About the Author
P.J. Tracy is the collective pseudonym originally used by the dynamic American mother-daughter writing duo Patricia J. Lambrecht and Traci Lambrecht. Following Patricia's passing in 2016, Traci has continued to write and uphold the legacy of this internationally acclaimed moniker. Before finding massive success as thriller authors, Patricia worked as an organizational wizard and freelance writer, while Traci spent much of her career in the music industry writing and performing. After realizing their creative synergy, they decided to combine their talents. They broke onto the international scene in 2003 with the explosive debut 'Monkeewrench,' which introduced readers to a unique blend of high-tech cyber investigations and gritty Midwest police procedurals.
The 'Monkeewrench' series — revolving around an eclectic, close-knit team of eccentric software developers working in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The founders of Monkeewrench Software, who collectively hide a traumatic past, developed a highly advanced murder-solving program initially intended as a game, only to find themselves consulting with Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth when a real-life serial killer replicates the game's murders. The series was immediately praised for effectively balancing technical cyber-thriller elements with a sharp, darkly comedic, and intensely human dynamic between the brilliant tech geeks and the seasoned, old-school detectives.
Beyond their flagship computer-centric thrillers, Traci Lambrecht (continuing as P.J. Tracy) launched a gripping new series set in Los Angeles starring Detective Margaret Nolan. This newer literary venture showcases an evolution in the author's voice, maintaining the razor-sharp plotting P.J. Tracy is known for while exploring a fresh, sun-drenched, yet deeply corrupt Californian landscape. P.J. Tracy's work has consistently remained on best-seller lists worldwide and has been awarded prestigious honors, including the Anthony, Barry, and Gumshoe Awards for Best First Novel, cementing their status in the thriller pantheon.
P.J. Tracy was the shared pseudonym of mother Traci Lambrecht and daughter P.J., one of crime fiction's most successful and unusual writing partnerships. After P.J.'s death, Traci Lambrecht has continued writing under the name, honoring a creative collaboration that produced the beloved Monkeewrench series — a group of eccentric software developers who inadvertently become crime-solving assets. The blend of tech-world humor, Minneapolis setting, and multi-protagonist ensemble gave the series a distinctly original energy. For readers who enjoy ensemble mysteries with genuine wit and a strong sense of place, the Monkeewrench books remain highly entertaining.