story.

I enjoyed the addition of the Native Americans from the reservation. I enjoyed their humorous outlook and way of thinking about things that I think of as typical of Native Americans, although this is mainly derived from books, movies, and TV, so I don't know if it's at all accurate.

If you like the Monkeewrench series, I think you'll probably like this one.

For the first time in years, Grace MacBride is actually enjoying herself as this book begins. Gone are the up-tight constant-alert behaviors that kept her alive despite sinister threats of all kinds. She is sleeping well, and she has even decided she no longer needs to carry the weapons that were an integral part of her. She is on a sailboat in Florida with an FBI agent who had invited her there to regroup and recover from the last Monkeewrench gang adventure. And recover she has. But that all changes in a heartbeat when she hears what sounds like intruders coming onto the docked boat. The intruders appear to be Somali or Middle Eastern, and her host, FBI agent John Smith, is their target. They are seconds away from slashing his throat when Grace kills the intruders, saving Smith’s life.

Hundreds of miles away in Minnesota, a 15-year-old Native American girl is fighting the drugs she has been given by the men who captured her on the Indian reservation miles from the twin cities. They took three younger girls at that time as well, these nameless faceless men, but when the teenage girl temporarily escapes, the lives of the other girls are spared. Not so much for the teenager. She makes a valiant effort at escape only to be recaptured by the human traffickers.

Soon after the almost-execution in Florida and the death of a teenage girl in Minneapolis, Somali men are found executed with precision and professionalism. Interestingly enough, the houses in which the men are found are filled with explosives and plans to do something to the United States on Halloween. But no one knows quite what that is.

Before this book ends, Grace and the Monkeewrench team are on the run to a remote reservation in northern Minnesota. They must use whatever means they can to find out who is killing the Somali terrorists and what plans the terrorists have for Halloween.

This may not be the most compelling of the books in this series, but you should read it to revel in its connectedness. By that, I mean the authors do a magnificent job of taking numerous disparate events that you would never think could connect to one another without feeling contrived and they weave those events together in a completely believable almost ingenious way that will keep you reading to the back cover. And the end results will be just the right kind of twist-and-turn excellence you’ve come to expect from this mother/daughter team if you’ve read the previous books in the series.

It’s not often that a mystery novel makes me laugh while keeping me at the edge of my seat, but Off the Grid manages to do exactly that while keeping the plot and story moving.

The characters help bring that plot to life. The cops who’re trying to piece together the similarities between murders in multiple cities – never mind that the victims are scum of the earth. The retired FBI agent who’s targeted for assassination. The friend who convinces him to fall off the face of the earth while she figures out why – with the help of the group she works with. And what a group they are.

As much as the characters rock, they wouldn’t be much without a plot that makes sense and a story that makes you think, both of which we get. So. Cool characters. Believable story. Tight plot. What else would you want from your mystery novel?

drey’s rating: Excellent!

This review is based on an uncorrected manuscript obtained from the publisher as part of Goodreads "First Reads" program.

Anyone who has enjoyed P.J. Tracy before will want to read Off the Grid. All of the old gang is back (though Grace McBride is a little less present than in the previous Monkeewrench tales) and the action, pace, and writing-style are just the same.

The story concerns a number of crimes, investigated by Leo Magozzi and his partner Gino Rolseth, which at first do not seem to be related, but as things fall together its clear that something big is going on. The Monkeewrench team is consulted and what they learn scares everyone involved.

Typical of Tracy, the suspense builds throughout the book, and you spend most of your reading time wondering what is going to happen next. And the dramatic climax pays everything off... mostly. Intentionally or otherwise, Tracy left a few big questions unanswered, even as some are explained in the epilogue.

This not my favorite Monkeewrench book, but its certainly satisfying and worth reading for fans of the series (and if you are not a fan of series, find a copy of Monkeewrench and become one).

The main disappointment I felt can't be adequately explained without spoilers, but I will say that the sense of danger was never there for me. Part of this might be because I know the author isn't going to let anything happen to the major characters, but I think the bigger part of it is that the villian(s) are nameless, faceless and otherwise a complete unknown. Even their villianous plans are never revealed. The book ends, everyone is safe, and the reader is left wondering what almost happened.

Though I enjoyed Off the Grid, I did find it to be flawed. For fans of PJ Tracy's other books, don't think twice... you'll enjoy this one, too. Everyone else: start with Monkeewrench and get on board.

I'm extremely disappointed. P.J. Tracy always used to deliver fast-paced thrillers that kept you on edge. That hasn't been the case with this book and the one before it. The story starts out well but soon falters. There are too many gaps in the timeline making it all feel empty. I really hope the writing gets better.

This one felt sort of rushed, or slightly unfinished. Most of the regulars felt largely like they were having cameos in their own books, and though several of the new characters were interesting, it was still something of a let down.

Also, the choices made with John Smith at the end didn't even make sense.