I'm a big fan of Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series and hoped this book would be as good. I wasn't disappointed. With another strong female protagonist, a thrilling courtroom drama, a brilliant analogy of chess strategy and courtroom strategy, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing, I read late into the night to finish this book in just over a day. Highly recommended

The solidly impressive writing skills of Dugoni loom throughout this book, with a smart new female character who is immersed in an intriguing murder mystery. Keera Duggan joined her family's defense law firm when her career as a prosecutor fell apart. Her romantic relationship with a colleague ended terribly. She is called in to defend an investment advisor when his disabled wife is found dead.

Her Deadly Game is set amid the investigative and judicial frameworks in beautiful and bustling Seattle, Washington. It is a first-rate mystery thriller about a tense criminal case. The game of chess, as an element of the book, embeds problem solving and strategic thinking skills within Keera's work as an attorney.

Dugoni ties in the relationships and complexities of his characters to the wholeness of his stories. I had an instant connection with Keera, just I did in Tracy in Dugoni's exceptional Tracy Crosswhite series. It's exciting to know that Keera now has a new book series herself!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.5 hearts

I have enjoyed Robert Dugoni's books from the first one I read and now I wouldn't think of not reading all his new ones. Her Deadly Game is the first in a new series, Keera Duggan . The setting is Seattle, as some of his other series. In fact, it is the same world, as we see Del and Faz very briefly. There are also some CSI people I recognized.

Kerra is one of three sisters and a lawyer. Her father is a well-known criminal defense attorney. He played chess with her since she was a child and encouraged her to think ahead. Keera leaves the public defender's office after an affair with her boss goes south and joins her father's firm which has its own issues.

She's on call one night when a big case comes up and she handles it. I loved the legal strategies and how smart Keera is with questioning witnesses. All throughout the case, something feels wrong. She is up against her ex and he is making it as difficult for her as possible.

The evidence on her client is circumstantial. She doesn't think he could have committed the crime. There are a bunch of pieces of evidence which don't fit. Keera and her investigator try to make them work together to explain what happened. Keera also investigates her client as she keeps learning unfavorable things about him.

I liked Keera. It was fascinating to see her make the change from prosecution to defense attorney. Everyone deserves a good defense but how does she feel about the client not murdering his wife, but not being a good guy? I loved all the shades of people with their flaws and strengths. I can't wait for more Keera and her family, and the legal trials.

Over the years I’ve read about a dozen book by Robert Dugoni, and he’s never disappointed me. I’m pleased but by no means surprised to say his latest, Her Deadly Game, is another winner. Whether he’s writing about homicide detectives (the Tracy Crosswhite series), a former spy (the Charles Jenkins series), or lawyers (the David Sloane series) Dugoni crafts complex/believable characters involved in incredible stories. His newest book is legal suspense/thriller featuring yet another wonderful character. Keera Duggan is a former prosecutor who is now taking on a major case as a defense attorney for her father’s failing law firm. Something she never thought she’d do. It’s a high profile murder case. In typical fashion, Dugoni weaves a intricate multi-layered story that completely hooked me. There is so much going on in this one, the murder case is only part of the drama. There’s also the complex relationships she has not only with her father but with the prosecutor she’s going up against. This will definitely appeal to fans of Grisham. I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Her Deadly Game.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R19U4MW8R3MDR2/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Another fantastic thriller from master storyteller, Robert Dugoni!

Keera Duggan wanted to make a name for herself on her own, so she set out in the Seattle prosecutor’s office and worked her way up until a complicated relationship with a colleague messes it all up. Now, Keera goes to work in the family law firm with her father and sisters. When she is hired by Vince LaRussa, she has the chance to show the rest of her family that she has what it takes to try the big crimes and win. Going against her in court is Miller Ambrose, Keera’s ex who wants nothing more than to take Keera down in court. It will take all Keera and her team have to win the case and keep anyone else from getting hurt.

Robert Dugoni is one of the best thriller writers around and this newest addition is further evidence of that. The characters and storyline flow freely with great tension that kept the pages flying and my attention until the last page. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the storyline and characters after the many books in the Tracy Crosswhite series and loving every one of them.

I have found after readomg many books by Dugoni that his writing style is one that readers will find relatable and easy to read. There is something about the way he writes that makes me know with every story I am going to find characters that will be engaging and make me want to see them come out safe and sound by the end of the story. Keera is a great strong female protagonist that I have come to love from Dugoni books. Even when I thought the story was finished there was another fantastic twist that made me smile and know I was reading a book I could easily pull from the shelves anytime and enjoy. I recommend this book to those that love suspense thrillers.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Mercer and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is my first Robert Dugoni which follows Keera a prosecutor who has drama of her own. She had to return to her family's failing criminal defense law firm to work for her father is the best shot she has. she tries to make a mark in the legal world by taking on Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife . The intrigue, the characters, the plot and the twists were amazing. I highly recommend it if you need a legal thriller

REVIEW
This is the first book I got approved for on Netgalley and I'm reviewing it now because I prefer posting reviews on the publication dates or close to the dates. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
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I love Legal Thrillers, so it's not a surprise I loved this, and Keera was a lovely character, she just let go of her job as a Prosecutor and was itching to making a name for herself as a Lawyer.
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I really loved the storyline and I'd have loved an ending where the perp got punished and didn't just die, but I'll accept it.
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I loved the dynamics between the Duggans, the father, an alcoholic has a law firm and his three daughters work alongside him. So, I loved how they mended broken fences and worked together.
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While I loved Keera, I don't like her kind of lawyer, I prefer fictional lawyers to defend lily white clients and not morally grey client.

Robert Dugoni's books are almost always good and this was no exception. A lot of courtroom drama plus police procedural and family intricacies all rolled into a great read. This centers around Keera who works in the family law firm with her Dad, Patrick (Patsy), who unfortunately, is now an alcoholic. His alcoholism has started causing issues with his cases. Keera steps up to the plate to defend an investment advisor accused of killing his wife - a big case - with her Dad. The prosecutor is Keera's former boyfriend/lover, who wants nothing more than to show her up and humiliate her.

Keera is an accomplished chess player, and plays chess online with someone called the Dark Knight when she is not working on the case. She doesn't know his identity, but he's pretty good. Keera's court strategy is influenced by her history as a chess player.

This book is full of twists and turns and surprised me a few times. I loved the courtroom drama as well as the family interactions. Keera was a good character and I liked her work ethic.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on March 28, 2023.

An up-and-coming young prosecutor’s career hits a wall when her relationship with a colleague ends and she finds herself at the one place she never wanted to be: working at her father’s troubled criminal law firm, along with her sisters.

When she is hired by an investment advisor accused of murdering his wealthy, disabled wife, she sees this as her chance to show her family that she is capable of handling a homicide defense, but quickly learns that her former colleague and lover is the prosecutor on the case, and he is willing to do anything to crush her in court.

This got off to a bit of a slow start for me, and I figured out the “how” of the crime early on, but I see all the makings of a great series here, so if this were to become another series like the author’s popular Tracy Crosswhite series, I’d certainly be interested in reading future installments!

Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley kindly provided me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Her Deadly Game, is fast-paced, with lots of action and intrigue. A prosecutor with a vindictive desire, an old lawyer trying to keep his wits and his excessive drinking under control, a family business that may fall apart if the youngest daughter doesn't reach expectations, a virtual chess game, and messages leading to new clues that will bring a great surprise at the end. I loved reading this book which is a must-read for lovers of this genre.

I love Robert Dugoni and this was so unexpected after the last two I read from him were Sam Hell and The World Played Chess.

Really enjoyed this legal thriller and loved the wit of the main character. It was great to have an all star heroine kicking butt in the courtroom.

I didn’t see any of this unwinding the way it did, so I’d say Dugoni does a great job of keeping readers guessing. I was just interested and engaged the whole way through.

Her Deadly Game is a fascinating thriller and court room drama. Robert Dugoni is a masterful writer and he doesn't disappoint with this novel that combines chess moves and legal strategy. Keera Duggan has left the prosecutor's office and recently joined her family's law firm. Her first case will be to defend millionaire Vincent LaRussa who is accused of murdering his wheel chair confined wife in their home. Dugoni's writing is precise as he leads Keera through her investigation and her chess moves with a virtual opponent. She tries to keep an open mind when anonymous messages lead her to troubling clues about her client's past. The character's are interesting and Keera's family plays an important role. To make the trial even more compelling, Keera faces off against an unsavory senior prosecutor who is her ex boyfriend. Dugoni has created an entertaining novel that is interesting and unique.

Switching From Prosecution To Defense Was Not Easy

Seattle Violent Crimes Detective Frank Rossi responds to a call at the old Pioneer Building. His partner, his sergeant, paramedics, and uniforms were already there on the fourth floor in the office of Cliff Larson Accounting. Cliff Larson was in his office with his head beaten in long after he died. Then, the timeline shifts to the present time of the novel, with Keera Duggan waiting in court for her father to return from lunch to conduct cross-examination. Unfortunately, her father had taken his usual excessive liquid lunch. She recently left the District Attorney’s Office where she was a competent prosecutor to join her father’s defense law firm. From this start, this legal thriller, which appears to be a Gordian Knot to solve, emerges.

The main storyline of this novel is centered on the pre-trail and trail of Vincent LaRussa, owner of a high-end Wealth Management company, for the murder of his wheelchair-bound wife. The story is presented from the aspect of the defense team with Keera Duggan being the main narrator. Tension is created as Duggan had an affair with the prosecuting attorney in this case who wants to humiliate her first major defense attorney case. Her father and sisters are not sure that she is ready for such a case. Much of the evidence, especially motive, seems to point to a slam-dunk case for the prosecutor. Lastly, Duggan starts receiving e-mails pointing her to character witnesses that support the prosecution’s and not the defense’s case. All the twists and turns seem only to make the defense’s hole even deeper. I did root for Duggan and wanted to see how she was going to turn this case around.

The major thread of the B-storyline was how to integrate successfully into her father’s renowned law firm. Even the judge in the case wants her father there in court with her even though even the judge knows that drinking has seriously tarnished his legal skills. Her start at the firm seemed more adversarial that required different approaches for each other character in and out of the firm. I do like the how the author has woven this storyline virtually seamlessly into the main storyline. The solid B-storyline made it easier to root for her in the story.

For the aspects that can turn off some readers, there isn’t much. The level of objectionable language is low and is much more rude than vulgar. Violence is described in the less edgy after the fact. Lastly, there are not any intimate scenes. For most readers, these aspects should not be a problem.

There was only one minor aspect with which I had a problem. It concerned some crime scene evidence that the defense team misinterpreted its origin at the start. I did enjoy the antics of Keera’s father, the patriarch of the family and the legal firm. All the loose ends were tied up by the end. Even the evidence I just mentioned above was interpreted properly at the end. The ending for me was both sad in some respects and very satisfying in others. This novel kept me reading late into the night, and I recommend reading it. I am eagerly waiting to read further books by this author. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received a free prepublication e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based only on my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

Her Deadly Game introduces us to Keera Dugan, chess prodigy and former state prosecutor forced by circumstances, she was having an affair with her supervisor and ended it due to his alcoholism, to join her infamous father’s "just getting by"criminal defence practice. I will admit I was disappointed that one of my favorite fictional characters, Tracy Crosswhite, did not make an appearance, perhaps next book if Robert Dugoni decides to give us more Keera.

Keera is hired by Vince LaRussa, a wealth manager, accused of killing his wife. This case can help her firm and show her former lover, who is prosecuting, that she is a better lawyer.

Chess is an integral character in this novel. Keera applies her chess strategy to work out her defense. She begins playing an online game with someone, The Dark Knight, that adds to the mystery.

This is an excellent legal/mystery drama that I highly recommend. Keera is a well developed character and I would definitely like to see more of her. The supporting characters, her family, the Detective, convinced her client is guilty, are well written. The author an excellent writer, gives us some twists and turns that kept me engaged until the end. My only complaint was that the chess move descriptions went beyond my comprehension. It has been a few decades from my last game, and I was never more than a beginner.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. The review is my own.

3.5~4★
“Keera couldn’t help but feel as though she’d been brought on board a sinking ship and handed a bucket.”

Keera Duggan is one of the three daughters of noted attorney ‘Irish brawler’ Patrick ‘Patsy’ Duggan, who has been drunk more often than not and losing his edge. Her two sister work for the firm in other capacities, but she's the one with courtroom experience.

This is part complex murder/suicide investigation and part lengthy courtroom drama. I could have used a little less of both, I think, but overall I enjoyed it. Keera doesn’t live at home anymore, but Sunday dinners with the family are a must, so we see how close she is to her parents and sisters, although there is some friction with the girls.

She takes on a wealthy client whose disabled wife has been found shot dead in the back of her head while seated in her wheelchair, looking out the kitchen window. A gun is on the floor off to the side.

The prosecuting attorney is Miller Ambrose, Keera's former boss and beau, which promises to complicate things, as he will be anxious to unsettle her. It seems the gun is a ghost gun, so-called because there is no serial number, making it untraceable.

“She didn’t trust Ambrose as far as she could throw him, and she wondered what else, besides the ghost gun, she’d have to deal with.”

She was a chess champion in her youth, taught by Patsy, and still plays online anonymously as SeattlePawnslayer. It’s a way of reminding herself to focus on the end game, and maintain a powerful position while luring her opponent into thinking they’ve got the better of her.

During the course of this story, she plays against Darkknight, playing a few moves now and then, Darkknight doing likewise. I don’t follow chess, nor does the author, he says, but he has a good friend who helped map this out. At first, I thought it was annoying, but I gradually enjoyed the short interludes which helped Keera concentrate on stabilising her thinking rather than wandering off mentally into wild conjectures.

As it turned out, some of the wild conjectures had merit, With the help of a hired private investigator and far too many late nights with Patsy (on the wagon), Keera and her sisters burn the midnight oil, to use a cliché, of which there are more than I’d like in this book. At one point, “Her mother waved off the praise like it was the bubonic plague”, a phrase I haven’t heard since I don’t remember when.

Still, it was an entertaining read with an interesting dilemma as the case went on. It isn't clear what happened or how it could have happened. Keera suggests to their private investigator that one of the witnesses might be lying.

“Harrison looked over at her. ‘The SODDI defense?' he said with skepticism. SODDI stood for Some Other Dude Did It. Often a defense of last resort.

Keera shrugged. ‘Need to create reasonable doubt.’ ”

When Keera worries that her client may be guilty, her father notices.

“ ‘You have that look,’ he said.

‘What look is that?’ Keera said, feigning ignorance.

‘That look young defense attorneys get when they realize the person they’re fighting so hard to get off is guilty. They wonder what the hell they’re doing, what kind of person they’re putting back on the street.’

‘You’ve experienced it’ Keera said.

Patsy smiled, rueful. ‘I have. And I can tell you it isn’t nearly as bad as that feeling you get when you know an innocent client is going to be convicted.’

“I’m sure it isn’t.”
. . .
Maybe . . . but I don’t think he’s innocent, Dad. I just don’t know what he’s guilty of.’ ”

She is not the only one confused. The tension and suspense continues to the last page. Dugoni fans will enjoy it, and I enjoyed learning a new term, SODDI. I can just imagine toddlers pointing to spills and crying “Soddi!”

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy for review from which I’ve quoted, so wording may have changed.

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni is a very highly recommended procedural and investigative legal thriller.

After ending an affair with a colleague in the prosecutor's office, Keera Duggan has joined her family's criminal defense law firm, Patrick Duggan and Associates. With her father's decline into alcoholism, joining the firm is a way to restore the family reputation. When Vince LaRussa needs a defense lawyer, Keera is the one on call and she rushes to meet with him. LaRussa has been accused of murdering his wife. There is little real evidence against him, but when Keera learns her former lover Miller Ambrose will be the prosecutor, she knows the challenges her family will face in the court battle facing them.

Keera's experience as a chess player will hopefully help her concentrate on the discoveries and the right moves she needs to make in her first homicide defense case. The evidence and the complications become much more complicated as a stranger, who seems to have additional information about the case, emails her and sends her down a trail looking into the clues and uncovering information hidden from her.

This is a well-written, excellent procedural and investigative legal thriller that will hold your attention throughout and keep you glued to the pages while anticipating the next clue or new evidence that is revealed. The case is fascinating and complicated. The fast paced plot and investigative phase followed by the courtroom drama is compelling and holds several shocking surprises. No spoilers here because being introduced to the case and then following the new information uncovered is part of what makes the novel so irresistible.

Keera is a strong, intelligent, well-developed character. Readers will be rooting for her as she tackles the case and puts everything she has behind investigating what really happened and preparing for the case. She has to face some hard facts about her family and herself that will only benefit her. Hopefully this is a new series because Keera is a wonderful character. It would be awesome to see her come up against Ambrose again and give him what he deserves.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the publisher Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

Though I haven’t kept up with all of Dugoni’s books, I’ve read seven and been glad I did. In the case of Her Deadly Game, I love legal mysteries, so I was excited for the opportunity to read it.

Because of a relationship gone bad with her prosecuting attorney supervisor, Keera Duggan finds herself working at her father’s law firm and on the other side of the legal process. Surprisingly, her first case offers her the chance to defend a client against the prosecutor who happened to be her former boss. Naturally, both sides are intent on winning.

And the case is an interesting one. Vince LaRussa is accused of shooting his wife, Anne, who is paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Keera works with her dad, Patrick Duggan, who is an excellent attorney when he’s not passed out drunk. But will Patrick he be able to stay sober and help his daughter, who is new to this side of the law, defend LaRussa?

This legal story is intertwined with mysterious correspondence and a chess game.

My Concerns
While legal mysteries are among my favorite genre, I have to say this one bothered me in that things were discussed, and then the same things were stated in court, which felt too much like a lengthy transcript. It felt repetitive.

Final Thoughts
Dugoni created an interesting story that is filled with secrets, family relationships, and courtroom drama.

Though I did have trouble with some of it feeling repetitive, the plot was interesting and the pages kept turning. I’ll be watching for his next book, and I hope this turns into a series.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC to review.

Keera Duggan had no intention of practicing law in her father's law firm. No way, no how. Joining the Seattle DA's office was her chosen path until it went down in flames. Her relationship with Miller Ambrose, a DA, ended badly and she ended up joining her father to practice criminal law. Her first case turns out to be a real circus due to the fact that Vince La Russa, a very wealthy investment banker. He is being charged with murdering his wealthy wife. Can Keera create reasonable doubt to get him off or can she prove him innocent? One hurdle in the courtroom is the DA on the case is Miller Ambrose and he is out to destroy her.
Part police procedural and part court room drama (I enjoy both) with the added sub theme of chess (which I couldn't play if you threatened me) this was a great puzzle from an author who is one of the best out there. I would really like to find out that he will write more cases for Keera. I'm ready for more.
My thanks to the publisher Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

After a messy break up while working in the DA's office Keera Duggan reluctantly goes to work for her father's firm with him and her two sisters, Ella and Maggie. Patsy has a reputation for being an Irish Brawler in court but now he is viewed mostly as a drunk and the office is suffering. After Keera's return they get a case of a wealthy man, Vince Larussa, being accused of killing his disabled wife, Anne.

Dugoni is an author that never disappoints and this time was no exception. The family was a big Irish family and I loved the interactions but I wish I knew more about them, especially Ella and Maggie. Hopefully this is the first in a series and they will be fleshed out more. The police procedural was easy to follow but still there were surprises and I didn't see them coming. The only downside on my part was I know nothing about chess but I liked that Keera used on line chess as a way to decompress.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer was providing me with a digital copy.

I’ve enjoyed previous books by the author and I was excited to read this first in a new series. The epilogue and acknowledgment made so much sense and has me restless to read more in the future as legal fiction is one of my favourite subgenre in thrillers.

Keera Duggan has to go back to her father’s law firm and start a job as a buddy defence attorney. Not quite what she’s used to do but definitely something new to keep her on her toes throughout the process.
And by that I mean, I was on my toes as well because the author has created an intriguing story that kept me up way too late and I just couldn’t put it down until I found out the outcome for this fraud wizard.
There are a few secondary characters that I haven’t liked at all but they play great roles into the big picture. And there’s also some more private and insightful scenes that really made me love her so much more.

It’s addictive, thrilling and unmissable.