Once again, Robert Dugoni has knocked it out of the park! I seriously love the Tracy Crosswhite series and this may be the best one yet. I was very pleased to see more storylines involving other characters, especially Del.

I was not sure that I would like this book or not. I have felt that the spark has gone out of this series while reading the last couple of books, and the one before this one was a real struggle to finish. However, I decided to give this series one more chance since I did like the first book very much.

So, how was it? To be honest, did I struggle at first with the book. The story did feel better than in the previous book, but I was several times mentally debating if I should stop reading or not since the story didn't offer any big surprises and it felt a bit sluggish. However, the story picked up when Dugoni decided to twist the story in a way that I did not foresee (thanks to not reading the blurb before starting the book) and then it got much better.

I'm not a big fan of reading about drugs, but one of the cops nieces overdosed before the events in this book, and for him did it get very personal to stop the deadly heroin from killing more people than it had already done by then. Then, we have the kid that was killed by a hit-and-run driver that case is also tragic. I was a bit surprised about how much of the story the blurb gives away. As I wrote before did I did not read the blurb before starting the book. I seldom do since they often give away too much information. And, here I was painstakingly trying to keep spoilers to the minimum and the blurb gives away several key factors. Why do I even bother? Anyway, I'm glad that I had not read the blurb before, that made some things more surprising and kept me interested in continuing reading the book.

Close to Home is an upswing from the book before. Not as interesting as the first book in the series, but interesting enough that I will read the next book in the series, especially because the way the book ended...

In the past year, Robert Dugoni has gone from a completely unknown entity to one of my favorite authors. This book confirms why: its compelling storyline, the emotional backgrounds for the key players and the surprising twists and turns keep the reader on the edge of the seat wondering where the story will go and how the pieces of the puzzle will come together.
If I have to be extremely critical, this book isn't my favorite in the series featuring Tracy Crosswhite, there were a few things that were a little too convenient and the ending not optimal. But again, that's if I'm extremely critical because I truly enjoyed the book and cannot wait to read the next story about Crosswhite and her colleagues in the Seattle PD.

While investigating the hit-and-run death of a young boy, Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite makes a startling discovery: the suspect is an active-duty serviceman at a local naval base. After a key piece of case evidence goes missing, he is cleared of charges in a military court. But Tracy knows she can’t turn her back on this kind of injustice.

When she uncovers the driver’s ties to a rash of recent heroin overdoses in the city, she realizes that this isn’t just a case of the military protecting its own. It runs much deeper than that, and the accused wasn’t acting alone. For Tracy, it’s all hitting very close to home.

As Tracy moves closer to uncovering the truth behind this insidious conspiracy, she’s putting herself in harm’s way. And the only people she can rely on to make it out alive might be those she can no longer trust.

* * * * *


There is no way around it. I love this series! It is set locally to myself in Seattle so I recognize the places that Tracy is investigating. I also really enjoy the camaraderie and caring of the team she works with. Kins, Del, Tracy and Faz are all wonderfully developed characters. They have all grown so much.

In CLOSE TO HOME, there are actually two different cases that end up merging into one. Cases that involve the military and span from Kitsap county up to Seattle. This book also brings in to focus a crisis that is occurring across the US. The tension is high with little breaks to catch your breath, the dialogue is on point and the conclusion surprising.

As I am sure you can guess, I highly recommend this book. Heck, I highly recommend this series. I think that any of my readers who enjoy crime drama or police procedurals. I can hardly wait for the next book.

** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

Picking up the latest book in this series has become an annual event I look forward to. Dugoni consistently delivers stories that combine clever, tightly plotted suspense with a great cast of characters & this one is no different.

The gang from Seattle PD’s Violent Crimes Section is back. Tracy Crosswhite & partner Kinsington Rowe are initially mystified when they’re assigned to a fatal hit & run. But when their investigation points to an employee at a local Navy base, things get complicated.

Meanwhile, Del Castigliano & Vic Fazzio are trying to track down the supplier of a deadly strain of heroin that’s hit the streets of Seattle & it’s personal. Del’s niece is one of the casualties & although he technically shouldn’t be involved, he’s determined to find those responsible for her death.

The 2 story lines unfold simultaneously & both are compelling with several twists to keep you on your toes. And there’s been a little change to the format. Instead of Tracy being the “star”, this instalment shines the limelight equally on all 4 of the lead detectives. It allows us to gain insight not only into their professional relationships but their private lives as well. Several are dealing with personal issues & these side stories add depth to the characters.

Two stories which merge to form a cracking police thriller. I’d not read a Dugoni before and whilst I do think I’ve had got more from the novel if I’d read the previous ones, this did read like a standalone. I would like to know more about Tracy’s background and where she came from on all levels and whilst there are hints to her past and problems, the scars which appear here are interesting to say the least.

This is an interesting read on so many levels – the military and civilian world clash in spectacular fashion. Seattle is portrayed and evoke well and all the little details from the scene of the crime to the bar are real and this makes it a great deal more interesting for a novel like this! There were mentions of JG and NCIS which did get me picturing the TV series I have to say. Gibbs has problems then!

The underbelly of the city is more than graphically evolved evoked with the scourge of drugs and addiction plastered all over in graphic details. The real world of how drugs and addition affects people from all walks of life, put the humanity into this vile trade.

It’s definitely got me interested in looking up Dugoni again. I give it three stars though as I found this installment quite depressing and very dark and I'm not overly keen on novels with such a big focus on drugs and addiction.

4.25 STARS

Loved this latest installment to author Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series!

Book #5 hits a little close to home, when one of this series beloved characters faces a devastating loss at the hands of drugs. At the same time, Tracy investigates the senseless hit and run death of a young black youth, while struggling with her inability to conceive a child. And while both stories play out simultaneously, there may be a link between the two that is not only unexpected, but could put Tracy in the crossfire, once again.

A much favored series of mine, I look forward to reading additional installments in the future.

Not my favorite Tracy book, but still readable. For me, this had a lot more explanations and that made it less enjoyable. Mr. Dugoni felt the need to explain all the Naval acronyms, the information on the drugs etc. Rightly so, but still took away the enjoyment, at times, I was bored. This one deals with drugs and unfortunately, that isn't my favorite subject. I guess I prefer my detective stories to deal with murder etc. - go figure!

I liked getting more backstory on Del, but Tracy seemed to be missing a lot in this one. We have some new characters coming into the fold, and that is nice. Not sure if we'll see much of Tracy in future books, and that could be why the new characters are coming in to play. I am still a fan and will still be reading RD books.

**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.**

In the fifth book of Robert Dugoni’s excellent police procedural series featuring homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite, Tracy is assigned to investigate the hit and run death of a young teenager. When the prime suspect is identified as an active duty Navy serviceman, the Navy takes over the investigation. Meanwhile, Del Castigliano, one of the members of her team, is on the hunt for a drug dealer who sold his niece a fatal dose of heroin. Dugoni provides a knowing and compassion portrait of the effects of addiction on families and communities. The Navy’s involvement in Tracy’s case gave me welcome insight into how the military legal system works when a service member is accused of a civilian crime. On the home front, Tracy Crosswhite and her childhood friend Dan are married and have settled into a cottage that Dan has remodeled. Their attempts to get pregnant have been unsuccessful, and no spoilers, but the conclusion left me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series! Dugoni is a masterful storyteller with richly developed characters, and “Close to Home” is another winner in this series.

My review was posted on Goodreads and Edelweiss on 9/10/17.

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishing and NetGalley for kindly providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In this fifth installment, Seattle Police Detective Tracy Crosswhite and her partner, Kins Rowe, have been assigned a case involving the hit-and-run death of a 12-year old African American boy. As part of the Violent Crimes Section, this isn’t a case they would normally handle, however, due to high racial tensions, the local politicians want to assure the public that they are doing everything to locate the driver and exact justice for the boy’s family. Meanwhile, fellow VCS Detectives Del Castigliano and Vic Fazzio investigate the increase in heroin-related deaths taking place throughout the city, and they are particularly interested in locating the dealer that sold Del’s niece the heroin that resulted in her death.

Tracy and Kin’s investigation lead to an active-duty military man stationed at a nearby base, who adamantly denies being the driver, but evidence points to the contrary, so he is arrested. When the Navy decides to take jurisdiction, suspicions from the African American community continue to grow, fearing the military’s interest is merely to protect their own. This fear is proven justified when a key piece of evidence goes missing, and the case against the serviceman falls apart. Not satisfied to simply let the case drop, Tracy and her team continue to investigate, which leads them to uncover a dangerous scheme.

This was a bit different than the previous installments, being less action-packed, but possessing more emotional impact. The author delves into sensitive racial territory, shedding light on the struggle of heroin addicts and the heartbreaking reality of their families, as well as the challenges facing law enforcement following the legalization of marijuana, and the rippling effects on the illicit drug trade. He explores all of these well researched subjects, including an understanding of the legal military procedures involving servicemen/women and civilians, through his skillful storytelling, while also highlighting his character’s personal lives, including the grief experienced by both Del and his family, as well as the boy’s family. Dugoni continues to engage and surprise, and I can’t wait to see where he takes Tracy and the guys next.

I'm a big Tracy Crosswhite fan, and this book still has me just absolutely loving her. The story line on this one, though, took me a while to get into and wasn't one of my favorites, largely because it got a lot more court technical than other books in the series.

In this book, Tracy is investigating a hit-and-run that resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy. The chapters alternate between her and Del and Faz, who are investigating the death of Del's niece. She overdosed on heroin, a habit she was trying to kick and had been doing well at avoiding. I knew these two cases would eventually have to come together, but it took a while in the book for the connection to become clear and make sense.

For me, the best part of this book was the last 20%, in which all the pieces start to come together and there is revelation after revelation. It kept me turning pages until late last night, heart pumping, which is exactly what I want from this type of novel. I do wish more of the book had been at this pace, which is why I'm giving this one 4 instead of 5 stars. Definitely still enjoyed it and would recommend it!

I enjoyed this addition to the Tracy series, but it was a bit slow. I really liked Leah Battles and love that we may be seeing more of her. Also enjoyed the ending lots. Looking forward to the next one in this series.

POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING: As stated in the blurb, this story does deal with the very real heroin epidemic. This epidemic as well as the fall out, both from the death of the user as well as the grief of the family is covered in a very realistic way that may be disturbing to some readers.

Even though this is book number five in Tracy's series, each of these stories can be read by itself. There is nothing to be missed out on if you are just now joining the series that you can't pick up on (certain relationships and such), however I would highly recommend checking out the entire series!

I can't get enough of this series, or these characters! I love the way the author is able to bring them to life - taking us not only through their gripping, frustrating (and occasionally dangerous) life as police officers, but also through the trials they faced at home as well. I have been lucky enough to have been with Tracy since the beginning, and let me tell you - the stories only get better!

However, as I stated in my warning, this one does deal with an issue that may hit too close to home for some people. In fact, I personally was hesitant to read once that particular story-line began. It's not an easy subject to broach, and yet he manages to do it in a way that is both realistic, brutal and honest. I was not expecting this story to take the turns that it did, but oh my, they only made the story better!

Overall, I am sure this story will still appeal to those who enjoy well-written novels that keep you guessing (and glued to the story) until the very end!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

I found this series a couple years ago when I was looking for books to read on Kindle Unlimited. I wasn't disappointed. The first book drew me in just like this book did.
This book is centered around Tracy Crosswhite who is a detective with the Seattle PD. This involves a case she gets that is a hit and run which turns out to be so much bigger than she imagined.
There's also a bit of a story here with Del, another detective she works with who just lost his neice to drugs. Del is determined to find out exactly where his neice got the drugs from.
I would definitely recommend this series if you want a fast paced, exciting series.

lose to Home

Close to Home by Robert Dugoni
Close to Home (Tracy Crosswhite, #5)
by Robert Dugoni (Goodreads Author)
30817744
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* Jones's review Sep 05, 2017 · edit
really liked it
bookshelves: 2017, favourite-author, netgalley-arc, 4-star, author-i-want-to-read-more-of, sandy-s-ng-nirvana, sandy-s-reading-retreat

Whenever I finish a good book, I like to read the author's acknowledgements, particularly when they speak about what led them to write that particular book. I am going to quote from Robert Dugoni's acknowledgements at the end of Close to Home because he has something very relevant to say, and I learned a lot about the Heroin problem. Let's just say he blew a few of my ill conceived notions out of the water.

'In the year prior to writing Close to Home, I read of multiple students at a local high school dying of Heroin overdoses. The loss of a young person is always tragic. The loss of that person, often after years of the torment Heroin wreaks on the entire family, is shocking. As I researched this topic, I was surprised and dismayed at the long-term and long-range ramifications of the legalization of Marijuana. I had no idea that the loss of Marijuana income had led to the Mexican, South American, and Chinese drug cartels plowing under their Marijuana fields to plant poppies and to flood the market with cheap and affordable Heroin. This came at an unfortunate time when so many people had become addicted to prescription opioids.'

EXTRACT: '"Why did you ask if your son was dead, Mrs Welch?".....She shrugged, then sighed. She looked to be fighting tears. "I've been expecting a call or knock on my door for some time." "What's he addicted to?" "Heroin, for about a year now. I can't control him. I 've considered kicking him out, but. ..he'smy son..........Can you arrest him? Put him in jail? Maybe he can get some help. I don't know what else to do. Every time the phone rings, or there's a knock on the door. ...I expect it to be someone coming to tell me my son is dead."

THE BLURB: New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni’s acclaimed series continues as Tracy Crosswhite is thrown headlong into the path of a killer conspiracy.

While investigating the hit-and-run death of a young boy, Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite makes a startling discovery: the suspect is an active-duty serviceman at a local naval base. After a key piece of case evidence goes missing, he is cleared of charges in a military court. But Tracy knows she can’t turn her back on this kind of injustice.

When she uncovers the driver’s ties to a rash of recent heroin overdoses in the city, she realizes that this isn’t just a case of the military protecting its own. It runs much deeper than that, and the accused wasn’t acting alone. For Tracy, it’s all hitting very close to home.

As Tracy moves closer to uncovering the truth behind this insidious conspiracy, she’s putting herself in harm’s way. And the only people she can rely on to make it out alive might be those she can no longer trust.

MY COMMENTS: I have to say that I usually avoid books about drug addiction and drug usage. I just don't like them, especially the ones who promote it as something glamorous. I certainly can't accuse Robert Dugoni of doing that! Added to that, I have read and enjoyed the earlier books in his Tracy Crosswhite series, so I wasn't about to miss out on this one. I had a bit of a slow start with Close to Home, dipping my toes in cautiously, but I was soon firmly entrenched in the story.

Dugoni's writing puts you firmly in the center of the action. I found myself battling alongside Tracy, trying to make sense of what was happening. I was way off with my suspicions! Dugoni gets the balance between his characters work and private lives exactly right.

So if you are looking for a gripping crime-thriller/ police procedural, I can heartily recommend Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series. But I do recommend you start with the first to get the most out of the series. And if, like me, you are a fan of the series, you won't be disappointed with Close to Home, #5.

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Close to Home for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page for an explanation of my ratings. This review is also published on my blog
https://wordpress.com/pages/sandysboo...

Whenever I continue with a series, I have concerns. Will I continue to connect with the characters as they grow and change? Will things become stale? Will I have a hard time recalling their history? I'm happy that the Tracey Crosswhite series continues to work for me. This book is a bit different, having shades of a courtroom drama and involving the U.S. Navy. While sometimes the information can become overwhelming, I really feel like this book was well thought-out and extremely well researched. It introduces two new interesting characters and reinforces our love for old favorites that have featured in each book.

A young boy was rushing home from a basketball game, not wanting to disappoint his mother who always insists school becomes before basketball. He is struck by a car, his promising life cut tragically short... and there's no one to pay for the crime. They simply drove away. He leaves behind a grief stricken family and an outraged community who thinks this is bound to become another death of a young black man that is simply glossed over. That won't happen if Tracey has anything to say about it. The vehicle is found and traced to a Navy man named Trejo who denies even being in the area. He insists his vehicle was stolen and he has no knowledge of the hit and run, but something isn't adding up. The crime becomes a Navy matter, and Lieutenant Leah Battles is assigned to defend Trejo. She's an interesting new character, but whether she can be trusted or not is difficult to determine.

The trial quickly becomes out of control when key evidence disappears, and no one knows who would risk it. Leah is determined to win, but would she risk her entire career by hiding evidence? Tracey doesn't know what to think, but she's determined to find justice for the young boy and his family.

Rounding out the "A Team" in Violent Crimes we have Kins, Tracey's partner, and Faz and Del. Del in particular features a lot in this book. His niece died recently of a heroin overdose not long after she returned from rehab. He seeks someone to blame, but soon learns he can't stop there. People are dying left and right, and he doesn't just want to find her friends and dealer: he wants the supplier. There's a different kind of heroin on the streets, leading to more overdoses and more heartbroken families. His sister is falling apart, and his nephews have been taking care of themselves more than being taken care of.

Their professional and personal lives have a way of intertwining. The chapters about their personal lives are just as engaging as the police work. That's something Robert Dugoni does very well. This a strong 4.5 bumped up to a five. I loved revisiting the characters I have been following for years. The books would work as standalones, but I'm so happy to read the series in order. I feel like I know these characters!

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

A good installment in this continuing series, overall, but there was some political grandstanding by a few of the characters and some emotional manipulation in the narration that brought me unnecessarily out of the story. Worth reading for fans of Tracy Crosswhite and Dugoni, but far from the best in the series.

Robert Dugoni delivers the next series installment getting Tracy involved with the Navy in a case that could sink more than one career, and life, if she’s not careful.

When Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite is called to the scene of a hit-and-run death, she doesn’t expect the case to lead her to the Navy. The suspect is a serviceman at the local base, which causes the local Judge Advocate General Corps to get involved. The case is then transferred to the military court where the key piece of evidence goes missing. Tracy has made a promise to the family of the victim that she will make sure justice is served for the death of their son, giving her no other option than to pursue the case. The further Tracy digs into the crimes, the more connections pop up to recent heroin overdoses. With each new clue, Tracy, and those around her are put in danger and not everyone is guaranteed to make it out alive.

The Tracy Crosswhite series has become one of my absolute favorites. I love the way Dugoni has taken this character and made her someone the reader wants to cheer for and strive to be like in so many ways. Close to Home is the fifth in the series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. There are references to the first book in the series, but nothing about this book makes it necessary to have read the entire series. For me, this was more of a mystery than a suspense thriller. There was not the usual edge of my seat, can’t wait to see what is going to happen next moments. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just different from the way Dugoni has written these books in the past. I enjoyed the way he spent extra time building up a few of the secondary characters we have seen throughout the series. I really enjoyed the different tone to the story with incorporating the military and JAG lawyers. I am a big fan of military shows and novels and thought this fit in so well with the writing of the characters already established in the series. It will be interesting to see if any of the new characters introduced here make it to the next in the series. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an excellent mystery that will leave you guessing and cheering with the way the story comes to an end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

This is the fifth book in this series, and actually the first one I have read, it sure won’t be the last one, and I sure didn’t feel at all lost reading this one first.
Be ready for one action packed ride, and the hope for justice, and up and personal look at the lives of Seattle’s Police Department, and some Navy.
To be honest this one kept me guess all the way to the end, first I suspected one and then another, and the best part of the story is that it is so real that it could have actually happened.
I loved how everything that takes place seems to wrap around and come together to make the conclusion, and thus the compelling page-turner to find answers.
If you enjoy mystery that thrillers this one will wet your appetite and make you come back for more, all the while hoping that somehow justice will prevail.
I received this book through Net Galley and Publisher Thomas & Mercer, and was not required to give a positive review.

When I pick up a Robert Dugoni book I always feel like I have to say thank you to Bibliophile Book Club for introducing me to the Tracy Crosswhite series.  That was back with book one, My Sister’s Grave, and now I’m on book five but I still can’t get enough of Tracy. 
Here, she starts of investigating the hit and run of a twelve year old boy (which isn’t graphic but is still shocking to read) only to find links with the Seattle heroin trade and that nothing, as a result, is as it seems.  It also means a seemingly simple case gets complicated pretty quickly, especially when you add in the Navy as their main suspect is enlisted.
I loved reading the JAG elements of this (the Navy’s legal arm) and getting to know the lead defensive lawyer, a strong, female, character who matched Tracy step for step.  By including her take on events and her voice, it added a different element to the novel – with each one I notice they are a little less Tracy dominated with other characters coming into their own.
As well as the JAG lawyer, here that meant Del and Faz, two other detectives in Tracy’s squad.  I mentioned in my last review (The Trapped Girl) that it was good to start to get to know them and here they were front and centre, with their own investigation running parallel and then smacking right into Tracy’s.
I like stories where there is a team in the mix. It makes it more interesting, means that the main character doesn’t have to be so gung-ho and out there on a limb, and that – as a result – they are more likely to act in a way that seems real to me.  More and more, that is what I want from my crime fiction, a feeling that it is grounded in reality.
That doesn’t mean I got boring. This was far from that, with plenty of twists and turns, including one at the end that I did see coming and then one that I absolutely didn’t.  It just means that I could settle into the book in a way I find with others I can’t – I am too busy suspending reality and telling myself not to pick holes in plots.
And settle I did, reading this in just a couple of days.  I really couldn’t put it down. So kudos to Dugoni, who has crafted a great, compelling, read and one I would highly recommend.  Loved it!