A DEAD DRAW

4 stars out of 5

Admittedly, for one reason or another I've missed at least a couple of books in this series - this is the eleventh - and for those I missed I'm sorry just because I enjoy them so much. Tracy Crosswhite, a detective in the Seattle Police Department's Cold Case Unit, is more like an old friend than a character in a book; I'm warming up to her husband, prosecuting attorney Dan O'Leary (their young daughter, Daniella, doesn't get anywhere as much page space as her parents, but she sounds adorable.

This one touches - no, make that pounds - on an old nemesis - the man who murdered Tracy's sister Sarah years earlier. As Tracy interviews Erik Schmidt, a nasty sort whom Tracy believes murdered two girls in one of the cold cases she's trying to heat up, believes Sarah's killer to be some kind of hero. Needless to say, that does not endear him to Tracy. 

But any charges against Schmidt go poof in the night following an evidence screw-up, and he makes it clear he's out to get Tracy. What follows is a whirlwind chase (in both directions, as Tracy tries to get to Schmidt before he can get to her and her family), plenty of head games and an action-packed finish. In some ways, Schmidt is almost too ingenious to be believed, but it makes for a fun  adventure anyway. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to be part of another exciting installment by way of a pre-release copy.

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, May 2025); 373 pp.

BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT

5 stars out of 5

Last year, I read the author's Her Deadly Game, which featured attorney and grown-up chess prodigy Keera Duggan. At the time, I hoped she was destined for a series but wasn't sure - and by golly, here she is again. This second installment is better than the first.

Living in the shadow of her hot-shot attorney father, Patsy, Keera has a place in his Seattle law firm along with a couple of sisters. Three year ago, her father successfully defended health-care entrepreneur Jenna Bernstein when she was charged with the murder of a potential whistle-blower. Now, Jenna's former company partner and lover has been murdered as well, and the evidence points to Jenna as the killer (if you haven't already guessed, the resemblance to a similar real-life incident that topped the national news in the United States is inescapable). Because of the earlier success, Jenna and her parents again turn to Patsy's firm to defend her.

Patsy, though, is fighting his own battles with the bottle and not actively participating in the firm's business. That leaves the defense job to Keera, but there's a hitch: Keera is well acquainted with Jenna from childhood, and let's just say Jenna is far, far from an upstanding, honest and trustworthy individual (the term sociopath is a more appropriate description). If Keera takes the case, she knows she cannot trust anything that Jenna says or does.

The story follows the investigation and trial as well as plenty of backstories about Keera, Jenna and Patsy - those who love courtroom action (like me) should be happy. It's a treat to read from start to finish, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, October 2024); 365 pp.

ONE LAST KILL

4 stars

It's hard to believe this is the 10th appearance by Seattle Police Department cold case detective Tracy Crosswhite - especially, perhaps, since it seems over the years her actions, even when she was in the right, have alienated just about everybody around her except a couple of loyal former partners, her husband Dan and their daughter Daniella. In this one, though, she gains at least one ally (or comes as close as she can given their former misgivings - and no, I'm not gonna tell).

This time out, Tracy - the sole member of the cold case task force - is taking another look at the so-called Route 99 serial killer, whose spree inexplicably stopped after 13 victims around the mid-1990s. The police chief, who shall we say is not a Tracy fan, assigns Tracy's old nemisis, now Captain Johnny Nolasco, to work with her instead of one of her former partners. Chapters shift from the events and investigation of the 1990s to the present. Back then, five potential suspects were identified; but once the killing stopped, so did the investigation.

It makes sense, then, to re-look at those who remain alive. In fact, some new evidence leads to a conclusion - but one with which Tracy isn't totally comfortable. Rather quickly, it becomes pretty clear her instincts are on the money, but that doesn't mean she and Nolasco will close the case - on which Nolasco worked 25 years ago - any time soon. In fact, some very powerful people are standing squarely in the way, desperate to protect secrets they still plan to take with them to their graves. And if the killer is still out there, how will he or she react to the renewed effort to bring closure to the victims' families?

It's another fast-paced adventure that series fans won't want to miss (although I admit to growing a bit weary of the near-constant emphasis on who feels wronged by Tracy and still carries a grudge). But I enjoyed it all the same, even to the point of taking it to bed with me to finish (something I rarely do). I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy, and now, as always, I'm looking forward to the next one.

One Last Kill by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, October 2023); 351 pp.

HER DEADLY GAME

4 stars out of 5

When it comes to mysteries and thrillers - my favorite category of books - I gravitate first to those with a legal and/or medical theme. Such is the case with this one, which introduces lawyer and grown-up chess prodigy Keera Duggan in her first big case for the family firm. I don't know if she's destined for a series or not, but if so, count me in as one who will be reading.

Actually, Keera is a reluctant addition to the family firm, led by her well-documented alcoholic father and three sisters. But she had little choice; fresh off a soured relationship with a heavy-hitting Seattle prosecuting attorney who's out to destroy her professionally every chance he gets, the only haven for her for now is in the arms of her more-than-a-little dysfunctional family. But then, the firm lands what could be the opportunity of a lifetime: uber-rich financial guru Vince LaRussa, who is accused of murdering his disabled wife Anne. He's got a reasonable alibi, but it's far from airtight; and turns out he's got a honker of a motive. To make matters worse, who do you suppose is the prosecuting attorney?

Constantly bickering with her sisters and concerned that her former top-tier attorney father, Patrick "Patsy" Duggan, will once again fall off the wagon, Keera gets help from likable cop-turned private investigator J.P. Harrison and hones her strategizing with a challenging online game of chess with a mysterious opponent. As she navigates the trial facing a prosecutor whose ethics are suspect and a judge who, let's say, isn't a Patsy fan, Keera digs in her heels deep enough to reach what just may be a very uncomfortable truth.

In particular, I enjoyed the courtroom activity; the chess back-and-forths a little less so, but that's simply because the few games I've actually played mostly made me realize I don't really want to play any more. More often than not, the transition from setting to setting seemed a little disjointed, but overall the story was intriguing enough that it didn't matter much and I'm sure that other fans of the author will be happy as well. As I said early on, I'm hoping this is the start of a series, because I'm looking forward to another one. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to get in on the action with a pre-release copy to read and review.

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, March 2023); 396 pp.

WHAT SHE FOUND

4 stars out of 5

Each time I open a book in this terrific series, I'm sure I'll be in for a treat. This one - the ninth - kept that streak going. Now the sole detective in the Seattle Police Department's Cold Case Unit, Detective Tracy Crosswhite is married to prosecuting attorney Dan O'Leary, and they share still-in-diapers daughter Daniella. She's still not popular with quite a few of her fellow officers in blue including her current boss; but overall, she's enjoying the relative solitude and independence of working alone and staying loyal to the few officers she's long respected and trusted.

That gets put to the test here, as she agrees to look into the 25-year-old disappearance and presumed murder of Lisa Childress, a hot-shot newspaper reporter who left behind a young daughter (and a husband who remains the prime suspect). Now grown, the daughter just wants closure - and, hopefully, restoring her father's once good name. Early in her investigation, she reasons that one of the stories Lisa was working on at the time she went missing might have triggered retaliation from someone who didn't want to be outed. The most likely possibility, it seems, was a suspected police drug task force scandal that could have brought down the entire department. If that's the case, there's a potential problem; some of her trusted friends were around back then. Is it possible they knew something, or worse, were in on it?

Still, Tracy perseveres, searching for and meeting up with some of the players mentioned in the meager police records of the task force's activities. Here and there, clues pop up to make her investigative nose start twitching, but there's nothing substantive that could lead to solving the case. Until there is; one big clue turns up in a California city - one that changes the intensity and course of the investigation as well as angers Tracy's boss and threatens a couple of long-standing friendships.

There's plenty of action throughout, although I did find the epilogue a bit abrupt as it brought an otherwise exciting story to a sort of "blah" end. Still, I'm already looking forward to the next installment - and I once again thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Great series (start at the beginning and you won't be sorry), highly recommended!

What She Found by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, August 2022); 343 pp.

THE SILENT SISTERS

5 stars out of 5

This book brings closure to the trilogy of the "seven sisters" - Russian women who for years have been engaged in spying activities in their country for the benefit of America. The first two, both of which I read, were outstanding - as is this one. Here, American Charles Jenkins, who led the exfiltration of others in the uber-secret group, has been called back into action to retrieve the final two.

Problem is, Jenkins almost bit the dust during his last foray into Russia, and now he's on a kill list. A much-loved wife, a couple of [ditto] kids and a relatively satisfying life render him reluctant to take on the assignment - but the lure of action (and his sense of responsibility) reels him in and off he goes. He's been outfitted with multiple disguises to help him get past those pesky Russian face-recognition cameras, but that doesn't cut down much on the potential for discovery; Jenkins is, after all, a very tall Black man - not easy attributes to cover up, especially in Russia. 

Another attribute he finds hard to conceal is his sense of fair play and concern for the underdog; his first night in Moscow, he can't resist intervening to save a helpless person and ends up on the wrong side of a particularly ruthless Russian Mafia boss. So now, he's got two factions to steer clear of - and much as they despise each other, both are determined to capture and have their way with him. Under these circumstances, going it alone would be tough enough; a couple of on-the-run females added to his baggage put Jenkins's skills to the ultimate test and considerably reduce his chances of returning to his family.

Needless to say, it's the thrill of the chase - and the complexity of the well-developed characters - that make this book (all three of them, actually) very hard to put down. And in the end, I was a little sad that there are no more sisters left to save. But I look on the bright side; although that series seems to have ended, I saw no evidence that it's the last readers will see of Charles Jenkins - and that's a very good thing in my book. I'll keep my fingers crossed that we'll see him again soon; meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to once again read and review a pre-release copy. Another one well done!

The Silent Sisters by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, February 2022); 399 pp.

IN HER TRACKS

5 stars out of 5

When you've found a series you enjoy, opening the first page of the newest edition never fails to be a treat. That in mind, I set aside my practice of reading advance review copies from NetGalley in order of nearest release date and moved this one up a few notches just to make myself happy. Now I'm done, and yes, I am - in fact, I enjoyed this one a little bit more than most.

Detective Tracy Crosswhite, who's been on maternity leave and leave to deal with PTSD, gets back to work in the Violent Crimes Department of the Seattle Police Department. While she was gone, her much-disliked boss (the feeling is mutual) has brought in someone to fill in while she was gone and now claims her old job is no longer available. Instead, he offers her reassignment in the department's cold case unit, which he clearly hopes she'll turn down and resign. She's tempted to do just that, until she talks with the officer who's retiring and decides it might not be such a bad gig after all.

Immediately, she zeroes in on a case involving a five-year-old girl who disappeared in a Halloween corn maze while in her father's care. Both he and his ex-wife, the girl's mother, were suspects at the time (especially since the parents were almost vicious in their dislike of each other), but no charges were ever brought and the girl has remained missing. A second case, the disappearance of two local prostitutes, catches her eye as well. If those cases weren't enough, soon thereafter, Tracy's old partner Kinsington Rowe, asks for her help with  a current case of a female jogger who disappeared on or near a rather remote trail. It isn't long before her boss steps in and insists that she stick to her cold cases, but it's time enough for her to see some similarities between the missing jogger and the two missing hookers years earlier.

From that point on, there's plenty of action, twists and turns as Tracy and Kins do their investigative thing and bump up against some really nasty suspects. Tracy may be getting a little older (this is the eighth book in the series, after all), but she certainly hasn't lost her edge. If it matters, I think this one can be read as a standalone for those unfamiliar with the series - but I'll add, as is my custom, that it's always best to start at the beginning. As for me, I'll just say thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review another one. Good job once again!

In Her Tracks by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, April 2021); 383 pp.

THE LAST AGENT

 5 stars out of 5

Chalk up another winner in this series - after

reading the first, The Eighth Sister, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next one. And it certainly didn't disappoint. I'm not a very "excitable" reader, really - and I'm always pretty sure an author won't put his or her series star six feet under. But the closer I got to the end of former spy Charles Jenkins' adventures getting into and out of Russia, the tighter I held my Kindle and the closer to falling off the edge of my seat.

Charlie, now married with two children - the daughter named after Paulina Ponomayova, an agent who sacrificed her life to save his in the previous book - isn't exactly happy with his former life. His own country betrayed him and even put him on trial for treason, so he owes nothing. But then, an agent from the CIA's Clandestine Services pays Charlie a visit - telling him that a woman believed to be Paulina is alive - but probably not well - in one of Moscow's nastiest prisons. 

After the way he's been treated, Charlie has no confidence that the agent bringing the news is telling the truth; he could be setting Charlie up for a fall that could be permanent. There's also no proof that the imprisoned woman is Paulina, although clues strongly suggest that is the case. In any event, the agent plays to Charlie's indebtedness to Paulina as he tries to convince him to return to Russia, determine whether or not the woman is his old friend and, if she is, get her out of the prison, out of Russia and  safe in the United States.

It's quite a tall order, and even Charlie isn't sure he's up to the task. His wife Alex isn't thrilled with the thought of such a dangerous mission, but she acknowledges that her husband is with her only because of Paulina's efforts. So off he goes, and the nonstop adventure begins - starting with a surreptitious and almost disastrous venture to Russian soil. First up is identifying the woman; for help with that, he must find a former Russian officer who once was Charlie's nemesis.

It is here that I must stop; otherwise, I'd give away too much. Suffice it to say Charlie's adventure only gets more fast-paced and frightening as the chapters zip along to an exciting end - one that leaves the door open for the next adventure. I'm more than ready - and until then, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this one.

The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, September 2020); 405 pp.

A COLD TRAIL

4 stars out of 5

It's always a treat to dive into a new book in a favorite series, and it's even sweeter when it's another good one. Such is the case here (I even stayed up half an hour past my bedtime to finish it). This is the seventh appearance of Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite, but I warn other readers that near the end of the book, it was touch and go as to whether it would be her last.

Of course, no reader is likely to think she won't survive - this series is far too popular to knock off the lead character, for goodness sake; so the devil here is in the details. Tracy and her lawyer husband Dan have moved back to their home town of Cedar Grove, Washington, while their home in a Seattle suburb is being remodeled. They bring with them their two-month-old daughter Daniella and Irish nanny Therese (a likable character in her own right, a bit reminiscent of Mary Catherine, the very Irish nanny and housekeeper for James Patterson series character Michael Bennett). 

Tracy and Dan are living in Dan's parents' old house, but it is the small town itself that brings back the most memories - and not pleasant ones. This is the place where Tracy's younger sister, Sarah, went missing while she was in high school; years later, her body was found and the killer identified. Now, Dan has taken on the defense of a local man who's fighting the sale of his long-time family store to the city, which is buying up other small businesses and reselling them to buyers who pledge to remodel and reopen. Tracy is for the most part happy to be with her new daughter, but she also misses the fulfillment of her job (from which she's still on maternity leave). So when the local acting police chief makes her an offer she can't refuse, she doesn't - agreeing to help solve the murder of the current chief's wife, a reporter who was working on a story that someone doesn't want told.

As most readers will suspect, it's not long before parallels show up between Tracy's investigation and Dan's client's case; but the nearly impossible part is finding real evidence. A lot has happened in Cedar Grove over the years, much of which the locals don't want to revisit even if it means catching a murderer.

The action here is pretty much nonstop, although a few too many, and too lengthy, speculative discussions among the players about who may have done what to whom slowed the pace here and there. That aside, it was an interesting plot with plenty of twists and a satisfying conclusion, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-publication copy. Now all I can do is sit back and wait till the next one!

A Cold Trail by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, February 2020); 355 pp.

THE EIGHTH SISTER

5 stars out of 5


One thing I've learned about books by this author: It's not likely I'll be disappointed. No surprise, then, that this one earned yet another five-star rating from me. Here's the scoop:

Charles Jenkins is in his 60s now, married to a younger woman who's close to delivering their new baby. A former CIA case officer, he left the agency with a bad taste in his mouth after a case that didn't go as planned some 40 years ago. Now,  he runs a security consulting business that appears to have a single client - a high-profile firm in Seattle that tends to be in arrears when it comes to payment for services rendered. Then one day, Charlie gets a surprise visitor: his long-ago CIA station chief, Carl Emerson, who begs him to take on an undercover job in Moscow (where, conveniently, Charlie's client has an office). The task is to determine the identity of the "eighth sister," a Russian agent who is behind the recent murders of a couple of members of a U.S. spy cell known as the seven sisters. They've operated successfully and secretly for many years until now; the hope is that Charlie will nail the eighth sister before she finishes off all the others.

Desperate to stop the red ink in his business, Charlie reluctantly takes the assignment without letting his wife in on his secret. But early on, he learns something is dead wrong; for openers, the woman he believes is behind the killings isn't the assassin. Even more frightening, what she tells him - if in fact she can be believed - forces him to doubt everything he's been told about the case so far.

Everything goes totally haywire when Charlie and the woman find themselves in the crosshairs of a Russian agent who wants them in jail (or better still, six feet under). But why? Nothing Charlie has said or done should have triggered that kind of response. Could it be that something or  someone's gone afoul in the CIA? And if so, who? Everything ends up in a trial, during which a possible insight on that question (as an aside, especially relevant these days) is offered. When Charlie asks, "How do we get the government to lie?" the response speaks volumes: "We just get them to move their lips."

Fast-paced, exciting and another winner, this is a not-to-be-missed thriller. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

The Eighth Sister by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, April 2019); 437 pp.

A STEEP PRICE

4 stars out of 5

In my little world of books, not much makes me happier than finding a dependably enjoyable series. And this one, featuring Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite, fills that description - I look forward to reading each installment knowing I won't be disappointed. This book, the 6th in the series, is no exception (and to that end, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy).

Tracy, now married to Dan, an attorney, is expecting a baby. She's been keeping it a secret except for her partner, Kinsington Rowe (and well, her husband, of course). So when she comes back to the office after a day in court providing testimony to find a new female detective sitting at her desk, she's perplexed to say the least. When the woman offers no real apologies for taking over the spot - and asks Tracy about her pregnancy - Tracy wavers between fighting mad and concerned about her job.

All that takes a back seat, though, when a friend calls to report a missing woman. Nothing is official - the woman, who is from a traditional Indian family from whom she is for the most part estranged, hasn't been gone long and she's a competent adult - but concerns quickly begin to suggest foul play. Missing persons cases aren't in Tracy's bailiwick, but she convinces her boss to let her have a go at it.

As this plays out, Tracy's co-workers Del Castigliano and "Faz" Fazzio run to a shooting in a drug-infested part of town; the victim has been vocal about the need to clean the neighborhood swamp, so there's a good chance she was murdered simply to shut her up. Del and Faz will work the case as best they can, but the waters get harder to navigate when Faz gets some bad news on his home front that weighs heavily on his mind.

The investigations bring the usual excitement and twists (although I'm proud to say I guess one correctly). But this book pokes a number of emotional hot buttons as well, such as arranged marriages and other Indian traditions, working women and pregnancy, prostitution and adult "dating" websites and dealing with life-threatening illness. Collectively, it creates an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable reading experience. Well done once again!

A Steep Price by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, June 2018); 380 pp.

THE TRAPPED GIRL

5 stars out of 5


In the endless sea of oysters stocked with "girl"-titled books, this one's a pearl. In fact, despite my vow to eschew any and all with that word in the title for at least the next three years, I couldn't wait to dive into it. So what turned the tide? Well, it was a can't-miss combination: Favorite author, favorite series, and the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the author and publisher for that invitation, BTW.

This is the fourth in the author's Tracy Crosswhite series, and like the others, it's a winner. I polished it off over the course of two days - not an easy feat when you've got a part-time editing job and a husband who could burn water if given half a chance (put another way, unless we eat out, dinner is on me).

Crosswhite, for those who don't already know, works at the Seattle Police Department's Violent Crimes Section and partners with Kinsington Rowe, aka Kins. She's in a serious relationship with Dan, an attorney, but psychological baggage carried over from her sister's death and the end of her first marriage keep her on the skittish side of any kind of formal hook-up. All that baggage also creeps into her work, as happens in this book.

It begins with the discovery of a female body in a crab pot - accidentally pulled out of the water by a kid trying to circumvent crabbing laws by placing and retrieving his pots under the cover of near-darkness. Identifying the victim, however, proves challenging; clearly, someone - perhaps the victim herself - has gone to great lengths to conceal who she is. Eventually, though, evidence points to a woman who went missing while mountain-climbing with her husband (a rather unsavory character who remains a person of interest in her disappearance but hasn't been charged as yet).

Needless to say, there's far more to the story. Quite a bit more, in fact; the intriguing plot, and the well-developed characters, seem a tad more complex than in previous books, with a few surprises (a couple of them whoppers). Failure to nail down what really happened and find the killer reminds Tracy of her own sister's murder, prompting her to keep plugging away when the going gets especially tough.

For those who already love this series, there's a downside; this latest installment isn't scheduled for release till January 24, 2017. But for anyone else, here's a suggestion: Although reading the first three books isn't a requirement for enjoyment of this one, why not spend the time reading the first three? In order of appearance, they are My Sister's Grave, Her Final Breath and In the Clearing. You'll be glad you did! 

The Trapped Girl by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, January 2017).

The 7th CANON

5 stars out of 5


After reading just two books by Robert Dugoni, I've become a fan; so when I got the chance to read an advance copy of this one in exchange for an honest review, I jumped. It's a standalone that's not part of either his Tracy Crosswhite or David Sloane series, though, so I crossed my fingers that my high expectations would be justified.

They were uncrossed by the end of the first chapter; when I got near the end, they were holding my Kindle so tightly that no one could possibly pry it out of my hands until I finished. Not that it's a problem at our house; the only other person here is my sweet hubby of 54 years, and he knows better than to try, bless his heart.

The story begins when a teenage boy is found murdered in a shelter for boys. Father Thomas Martin, the priest who found him - who runs the facility in a run-down, dangerous part of San Francisco - is charged with the murder. As a friend of the local Diocese, attorney Peter Donley's uncle Lou, for whom he's been working for the past three years, asks him to look into the situation. Evidence that may have been obtained illegally, a priest who vehemently refuses to plead guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence and his uncle's sudden health crisis prompt Peter to take the case even though he's not totally convinced of Father Tom's innocence.

Peter has a wife and young son and is debating whether to move on to a job with more money and more potential for career advancement. But for now he's got a client, and with that comes an obligation to follow the 7th Canon from the American Bar Association Code: "A lawyer should represent a client zealously within the bounds of the law." So, he begins to prepare a defense; and the more he delves into the lives of the priest, the victim and a hell-bent for power district attorney, the more convinced he becomes that his client isn't a killer. Proving it, though, won't be easy; ultimately, the only way to clear the priest's name may be to find the real killer - and that could mean putting his own life in danger.

Early on, I said this book is a standalone; but honestly, I'd be very happy to see the "good guys" again. The characters are both likable and capable, and the potential for a new series stuck in my thoughts throughout. How about it, Mr. Dugoni? I'm ready if you are!

The 7th Canon by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, September 2016); 334 pp.

IN THE CLEARING

4 stars out of 5

When I read the author's first book in the series featuring detective Tracy Crosswhite - My Sister's Grave - I absolutely loved it and vowed to read the second, Her Final Breath. Alas, that one somehow got lost in my ever-growing list of to-read books, which I'm still hoping to rectify as soon as possible; so when I was offered the opportunity to read this one, the third in the series, I jumped on it (thank you to the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a copy in exchange for a review).

Tracy, whose beloved sister was murdered when they were young, is now a detective and intent on solving cases involving other murder victims. Here, she is called in when a man, married to the daughter of a high-powered attorney, has been murdered. Apparently, he was killed by his soon-to-be-divorced wife as an act of self-defense as their son looked on. 

Concurrently, Tracy and her BF Dan attend the funeral of Buzz Almond, father of Tracy's former police academy classmate Jenny, who is now the sheriff in the rather remote Washington county where her late father once held the same position. Some 40 years ago, Buzz investigated the death of a Native American girl who, it was ruled at the time, committed suicide. Never satisfied with that ruling and believing the death to be murder, Buzz kept the file open; now, because it was so important to her late father, Jenny asks Tracy to look into it. Partly because of her friendship with Jenny and partly because of her experiences with her own sister, Tracy agrees - even though she must conduct the investigation on her own time.

It is the cold case, in fact, that consumes the lion's share of this book. Here and there, a chapter (or part of a chapter) reverts to 1976, where we learn what was really going on, but most of the story centers on Tracy's efforts to ferret out the truth. There's plenty of forensics involved - for the most part using newer technology that could never have been unearthed that long ago - that keeps things interesting and informative. Close to the end come a couple of twists in both cases that surprised me - always a hallmark of a good murder mystery.

So why 4 stars on this one instead of 5? Mostly, I think, because I'd like to have seen the domestic violence murder case fleshed out a little more - it almost seems as if that storyline was thrown in just so Tracy's police cohorts would have a chance to get their names in print. Oh, and there's one other thing I'll niggle about, although I pinky-swear it had no bearing whatsoever on my rating: The phrase "panties in a bunch" is trite but mildly amusing the first time around. But by the third time I came across it, my own had started to creep up into places they don't belong.

In the Clearing by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, May 2016); 368 pp.

MY SISTER'S GRAVE

5 stars out of 5

Always on the lookout for a good series, I found this book on sale at Amazon and zeroed in on it. Now that I've finished it, I'm almost sorry to learn that there's only one more that's currently available (the next is Her Final Breath, which I definitely plan to read). Yes, there's also a short story (Kindle Single), but I've said on many occasions I have zero interest in those things no matter how much I love the author's work. If that practice brings in some extra bucks for the authors, so be it, but suffice it to say none of those bucks will come from me.

This one introduces Tracy Crosswhite, a Seattle homicide detective who (understandably) never got over the murder of her younger sister Sarah some 20 years earlier - her body never found. A suspect who confessed to the murder was tried and convicted and remains incarcerated, but Tracy has had doubts about his guilt and some of the evidence that was presented all those years ago. 

As she investigates another case involving the death of a young stripper, her sister's body is unearthed - literally - so she returns to her former home in the Washington State mountains. Discovery of the body brings even more into question, and with a little help from an old but rediscovered attorney friend, she focuses on getting to the truth no matter who gets hurt along the way. 

This certainly isn't the best murder mystery I've ever read - I've gone through so many that I'm not even sure what is - but it certainly held my interest throughout; I was even a bit annoyed that I was forced to put it down for two days when good friends from out of town popped in for a visit (good thing I love them dearly). But the minute they left  - well, as soon as we'd washed the wine glasses and put away the leftover pizza - the first thing I did was open up my Kindle to see how the story ended. And for the record, it got even more exciting the closer I got to the finish line.

Now I'm off to see about getting my hands on the sequel, and after that I'll just have to wait till May 2016, when the third is slated for release (In the Clearing).

My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, November 2014); 418 pp.