Mr. Dugoni you've done it again! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟! Tracy never disappoints with keeping you on the edge of your seat and your portrayal of Lydia was perfect and I respect you so much for her character. Run and grab this beauty for your collection!!

Thank you @amazonpublishing for an ARC!

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: A Dead Draw (Tracy Crosswhite 11)
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Robert Dugoni
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: May 27, 2025
4⭐️

✨ 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 ✨
This is one of my favorite female detective series! I have been reading the Tracy Crosswhite books for years and love that I can read ARCs of them! Dugoni is always fantastic at writing Police Procedurals!

I don’t know how Dugoni comes up with more stories for Tracy, but this one is an interesting dive back into Tracy’s past, her sisters death and the fallout of that, and Tracy’s history as a competition shooter. Dugoni was really creative in his introduction of Tracy’s shooting mentor from her high school days, and a new character Lydia, who is the granddaughter of her instructor.

I enjoyed the history of Tracy’s hometown of Cedar Grove being dug up some more, with history behind her family’s house included. The bad guy in this book had an interesting back story and it felt like a different twist or vibe from some previous bad guys that Tracy has been up against!

I hope to see more of Tracy stories in the future, I will never tire of her and coworkers, family and friends!

✨ 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
▪️ Police Procedurals
▪️ Strong Female Detectives
▪️ Past and Present Mysteries
▪️ Western/Cowboy Shooting Competitions

Holy crap, I absolutely adored Robert Dugoni's newest installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series. A Dead Draw, which releases in May 2025, follows Tracy in a cat-and-mouse game with Eric Schmidt, a suspect in double homicide cold cases. Schmidt easily gets under Tracy's skin when she learns he has ties to the man who murdered her sister Sarah. Tracy is so off her game that she leaves Seattle and takes her family home to Cedar Grove in an attempt to keep them safe,
There was so much about this book that I loved. It kept me on the edge of my seat and we got to meet some amazing new side characters like Lydia. While the ending was a tad predictable I have never picked up a Robert Dugoni book that I didn't love and this was no exception.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t know when I read this book that it was part of a series. I had no issue getting into it having not read previous books and it could definitely be read as a standalone. Then ending wasn’t a total surprise but I was still happy with the lead-up. A solid story worth the read for sure. I liked the writing enough that I may check out other books in this series.

How is it possible that Robert Dugoni has now written eleven books in his popular Tracy Crosswhite series? That’s right, folks! Dugoni’s newest Crosswhite thriller, A Dead Draw, is due out in late May 2025.

As a detective for the Seattle Police Department, Tracy is now working cold cases. When a suspect in a double homicide is brought in for questioning and provokes the detective during the interrogation, she uncharacteristically flies off the handle. Worse yet, the man, Eric Schmidt, has a history that goes back to the time when the killer of Tracy’s sister was imprisoned. Later, during a shooting test, things get worse, and Tracy knows she needs a mental break. Schmidt proves that he is out for revenge for what he considers was the illicit death of his friend, and Crosswhite knows that he will be a force to be reckoned with.

She and husband Dan pack up their 4-year-old daughter Daniella, their nanny Therese, and their two dogs and head to their hometown of Cedar Grove for a getaway. There, she decides to reconnect with her former shooting coach to regain her skills and her confidence. She will need every bit of each. Her coach, Mason Pettibone, introduces her to his granddaughter, Lydia, a computer/game nerd who will take over much of Tracy’s instruction. Lydia, a high-functioning autistic young woman who remembers and can recite anything she reads, is indeed a whiz-kid when it comes to shooting games. She is also a patient teacher and is an expert shot on the course as well. She has read all about Tracy and her sister and is thrilled to meet her in person. Tracy soon recognizes that she has her work cut out for her, but she’s a diligent worker and is highly motivated. Her career and her life and those of her co-workers, husband, and daughter are at stake.

I had a good sense of how things would pan out in the end, but that did not lessen the tension. Dugoni is a master at plot development. His characters feel genuine, and the fact that the author is familiar with the Seattle area and the Washington wilderness is obvious. With the inclusion Tracy’s intriguing new friend, Lydia, this book is highly entertaining. These factors create danger and suspense that make A Dead Draw hard to put down.

I received a digital copy of A Dead Draw in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author.

4 stars

I really enjoy the Tracy Crosswhite books, although must confess this was not one of my favorites. I'm not sure exactly why that is - perhaps because Tracy feels so off her game in this one. I appreciate that she has more to lose than ever before, but her combination of recklessness and remorse for it felt like well-trod ground and wore on my nerves a little bit after a while.

I do always enjoy when she goes back to Cedar Grove though, and I absolutely loved the introduction of Lydia as a surrogate for Sarah. I found the back and forth between the two to be one of my favorite aspects of this book, and I am looking forward to seeing Lydia in future installments.

Three and a half stars rounded up to four for one of my favourite authors and one of my favourite series.

A game of cat and mouse between our main protagonist Tracy Crosswhite and a suspect in a double murder from a cold case Erik Schmidt, who has ties to Tracy’s late nemesis House, this one is good but not amongst the best in the series.

An interesting premise and the introduction of a new character who is autistic adds greatly to the story but it just doesn’t quite have that spark of previous efforts. A little draggy in the middle and then a slightly over the top finale with both Tracy and her husband Dan making some questionable (and out of character) decisions, it just doesn’t have the craft and plot of previous efforts.

I still enjoyed it enough though to give it a high mark and if you are a fan of the series you will certainly enjoy this one. I’ve yet to read a bad book by Dugoni so when it’s nothing short of brilliant it’s a bit of a shock for me.

I’d still recommend this to fans and indeed newcomers to the series. It can be read as a standalone and if you enjoy it as a first time reader, know there are some brilliant books that preceded it for you to enjoy.

Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

Tracy Crosswhite is back again and she’s off her A-game after an interaction with killer who is set free on a technicality and a major miss during a training exercise. She packs up and her family to head to her hometown but far isn’t far enough. Robert Dugoni has continued to make this series interesting and engaged but comfortable - you know what you’re going to get which is nice as an in-between read of stand-alone thrillers. Thank you Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to review!

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publishers Thomas & Mercer and author, Robert Dugoni for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for May 27, 2025.

Book #11 in the series – where does the time go?

Our protagonist, Detective Tracy Crosswhite is now older and wiser (wiser? – who said that? Not me, because in this book some of her decision making is a little questionable). She's now married to partner Dan O'Leary and has a three-year-old daughter, Daniella. She's now working Cold Cases, having moved out of Seattle Police Department's Violent Crimes Section 'A Team' because it's safer – or is it?

Readers familiar with the series will know the background of how Tracy lost her sister, Sarah. But for those unfamiliar, her younger sister, Sarah, (who was then eighteen), disappeared after the two sisters had participated in a shooting competition. As Tracy went off to dinner with her then boyfriend, Ben, Sarah left to drive home in the rain but was never seen again. Sarah never made it home. A local man, Edmund House, was later convicted of her abduction and murder. Tracy had always considered the evidence which convicted House to be inconclusive and worked to overturn the conviction. In a cruel twist of fate, it was Tracy who ultimately ended House's life when it came to light he was in fact responsible for Sarah's death.

As evidenced right from the first book in the series, Sarah's death has dwelt heavily on Tracy and that storyline has played a part of each subsequent book since, be it small or large. In this instalment, Sarah's death is at the forefront.

Erik Schmidt, a suspect in two cold case killings which Tracy is investigating has just been released on a 'technicality'. Schmidt, an expert marksman, took pleasure in taunting Tracy as he walked free from court. Haunted by Schmidt's release and reoccurring nightmares about Sarah, Tracy is off her game – failing a mandatory qualification shoot set by the Department. Returning to her hometown of Cedar Grove to refocus, Tracy contacts an old mentor, and former shooting coach, Mason Pettibone to see if he can improve her reaction time.

Unbeknown to Tracy, Erik Schmidt is on her trail.

Definite Yays

🤠 Dugoni uses vivid descriptions that help the reader better understand the environment whether it is the task force office or a small town.

🤠 The storyline is engaging, suspenseful, and includes some tense scenes.

🤠 Overall, this book has well-developed relatable main and secondary characters. If you are looing for a solid series that will have mystery, suspense, crime, action, and, a 'touch' of romance this might be for you.

Definite Hmms

🤔 Many readers have commented that the first half of the book spends a lot of time describing types of guns, shooting competitions and shoot-em-up video games. While I do acknowledge that a large portion of the early story does devote a bit of page time to these topics, this reader is cognizant of the fact that guns and shooting made up a huge portion of the protagonists childhood and is in fact, a day-to-day part of her present day job as a detective in the Seattle PD. So, while this reader didn't mind the page time, I can appreciate it might be a cause for concern for other readers.

🤔 This reader would have liked to have seen more of a presence from previous secondary characters, Kinsington Rowe, Vic Fazzio and Delmo Castigliano.

🤔 One of the biggest turnoffs for this reader (hence my 4 star rating) was that although Tracy feels realistic and authentic as she continues to struggle with the guilt for not being there to protect her sister, it's getting a bit stale. Yes she sought counselling for her sister's death, but I'm not seeing a lot of growth regarding that area of her character and as a result, a lot of her decision making in this book was highly questionable.

Definite Last Word

🤩 Overall, a solid addition to the series.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for May 27, 2025.

A Dead Draw
by Robert Dugoni
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A killer fueled by revenge. A detective haunted by the past. They are headed for a high-stakes showdown in this bone-chilling new Tracy Crosswhite novel by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. Forced into a twisted game of cat and mouse, Tracy must draw on all her training, wits, and strength to defeat a master criminal before he takes away everyone Tracy loves.
The story was slow to take off, with the action not starting until 50-60%. Also, much of the story involves competitive shooting, which I found boring so I skimmed much of those sections. I also had to fight my irritation at some of the poor decisions made by Tracy and her husband.

These things were deal breakers for me, but diehard fans of the series may feel differently.

The author explains in his note that he and his dad were big fans of spaghetti westerns and I believe he was successful in his attempt to recreate some of those scenes.

I am a big fan of this series and have read all the books in the last two years. This book falls far short of what I have come to expect from this series (this one and ‘The Steep Price’ are the only two in the series I did not like).

The story picks up from an interrogation of Erik Schmidt 3 months ago pertaining to a cold case of two murders of young women. As Tracy speak to him, he denies the charges, and says he has engaged Bernard Gil as his lawyer. Subsequently, he taunts Tracy that he knew her sister Sarah’s murderer Edmund House well. Tracy loses her cool. The case against Erik does not go well in court due to procedural lapses. Tracy’s former partner Kins takes responsibility, though there were other factors at play. Tracy realizes that Erik being a free man is going to be dangerous for many, including her family. She decides to move to Cedar Grove (the town she grew up in) with Dan and their daughter. Kins has a bad accident, and they wonder if it is sabotage. A cat and mouse game is to follow.

The plot is weaker than the other books in the series. The character development is average. The procedural work which is usually a strength is very poor in this one. I also felt that Tracy’s behaviours in this story were very uncharacteristic (or poorly explained) and deviated considerably from the earlier books. The last sections & ending lose the touch of realism I like about the author’s book and instead is more of the kind you find in many psychological thrillers these days (with a lame twist). The story does bring out how lapses in due process can shatter an otherwise legitimate case. As a fan of the series and the author, a disappointment.

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni Is a book in a series. But don't be put off...It is a stand alone thriller. Detective Tracey Crosswhite's sister was murdered years ago. After interviewing Erik Schmidt who is a suspect in 2 cold case murders she starts having flashbacks and has failed her routine shooting exercise .
She and her husband and daughter return to their hometown. She meets a young woman who is on the spectrum and who is the granddaughter of the man she wants to reenforce her shooting skills. Lydia reminds her of her sister
She eventually has to fight for her life as well as Lydia's.
I love the was Mr. Dugoni portrays Lydia as a wonderful caring smart person. It was a suspenseful read filled with wonderful characters

Tracy Crosswhite is back in this tale of memories, revenge, redemption, and high stakes! A Dead Draw was slow to start but built to the ultimate showdown! This cat-and-mouse book has Tracy going back to basics, remembering the past, while planning for her family’s future.

Tracy is usually cool under pressure but after a tense interrogation with the evil and diabolical, Erik Schmidt, who has ties to the man who murdered her sister, she loses her cool and detached demeanor. She goes on to make a shocking mistake on the shooting range that sees her being asked to take time off to regroup. Along with Dan, her husband, their daughter and nanny, Tracy goes back to her hometown of Cedars Grove to regroup and relax at their weekend house. Tracy meets with her former shooting coach and meets his granddaughter, Lydia, who has her own unique way of approaching shooting which Tracy may find beneficial. Bur relaxing will not be in her future after Schmidt is freed......

Fans of the series know that Tracy and her sister participated in shooting competitions and that Tracy is an excellent shot. So, when she makes a mistake on the shooting range, I felt bad for her knowing how much prides herself on her shooting. This gives Dugoni an opportunity to show how stress, trauma, PTSD, and pressure affects Tracy. I appreciated him bringing attention to PTSD.

This book has a BIG emphasis on guns and shooting. As I mentioned this book was slow in the beginning and I do struggle with slowness in books. I started getting worried and thought "this is not the Tracy Crosswhite series that I am used to". Thankfully the last half of the book picked up and things become more tense, more dangerous, and more deadly. While this was not my favorite book in the series, I found it to be enjoyable, shocking, and left me wanting to know what comes next!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Mr. Dugoni hits a home run with the latest in the Tracy Crosswhite series. This time she tangles with Erik Schmidt who has an unexpected connection to Tracy's sister, Sarah's killer and leads to an unexpected conclusion as they face-off against each other. Also this book introduces a new character who would be great to see in future volumes. I think new fans and old fans alike will love this book. 4-stars!!!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of “A Dead Draw” in exchange for an honest review. The 11th entry in the Tracy Crosswhite series features Tracy facing off against a brutal murderer with military training and sharpshooting skill that even exceeds hers. To make matters worse, he has a close connection with the serial killer who murdered Tracy’s sister and almost killed her as well.

This is another solid outing in the reliable detective series, and features appearances from many old friends in the series while introducing us to a new protagonist (Lydia), an autistic young woman, who forges a close bond with Tracy. The story concludes with a clever and surprising twist, and is suspenseful and exciting throughout. 4 stars.

This is #11 in the Tracy Crosswhite series.

From the blurb : “Detective Tracy Crosswhite isn’t one to lose her cool. Until her interrogation of the taunting and malicious Erik Schmidt, a suspect in two cold case killings. Schmidt also has unnerving ties to the monster who murdered Tracy’s sister, stirring memories of the crime that shaped Tracy’s life. After a critical mistake during a shooting exercise, Tracy breaks.”

Tracy is ordered to take time off to refocus - spend time with her husband Dan and young daughter.

She heads to Cedar Grove, the community where she and Dan grew up. Things don’t go as hoped and her nightmares become real when Schmidt is released on a technicality.

The first half of the book spends a lot of time describing types of guns, shooting competitions and the new way of learning how to shoot quickly and accurately – VIDEO GAMES!

Never playing video games and with a complete lack of interest in guns - the first half was a bit of a struggle for me and I admit to skimming some of these parts.

This novel delves deeply into Tracy’s PTSD, and her years growing up in Cedar Grove and we meet some great new characters.

Lydia, a video gamer with the handle “Lighting Strike” is on the autism spectrum. She is the granddaughter of her old trainer, Mason Pettibone. They will both help retrain Tracy to get her back on track with shooting.

If you can handle a slow beginning and lots of gun discussion - you will be rewarded with an exciting second half. We also learn a lot more about her younger years which is great character building - which is, of course, what Dugoni does so well!

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

This is my first book in Dugoni’s series, although I’ve read two of his standalone books- one being my favorite of all time (The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell). This book started off very slow, or I’d probably give it more stars. The characters are probably the best part, you become very invested. Tracy is afraid Erik, who is out of prison now due to a technicality, will be coming after her and her family. So there’s no choice but to move away and hide. The plot and plot twists were right up my alley and I did end up enjoying this once the pace picked up.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni, the 11th book in his Tracy Crosswhite series. I am a huge fan of Dugoni's books, and A Dead Draw was definitely five stars for me!! I have not read all of this series yet, but look forward now to reading every one, A Dead Draw is an intense book of action as Tracy uses all of her skills and training to try and capture murderer Erik Schmidt. As you read you become invested in the role of each character. in this thriller. I couldn't put it down and finished in one day!

Robert Dugoni has done it again. I love the Tracy Crosswhite series and the newest installment continues with excellent story telling. The story early on revisits the death of Tracy’s sister but from a different view. We get to learn more about Tracy’s sister, their relationship, and growing up in competitive shooting.
Tracy is working a cold case and the suspect, Erik Schmidt, has ties to Edmund House. Erik is able to get into Tracy’s head and that starts to affect her work.
Erik sets his sites on Tracy and her former partner. Tracy and her family decide to leave Seattle and spend time in Cedar Grove. Tracy’s current problems make her revisit her past and sharpen her shooting skills. Will she be able to keep her family safe with a killer on the loose that has her in his sites?
While this is not my favorite Tracy Crosswhite book, I did enjoy it. The Tracy Crosswhite character is very well written. She is flawed and is still working through her mental health issues. She is multidimensional, she is a wife, mother, and detective trying her best. Robert does such a good job writing this character. Tracy is my favorite detective!
Thank you Robert Dugoni, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to review.

Dugoni has done it again! He’s written #11 in the Tracy Crosswhite series and 4 stars are dancing around in my review.

In this book Tracy is told to take some time off after a solid case goes wrong and she heads to her hometown with her family. Suffering through some PTSD involving an old case and an arch enemy Tracy finds some of her shooting skills impacted by hallucinations. Once in Cedar Grove ,she begins shooting lessons with her old instructor and his granddaughter. The hope is to overcome her issues. Quickly Tracy finds herself working a new case with old roots.

Filled with great descriptions, an excellent representation of a character on the spectrum and some old friends - Chief Calloway, Tracy just thought she was taking time off. The reality is quite different!

It was really great to be back in Cedar Grove again and to see Tracy dispense with an old demon.

Thanks to Robert Dugoni and the publisher for taking Tracy home once more.