Police procedural + courtdroom drama = 3.75 stars!

I had trouble getting into the story for the first 25% because there were many repetitions. After that, the rythm picked up and I really enjoyed my reading time!

The parts about chess didn't hold my interest, but at least, they weren't too long.

There were nice twists along the way and Dugoni achieved to surprise me! Some parts were a bit far-fetched, but not too much. Overall, it's a book I recommend, the best part being the last one (the trial).

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC (at the moment I downloaded the file, it was available to ''read now'').

Pub date: 28 March 2023

What a spectacular, spell-binding read this book is! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Keera Duggan is a lawyer who returns to her father's law firm to practice law after a split from her former lover, Prosecutor Miller Ambrose. Their first big case is defending Vincent LaRussa, a wealthy investment counselor, whose wheel-chair bound wife, Anne, was murdered in their home. Keera is a master chess player and defends this client if she was playing a championship game of chess.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this phenomenal book. I really hope that there will be more books featuring Keera Duggan and her law firm. Author Robert Dugoni hit the ball out of the park again with this book.

One of my favorite authors/series. He's a HUGE hit at my library! I really enjoyed this title!!

5 out of 5!

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Dugoni, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Robert Dugoni, master storyteller and legal thriller writer extraordinaire, is back with a standalone novel that will have readers on the edge of their seats. Set in his usual Seattle, Dugoni explores a case in which a wheelchair-bound woman is found shot in her home and the husband is the prime suspect. Keera Duggan is ready to work the case, but it will take all her efforts, both to defend the husband and show her family that she can play in the big leagues. A great story that could easily be the opening salvo in a new series. Dugoni at his best and just what fans need to tide them over.

Keera Duggan has a great future as a prosecutor in Seattle, but some personal choices made that path all but impossible. She’s back working in the family law firm, serving as a defense attorney, and trying to keep her alcholic father away from the bottle. Her past as a competitive chess player keeps her memories somewhat positive, though Keera is ready for a new challenge and wants to leave the shadow of her siblings’ disappointing views.

When Keera takes the call of Vince LaRussa, she thinks that she may have found a way to rebuild her career and help the firm rebound to its successful past. LaRussa is an investment advisor who has been accused of murdering his wife, whose wealth is the only positive she has left. Wheelchair-bound after a freak accident, Mrs. LaRussa has been biding her time, but made mention to her closest friend that she may be ready to divorce Vince. This motive, tied with the fact that she was shot in the back of the head, is enough for Seattle PD to begin pulling out all the stops to determine how Vince may have committed the crime. With her former lover serving as the lead prosecutor, Keera is fired up and hopes to make her mark.

While prepping for trial, Vince shows honest sadness for his wife’s murder and hopes that the killer can be found. Keera uses this and a series of cryptic emails to better understand her client and his past. Soon, Keera and her team uncover a complex situation that could better explain the crime scene and those who came to visit the victim in the hours before her death. While Keera follows the path, she learns that there is more to her client and the day of the murder than she first presumed. While it could be a slam dunk to help her win this tense case, it could also open a Pandora’s Box to larger and more troubling things. Dugoni weaves a story of legal loopholes, deception, and a lawyer’s attempt to claim the prize she feels will help her build the family back up once more.

Robert Dugoni is a master at writing stories that will pull the reader into the middle of things and keep them entertained. His stories are always multi-faceted and provide quick development, as the plot thickens and the narrative gains momentum. Dugoni knows what he’s doing and provides a roadmap for the reader to follow. Pulling on past experiences and surely significant research, Dugoni dazzles with each new book he publishes, be it a standalone or one of his highly-acclaimed series novels featuring Tracy Crosswhite. I cannot wait to see where things will go from here and whether Keera Duggan will be back again soon.

Dugoni’s narrative style is one in which the reader is subsumed with ease as things progress around them. A strong foundation helps guide the reader along and adds depth to an already great piece. Strong characters emerge throughout, hinting that Dugoni might want to bring them back for future Seattle adventures, while allowing the reader to decide if they are curious to discover even more. Plot lines develop throughout and build on one another, offering the reader a better insight into the case, Keera’s past, and what could be the real story behind Vince LaRussa. I can only hope that other readers will be as excited as I was when they plunge into this one, sure to keep them flipping pages well into the night.

Kudos, Mr. Dugoni, for proving yet again that you have that magic touch.

This novel tells the remarkable stories of a prosecutor turned defense attorney, her defense of a man accused of murdering his wife, and her many doubts about the man she represents innocence.
The story is fascinating because there are so many twists and turns that alternatively leave you convinced of the husband's innocence and of his guilt.
Further complications in this novel are issues with the defense attorney's fathers' drinking and differing feelings about the accused from his children.
This one will leave you hanging until the very end, loved the book, which is no surprise from a great writer like Robert Dugoni.

What is this about?
Keera has joined her father’s firm after leaving her previous one thanks to an asshole ex who made life difficult for her. A new case is a chance to make her mark, however, she finds herself across the court from said ex and a case that gets more puzzling by the second.

What else is this about?
It’s an introduction to Keera and her very complicated family — which proved to be more interesting in some ways than the case.

I have read Robert Dugoni before and was ready for Her Deadly Game to have a compelling case at its centre — which it does — but I didn’t expect Keera and her family.

Keera is — was — a prosecutor, building a career for herself and away from her father’s law firm and his name, before it all imploded thanks to her ex, Miller Ambrose. He’s a fellow prosecutor and as Keera discovers, a misogynistic ass to boot as she discovers. She leaves the prosecutor’s offce to get away from him and goes to work with her sisters at their father’s firm.

Their father, The Irish Brawler, Patsy has a reputation in the courtroom as well known as his reputation for being an alcoholic. Dugoni introduces Keera’s family in the book — her sisters who work for the firm and their mother who have all figured out how to live and work with their father. Dugoni shared enough for me to be intrigued by their relationship with each other and how they worked and lived with their father: Ella and Margaret are part of their father’s firm, but they’re also his caretakers in the office and in court, used to covering for him, while Keera is the one that escaped and managed to make a career and a life for herself outside of the family.
The resentment simmers underneath their reactions to each other, but so does Keera’s claustrophobia when it comes to her family when we first meet her — she always wants to have a plan to escape them, even if all she’s escaping is a family dinner.

Their father, Patsy, makes promises he can’t keep and everyone knows he can’t keep them. Once — and to some extend still – an excellent lawyer, he knows his career is over but he also knows he needs to make things right with Keera, which makes for a lovely secondary story to the case and everything else happening. It’s this family that makes me wish this was the first in the series, but as I understand it, this is a standalone.
Now the case: Keera is hired to defend Vince LaRussa, a very successful investment advisor who is accused of killing his wheelchair-bound wife, Anne. As Keera begins to investigate the case, she finds out more about Anne and her client thanks to an informant who could very well be setting her up by dropping clues and witnesses linked to her client. Keera has no choice but to follow as more secrets are revealed — about Anne and about Vince. It’s the sort of peeling back of the layers of these two characters specifically that I can’t add spoilers for, but had me wondering what Dugoni was going to throw at readers next!

All in all, Her Deadly Game, was utterly engrossing for more than just the case at it’s core — and those are the best kinds of mysteries!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. I have been a big fan of the author's Tracy Crosswhite series, and although this was more of a legal thriller, I really enjoyed this for a different reason. For men my age, often our identities get so tied up in our work, which I find to be so unhealthy so I had a real connection with father of the protagonist. I am also curious to see if there is a possible sequel in the works for this one as I found the characters to be very compelling. I will be looking into the author's other standalone books as this was a 5-star book for me.

I really like this book. One of those books that stays with you after you have read it. Great plot and characters. I recommend it if you like crime mystery books. This was a very enjoyable read.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

I really enjoyed this book, from the strong female lead and the incredibly intriguing mystery, I could not put this down. I loved the dynamics between Keera and her family, the side story of her families struggles and Keera's struggles to live up to her father "the Irish Brawler" made the book even more interesting to me because it brings a humanity to Keera that you don't get in a lot of mysteries. I also really enjoyed the accuracy of the investigation and court proceedings - for me this added to the suspense of the entire mystery and you felt like a part of the jury. I also found it incredibly unique having a chess game, almost, following along with the investigation and although I don't understand chess much I did enjoy reading it because not only did it add another layer to Keera's character I think this also added to the suspense of the investigation and possibly could be seen in future books.

I was on the edge of my seat reading this, it truly left me guessing until the last moment. I hope there will be more books following Keera and her career. I strongly recommend this for any fans of a good mystery/thriller with a strong female lead.

Robert Dugnoi has done it again! I loved having another strong female lead character and hope that he is not done with the story of Keera Duggan and her family. Although not a chess player myself, I did enjoy the connection between the game of chess and being a successful defense attorney. I also enjoyed getting to know the perfectly imperfect Duggan family. I felt the effects that alcoholism can have on a family was very true to life and I read in the Acknowledgements how serious the issue of addiction is in the legal profession. Having read all of the Tracy Crosswhite books, I liked the crossover of characters mentioned and could totally see a book with Keera and Tracy working together. This book had great character development, a fast paced plot, and was hard to put down. I enjoyed every twist! Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”Her Deadly Game” in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was given an advance copy to review early. All opinions are my own and honest. A PAGE TURNING MUST READ OF THE NEW YEAR! it has all the elements for me. Only flaw I found but is what originally drew me to request the book, was the title. I thought at one point the chess game would be the answer but it really fizzed out. Left me wondering I would like to see all that in another book? This was not only a murder mystery but also a legal thriller. Patriarch of the Dugan law firm and family of lawyers.Patrick “Patsy” Dugan known in the legal community as the Irish Brawler because he could be counted on to put up excellent argument skills on cross examination.He also has the reputation as an alcoholic which has become a problem to the firm bottom line. And his reputation. He is often too inebriated to show up to court dates.. And has been a blight to the family that has plagued the family for years. Sunday family dinners had become a chore for everyone to attend siblings constantly fighting over who had it worse. Dad passed out on the couch, mom trying to make everyone happy. The middle daughter, Maggie, has begrudgingly become the one to get dad out of the bars and bring him home. She also oversees office operations. Ella, eldest daughter, graduated from dad’s alma matter earned her law degree, as did youngest daughter, Keera. Two older brothers had taken after father. Dad had taught Keera how to play chess as a good way to learn good gamesmanship which would translate to being a great lawyer. Being able to see the entire field and to not get caught up in any one area. Have to see the plays in offense and defense to be able to assess the next play and to not become cornered. The core of the story is a murder case. Keera has been chosen to handle it. And Patsy would second chair. Patsy would become his old self preparing for trial and during trial.m No drinking for two weeks. Do they win the case, really? I would highly recommend this book. One you won’t want to put down. I look forward to the next installment. An author I will be following. Two arms straight up. Jazz hands. Ten fingers, two thumbs up. Special thanks to the following:
#NetGalley
#AmazonPublishing
#RobertDugoni
#HerDeadlyGame

A solid, back-to-the-basics legal thriller from New York Times bestselling author & ex-lawyer Robert Dugoni.

I did not particularly like the title - it doesn't fit the content of the book, in my opinion, and makes readers anticipate something that the book can't deliver, which is some high-stake, edge-of-the-seat suspense. This is more of a Sunday afternoon puzzle that keeps its audience guessing, although the solution (especially the why behind it) is a bit outlandish.

What I enjoyed most about the book were the family dynamics in between the court proceedings. They felt real in a way most other books don't manage. I also liked the fact that the protagonist is playing an actual chess game that can be reenacted on a chess board at home.

Overall, an entertaining read, although I wished the reasons behind the case had been altered. It's not very believable that someone would go to such lengths to - well, to find out what I mean, you will have to read the book yourself.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the advance copy!

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @amazonpublishing for sending me an early copy of Her Deadly Game by @robertdugoni. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Her Deadly Game is a legal thriller about Keera Duggan, a previous Seattle prosecutor who has returned to her family’s criminal defense law firm to work for her father, Patsy. She gets a chance to restore her family’s reputation, her relationship with Patsy, and her career when she handles the murder case of Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wife. With the couple’s impending divorce and evidence against him, he faces life in prison. As a chess prodigy, Keera handles the investigation one calculating move at a time and discovers a lot of shocking information that would make her question her duty to her client, her family, and her own future.

To be honest, I initially found this novel quite intimidating as I am no expert on legal jargon, but Dugoni wrote this very well – it’s very easy to understand and is very fast-paced and straightforward. At first glance, the case seemed so simple – a wealthy husband decides to kill his sick wife. I loved the storytelling and how each piece of evidence and information uncovered and revealed put together created a darker picture you wouldn’t expect.

I also loved each main character’s development, especially Keera’s father, Patsy. He was the Irish Bowler, a great defense attorney back in his glory days, but he was losing his touch and always was leaning towards alcohol and failed to show up during his last DUI case. His absences and dependence on alcohol have strained his relationship with his family, especially with Keera, who stopped playing chess competitively when Patsy humiliated her during one of her last competitions, showing up drunk. The LaRussa case had them working together – harmoniously together – to defend their client. I loved how they were able to bond during the case with Patsy giving his insights and advice to Keera and helping her gather information and evidence.

Rating Her Deadly Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5. Releases March 28th, 2023. I can’t wait to read more of Dugoni’s works!

Robert Dugoni's first book in a new series, Her Deadly Game, is an absolute winner!

Keera Duggan is a defense attorney in family's legal firm. Her father Patsy Duggan is known as the Irish Brawler and was an defense attorney to be feared until alcoholism and his court behavior got him crosswise with some judges. Keera had had a successful career as a prosecutor until an ill advised romance made her the target of the ex who just happened to be a co-worker, who made staying in the prosecutor's office untenable, and continued to haunt her out of sheer spite. The Duggan family put the "fun" in dysfunctional both in and out of the office. And Keera has a lot to prove. When a high profile murder case lands in her lap, things get even more interesting. The client, Vince LaRussa, a well known and wealthy investment manager, is accused of killing his wheelchair bound wife to avoid her divorcing him and taking all their assets. On the surface, Vince is a loving husband concerned about is wife and there is no hard evidence tying him directly to the murder. However, the prosecutor is Keera's former lover and the judge on the case has no love for Patsy. But Keera is dogged and persistent, and with the help of her father and her the trusty investigator, little by little they find that nothing is exactly what it seems, including the prosecutor's case.

Keera is a fiesty, creative, flawed human that is easily identified with as she battles her own demons: the relationship with her alcoholic father, her workaholic sisters also in the family firm, the cheap tricks played by the former lover and the unyielding judge who loves making life difficult for the attorneys. The book is fast paced and it's easy to keep reading until you're done. Each chapter brings a new scenario and I just had to know what was going to happen. I hope to see Keera and the other characters in many more books soon; start writing now Mr. Dugoni! Definitely a five star read!

Keera Dugan is defending a client accused of murdering his wheel chair bound wife. Keera works in the firm founded by her Father, an accomplished defense attorney who is also an alcoholic. His alcoholism has started to affect his practice. Keera is up against DA Ambrose who she had an affair with and has a grudge against her. He will do anything to win. The case takes multiple paths and we don’t see until the end of the book how they tie together. This one will keep you turning the pages. One of the best legal thrillers I have read. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni is a mystery/thriller surrounding a defense attorney, Keera Duggan, a recent prosecutor in Seattle. Keera works with her father, a powerful defense attorney, and her two sisters, one a managing partner and the other a receptionist. The story follows Keera defending a wealthy man, Vince LaRussa, against allegations he murdered his disabled wife. As she represents her client, Keera must grapple with the prosecutor, a former lover with no scruples, and her father’s alcoholism.

As fan of Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series, I was immediately drawn to this book. Instead of viewing the crime through the lens of a police investigation we follow the crime from a legal perspective. As with the Crosswhite series, Dugoni includes a host of interesting characters including an English private investigator, and the victim’s best friend, an Oncologist. In addition to the new characters, there are brief cameos of some of the investigators in the Crosswhite series. A nice surprise!

Overall, Her Deadly Game was exciting and enjoyable, I recommend this book any fan of mystery and/or legal thrillers! Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

"Never ever play games with a girl who knows how to play them better. I'm not waiting for the Karma train. I'm driving it." (Unknown)

Nothing wounds greater than a love affair on the skids. Keera Duggan found out the hard way. Her former lover, Miller Ambrose, keeps turning the knife. But Keera cut all ties with Miller. Doesn't seem like Miller can read a Stop sign.

Keera even left the law practice in Seattle where she and Miller worked. Her only option was to fall into the open arms of her family's law firm headed by her famous father, Patrick Duggan, known as "Patsy". At seventy-two, he's still a force to be reckoned with. Her sisters, Ella and Maggie, work there as well.

High Point: Keera is approached by Vince LaRussa, a successful investment adviser. Upon returning home from a charity affair, Vince came upon his wife, Anne, dead from a gunshot wound in their kitchen. Anne had been relegated to a wheelchair for some time which made the crime even more gruesome. Suspect #1 is the husband. Vince is gonna need a top-notch lawyer.

Investigating Detectives: Frank Rossi and Billy Ford of Seattle's Violent Crime Division step into this circle. Both have years of experience under their belts. This is no suicide with a shot to the back of the head. No other suspects but Vince.

Gasoline On the Fire: Miller Ambrose has been assigned as the prosecuting attorney. He will try to lay bear traps along the way for Keera. It's personal.

Trick Up the Sleeve: Keera was a Chess prodigy for years. She and Patsy played non-stop and she continues to enter games online. Strategy is always key. But is it enough to, once again, sharpen her skills when a man's life is at stake and your ex is lobbing grenades around every turn?

Needless to say, if you've read Robert Dugoni in the past, you know he's should to shoulder with even John Grisham when it comes to courtroom tactics and scenes. The man holds your attention taut throughout. And with a lead female character like Keera Duggan who is well aware of her potential for checkmate, you're in for a mighty good read. Buckle up and let's set up the board.

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

Enjoyed reading the latest by Robert Dugoni. A complex case, explained in a way you'll never imagine! Touches on abuse and alcoholism. Strong female lead (she's smart AND a chess player)! I could see this become a series.

This book is the start of a series about Keera Duggan, a former prosecutor turned defense attorney. Dugoni is one of my favorite authors and he has outdone himself with this book. Once I started I simply could not put it down and I finished it the next day. The book is exciting from the first page to the last. It is first and foremost a legal thriller with a good dose of courtroom drama. Keera is strong and likable yet humble. I am not a chess player but I found the chess dialogue was easy to understand. I highly recommend this book.

In Her Deadly Game we meet Keera Duggan, a young Prosecutor working in Seattle for her family's failing firm. Her father was once a leading light in the field but is now too fond of the bottle and is losing his edge. As a consequence Keera, although inexperienced, finds herself taking the lead in the defence of an accused murderer.

This is a court room thriller with a side of police work accompanied by a family drama. Something for every one and I loved it! The characters are written excellently well, and Keera in particular stands out as smart, determined and no one's fool. I especially liked the theme of a chess game running parallel with and reflecting the action in court.

The book starts well, moves at an excellent pace and finishes in great style with an unexpected twist. Highly recommended.