Her Deadly Game is a stand-alone novel by award-winning, best-selling American author, Robert Dugoni. When Keera Duggan takes on the LaRussa murder case, she’s only been with the family firm, Patrick Duggan & Associates for a year, and she’s never defended a murder case. But she’s the daughter of Patsy Duggan, the Irish Brawler, and no one should underestimate her, especially not her narcissistic, controlling ex, Prosecuting Attorney Miller Ambrose. He’s vindictive, but she vows that he’s not satisfying his grudge in this trial.

Wealth management multi-millionaire, Vincent LaRussa claims he came home on a June Sunday night from a charity do to find his wife, Anne, shot in the back of the head as she sat in the kitchen in her wheelchair. The ghost gun is on the floor beside her. SPD Detective Frank Rossi leads the case, and tries to keep an open mind, but Ambrose has already decided the husband did it and, even if he has to play dirty, he’ll prove it.

There are lots of little unexplained things at the scene, baffling bits of trace that seem to turn the whole thing into a riddle. Anne had two visitors before Vince returned home and, on that sweltering June night, the air-con had been turned off.

Each piece of information that Keera’s investigator turns up adds another wrinkle to an already puzzling case, and to complicate matters further, Keera is receiving anonymous emails that point her to bits of LaRussa’s history, facts that don’t put him in too favourable a light.

Then there is the allegation of infidelity, and a punishing pre-nup. Is Vince a devoted husband? Or is he a lying, cheating psychopath? Did Anne’s best friend and doctor cheat with Vince? Who else might have a motive to kill Anne LaRussa?

As well as the pressure from the PA, Keera knows she needs to win this one for the sake of the family law firm, suffering her ageing alcoholic father’s reduced performance.

Set in Seattle, there is some intersection with characters from the Tracy Crosswhite series, and Dugoni sets his story against the background of Keera’s online chess game, the tactics of which may appeal to players, and parallel the court case strategies. There are plenty of twists and red herrings, and the astute reader will keep in the back of their mind an unsolved earlier case. Another excellent read from the master of the legal thriller.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

Another excellent story from one of my favorite authors!
After an affair with her boss turns sour, Keera Duggan leaves the prosecutor's office and joins the family law firm, headed up by her alcoholic but brilliant father, Patsy, and her older, pragmatic sister, Ella. Keera gets the late-night call to meet a client at the police station, Vince LaRussa, who came home from a charity event and found his wife slumped in the kitchen, a bullet to the back of her head. LaRussa is not under arrest, but the detectives assigned to the case and the prosecutor (Keera's former boss) obviously think Vince killed his wife. If she can keep it, this case will be Keera's first murder trial, just what she needs to boost her reputation, as well as that of the firm. The crime scene is like a puzzle that Keera and her team will need to solve: a candle burning and a puddle of water on the counter and floor, singe marks on the oven door handle, the gun that killed LaRussa's wife discarded near the body. Vince declares his innocence and Keera assures him she will do her best, whether he is guilty, or not. What follows is a well written, many layered, sharp police procedural/courtroom thriller interspersed with Duggan family drama. The characters are well developed and easy to like, which is what I've come to expect from Dugoni as an author.

"Greed causes people to do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do, and to turn a blind eye,” he said. “So long as people are making money, these types of scams will not go away."

Defence attorney Keera Duggan is prepared to play. But is she a pawn in a master’s deadly match?
When she is retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife, Keera and her team follow the evidence to uncover a complicated game that’s more than Keera bargained for. When shocking information turns the case upside down, Keera must decide between her duty to her client, her family’s legacy, and her own future.

Keera's father is an alcoholic, as a result of which his law firm has suffered. She needs this case to prove herself, and to bring the law firm back to its former glory.

A former chess prodigy trained by her father, Keera uses the game to unwind as well as strategize her courtroom tactics to understand her opponent.

The investigation on the Vince LaRussa case and the unravelling of the mystery is thick with tension, the nail biting suspense steadily building up. I enjoyed the wild goose chase which, despite the many characters, the author ties up in a fabulous thriller.

You can see this is poised to become the next big Robert Dugoni series centred around courtroom drama. Seeing the familiar names from the Seattle PD team in the Tracy Crosswhite series, dare I dream of a Keera Duggan-Tracy Crosswhite cross-over?

Part courtroom thriller, part crime procedural, and part family drama, this has all the ingredients to hook you. And once you read a Robert Dugoni thriller, you’re always hungry for more.

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

How could you not love a book by Robert Dugoni. This is just another one of his great stories and I highly recommend. I enjoyed the story and the characters all the way through the book. I will defiantly continue to read books from him.

This is a courtroom procedural and while it doesn't really present any surprises or suspense is a very pleasant read. Excellent beach or airplane book.

What a fantastic and unique legal drama by one of my favorite authors!

Keera Duggan has a passion for the law, its the family business, but she wanted to force her own path as a public defender. After a romantic relationship goes sideways and affects that role, she starts working at her family law firm despite all the stress and drama working with family brings.

The first major case with the family firm is defending Vince LaRussa who's been accused of murdering his wealthy wife. This is a challenging case given the lack of hard evidence, the compelling circumstances of a potential divorce, and the opposing council who is Keera's former partner, Miller Abrose.

Keera falls back on her experience playing competitive chess as a child by trying to anticipate Abrose's moves and come up with the best strategy while following the complicated and confusing evidence while still defending her client despite her increasing questions and doubts.

I loved this view of a legal drama including in the narrative how police detectives interact with prosecutors and DAs, the inner workings of trial procedures, and even a shout out to some Tracy Crosswhite characters. While not a chess player myself, I loved how playing chess was a backdrop to this novel. I hope that Dugoni writes more of Keera Dugan's story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer publishing for providing me with this ARC.

Keera Duggan was a Seattle prosecutor until her career was derailed and she ended up working for her family's failing defense law firm. She is also a chess prodigy who uses those skills to great effect in the courtroom.

Her Deadly Game is a delight of a read with plot twists, suspense, courtroom drama and intriguing characters. Keera works to defend their client, Vincent LaRussa, accused of murdering his disabled wife while at the same time she tries to keep her father, Patsy, from giving in to his alcoholic ways. In addition, Keera has the challenge of facing up to her former lover who is the prosecuting attorney in the case while using an online chess match against the Dark Knight to keep her going on the case.

I so enjoy Robert Dugoni's books and I recommend Her Deadly Game to fans of legal thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in return for an honest review.

NYT bestselling author of the popular Tracy Crosswhite series, Robert Dugoni, cleverly uses the game of chess in his latest gripping legal thriller, HER DEADLY GAME. A defense attorney prepared to play. But is she a pawn in a master's deadly match?

Dugoni, at his best! Hopefully a start to a new series. I loved Keera.

Set in Seattle, Keera Duggan, the protagonist of this riveting thriller, came from a dysfunctional family. She later overcame her environment by becoming a competitive chess prodigy.

Let's strategize the next move the opponent might make. A game within a game.

Can she utilize these skills to make her a great trial attorney in the courtroom? The battle between prosecuting attorney (ex-lover) and Keera, the defense attorney.

She learned from her youth to evaluate her chess opponents' body language—how they sat, their facial expressions, whether they had any tells like licking their lips when nervous, a tug on an ear when bluffing, a false smile. She also uses these in her legal assessment with clients and opposition.

"In law and in chess, you strategized not just your next move but for the many moves your opponent might make and how you might combat those moves. Doing this prevented you from being blindsided and helped put together a long-term strategy on how to resolve the game—or a case." —Robert Dugoni, HER DEADLY GAME

Keera had built a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. Keera struggles to escape her alcoholic father, Patrick (Patsy) Duggan's shadow, and make a name for herself as a lawyer.

Now she returns to her family's failing criminal defense law firm to work for her father. Can she restore their reputation?

When someone murders a disabled (recluse) wife of a prominent and prosperous Seattle wealth manager, Vincent LaRussa, and the authorities zero in on him as the prime suspect, Keera gets her chance.

Pioneer Square, LaRussa hires her to defend him when the Seattle police arrest him for murdering his wife, Anne. Someone shot her in the back of her head.

Keera, with a bright mind, proves she is her father's daughter in her own right. First, she is on the fence about whether her client is innocent, and finally, she does not care. Then, she changes her mind and feels certain LaRussa is innocent of his wife's murder.

But as the trial unfolds, Keera feels something sinister about Vincent LaRussa— it may or may not involve his wife's murder. What about Anne's friend, Bennet—a single mother of three?

Kerra is not someone to underestimate.

Who is Jack Worthing? The cryptic email. A protagonist in the play (leading a double life). What kind of game is being played? Has he made his first move? A case referencing literature?

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."
─ Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

From chess matches Darknight to SeattlePawnslayer, the stakes are high. Were LaRussa and Bennet having an affair and presenting a unified front, like the Dark Night's bishop and the queen?

If so, Anne LaRussa had outplayed them by calling Evans and asking about how to initiate the forfeiture clause and take all the assets. It had been a deadly game, and she paid the price.

Something sinister beneath the facade? Is her client a master manipulator? Kerra is running short on time, but the battle, ready or not, was on!

With her vengeful former lover, Miller Ambrose, as opposing counsel, and the evidence stacking up against her client, she will need to think several moves ahead to win the case. She must gain enough evidence to establish at least reasonable doubt.

However, does Ambrose's ego and burning desire to beat Keera push him to a colossal error in judgment?

Highly creative, I loved the satisfying conclusion. Keera and her dad remind me a bit of Goliath (Billy/Patti) Legal TV series, which I loved.

Dugoni DAZZLES!

I adore the author's brilliant and cleverly crafted writing, whether a standalone or a series. His stories are multi-faceted, and the writing is concise, crisp, razor-sharp, twisty, and propulsive. He stays on point without many side unnecessary plots like some authors.

Being an attorney, he knows his way around a courtroom. Excellent courtroom drama with a blending of cop procedural—a tenacious likable protagonist, smart detective, and a well-developed supportive cast of characters.

I am a huge fan of legal thrillers, and combined with creative chess metaphors— infused with literary classics, further enhances the book's enjoyment.

HER DEADLY GAME would make a great movie or TV series. Here is hoping this will be a new series—looking forward to seeing more of Keera!

Thank you to #ThomasandMercer and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Review Posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Mar 28, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
March 2023 Must-Read Books

Her Deadly Game, a legal thriller and Dugoni’s newest novel, was smart and absorbing. The main protagonist Keera, attorney and daughter of the well known ‘Irish Brawler’, is out to prove that Vince LaRussa did not murder his disabled wife, Anne.
This thriller had so many layers and Dugoni weaves them all together flawlessly. Hoping that this is the first book in a long series. Releases March 28, 2023.

Returning to his initial genre, Robert Dugoni’s Her Deadly Game is a standalone legal mystery thriller. It begins in May 2023 in Seattle, Washington. A former promising prosecutor, Keera Duggan has returned to her family’s struggling criminal law firm, having been sidelined due to a romantic relationship. Hired to defend a man accused of killing his wealthy wife, the case is complicated by the prosecutor, her former beau, determined to ruin her. As she works on the murder defense, she has to deal with the obvious motive and opportunity, and hopes her father can remain sober long enough to assist her. When Keera receives a message telling her she is in the game of her life, she doesn’t think it’s chess related, but to do with the high-profile murder trial. With its all too human, but thoroughly enjoyable characters, riveting court trial and astounding murder mystery make this a four stars read rating. With thanks to Thomas & Mercer and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

This was a great read!

My appreciation goes to @netgalley for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read a legal thriller in a while so when given the opportunity to read Dugoni's upcoming book, I was in!

Keera is a young defense attorney working somewhat in her father's shadow. As if coming out of a toxic relationship with a senior colleague wasn't enough, she now has to face off with him in a high profile murder case.

I really loved the way Dugoni weaved the family dynamics into the story. It was nice to see the real side of family life displayed next to the life of being in law.

I also was captivated by the suspense of trying to figure out who committed the crime. The courtroom antics were engaging and the characters were well developed. Much of the story was linked as an analogy of sorts to chess. I like the idea of the analogy to chess but not being a chess player, I found the description of the chess moves a bit disengaging.

I felt like I was a part of the proceedings taking place working alongside Keera. Dugoni does such a great job of balancing all the tension that comes from that type of role alongside other aspects of life, so it isn't only a court case the reader is attending but a glimpse into this world of being a defense attorney.

Where have I been? What a great read! I have not read this author before but after this I am going to!

This author reminds me of Scott Turow or John Grisham. A great legal thriller that will have you guessing till the end.

I really enjoyed the elements of police procedure, court room and family drama. The characters will suck you in and you'll
Want to see them again!

Did Vince kill his wife? And if so, why? The crime scene is a bit off but why is that?

I raced through the pages trying to figure out what I was missing. Something here just doesn't add up. Will Keera be able to solve this mystery and get her client off the hook?

Thanks to netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for this edge of your seat thriller!!

Excellent legal drama!

This book will keep you guessing from start to finish! I really enjoyed the characters, particularly Keera, the female lead, and her dysfunctional family members. Keera was determined to show her family and her former boyfriend Miller Ambrose that she is a great lawyer who can defend her client, Vince.

The author wove multiple clues throughout the story, providing a few suspects with motive and includes scientific theory to build a defense. Add in an anonymous email writer feeding information to Keera, and it all adds up to a story worth reading.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Keera Dugan had decided to be a prosecutor instead of joining the family defense law practice. Then she made some bad personal choices and came back home to join the family practice and mend issues with her family as well. Keera is the lawyer on call when an investment adviser finds his wife dead and needs representation. She wants this case for lots of business reasons, but also for personal reasons. Will the evidence lead to her client being innocent or is he really guilty of killing his wife.

Lawyer Keera Duggan was a successful prosecutor in Seattle before a relationship with a senior lawyer turned sour and she reluctantly left to join her father’s company as a lawyer for the defence. Her father Patrick (known as Patsy) is legendary because of his fierce behaviour in court causing him to be nicknamed the ‘Irish Brawler’. These days he drinks too much and is losing his edge, coming to rely more on his daughters, Keera and her sisters Ella and Maggie to keep his floundering business going.

So far, Keera’s cases in her father’s firm have been minor but that’s about to change. She receives a call from investment advisor, Vince LaRussa who has just found his wheelchair bound wife murdered in their home. Already being questioned by the police as their main suspect, he hires Keera’s father’s firm to represent him. This will be Keera’s first murder trial as a defence lawyer, but she’s a chess player and likes nothing better than planning strategy and playing the long game. However, she will be facing a formidable opponent as prosecutor, her former boss and lover Miller Ambrose, who also likes to play games and is determined to win the case by any means possible.

The novel is populated with a strong cast of interesting characters. Prior to the trial, the dynamics in Keera’s family are strained due to the competitiveness of the sisters the and jealousy of the middle sister Maggie who feels undervalued. Patsy’s addiction to alcohol also causes friction and tension at family gatherings. However, as the trial progresses, the family pull together and Keera’s closeness to Patsy and her strong belief in him helps him rise to the occasion. Prosecutor Miller Ambrose, arrogant and ambitious is a worthy opponent for Keera, but he’s outclassed by her at every turn. Keera is also helped by the investigating detective, Frank Rossi, who is a decent and ethical man, and has no time for Ambrose’s attempts at deception. Keera and Patsy also have an exceptional private investigator, JP Harrison who is exceptional at unearthing evidence, including messages Keera has been receiving from someone calling themselves Jack Worthing who seems to know something about LaRussa’s past.

Robert Dugoni is one of the best storytellers in this genre and has crafted a compelling and gripping plot with a satisfying ending. His own experience as a lawyer clearly contributes to the dynamic courtroom scenes and the gamesmanship that lawyers use against each other. As a youngster, Keera was taught to play chess by her father and became a junior chess champion and still likes to play challenging games online to wind down after work. The ongoing chess game in the novel works well in the novel as an analogy for Keera’s courtroom strategy, as just as in chess, she must always plan beyond her next move in the courtroom. The courtroom scenes are excellent, no doubt enriched by Dugoni’s own career as a lawyer. Highly recommended for all those who enjoy a cracking good murder mystery and character driven courtroom drama.

Keera Duggan is an attorney in a family firm with her father and two sisters. Her father Patsy is the legendary Irish Brawler, but his career is winding down due to problematic drinking. Keera's first big client is Vince LaRussa, who is accused of killing his disabled wife. The prosecutor in the case is Miller Ambrose, Keera's forme lover. Alongside the court case Keera plays an online chess game with a tough opponent. I don't know much about chess, but that was a unique way for Keera to gain focus and better concentrate on the trial.
This was a fast paced courtroom drama, police procedural and truly a page turner. It kept my attention and I finished it in only one day. Secrets were revealen in such a fashion that I just had to read another chapter, and another. This was such a great read.

4.5 STARS - I can always trust Robert Dugoni to give me an exciting suspense read with twists and incredibly well-developed characters. In his latest book, Her Deadly Game, he has combined a tension-filled legal thriller with a hearty dose of police procedural and a side of family drama.

This standalone centres around Keera Duggan, a lawyer who made a name for herself as a prosecutor in Seattle. But when she leaves her job due to a bad romantic entanglement, the former chess prodigy begrudgingly returns to her family's criminal defense law firm, hoping to restore her family's reputation.

Keera's first case is to defend Vince LaRussa, an investment advisor whose wheelchair bound wife was found brutally murdered in their home. To add fuel to the fire, Keera's former lover and the reason she left the DA, is her opponent in the courtroom. And he's making it personal.

Chess plays a substantial role in this book. Keera, a former chess prodigy, uses her strategic skills in her role as a defense lawyer and as she builds her case, she is also playing online chess with a mysterious 'Dark Knight' opponent whose moves seem to suggest moves she should make to defend her client. The chess aspect was interesting, but a bit heavy handed. Despite me understanding basic chess, I didn't enjoy reading the chess moves and tended to gloss over them.

This is a compulsive read that will keep readers guessing the identity of the murderer and brings us into tense courtroom battles. I also enjoyed that it wasn't all 'cop shops and courtrooms' as Dugoni brings readers into Keera's close but dysfunctional Irish family (who reminded me of the Reagan's on the Blue Bloods TV show) who uphold the law by day and set aside their quarrels to come together once a week for a family meal. For all their issues and dysfunction, they are a formidable family in and out of the courtroom.

I hope this book is the start to a new series because I want to see more from the Duggan clan, and I would LOVE to see Keera go head-to-head with Miller Ambrose again in the courtroom.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Thomas and Mercer for my complimentary copy of this book which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

Her Deadly Game had me hooked from the very first to the very last page.

The book has it all: police procedure, court room and family drama.

Keera Dugan has reluctantly joined the family law firm and is about to try a case from the opposing side as the defending attorney.

Her dad Patsy has had an illustrious career over the years but his drinking has hurt the law firms reputation.

Keera is defending Vince LaRussa on charge of murdering his wealthy wife who also happens to be wheelchair bound.

Chess also enters into the story and it adds that element of suspense. I know little about chess but I was hooked on the game Keera was playing remotely.

Courtroom trials can be like a chess game: who can out manoeuvre who.

Robert Dugoni is a born story teller and is certainly one of my favourite authors.

I cant wait ( well I am certainly hoping ) to meet up with Keera Dugan again soon.

Pre order , get your copy of Her Deadly Game and move it to the top of your TBR pile.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an outstanding read.

In Her Deadly Game, Robert Dugoni has returned to his legal roots and created can't-put-down standalone perfection. Former prosecutor, Keera Duggan has joined the family law firm and is now a budding defense attorney. When the firm lands a prominent financial wizard's murder trial, she takes the lead, while her alcoholic father sits in at second chair. With family dynamics playing a big role in the story, the courtroom drama draws the reader in and is suspenseful until the last page.

I loved the relationship between Keera and her father, especially the parallels drawn between the game of chess (which she learned from her dad) and the courtroom strategies he also taught her. Keera's friendship with the lead detective, as well as with her own investigator added layers to the story that made the characters more interesting. I would love to see the characters from Her Deadly Game spin into a series, as I think they have more stories to be told.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the digital ARC of Her Deadly Game. The opinions in this review are my own.

I see another great series on the horizon with this exciting legal thriller, Her Deadly Game.
In the usual Dugoni fashion the story has intricate layers of mystery and intrigue.
The premise of the story is centered with the protagonist Keera Duggan. She is the young defense attorney that recently began working with the family law firm. While somewhat inexperienced, she has been assigned as lead defense attorney in a high profile murder case.
There is plenty of court and police procedural scenes interspersed throughout. Each scenario carefully unfolds at precisely the right time. Keeping you on the edge of your seat contemplating what will happen next.
If you are a lover of the Tracy Crosswhite series, you will enjoy a visit with the crossover of characters from that series. This only added another great dynamic to the story.
A great start to what I hope will be another legal thriller series by Robert Dugoni.
A definite 5 star read.

Thanks to Robert Dugoni, Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read
Her Deadly Game.