In this seventh book in his Detective Tracy Crosswhite series, Robert Dugoni sends Tracy back to Cedar Grove, the town where she and her husband lawyer Dan O'Leary both grew up. She and Dan are remodeling their house while Tracy is on maternity leave with their new baby, Daniella and have decided to stay in Dan's parents old house. Last time Tracy was in Cedar Grove was to investigate her sister Sarah's murder. The cold case murder of another young woman 20 years ago has recently been re-opened by the police after a local lawyer hired to look at the case was killed. The journalist wife of the Chief of Police also looking into the case was also suspiciously killed in a house fire. With the Chief of Police on compassionate leave, Tracy has been approached to temporarily come back to work and take over the case. Dan has his own case in town defending a business owner who is being pressured into sell his building to the city as part of the town centre rejuvenation project. Both Tracy's and Dan's cases will turn out to be much more complex than they expected.

Robert Dugoni has written another compelling thriller, expertly combining both courtroom and police dramas. Both plot lines are quite complex but well laid out and logically followed. Tracy and Dan are great characters who have a lovely but real relationship with squabbles and disagreements. It's interesting to see the changes a small baby makes to their lives along with the addition of an Irish nanny, Therese, who promises to be an interesting addition to the household. While this could be read as a stand alone, I would recommend reading at least the first book in the series (My Sister's Grave) for context and background on Tracy's family, hometown and her sister's murder.

Who isn't excited when a new Tracy Crosswhite novel is published?

This has been one of my favorite series over the past few years...with consistently fabulous writing and engaging story lines. Robert Dugoni rarely fails to entertain. This guy can write anything (and I truly meant that...his books have covered suspense, thrillers, police procedural, spy and espionage fiction, and even coming-of-age/domestic drama). He's a truly talented author.

Now that I've sufficiently bragged about Mr. Dugoni, let's move on with my actual review of A Cold Trail, the 7th in the Tracy Crosswhite series. Dan, Tracy, and their infant daughter, Daniella, are back in their hometown of Cedar Grove, with their Irish nanny, Therese, while their Redmond home is undergoing renovations. Although still on maternity leave, Tracy is asked by her friend, and former police chief of Cedar Grove, to help solve the cold case of a young girl murdered in 1993. A girl who was friends with Tracy's long-departed sister, Sarah. The problem? The person who committed that murder is still around, and is wholeheartedly determined not to be discovered...even if more lives are lost in the discovery process.

Although a reasonably intriguing plot, this offering didn't keep the breakneck pace of some of the previous works in this series. In fact, I found the middle section of the book to be a bit slow and laborious. In fact, I was contemplating a 3 star review when, while reading the final 20%, my attention was aggressively sucked back into Tracy and her Cedar Grove family. The story definitely ends with a bang...and a mostly unexpected one. At least on my part. I was close, but no cigar...which is why A Cold Trail ultimately received 4 happy little stars from muah.

While I think this could probably be read as a standalone, I'd suggest going back to the beginning and devouring each and every book in order. It will give you a better picture of our beloved Tracy and her many complexities. Plus, they're just really good stories which deserve a ginormous audience. Pick up a copy of this book up on February 4, 2020....you won't be disappointed.

**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Robert Dugoni has done it again! A thrilling read that kept me interested (for the most part) all the way to the end.

I liked that Dan and Tracy's cases overlap during the story but I was confused about the specifics of Tracy's sister's murder because I haven't read the previous books in the series. With that being said, this is not a stand alone title and should be read in succession to ensure max enjoyment and understanding.

I did enjoy that the book showcased Tracy's struggle to be a new mother and work as a detective in her hometown. There was something so genuine about the way Dugoni wrote Tracy's struggles. And that ending?!?! WAY worth the read in my opinion.

So happy when a new Tracey Crosswhite book comes out. This is book 7 amd I strongly suggest you start with the first book, My Sisters Grave. A lot has happened I’m the previous 6 book series and you really want to read the, in order to truly understand what drives Tracey. She is a complex character with a sad and devastating past and you really want to know it all. I these books are so easy to get lost in and before you know it you are reading at 3am!

Tracey and Dan have returned to Dans family home in Cesar Grove with their 2 month old baby Daniella while their home is renovated. It is hard being back in a town that has been the scene of so much heartache for Tracey. But now that she’s is a mother she wants to face her past for her daughter. As a police officer she is struggling with how her life is going to be with a child and a dangerous job. But Tracey being Tracey she cannot help herself and gets involved in the case of a murdered reporter that was looking into a cold case of a young girl in town a young girl who was friends with her sister Sarah. Meanwhile Dan is representing a local business who is fighting the council that is trying to push them out of town in order to revive the town.

When you pick up a Tracey Crosswhite book you know you are in for a treat...A Cold Trail is no exception. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

Motherhood and Mayhem.........

Seems to be a contradiction in terms here.

But if you're Police Officer Tracy Crosswhite of Seattle, Washington, you've come to expect a bit of chaos impeding upon your down time. Our stalwart Tracy is now on maternity leave with two month old Daniella. She and the love of her life Dan, attorney at law, are setting up a temporary household in Tracy's home town of Cedar Grove while their original digs are under renovation.

Dugoni has slipped in an Irish nanny by the name of Therese.......brogue and all. Therese is a godsend with all the turmoil going on with the new baby and new surroundings. But our Tracy can't help but pick at a loose thread in an unsolved murder in Cedar Grove that seems to parallel with the murder of her own sister, Sarah, from some time back. She visits Roy Calloway, the retired police chief, who is now back in action. He's presented her with some sketchy info on why he's back.

I appreciate Dugoni not overplaying the angst of the theme song: "My Baby, My Career" over too many chapters. Tracy picks up the reigns of this one because she can and because she's that good. We find her digging deeply into untapped areas of several cases put on the backburner in a small town. She's seeing things as they are and she's not afraid to confront the unconfronted. Vera and Faz even make a welcomed appearance. Faz is still the crackerjack analytical police officer from his Seattle days.

Robert Dugoni ratchets up a good storyline with another in the making. Dan has taken on a case of a small Cedar Grove businessman who is being forced out by the up-and-coming boutiques and galleries in the downtown area. Dan comes upon what's rotten in Denmark. Makes for quite the telling.

As always, the books in the Tracy Crosswhite Series can be read as standalones. But backstories are important and can enhance the reading experience. Maybe you can start with this one, feel the tide of the action, and then start at the beginning. Anyway that you approach a Dugoni novel, it's always got the stamp of high satisfaction on the cover guaranteed.

I received a copy of A Cold Trail through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Robert Dugoni for the opportunity.

Robert Dugoni has woven a tangled web of rage, murder, arson, and possible fraud all bound up in a civil case. Stranger things have happened. Returning to their hometown of Cedar Grove, Washington for what was supposed to be a brief respite, a married couple, one a lawyer, the other a homicide detective, have stepped into a vicious wasp’s nest.

Lawyer Dan O’Leary is fighting a potential eminent domain takeover by the city of his client’s property and business. Detective Tracy Crosswhite, on maternity leave, is encouraged to take on an investigation into the death of the new sheriff’s wife. As a standalone the book is great. As a continuation in the series it is even greater as it ascribes additional dimensions to the characters we have gotten to know. There is just enough backstory that a first-time reader of the series will be able to fit many of the puzzle pieces together and those of us who have some familiarity will appreciate the reinforcement and reintroduction to the peripheral characters. The introduction of a baby, motherhood, a complete family circle allows for a softening and introspection that was well thought out and appropriate.

I loved the courtroom drama and the fleshing out of that part of the plot. Now about that jurist - best Judge ever – Sustained, Overruled and wow, just about perfect. Robert Dugoni never disappoints me. I look forward to each of his books.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy.

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!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, and to NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Suspenseful and atmospheric, this police procedural/thriller was a great read. I had not read the previous books in the series, but may need to rectify this - I loved the strong female character and enjoyed the spiderweb of plot lines that crossed and intersected up to the final showdown. All the characters were well-drawn and kept me reading to find out what happened.

Another successful Tracy Crosswhite novel only this time a bit more emphasis on her husband, Dan. I liked that aspect. And I'm always happy when Faz is part of the story.

I’ve read all of the books in the Tracy Crosswhite series plus several other of his books and always enjoy any story written by Robert Dugoni.


It’s good to see more of Dan in this story as the stories usually focus on Tracy. I really enjoy that she has Dan in her life now and he’s a successful attorney so they can easily talk about cases. They knew each other growing up and it was great to see them both find happiness with each other. I was thrilled to know that Tracy was pregnant and now to see how she and Dan adore their daughter.


Dugoni hits the mark with Tracy’s emotions of wanting to spend time with her baby and yet she still has a passion as a detective. She struggles whether to take on a case while she’s on maternity leave as they are temporarily living in Cedar Grove. Dan and Tracy grew up in Cedar Grove and the place brings back many memories – happy and sad.


The story was fast paced, leaving the reader to wonder who has been involved in the murders, one more than 20 years ago and two more recently. This brings up the loss of Tracy’s sister and her parents many years ago and until she married Dan, she didn’t have any family left.


I loved seeing Faz and his wife Vera again and while it was different without the Seattle crew, it was a nice change of location for this story. I loved the Irish nanny, Therese and her slang. At times she was such a great help with taking care of the baby and the house and yet Tracy didn’t want to share her mommy status. I’m familiar with this type of guilt for working and for missing out on milestones.


Mr. Dugoni never fails to entertain with the police and legal procedures, investigating criminals, Tracy’s colleagues, and now with her family. The book could be read as a standalone but I really enjoy knowing the background from the very first book. I always look forward to the next book in this series and highly recommend.


Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this new work.

I enjoyed this book and it fast paced action. Although I have not read the previous stories in this series, I found the book to be easily read and one in which I am encouraged to go back and read the books the preceded it.

I do like a strong female protagonist, and in Tracy Crosswhite I have found exactly the spunk, tenacity, and common sense approach to solving a crime that is often missing in so many other mysteries and police procedurals..

I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy a book that makes sense, follows a line of reasoning that flows, and one in which we are rooting for the protagonist to solve the crime and save the day.

Thank you to Robert Dugoni for writing an intelligent story, to Thomas and Mercer, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to this solid series book due out in February 2020.

It’s been over 18 months since the prior Tracy Crosswhite mystery, so it felt good to play catch up. Tracy now has a 2 month old baby girl and she and Dan have temporarily moved back to Cedar Grove whole their house is renovated. While there, she agrees to help the interim sheriff investigate the death of the prior sheriff’s wife and two other older deaths that might be connected. At the same time, Dan is representing a local businessman who’s suing the township.

Both Tracy and Dan continue to grow as characters. For starters, parenthood makes them face the risks of Tracy’s investigation. And, just like so many women before her, she’s debating how to juggle motherhood and a job.

This is the seventh book in the series and I don’t think it would work well as a stand alone. For starters, the book harkens back to the murder of Tracy’s sister, which occurred in book one.

I love that Dugoni finds a way to include Faz in this book. He brings a bit of humor to the plot. I also thought this was a great ending, different than the normal murder mystery.

I really enjoy Dugoni’s writing. In recent years, his standalones, especially The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, have taken over the spotlight. His plots are always well thought out and this is no exception. It feels good to return to Tracy and her family and friends.

My thanks to netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

I'm an avid fan of Robert Dugoni. If he writes it, I will read it. A Cold Trail is the seventh book in his popular suspense series which follows tough-as-nails police detective Tracy Crosswhite.

A few reviewers call this a standalone, but I disagree. There are several references which new readers won't understand if they haven't read the earlier books. Background is especially important because Tracy heads back to her hometown in this latest book - the place where her sister was brutally murdered many years ago (not a spoiler - the first book is titled My Sister's Grave).

This is a story about small town dark secrets and Tracy's personal demons, but I missed the old Tracy - the Tracy who was full of grit, sass and confidence. This time out, Tracy shares a lot of the spotlight with her husband Dan and his legal case. I like Dan but felt that his POV overshadowed Tracy's and the legal aspect dragged for me. We also see a bit of Tracy struggling with the balance of motherhood and work but it's on the periphery of the story. What we do see is Dan, uncharacteristically, being an arse and 'mom shaming' Tracy for wanting to go back to work. Oh Dan, really?!

Overall, this is a good addition to the series - just not my favourite. I liked being back in Tracy's hometown (and enjoyed the addition of Faz and Vera). This series remains one of my favourite suspense series but I'm hoping future books go back to showing Tracy's independent, tough and sassy side. Moms can be tough, sassy and even smart-assy too.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher, Thomas and Mercer for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

The latest installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series was everything I wanted it to be! My only complaint is that I now have to wait for the next book to come out. Book 7 introduces Tracy as a mother and it adds such a fabulous layer to the storyline. The character development throughout this series has been top notch. As always, the mystery is perplexing and everyone is a suspect. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome and anxiously await the next book in this beloved series. Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Reading a Tracy Crosswhite book, never failed to give me pleasure, and this new book in the series is no exception.
This time, Tracy is back to Cedar Grove with her husband and baby daughter. It is now many years since she finally found the truth about her sister's disappearance and she let the ghosts of her past rest. But, as it happens, there was one more ghost to lay to rest.
A few month before her sister's disappearance, a young woman was found dead. This crime was never really solved, and the case was reopened during Tracy's stay in Cedar Grove and her skills were requested to finally find the answers to this crime. As the investigation went on, the old crime was linked to more recent deaths and also to a case her husband, Dan, was working on.

I liked this new story, and although it was somehow different from the other books, i found it more interesting also. Here, we got to know the characters we already met better and like them even more than before (at least this was the case for me). The plot was interesting and, in some parts, was not difficult to foresee (there was, however, the surprise twist) but i liked following the leads with both Tracy and Dan and trying to link the dots leading to the answers.
I think i already mentioned this in a previous review, i really love the fact that despite the bleak events for each case/murder, Robert Dugoni always closes the book on a positive vibe; in a way, it is one of the reasons that make always come back to this series and i hope there is still more of Tracy Crosswhite to come.

Robert Dugoni has again crafted a novel mixing several genres together, with Tracy Crosswhite providing the detective aspect while husband Dan takes us inside the courtroom. This was my first Robert Dugoni novel and after reading a few chapters I realized the book would probably make it as a standalone, but I would be better served to read at least one of the previous six books in the series. Using some of the backstory dropped in “A Cold Trail,” I decided to read book #1 before moving to the most recent book. As Tracy is returning to her home town of Cedar Grove (the backdrop for book #1), my choice to read the initial book in the series helped introduce many of the characters in “A Cold Trail.”

This book is Tracy’s seventh appearance. She and Dan have returned to Cedar Grove while their main home is being renovated, which also gives Tracy time to bond with her new baby and decide what to do about her job as a detective in Seattle. She soon has a new mystery drop in her lap, and chooses to see if she can handle both her career and being a mom at the same time. Mr. Dugoni includes scenes dealing with this quandary, fleshing out Tracy’s character with an issue many new parents must wrestle with.

For me, it seemed the book was split in half, with most of the detective and action scenes occurring in the first part and the courtroom filling up time in the second. There seemed to be a lot of back and forth over the same evidence, and though that reflects the realism of police work (sifting through the clues and attempting to uncover what might have been missed) it also felt like it slowed the plot.

On the positive side, Mr. Dugoni again does what he does well in his books. He always depicts realistic courtroom drama, giving enough information to make the readers feel like they are witnessing each testimony. Additionally, once we reach the end of the book and the big reveal, the author doesn’t reach out into left field for some implausible ending. His books are well-crafted, dropping hints and that clues that make total sense once the mystery is solved.

Bottom line: Very satisfying read, and fans of Mr. Dugoni will be happy with this new addition to the Crosswhite series. As for me, I would like to see more of her interaction with her detective partners in Seattle, and plan on catching up by reading books #2-6. Four stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for a complimentary ebook of this title.

Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series is one series I have always found synonymous with a good suspense thriller. So much that I didn't bother reading the description or the blurb before picking it up. I picked up the first book in the series in 2017 and there was no looking back for me. I devoured book after book in this brilliant series and it just kept getting better and better! A Cold Trail is a brilliant, compelling and tension-filled addition to the already outstandingly amazing series. There is a suspenseful atmosphere throughout the book that creeps in right from the first chapter to the very last. Robert Dugoni is the master of creating nail-biting suspense in a story.

When Tracy and Dan return to Cedar Woods for Tracy to enjoy her maternity leave little does she know she's heading right into another case. Following the disappearance of her sister, 20 years ago, Tracy only returned to Cedar Woods a few years ago when the body of her sister was found. Solving the mystery behind the disappearance and murder of Emily took a heavy toll on Tracy and now returning again to Cedar Woods is a bittersweet moment for Tracy. So Tracy decides to make the most of it by spending quality time with her new-born daughter Daniella. Her husband Dan is drawn into representing a local merchant whose business is jeopardized by the town’s revitalization. And Tracy is urged by her old friend Calloway to put her own skills to work on a new case: the brutal murder of Kimberley, a fellow officer's wife and local reporter who was investigating a cold-case slaying of a young woman who disappeared and was killed just before Emily did. As Tracy’s and Dan’s cases crisscross, Tracy’s trail becomes dangerous.

The characters and plot of this book were brilliant. I loved seeing the tender, caring side of Tracy who is a new mother. I also liked that she involved some of her team members in the new case, so she wasn't fighting this alone. While the Dan-parts of the story got a tad bit too legal for me, I nonetheless enjoyed experiencing this different kind of thrill. I loved experiencing the thrills as the plot slowly unwinded itself to reveal the perp. The ending was fabulous. I loved seeing the old characters mostly from book 1 like Calloway and Finlay. Faz and Vera too make a brief appearance. The dialogues written for the characters in this book were so damn good too. Det. Tracy Crosswhite is one of the most brilliant series I have had the pleasure of reading and I cant wait to see what's in store for Tracy in the next installment. I really can't wait!

Thank You NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer & Robert Dugoni for an arc!

I love Tracy Crosswhite! A great series. It was interesting having Dan and Tracey back in cedar Grove. Some evil people in that town! Missed not knowing about what happened with Finley. Anyway, without spoilers, enjoyed the story, enjoyed visiting some of the old characters, liked Faz came, and now looking forward to the next adventure!

Robert Dugoni never disappoints whether I'm reading one of his standalone titles or part of a series.    In this case I've just read and thoroughly enjoyed the latest in his Tracy Crosswhite series.  A Cold Trail was another fabulous addition to the collection.   I've previously commented about the series getting better with each new title and I steadfastly endorse that observation.    Not only do I enjoy the mix of police procedural and mystery/suspense but I delight in catching up with some much loved characters  - especiallyTracy and Dan.    What's more, in this title Dan was more involved in the storyline and I enjoyed the courtroom drama this added.

Tracy and Dan are now proud parents of two month old Daniella.   Whilst renovations are being completed on their home they temporarily move back to Cedar Grove, the place where Dan and Tracy both grew up.   While wrestling with the idea of returning to work Tracy finds herself thrust into a murder investigation which seems to tie in with a Cold Case murder from around the time of her own sisters death more than 25 years ago.  The story  was engaging, I'd call it a page turner, it had enough to keep readers guessing, and (this is a good thing in my opinion) though it was a murder mystery there was not a lot of violence. As we approached the end of the book I had cause to think this may have been the concluding instalment but the Epilogue left the door open to the possibility of more of Tracy, Dan and Daniella.   I really hope I'm right.

My sincere thanks to Robert Dugoni, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

This series has been one of my favorites for a while, and the latest installment didn’t disappoint! It took me longer to get into than I expected, because of what I thought was some seemingly unnecessary lawyery storyline...but I knew it would all come together in the end. And it did! Can’t wait for more from this series (hopefully there’s more!)