I have a confession to make. Neither the cover nor the blurb describing the contents of Robert Dugoni’s Close to Home really enticed me. The thought of a hit-and-run death involving a serviceman and a potential military trial, possible ties to heroin trafficking...I don’t know, the idea just didn’t really grab me. But it’s Dugoni, and it’s Tracy Crosswhite, so what did I have to lose? Wise choice! I am so thankful to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for the opportunity to read the electronic version of this fifth in the series as an ARC, which will be published in early September.

Immediately, Dugoni tugged at my emotions by portraying the 12-year-old African American boy as someone who deserved a chance to live a long, successful, happy life – a chance he never got, thanks to a driver who plowed him down and sped away without stopping. Tracy and Kinsington Rowe (Kins) enter the scene when it becomes obvious that this is a homicide. Seattle PD is currently overwhelmed with cases, but even when the suspect is booked and transferred to the naval facility, Tracy stays in the loop. The victim’s family deserves it, she feels.

In a second thread, Del Castigliano and his partner, Vic Fazzio, investigate the overdose death of Del’s niece. What? They get around the obvious conflict of interest by having Faz sign off on everything, but one has to put aside the disbelief to accept that this is even possible, especially given that the department is up to its eyeballs in homicides already. Okay, it is what it is. Fiction. Dugoni has done a great deal of research, and it shows. Not everyone will agree that legalizing marijuana is what has led to the increase in the heroin and opiate use, or that free clinics that provide drugs to addicts will help prevent deaths from overdosing, but some data bears that out, and that’s what our SPD detectives are hearing. What really makes an impact is the scope of the problem is laid out. As Del meets with Celia McDaniel, he finds that he must grapple with so much more than getting the dealers and suppliers off the street. There are always more where they came from. He knows firsthand the resulting agony and suffering it causes in the lives of so many. You can talk about “justice”, but that doesn’t ease the pain of the loved ones left behind. As Celia says, “What you have to realize is that crying is God’s way of helping us wash away the pain.”

Meanwhile, Tracy is convinced that the suspect is guilty, but since the case is now in the hands of the Navy, it is out of her control. When the most important piece of evidence goes missing, she is determined to reinsert herself into the investigation – yet another instance where the reader is asked to accept an implausible situation, since she is stepping on toes big time by wandering into another department’s jurisdiction.

What I enjoyed most about Close to Home is the character development. Already very familiar with the characters of Tracy, Faz, Del, and Dan, I found myself loving them even more. Del becomes embroiled in a very personal, emotional quest to find the person(s) responsible for his niece’s drug overdose, as well as for the health and well being of his sister and nephews. In the process, he strikes up a relationship with Celia. The initial scene where they are chatting – flirting – so, so good! It felt real. Tracy and Dan, now married and settled, are trying to start a family. Dugoni did some research in this area too, and we see another side to Tracy and her relationship with Dan that makes her more vulnerable and more human than we’ve seen her in previous stories.

I must also say that I enjoyed two new characters: Celia, whom I’ve already mentioned. She is smart, empathetic, tough, and apparently a very lovely, sexy African American woman who raises a spark or two somewhere in Del’s soul. The other is Leah Battles, a judge advocate from the naval base. She gets the call to represent the suspect in the hit-and-run case. She also faces an uphill battle when the evidence goes missing. She’s strong, exceedingly competent, and very determined. I liked her a lot, and I liked her use of the phrase, one I’ve used myself on many occasions – “Be careful what you wish for.” I suspect that we may be seeing more of these two women in future Crosswhite books.

The main plot, that is, the hit-and-run case, really had me confused! I really could not figure out how the evidence went missing. Common sense said that the obvious culprit was lying; if not, who did it? I was flummoxed! Luckily, Tracy Crosswhite was on the case!

Along with all of that, there is so much going on in this book. Drugs and how police, cities, families, and society handle the problem. How crimes against African Americans are investigated and handled by law enforcement, including the military. Interpersonal relationships in families, in dating situations, in marriage. Food! I love how the author always works Italian food into his stories, and the dialogue between folks over food is wonderful. Even the scenes between the characters and their dogs are true-to-life. I mean, this man can flat-out write!
Take the parts that are a bit unbelievable with a grain of salt and dig into the meat of this story. I highly recommend it!

5 stars

This is the fifth in the Tracy Crosswhite series set in the Seattle Police Dept. This time, the characters we have come to know and love investigate a hit and run which links to the Navy, stolen evidence and a lethal strain of heroin on the city's streets. New characters are introduced but, like the firmly established cast, these are above all REAL, with real lives, real problems and lives we can all relate to in many ways. That's one of the things which makes this series so good and why I can't wait for the next one...

Another brilliant piece of work! Since discovering Robert Dugoni on Netgalley I have become a huge fan. I have read all of the Tracey Crosswhite books and others. This one is just as brilliant as all the others. I love the various story lines and how they intertwine to lead to a very unexpected ending. Cannot wait to read more from Robert!

In this fifth book in Robert Dugoni's brilliant series about Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite, Dugoni once again chooses a different way to craft it than the earlier novels in the series. This time, Dugoni focuses less on Crosswhite and lets her team members, especially Del Castigliano, take on a much more prominent place in the story - both professionally and personally - whereas her past problems with her Captain Nolasco, which has brought additional tension to some of the past books, seem dormant in this book.
The plot includes several realistic and entertaining twists and turns along the way, but this time, Dugoni becomes a little too emotional to my taste, and at times he lost his grip on me due to a lack of development in the plot and by letting Crosswhite become less interesting in her more domestic focus. In my opinion, the plot in this book is the weakest and least interesting of the series, so I hope that Dugoni will get off the emotional path he has gotten onto in book 4 and 5 and get back onto the high intensity crime thrillers of the first three books. Perhaps, Dugoni should even consider wrapping up the series in a final book 6 and pass the torch on to other characters on Crosswhite's team in a spin-off series with Crosswhite in smaller cameo appearances.
That said (or written), Dugoni is a brilliant writer who knows how to develop a story and work with his characters, and while a little underwhelmed by the plot in this book, I was still much entertained and swallowed the book in huge, tasty chunks!
The Crosswhite books should be read in chronological order to get the most out of the stories, but, hey, it's a free country!

First of all I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me the privilege of reading "Close To Home".

Tracy Crosswhite and her partner Kins are investigating a hit and run of a young boy. The boy is African American which has the black community looking very closely at how the police handle the case. The man Tracy has in jail for the crime is in the Navy, and the Navy takes charge of his case. The black community isn't happy thinking nothing will now come out of the tragic boys death
At the same time detectives Del Castigtilano and Vic Fazzio are investigating the death of Del's niece Angie who died of a heroine overdose. They soon find several people die from the same heroine called "China White". Del is determined to find out who is selling the deadly drug. The two cases become intertwined and Del and Tracy work diligently together to solve their case.
We see another side of Tracy. Tracy is a strong woman who we now know has a soft side. We also see sides from the black and white community. A black mother and Grandmother who think their young boys death doesn't matter, to a white woman waiting to be told her son is dead. A must read!

Holy snap Robert Dungoni you did it again! From the first page I couldn't stop. I love how you make us feel like we're right their with all of the characters. Your style of writing has me reading every word so I can be there with the characters. I am so engrossed in your books that my daily routine has to wait till I'm done! I was half way thru the book and friends dropped by. I thought "oh yeah, you have the nerve to stop by now"! I found myself sneaking in the bathroom several times to keep reading! I give you 2 snaps up in a Z formation😁. Can't wait for the next one. No pressure but hurry up!

This is the latest in the Tracy Crosswhite series set in Seattle, and once again the author enters new and interesting territory, albeit in a slightly tongue in cheek manner with his references to the film A Few Good Men and the aspects that takes in the military in the Navy. The are two main threads in the novel that begins with a hit and run that turns out to be so much more and the increasing spate of fatal heroin ODs in the city. Tracy and her team work for the SPD in the Violent Crimes Section.

Tracy and Kins Rowe are looking into a hit and run that has killed the 12 year old black child, D'Andre Miller. They manage to track down and arrest a suspect, who turns out to a military man based at the local Naval base. The Navy claim jurisdiction and manage to get the case transferred to a military court. The black community are paying close attention and fear that once again it will be a case of black lives don't matter. Their concerns seem to play out as a major piece of evidence disappears and the suspect is cleared. Tracy is not willing to let this injustice go and digs deeper only to uncover a huge conspiracy that brings great danger. Del Castigliano is grieving and struggling to comes to term with the fatal heroin overdose that claimed his niece. With his partner, Vic Fazzio, he is determined to hunt down the dealer and look into a rise in the number of deaths due to heroin ODs in the city.

This is a well plotted and gripping story that is entertaining and easily hooks your interest. We see more of Kins and Del in this book and get more of an idea of what makes them tick. There is plenty of humour and glimpse their everyday lives and issues such as Tracy's disappointment as she fails to become pregnant and Kins's health fears. The author gives us detailed information and paints a harrowing picture of addiction of both the user and those close to them. Great to see this fabulous series continue to develop and maintain such high standards. Many thanks to Thomas and Mercer for an ARC.

I really like the Crosswhite series and find them well written. Unfortunately this one was outside of my genre preference so didn't enjoy it as much as the others. Won't stop me reading the next book though!

An extremely well written book of two cases. The first, of a hit and run of a 12 year old boy and the second of the heroin overdose of Del's' niece. This is a Tracy Crosswhite series novel but Robert Dugoni does a fantastic job bringing to life all of the other detectives and characters in the book. who aren't just there as filler, they all play an important part of the story, and keeping the suspense and pace strong until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of his work.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of Close To Home, the fifth novel in Mr Dugoni's excellent Seattle based Tracy Crosswhite series.

A 12 year black boy, D'Andre Miller is killed in a hit and run, not normally a case for the detectives but the brass want to be seen to be investigating thoroughly so Tracy and her partner, Kinsington "Kins" Rowe are told to investigate. In the meantime another member of the team Delbert "Del" Castiglione is mourning the heroin overdose death of his high school student niece, Ally, and vowing to make someone pay. How these two strands come together is the basis of the novel.

I love this series and Close To Home is another great addition. It has a great plot, plenty of mystery, some excellent twists, a very readable style and likeable characters. The pacing is well done and it makes for a compulsive read. I was up way too late reading it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.

I like the way some solid investigating quickly uncovers the hit and run perpetrator but this is only the start of a much deeper mystery - why did he run? Some of the twists after that are jaw dropping and I am amazed at Mr Dugoni's fertile imagination. Del, ably assisted by his partner Vic "Faz" Fazzio, plugs away at his investigation and slowly discovers the truth about Ally's death. It is a tragedy but an all too common one. Mr Dugoni manages to convey well the damage addiction does not only to the addict but the family.

I think the characterisation is excellent. There is a natural humour in the protagonists' dialogue which shows the closeness of the team. It makes me laugh as it reads like a conversation you could be participating in. There are snippets of their life outside the investigations which bring the characters to life in a way we can all identify with. Tracy is trying to get pregnant but at 43 it's not going well. Her disappointment is palpable. Kins has to get hip replacement surgery and is panicking about stroking out on the table. We all know about irrational fears when faced with the medical world! Del is losing weight and Faz is worried it will give his wife ideas about a diet for him. It's all fairly mundane but so human.

Close To Home is a great read which I recommend heartily.

It was a good thriller. It reminded me of the show NCIS. I was thinking that Duckie was going to be in the book

Excellent book in this great series. I loved everything about it, it had me hooked from the first page and didn't let me go until I had finished.

Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswaite almost takes a backseat in this police procedural with two major storylines. In the first, Tracy and Kins are called to investigate the hit and run death of a young boy. The victim is an African American boy and there is tremendous amount of interest and scrutiny from the black community. Tracy and Kins soon make an arrest but since the suspect is in the Navy, the Navy asserts prosecutorial control and the case is transferred to them. To the black community this seems like it means just a big whitewash. Their fears shortly seem to be borne out.
With the second story line Detectives Vic Fazzio and Delno Castigliano take center stage in the investigation of the heroin overdose death of Del’s niece. The investigation takes an urgent turn when the detectives realize this is the same heroin being cut with fentanyl and causing overdose deaths all over the city.
Dugoni writes a fascinating amount of information about why the heroin epidemic has become so severe with the growing legalization of marijuana to the expense and difficulty in now obtaining prescription opioids. This is worth the price of admission alone.
This book has the themes of motherhood and race running so clearly throughout it. The mother who thinks her black son’s death doesn’t matter, the mothers of white children who wait nightly for the knock telling them their junkie child is dead from an O.D. There is also the older woman who so strongly yearns for motherhood but has been told it is unlikely.
I do have a couple of quibbles with this mostly excellent book. Not likely that a detective would ever try to run surveillance on their own as Tracy does. Also the idea that Del would be legitimately kept anywhere near the investigation into his nieces overdose death is unlikely as it would make prosecution almost impossible. I think Dugoni is a good enough writer that he could have figured out a work around to both of these problems.
A lovely grace note “What you have to realize is that crying is God’s way of helping us wash away the pain.”
I hadn’t read any of the Crosswaite books before. So when I received this ARC I spent the weekend catching up on the others. What a great way to spend the weekend. So this is a great series, but I had no problem envisioning this as being read as a standalone.
These two stories twist and turn, there is nothing straight forward about them. Both can break your heart. But they can get your heart rate accelerating too!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Robert Dugoni is a master story teller and he does not disappoint in his fifth installment of his critically acclaimed Tracy Crosswhite series. “Close to Home” opens with Detective Tracy Crosswhite of Seattle Police Department Violent Crimes Section and her partner Kingsington Rowe investigating the senseless hit and run death of a twelve-year-old boy. Del Castigliano, another member of the Violent Crimes Division, is still trying to deal with the recent overdose of his young niece while making it his personal mission to find the person who sold her the high-grade heroin that broke her sobriety and ended her life. These two crimes appear to be far apart on the surface, but the more digging that Tracy and her fellow officers do the more obvious the connection becomes. This fast-paced thriller is filled with intrigue that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read CLose To Home. I have read several of Dugoni's books. This is the Tracy Crosswhite series, and they are definitely starting to grow on me. This is the 5th book in the series. Tracy is a strong female protaganist and she is easy to like and that is why these books have a following.
Seattle is a great location for this series and Dugoni does a great job descriptively.
In this novel, Tracy finds herself caught up with a car accident where a young boy is involved. The main suspect is cleared, but Tracy senses there is more to this than meets the eye - and there is!
Fans of this series will want to read this one. Recommend.

When a young boy is killed in a hit and run, the suspect, a member of the navy stationed at a nearby base is cleared of all charges after crucial evidence disappears. Seattle detective Tracy Crosswhite knows this isn’t her battle to fight, but she can’t let the case go. It soon becomes obvious the suspect in the case has ties to a number of heroin overdoses in the area and Tracy has to wonder why the Navy is working so hard to keep one of their own from facing justice? Could it be that one or more of his superiors have something to gain by sweeping the whole incident under the rug? I’m so glad Dugoni is keeping this series going – every book gets better as Tracy becomes more believable. One of my favorite heroines in a current series

Thank you Net Galley. An excellent police procedural. from Mr. Dugoni. He writes well and populates his books with interesting characters that you want to know more about. Highly recommended.

I am never disappointed by Dugoni's books in the Crisswhite series. Great characters, great storylines. I enjoyed the extra Del in this one. The story has great flow and twists. A great summer read. No need to read in order, though from a character development perspective I would recommend it.

Close to Home is the fifth excellent book in the Tracy Crosswhite series written by author Robert Dugoni. I highly recommend it. Love this series, hope it never ends. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advance copy.