I am a huge Robert Dugoni fan from way back, following the first Tracy Crosswhite release. I then went back and picked up the first David Sloane. I have followed through on all but the last Tracy book and have not read Sam Hell yet. That being said, I was curious about Her Deadly Game. I am not a chess player (failed miserably at getting the hang of it years ago) so I didn't have interest in those parts of the story, but I do love a police procedural and a legal thriller. This plot keeps the readers on their toes to pay attention.

Keera Duggan is a young attorney who switched teams from prosecutor to working at her father's failing defense attorney firm. While defending a flamboyant investment advisor who faces possible life in prison, she is confronted by the prosecutor, a former lover. I always enjoy how spot-on that the author writes strong female characters. Good plot, good storyline, and always entertaining.

This is another winner for Mr. Dugoni, who continues to put out one quality book after another. Recommended!

4.5
This was a really clever courtroom drama. Keera has reluctantly joined her family's law business after a relationship gone bad at her previous workplace. Her newest client is accused of murder, and the case will be prosecuted by her former lover. This was a quick paced, entertaining drama. I liked the characters and though I figured out a chunk of the twist, it was well crafted and came together well.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Robert Dugoni's books are always thrilling and fast paced. Her Deadly Game did not disappoint. The characters, the plot, the suspense and the courtroom drama made this book so captivating. Loved the dysfunctional dynamics of the Duggan family. Made it so relatable and believable.

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Robert Dugoni for a copy of "Her Deadly Game" in exchange of an honest review.

Chess represents life. At least the life of a trial attorney who is doing her best to fight for her client, a husband arrested for the murder of his wife all the while dealing the coworkers at her firm (who happen to be her alcoholic father and 2 sisters). The story comes at you from two sides. The legal drama which in and of itself is fascinating with a jaw-dropping twist of the evidence. The client has a past that proves he's a jerk and a thief but did he really kill his wife? I had questions that I wish I could have asked but I was at the whim of the author and I couldn't stop reading long enough to go ask him if I could.

The other half of the story is a family story. Siblings all trying to prove that they are adults who are more than capable if others would just let them show what they can do. And an alcoholic father whose reputation as both a drunk and one of the best defense attorney's in town does both harm and good.

I loved this book and I will continue to follow this author. He writes in a variety of genres and I have to say that I've liked them all. But I'm always a sucker for a good courtroom drama.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer & NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for an ARC of this novel. I give this honest review voluntarily.

Sometimes when you haven't read an author's work in a while and then you come back and read a novel by that author you can be amazed with how well that author writes. Well, it was that way for me with this novel. It was like discovering Robert Dugoni's writing all over again. It is at it's core a legal thriller. Something along the lines of a John Grisham novel, though I suspect any author doesn't necessarily enjoy being compared to another author though I do this only to try and describe the '”feel” of the book because it has been a while since I've read a legal thriller. Robert Dugoni is a talented writer in his own right. I really really like this new main character, Keera Duggan, and I hope this is the start of a series featuring her along with her father and sister's as supporting characters. I particularly like that Keera was a child chess prodigy. I'm very much a beginner but I love the game of chess. I find it so fascinating and cerebral. This novel is a very engaging read and the pages seemed to turn themselves. Before I knew it I was close to the end. And what an ending it is---awesome! I highly recommend this novel and give it 4 ½ stars.

I liked this legal and courtroom drama novel. Dugoni has done a good job of combining preparing a defense case with personal drama. Keera is a capable attorney and has a good team behind her. The part of the novel building up to the courtroom was engaging on two fronts. One was the actual work she was doing, the other was the drama in the family business. Dugoni mentions in his afterward that he wanted to bring into the plot the personal family aspect and he has done that well. Alcoholism and sibling rivalry both show themselves. The chess aspect was interesting too.

Two issues really caught my attention. One was the action that might be taken to win a case. Here we see nefarious action on the side of the prosecutor. We see how desperate one might be to gain political power.

The other issue was the concern of successfully defending an accused murderer yet being unsure of his innocence. Dugoni did a good job of keeping tension going as we do not know for sure, not only the outcome of the court case but also the actual innocence or guilt of the defendant.

Overall, a good legal investigation and courtroom drama novel. I hope there will be more featuring Keera.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Being a big fan of Robert Dugoni, this book did fall short of what I was expecting, so I'm going to start with those reasons first.

To begin with, I am not a chess player. So while I can appreciate that chess was a big part of Keera's life, all of the passages between her and her (at first) mysterious partner were lost on me. I was interested in the murder case being tried, not all of the chess jargon as Keera played. Cool, it helped her concentrate and gave her an outlet, but it just took away from the overall story for me. I think it would have been easier had Keera reflected on the game without the technical terms such as pawn to whatever.

I also found the final whodunit to be a bit too unrealistic. I mean, heck, it was a good twist, don't get me wrong, but it seemed ridiculously far-fetched.

Now aside from these things, I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed following Keera and company along as they followed the trail of breadcrumbs left to them by the mysterious Jack Worthington. The scenes inside the courtroom, while a little long and repetitive for my tastes, seemed very true to life, and it was interesting watching Ambrose and Keera battle it out knowing of their past relationship and the current issues between them that stemmed from it. It was also fun to see some familiar names from the Tracy Crosswhite series pop up.

I will say that there were a couple of other twists that I felt were better done than the one surrounding the perpetrator of the crime, and I did thoroughly enjoy the ways that those plot lines were executed.

On the whole, if the author decides to continue on and make this a series, I would read more. I don't think we have seen the last of Keera or her "The Irish Brawler" father, and I look forward to seeing how these two (along with Ella and Maggie) continue to grow. I would definitely read more from this author!

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

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni

Interesting, intricately crafted, intriguing legal thriller filled with many threads to unravel before a clear picture emerges of what really happened to Anne Russo and who fired the shot that killed her.

What I liked:
* Kerra Duggan: intelligent, tenacious, intrepid, lawyer, daughter, chess prodigy, sister, eager to move forward with her life, has personal-family-work issues to deal with, competitive and in it to win it on her first murder case
* The Duggan family: All of them though the mother, father and sisters played the biggest part in this dysfunctional family with alcohol and alcohol related issues to contend with
* Rossi: detective, honest, diligent, rather taken with Keera in the past and perhaps still…curious about him and wonder if he and Keera might end up together in the future
* The courtroom preparations and trial scenes as they played out
* The way the Duggan family grew on me as the story progressed
* The way the whodunnit played out with clues offered, followed, and the way the puzzle pieces slotted together – and – the big surprise(s) toward the end
* Jack Worthing’s hints and where they led
* The line, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” And how it played out in this story
* The chess portion of the story was over my head but did like the idea of it and how it was handled to enhance the story
* How it all came together and was tied up in a bow at the end of the book

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Her Deadly Game, by Robert Dugoni, is a fast paced legal thriller that'll keep you hooked! I throughly enjoyed the family aspect of this story. It really gave the characters that extra bit of heart.
Keera Duggan, previously a Seattle prosecutor, has returned to the family law firm. Though working with her Dad and sisters isn't easy, she's hoping to strengthen her relationship with her family. Though, that seems to be proving harder than it should be.
Almost too soon, Keera gets a chance to prove her legal prowess when Vince LaRussa, a popular investment adviser, hires her when he's accused of the murder of his disabled wife. Not only isn't there any evidence against him, everyone saw them as a loving couple. But now it seems like the prosecutor, Miller Ambrose, has it in for him. Not to mention that Mr. Ambrose is Keera’s toxic ex.
As Keera struggles in her first homicide defense, her and her team find more than they'd ever bargained for.

If you're looking for a good police procedural and/or legal thriller, look no further than Dugoni's latest book. This is story is fast paced and full of suspense and will have you on the edge of your seat right until the end. The characters are interesting and complex. And I really loved all the chess references throughout. Check out the CWs as this tackles some sensitive topics. Not sure if this is going to be a series but I would definitely read more.


I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

In Her Deadly Game, Keera Duggan, former chess prodigy, had been building a successful career as a Seattle prosecutor until a romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. She finds that her best move going forward is to return to her family's failing criminal defense law form to work for her father. With the right moves, she hopes to be able to restore the family's reputation and repair her relationship with her father and her career. Keera's big chance comes when she's retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser who has been accused of murdering his wealthy wife. There's little hard evidence against him but it looks like the couple was facing a potentially nasty divorce. LaRussa is facing the possibility of life in prison. The prosecutor makes things even more challenging since he's her ex, and he's eager to destroy her in court. As Keera and her team follow the evidence, they uncover a complicated and and deadly game that could be more than Keera can deal with.

In Keera Duggan, Robert Dugoni has actually written another character that I enjoy as much as I do Tracy Crosswhite. I can also tell that, as usual, he did his research; not just into criminal procedure but, this time, into the world of chess. I literally have no idea how to play chess but I really enjoyed reading about the game she played with her secret opponent and her thought process. I loved the interactions between Keera and her family and her team at work. I loved that there wasn't an immediate romantic partner but there are definitely some possibilities. It definitely didn't hurt that there was a little cameo by Faz and Vic from the Crosswhite series. I genuinely hope that there will be more books featuring Keera because Dugoni has a definite hit here.

Fans of legal thrillers will love Robert Dugoni’s latest novel Her Deadly Games.

Keera Duggan was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. For the competitive former chess prodigy, returning to her family’s failing criminal defense law firm to work for her alcoholic father is the best shot at redemption that she has. With the right moves, she hopes to restore the family’s reputation, her relationship with her father, and her career.

Her chance to play in the big leagues comes when she’s retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife. There’s little hard evidence against him, but his presence near the crime scene makes him a key suspect. The prosecutor is equally challenging: Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former lover, who is eager to destroy her in court on her first homicide defense. As Keera and her team follow the evidence, they uncover a complicated and deadly game that is more than Keera bargained for.

This is a first rate courtroom drama. The basic set-up is well constructed and the courtroom scenes bristle with tension and suspense. The familiar elements of biased judge, damaging evidence and overly ambitious prosecutor playing hard and fast with the rules are well handled, and Dugoni adds some interesting new elements involving a mysterious watcher who keeps sending the defence cryptic messages and an ongoing game of chess with an unknown opponent.

The characters are nuanced and interesting, and the story flows at a really good pace. I guessed the general outcome well in advance of the courtroom finale, Dugoni provides a big clue early on, but there are plenty of unexpected turns to keep it interesting, and the final pages surprised me. Moral legal dilemmas are lightly handled and the motif of the courtroom as a chess game is effective.

A very enjoyable legal thriller!

4.5 - rounded up to 5

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni is essentially a courtroom drama and a good one. Keera Duggan was a defense lawyer. She had spent most of her career in the prosecutor’s office until she made the mistake of having an affair with another prosecutor, Miller Ambrose, who turned out to be kind of a sleaze. When she discovered that and thought about it she returned to her father’s law firm (with her tail between her legs). Since then it had been mostly DUIs. Until one night when she answered a call through the service, asking for her father, but got her. Vince LaRussa was at police headquarters, not a suspect, but being questioned in the murder of his wife. It seemed clear he had not done it but there were really no other suspects. Then she started getting emails from Jack Worthy. Each had hints to follow up on. Especially when she discovered who Jack Worthy was. She was right, Ambrose was a sleaze but she had other friends, friends who were not sleazes.

Keera was a terrific character: focused, determined, hard-working. As always Dugoni wrote her well. He father was an interesting old Irish lawyer, a man who drank too much but was known as the Irish Brawler. If he could keep from drinking he would regain his title, if she didn’t take it from him. Her older sister, Ella, managed the firm and was a bulldog. Frank Rossi was a detective that she could have had a relationship with if she so chose. He was straight as an arrow and honest as the day is long. He watched as this whole thing unfolded. It was a complicated and obtuse plot, discovered only by an excellent PI who searched the internet and had a friend who was an engineer. It was an absorbing read and excellent as always.

I was invited to read a free-ARC of Her Deadly Game by Thomas & Mercer, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #ThomasAndMercer #Robert Dugoni #HerDeadlyGame #booktalk

Keera Duggan was born into a family steeped in litigation, Her father is legendary for his aggressive approach to defending his clients and her sister Ela is now running the family firm. After working as a public defender, she was forced to start over in the family firm. But Keera wants to stand on her own, not assist with the cases her father leads. Especially since his drinking seems to have him spiraling towards destroying the practice he built. One late night call to the firm starts her on a case that is shocking, sensational and potentially beyond her experience to defend. She wants this case badly.

Vince LaRussa is the husband accused of killing his wheelchair-bound wife in their own home. Keera brings in the firm’s highly skilled private investigator to help make sense of the evidence that the police and district attorney believes indisputably proves Vince is guilty. The same district attorney with whom Keera was romantically involved and the reason behind her exit from the DA’s office. For Keera, the evidence doesn’t make sense but she has very little time to unravel the secrets around Vince and his wife. Nothing is as it seems.

Page turning thriller that leaves the reader guessing about the truth right to the end. Loved it!

Keera is an attorney working for her father’s law firm. When the opportunity presents itself to take on the case of Vince LaRussa who is accused of murdering his wife, she can’t wait to prove herself both to her father and ex-boyfriend, who happens to be the prosecutor in the case. This courtroom drama is both exciting and unpredictable. Keera has to stay on her toes if she is going to figure out what happened to her client’s wife. Not everything is as it seems!

I love Dugoni’s books. His writing style is just wonderful and his chess references tie right into the meaning of life and what is sometimes right in front of your face. This one kept me guessing until the end…a wonderfully woven story!

Robert Dugoni is an auto-buy author for me. One of those that when you see a title you don't have, you buy it. I follow him on FB, TikTok and twitter. So my review comes from having read most, if not all, of his books. For me, a recommendation that compares a book to one of Dugoni's means I will most likely enjoy it.

Dugoni writes fiction that reads like nonfiction. Believable characters set in believable backgrounds that have believable reactions to the surrounding story. In HER DEADLY GAME, a young woman has begun working at her family's law practice after her personal actions cause her to be fired. She is determined to regain her reputation as a tough lawyer that wins her cases. When her first case as a defense lawyer pits her against a well known prosecutor who has many reasons to want her to lose this case, she must scramble to stay ahead of the surprises that keep coming. There are so many contribution threads to the story that when the twists start coming, you'll have to go back pages to see hwre you missed that clue.

I could tell you more, but that would be cheating. Read HER DEADLY GAME and if it's your first Dugoni title, you have many new titles to add to your TBR pile!

I don’t tend to read a lot of legal fiction, but this was a first book in a new series by an author who I’d never heard of so thought I’d give it a try. I’m glad I did, I found it a really interesting read with a fascinating and likeable family who were all trying to prove their client innocent.
Keera, the lead character is new to the family business and desperate to prove that she is able. Like many in her family she had issues with alcohol but unlike them hadn’t fallen victim to it. One of her ways of avoiding its lure was online chess and throughout the game she was playing a game against an opponent who was at first unidentified. I did have my own suspicions about who the opponent was but I was completely wrong. The parts concerning the chess game went way over my head but I did enjoy seeing the way that it helped Keera forget about the case.
I had a lot of appreciation for the court room setting. The extremely frosty relationship that Keera had with the prosecuting lawyer Ambrose worked perfectly and I loved the way she tore apart his arguments. Mainly because he was such an awful character but also because it gave insight into how the legal process worked. If more legal thrillers were written this way I’d probably read more.
I would definitely read more books by this author, there are certainly quite a few to choose from.

Book Review: Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni
Published by Thomas & Mercer, March 28, 2023

★★★★★ (4.5 Stars)

After a police procedural, a spy thriller, and a magnificent human interest story, what would critically-acclaimed bestselling novelist Robert Dugoni have on tap for his readers?

Why, of course, - a legal thriller!

AFTER THE PUBLICATION of police procedural, "What She Found" (Tracy Crosswhite, #9) (2022); spy thriller, "The Silent Sisters" (Charles Jenkins, #3) (2022); and, human interest story, "The World Played Chess" (2021), former civil litigator Dugoni goes back to the genre of his "David Sloane" legal thrillers (circa 2006-2012), penned at the dawn of his illustrious career as an author.

Simply amazing versatility.

And damn good books.

// "HER DEADLY GAME" by Robert Dugoni (2023) //

June 2023
The Emerald City.

A fledgling Seattle, WA defense attorney lands a whale in the dead of night.

Half-asleep, she fields an urgent, unsolicited call from a billionaire. A pillar of the community needs legal advice. Of no small consequence, quite a dish of one promising bonanza of top-dollar fees for the Seattle legal firm of Patrick Duggan and Associates. Duggan and his three associates - daughters Ella, Margaret and Keera.

Little did the lawyers know that there would be much, much more to their client than meets the eye...

------

With a cohesively-spun web of blind corners, twists and courtroom drama, Robert Dugoni crafts one thoroughly enjoyable legal suspense thriller right up there with the best.

The devious plot somewhat brings to mind Kevin Spacey's incomparable "Verbal" character in "The Usual Suspects" (1995). Remember Mr. Kobayashi?

Or, perhaps Ed Norton's "Aaron" in "Primal Fear" (1996).

Seattle PD's Violent Crimes Section Team A members from Mr. Dugoni's best-selling "Tracy Crosswhite" series, Del Castigliano and Fazz Fazzio play cameos. Guess who's just an office away from Del & Fazz, quietly working on cold case files.

Do we see a Keera Duggan /Tracy Crosswhite powerhouse collaboration in the tea leaves?

Robert Dugoni pens another unputdownable winner. And this one with a promise!

Review based on an advance reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.

I love Robert Dugoni’s Tracey Crosswhite series so I was excited to read something different from him. I did like the mentions of some the characters from those books in Her Deadly Game too.

Legal thrillers are some of my favourite thrillers. Nothing like a good courtroom showdown and this was a cracker. The lawyers have a history, a relationship that ended baldly so the sparks flew. Our main character, Keera, is working her first murder case and it is a doozy. It is always the husband right? Wealthy businessman, Vince LaRussa is on trial for murdering his wife. She was shot in the back of her head in the couples home. Keera and her family of lawyers will need to use all their resources and tricks for this case.

Thanks so much to Thomas and Mercer for my advanced reading copy of this book.

The story of the Duggan family, a family of lawyers. The father Patsy is a known drunk and how he’s known in his field and his family. Keera picked up a call to defend Anthony against the charge of murder. Is she up to the challenge? Will her father stay sober long enough to help? Will she get him acquitted but did he do it?