I’m a huge fan of the Tracy Crosswhite series. This book was just as good as the others. There were multiple stories intertwined. I have found that this author does this and I love it. This was a good, clean mystery/police procedural. I like how there aren’t sex scenes or violent, descriptive murders/torture. This book did allude towards some sort of torture but it never actually go into what happened or how. I can usually figure out what is coming but there were a couple of plot twists that I didn’t. Definitely recommend this to anyone who likes mystery but tired of the same ol’ plot again and again.

Kidnapping and Obsessions

I had expected a pigeon-holed mystery with a female protagonist who overcomes bias and solves cases that remain unsolved. I have not read the Tracy Crosswhite series (love her last name) and was fittingly surprised by her characterization.

Detective Crosswhite is returning from maternity leave and she believes she will resume her successful position in the Violent Crimes Section. Not surprisingly, there is the male boss who wants to elevate his power. This situation is no different; Capt. Nolasco “invites” Tracy to become the one-person Detective assigned to the Cold Case Unit. Instead of complaining, she accepts the new position and throws herself into unsolved cases and a current missing woman situation. Tracy is balancing marriage, a newborn and acclimating herself to a new job as such.

What sets Tracy apart from the stereotyped detective is her flaws. She questions her choices and always remembers her sister who disappeared. To keep her feet on the ground, she regularly sees a counselor to interpret her decisions. Tracy is a decisive detective but more introspective than most.

There are two cases that are bearing down on her. One involves Elle Chin, a young child who disappears while she is in the care of her father, divorced from a detestable ex-wife Jewel Chin. The other involves three abductions: two prostitutes and Stephanie Cole, a young woman and runner, who is missing after a jog in an unfamiliar area.

The three women are connected to the Sprague Family, a trio of brothers, headed by Franklin who besieges Carrol and Evan. The cruelty is off the charts and there is always a background story that is not surprising.

Dugoni has crafted a meticulous plot infused with extreme cruelty and minimal humanity. He did tie all the parts together and the end became a page turner.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a pre-published copy. Opinions expressed are all my own.

In Her Tracks is the eighth book in the Tracy Crosswhite series. Even though I haven't read all the books in the series I have been able to enjoy the ones that I have read. Lead in the book is Tracy and she works on cold cases which really interest me. The fresh eye look on a case pulls a lot of red herrings that jump at you. With all the twists in the case it ended with a climatic conclusion. Dugoni knows how to tell a story that grabs you from the first chapter.

Tracy’s career takes a different turn. She is now the cold case unit. Of course she also gets drawn into an active case. The active case we know early on at least part of the story. But it digs in and takes you for a bit of a ride.

I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I feel in love with Robert Dugoni’s writing after reading the stellar The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell. I jumped at the opportunity to read his newest work, In Her Tracks. I jumped so fast that I didn’t even notice it was number 8 in a well-established Tracy Crosswhite series. Mistake? Nope.

As it turns out, this book was wonderful even as a stand-alone. It was propulsive and engaging. I enjoy detective stories and this was no exception. Dugoni’s writing is a treat to read. If you are a fan of police procedural mysteries, give this series a try!

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“I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that walking out that door, leaving these cases unsolved, will be both the hardest and the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Why the hardest?”
“Because I always believe I’m one phone call, one DNA hit away from solving another case.”
“And why the easiest?”
“Because I’m tired of lying to myself.”

Another installment of Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series, of which I’ve read #1 (unreviewed) and #7. Tracy Crosswhite is a great character and I love how we get to see her be a mom and wife and a BA detective.

Coming off of the last book, Tracy had to take some time off work from the trauma. Upon her return to work she finds herself out of her A team detective job and relegated to the Cold Case department. Not one to give up or give in, she accepts the less-than-desirable lot she has been given by her captain/nemesis and dives all in.

We end up with a multi-level plot as Tracy re-opens a cold case file on an abducted little girl, the files of two abducted prostitutes, and, due to low personnel, joins her friend Kins on an active missing person’s case—a young female runner.

Will Tracy’s new job description keep her away from the action? Can she overcome the hopelessness of closed case files? Is she really just one phone call away from solving another case, or is it a self-concocted lie to boost morale?

One of Tracy’s defining characteristics is her life obsession with saving young girls the way she couldn’t do for her sister (see book one- My Sister’s Grave). Looking at her cases’ victims, we see that theme playing out again in this book. But her passion and drive, inspired by her sister’s death, is what makes her such a good detective.

A typical police procedural book, we follow Tracy on her clue-finding, question-asking, gut-following, deduction-making investigations. To my pleasant surprise, what seems to be pretty straightforward at the beginning, became a lot more convoluted than I expected by the time I was halfway through the book.

I will say, the book begins with the child’s abduction, but the majority of the book focuses more on the active missing person’s case. The child abduction case is not forgotten by any means, it just isn’t the prominent thread like you would think with it being the opening scene.

I thought this was a great book and I read it pretty fast. If you’ve never read a Tracy Crosswhite book, I would recommend starting at the beginning. If you’re already a fan, this one will be reminiscent of the previous books, offering a page-turning mystery with likable characters, a little humor, and a relatively clean bill of content.

I’ve read several from Dugoni’s series, and I’ve found I really like his books. You can check out his David Sloane series (unreviewed so far) and his Charles Jenkins series as well. Both I would recommend.

One other side note: Dugoni included a blurb in the back of the book indicating that this book was written during the Covid-19 quarantine. He said he received numerous emails from readers thanking him for allowing them to “escape their homes and the difficulties and loneliness they were enduring.” He chose not to include the Covid pandemic in this novel because he believes the primary purpose of a novel is to “entertain.” And I agree! I think there are a lot of us who are tired of hearing about Covid. We don’t want to have to read it in our novels too! I appreciated this sentiment to maintain some normalcy and escapism in his novels in this sense.

**Received an ARC via NetGalley**

Tracy Crosswhite is a heckuva a detective and Robert Dugoni is a heckuva writer. That's why I can't figure out why I didn't love the heck out of this book, like I have the previous volumes in the series. The prose is as solid and true-to-life as ever and the intertwining plots are exceptionally well-done. There are plenty of surprises. In this novel, Detective Crosswhite solves three different cases, two of which had been left unsolved by previous detectives (technically, one case is actually two unrelated victims with similar circumstances).

Upon reflection, I think I see two issues I had during my initial reading. First, there is a lot of dialog and reflection about Tracy's recent transition to being a working mother. While this is indeed an important perspective and does affect how she is dealing with her co-workers and cases, it seemed to really bog down the early chapters of the book. The second factor is that more pages than usual seem to be spent with apparent antagonists, rather than tracking them down. I didn't like spending that much time with these creeps. Scanning through the book again, I don't think these are actually major flaws and probably had more to do with my reactions than the writing itself.

This book is definitely aimed at readers that are already following the adventures of Tracy Crosswhite. That doesn't mean a new reader will be lost. Mr. Dugoni is too talented a writer to let that happen. But I would recommend reading an earlier book in the series before picking up this one. You won't be disappointed either way.

Robert Dugoni's In Her Tracks continues the Tracy Crosswhite series, and it's better than ever. Tracy has returned to work after maternity leave, and finds that things are not as she left them. Adjusting to the changes turns out to be relatively easy as a missing person's case quickly jumps on the team's radar. She and her partner set out to solve the mystery, and in doing so Tracy unravels a number of other unexpected secrets.

The book moves quickly--I read it in two days! I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen and see how all the issues would be resolved. The characters are likeable and you are rooting for them throughout the book. There are a few unexpected surprises that made the book even better.

Highly recommend!

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Tracy returns to work after maternity leave, only to find that her position on A Team has been filled by another female detective. The ever annoying Nolasco, lets Tracy know that she can take over for the now retired detective in charge of cold cases. Realizing that this may be a blessing in disguise (more time at home with her new daughter and husband), she decides to give it a go.

I love the Crosswhite series. This could be read as a standalone, but you'd be missing out on a wonderful backstory.

Tracy Crosswhite is one of my favorite series. And I read it the moment I got hold of this :)

Tracy is back to service after an extended maternity leave, but as always her boss Nolasco does everything to make her uncomfortable. Tracy is assigned to Cold Cases Unit from Violent Crimes Unit which is making Tracy edgy.

As a new mother, Tracy is drawn to a cold case where a 5 year old girl goes missing and picks up the case. Along with this cold case, she works on a violent crimes case with Kins, her former partner where a young women, Stephanie Cole, goes missing. And as we know she solves the both cases, on time.

We can see Tracy as a new mother, dealing with office politics, mommy guilts, trauma and demands of her profession. Even though it is a Mystery thriller series, the personality of people speak a lot on human behaviors. Tracy, Dan seems more realistic.

A fast and fascinating read. I totally loved this book. Dugoni is a master at his craft and I am never disappointed when I am picking up his book.

I am thankful to the publisher who granted my wish in NetGalley when the book was not available any more for request. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of a honest review.

First of all I need to say thanks to the publisher and NetGalley allowing me to read this book for my honest opinion.

Robert Dugoni writes well with a interesting story. He has not failed in any of his books I have read. The Tracy Crosswhite series just keeps getting better and better. This is the 8th book in the series, but they are all stand-alone. I have read about 4 of them. I am sure it helps a bit if they are read in sequence, but you don't fall by the way side if you read them out of order--as I have.

The series seems to be getting better as the characters seem to get more fleshed out and developed as the series continues. In Her Tracks was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more Dugoni and Crosswhite.

Thanks again!

Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and Robert Dugoni for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The eighth novel in Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series, In Her Tracks, sees Tracy coming back to work at the Violent Crimes Division of the Seattle Police Department from an extended maternity leave. When she returns, she finds out that her Captain, Johnny Nolasco, has replaced her because her team was shorthanded while she was gone. Nolasco says if she wants to stay she can take the Cold Cases position that's open and she reluctantly agrees.

From there, the book follows Tracy as she investigates two separate cases simultaneously. The first is a cold case of a missing little girl, Elle Chin. Another detective has enlisted her help with active case of a missing woman who was last seen jogging, Stephanie Cole.

If you've read a novel in the Tracy Crosswhite series, In Her Tracks is pretty much up to the standards - it's fast paced, intense, compelling. The plot is intriguing, full of twists and turns and comes together well at the end.

The book revolves primarily around Tracy and is told in a third person narrative. Hardly any of the supporting characters from previous books appear in this story. Most make only brief appearances with the exception of another detective, Kins. The book shows Tracy in therapy and the growth her character makes as the book progresses.

While I enjoyed this entry into the Tracy Crosswhite series - and am excited to learn there will be a 9th - I didn't care for it as much as I have others in the past. My only real problem with the book is the case of Elle Chin. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that while I understand why it was included, to me it didn't really connect or fit with the rest of the book. Also the logistics of some of it are so farfetched it pushes the lines of believability.

Overall, I'd give this book 3 ½-4 stars and am planning to read the next book (which I hope won't be the last). I'd recommend In Her Tracks to fans of David Baldacci and Michael Connelly and to readers of thrillers, crime fiction, mysteries, legal fiction, general fiction, women's fiction and action adventure.

For the world of me I can’t figure out why the Tracy Crosswhite books have not been made into an Amazon or Netflix series. In Her Tracks is a prime example of a book that would easily turn into a great mini-series or a season. Everything seems to be made into series down to the point where they are hiring actors from a South Bend Indiana high school for starring roles.
Seattle police detective Trace Crosswhite is finally returning to work with the Violent Crimes detective A team, except she isn’t. Due to the tragic and traumatic case from last year that leads to PTSD, plus her maternity leave, Tracy has been on extended leave. When Tracy returns to work her captain, with whom she has had a long running feud since Academy days, has managed to screw her over once again, giving her the choice of the cold cases squad (made up of her) or retiring.
Tracy gives strong consideration to just retiring, but she knows she has an excellent nanny for baby Daniella and strong support from her attorney husband, Dan. Besides, Tracy cares. She has carried the burden of her missing sister for over twenty years. The horror and pain of the resolution of her sister’s death gives Tracy the wish to give closure to other families.
Tracy is immediately engrossed with the case of a five year old case of a missing little girl. The girl was caught in the middle of a very nasty divorce case, each parent blaming the other for her disappearance from a cornfield maze.
However the first day back, her former co-worker from the A-team, Kins Rowe also recruits Tracy in the new case of a missing runner, a young woman who has just moved to Seattle.
Traci is off and running with the case of the current missing girl and three cold cases. Two of the cold cases are of prostitutes with the circumstances of their disappearance bearing a faint resemblance to the recent missing woman’s case. Tracy also wants to give justice to the high risk victims that are often ignored by the system.
This is mostly Tracy’s book. With the minor exception of Rowe, Crosswhite carries this book by herself, a book of good old fashioned police work; working the scene, working the phone, working the forensics, interviewing the witnesses over and over, and checking their statements.
The Dugoni characters live next door to us, or down the street. They have new babies, pressure between work and home, too many “a few extra pounds”, not enough sleep, traffic horrors; co-workers you just want to kick in the shin, co-workers with whom you have the occasional quiet drink. So similar to us, so not; because their work loads are moments of horror, seeing people at their nightmarish worst.
The forensic work in In Her Tracks fascinates. Tracy once again makes use of Kaylee Wright, the King County CSI man tracker aka sign cutter. (Hint to Mr. Dugoni: Sir, I think Kaylee Wright could someday star in her own book. Not that I am actually making a suggestion to an outstanding author.) Wright was almost able to pinpoint exactly where the missing woman ended up and to give a description of the man who carried her away.
I would never have figured out the various resolutions to the four cases that Traci investigates even though we know who took the jogger; however we have no idea if Tracy will be in time to save her. The ending reminds me of the Shakespeare speech from the Merchant of Venice “The quality of mercy is not strained….”
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and the chance to review the book.

I have loved all of the Tracy Crosswhite series books, This is the 8th books in the series and it starts with Tracey returning from extended maternity leave to find her position has been given to someone else and she is offered a different but comparable position in the cold cases unit. I did really enjoy this book, I have grown to love all the characters in the series. There is a lot going on in this book, Two cold cases, one of which somehow ends up connected to a current case that Kins is working on and asks Tracy to help with, even though she is supposed to be working the cold cases. I felt like that was a bit too much of a stretch, and wasn’t a huge fan of it. So while I still loved this book, it was maybe a 3 1/2 star read for me when the others were solid 5 stars. This one felt a little clunky I guess, just too many plots/cases going on at once. However I still highly recommend the series and hope there will be at least a couple more books in the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read the next chapter in the Tracy Crosswhite series by one of my absolute favorite authors, Robert Dugoni. 5 stars!

Tracy, a detective in the Violent Crimes Section of the Seattle Police Department, is returning to duty from an extended leave. In her absence, her spot on the A Team has been filled and she is asked to work the Cold Case Unit. She picks a case where a 5-year-old girl seemingly disappeared while in the care of her father. The parents were going through a nasty divorce and each blame the other. As Tracy begins her investigation, she is also drawn into helping with a current case of a young woman who went missing from a local park.

If you haven't read this series, you must start from the beginning! However, each book could also be read as a stand alone because the author gives enough information to connect the reader to the past. These are wonderful police procedurals - this one had one of those "gasp out loud" moments for me as I was reading! Tracy feels like such a real character, struggling with her job, her mental health after what she has been through, and balancing work/home/parenting. I can't wait to read more in this series!

I've been a fan of the Tracy Crosswhite series for some time and this newest novel is one of the best. Great characters, fast paced plot, and unexpected twists kept me reading late into the night. I recommend the entire series but you don't have to have read the others to enjoy this one. Highly recommended

BIG thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Robert Dugoni for sending me a free copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review. I love this series and it keeps getting better and better. If you’ve been reading another book you just put it aside and delve right in, which is what I did. In <i>In her Tracks</i>, Detective Tracy Crosswhite finds herself reassigned to the Seattle PD’s cold case unit. It feels like a slap in the face at first but becomes something she is intrigued by. Tracy delves into the disappearance of a 5-year-old girl while visiting a corn maze with her father 5 years ago. This coincides together well with the disappearance of a young woman while jogging that Tracy speculates could be connected to another of her cases, two missing prostitutes. In spite of the three investigations, the pace is good and the transitions are very well done - weaving between the cold case and the active investigation. Dugoni is brilliant at developing characters and plots. There are plenty of suspects and red herrings in this story which really gripped me as it twisted and turned its way to a very climactic conclusion. At first, I thought the Elle Chin ending was going to be too rushed, but it was woven masterfully with Stephanie's disappearance. This book can be read as a stand-alone but I feel it will be most appreciated by the reader who has read the entire series. For the life of me I can’t figure out why the Tracy Crosswhite series has not been made into an Amazon or Netflix series - it really lends itself to a fantastic mini-series. My one criticism is that I have to wait until November 2022 for book #9 in this fantastic series.

I LOVE Tracy Crosswhite. I was so excited to get my netgalley wish granted for this book and, boooyyy, did it live up to expectations.

You'd think by book #8 in a series the story might be getting stale? Nope. Its changed slightly again which is so clever and keeps everything as exciting and tense and feeling new for the reader.

The cases in the book are heartbreaking but so interesting. Tracy and the usual gang provide those moments of friendship and giggles that help offset the heaviness of the main plot.

Every time I start a Dugoni book I get sucked right in until I finish it and this was no exception. Please make a #9!

By the way, these books could be read as a standalone as they focus on a case/time period and have fully formed endings, but for the best experience I recommend reading the series from the beginning.

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 is back with another Tracy Crosswhite police procedural procedural, but adds a certain twist to keep the reader guessing. It’s been a tough go for Seattle PD Homicide Detective Crosswhite, but she is not one to let bumps in the road derail her work. Returning from maternity leave, Crosswhite is forced to take a position she does not want, but tosses herself into the work. She discovers an intriguing case that appears to be without strong leads. When Crosswhite is pulled into an active case, she finds her spark again, much to the chagrin of a captain who wants her under his foot. The missing and presumed dead have a voice in Detective Tracy Crosswhite, but she will have to breathe life into their cases before they go cold.

While she loves motherhood, Tracy Crosswhite cannot wait to get back to work. Returning to the Seattle PD’s Homicide Team, Crosswhite hopes to have her position back. However, her wily captain has other ideas, citing that they need to fill the spot while she was on maternity leave. Offering her a position as the cold case detective—one that everyone is sure Crosswhite will decline—it’s a chance for Tracy to decide what she wants next. A pep talk with the retiring detective leaves her willing to give it a shot, if only to scuttle the plans of her nemesis for a while longer.

Crosswhite scours the list of cases and finds one that piques her interest. A little girl went missing when her father took her to a corn maze and was never seen again. Part of a bitter custody battle, the little girl made numerous comments about how her parents fought before the separation. As a beat cop at the time of the disappearance, the father pulls on the heartstrings of Crosswhite, but she must remain objective.

Working on a few of the leads that go nowhere, Crosswhite is pulled into the middle of a fresh investigation with her former partner. A young jogger has gone missing in a local park and no one saw anything. Canvassing the neighbourhood, Crosswhite comes across three brothers who live together but seem to be hiding something. With nothing concrete to assert her claims of guilt, Crosswhite will have to pursue a few options on the sly.

While her missing girl case is going nowhere fast, Detective Crosswhite finds herself fixated on this jogger and how she could have disappeared into thin air. There’s something that is not adding up and those who know Tracy Crosswhite understand that she is not one to let opportunity slip through her fingers. She’ll use all her resources to get to the bottom of it, even if it means putting her future in jeopardy with a captain who wants her head on a platter.

There’s something about this series that has always kept me fully engaged and wondering. Robert Dugoni has crafted a stellar cast and writes so fluidly as to keep the reader on their toes. New ideas emerge with each novel and the series gets better the deeper into the characters Dugoni pulls the reader. I can see this being one series that will not get old any time soon.

Tracy Crosswhite is a stellar detective in her own right, having grown effectively over the last number of novels. Her grit and determination are like no other and she keeps her eye on the prize throughout, hoping to make the most of what is offered to her. Balancing work with motherhood has been tough, but Crosswhite has found a balance, even though it has come at the cost of her preferred job. It will take all she has inside her to solve the cases placed at her feet, while dodging the obstacles of suspects and a captain with an ax to grind. There is mention throughout her cold case investigation about how a missing child can tear a family apart, something Crosswhite knows all too well from her sister’s disappearance. Guilt is nothing new for Detective Tracy Crosswhite, which makes her all the more intriguing as she strives for truth.

Dugoni creates a string of strong secondary characters in this piece that complement Crosswhite when the need arises. Pulled from a variety of sources, those who fill the gaps and keep the reader intrigued offer their own spin on these missing persons cases. Some are straightforward while others prefer to present deceptive fronts, all of whom work well to keep the reader wondering what’s to come. The recurring cast is always welcome, but I also enjoy how Dugoni has created new and one-off characters that keep things exciting for all readers.

There’s something to be said for the novels in this series, as they take police procedurals to a new level. While there are the essential elements found throughout, Robert Dugoni uses his strong writing abilities to create a certain magnetism that pulls the reader into the middle of the case and won’t let go. The narrative pushes along effectively and keeps the reader on their toes until the very end, when the pieces finally come together. It’s a piece that may reveal itself slowly, but once the momentum is started, there’s not tapping on the brakes. Short to mid-length chapters propel the reader forward and keep the story on track, as much is revealed with each page turn. I can only wonder what’s to come and how Dugoni will continue to shape his core set of characters with new and exciting hurdles.

Kudos, Mr. Dugoni, for another winner. Your work is some of the best in the genre and I can only hope you have many more ideas to share soon.

Ed note: This review will appear in Mountain Times on April 20, 2021, at https://www.wataugademocrat.com/mountaintimes/columns/book_reviews/

'In Her Tracks' by Robert Dugoni, Thomas & Mercer, $15.95

It’s not always obvious what others have been during the global pandemic to keep themselves busy, but it’s clear what internationally best-selling author Robert Dugoni has been up to. He’s used the past year to write the best and most compelling novel of his eight-book Tracy Crosswhite series.

In “In Her Tracks,” Tracy is ready to return to work as a detective in the Violent Crimes Section of the Seattle Police Department following medical leave. During her absence she’s been replaced by another detective and with the unit full, Tracy’s been reassigned to the one-person Cold Case Unit by a superior who, nursing a grudge since he was an instructor and she a trainee, engineered the transfer.

While Tracy first considers refusing the position — beside what she views as a demotion, the position would put her in constant contact with families whose loved ones were never found, raising the concern that the similarities between those and her two-decade obsession searching for her sister would spike mental distress — she’s more driven and too good of a cop for that. As the narrator says, “She could live with failure. She couldn’t live with regret.”

But before she has a chance at failure, Dugoni has a few surprises. Not every writer can maneuver a suspense plot that identifies early on both victims and perpetrators, but the author does so here.

Tracy begins to tackle several cold cases, including one involving the child abduction of Elle Chin, and others involving two missing prostitutes that she connects to a missing woman in an active VCS investigation. Because Dugoni reveals the whereabouts of the three women and their captors, the reader is left to figure out what relationship, if any, there is between Elle and the three woman, and what other turns the author might have in store.

With Dugoni, the answer to that is, plenty. “In Her Tracks” takes us down multiple paths and the author skillfully navigates Tracy’s back story, cold case abductions and a missing women through it all. Multiple denouements culminate in satisfying resolutions — admittedly, some more than others — that are sure to prime readers for book 9, pandemic or not.