Book Review: Shoot to Thrill by P.J. Tracy

If you have been reading this blog for more than a few weeks, you probably know that I read all kinds of fiction, including romance, suspense, contemporary, historical, mystery, etc. I think I would become bored reading just one genre all the time. I also don't read only Christian books, although I am a Christian. I think there is talent in almost all areas of writing, and I can't limit myself to those books that are written by Christian authors and/or published by Christian publishers. Christian writers are not the only talented ones. So, I read a variety of writers as well. If this makes me unpopular with one group or another, so be it.

I say that so that no one will be shocked whenever I review a book that has coarse language in it, or scenes that are not exactly what you would want your children to be reading. Shoot to Thrill by P.J. Tracy is such a book. If there was a rating system for book content, this one most likely would be rated R. I would not recommend it to just anyone, but if you like a good mystery/suspense/romance novel and don't mind a little of the "bad" stuff, you would probably enjoy this book.

It is the story of a group of computer geeks (Monkeewrench) and law enforcement officers who join forces to solve a particular crime that is sweeping the country. There are people who are videotaping murders and posting them on the Internet. The police, FBI, and computer hackers use their skills to track these murderers down and at the same time try to solve a case involving mysterious boxes that are left in several public places in Minneapolis. What is in these boxes? Who would murder someone, then put the video out for the whole world to see? Who is it that they are killing and why?

I have read all five of P.J. Tracy's books, which include Monkeewrench, Live Bait, Dead Run, Snow Blind, and Shoot to Thrill. I have been impressed with the writing style of this mother/daughter team. The writing is seamless, and the books are dripping with sarcasm on every page. Here is just one example of the humorous exchanges between characters that make these stories so fun to read:

"It's too hot to fight crime. You know what I've been thinking? About shifting from Homicide over to Water Rescue, just for the summer."

Magozzi glanced over at his partner's generous paunch.

"What?"

"I just had a really scary visual flash of you in a wet suit."

Gino gave his protruding belly a fond pat. "Some women find this profile irresistible."

"What women?"

"Some women. Somewhere."

Funny.

If you have a hard time wading through the language and innuendos to get at the story, then this book is not for you. However, if you can read around all that to enjoy the great suspenseful plot, then by all means, get a copy of this book and read it. I liked it. I think you will, too.

(I checked this book out of the local library to read. I received no compensation for this review.)