After a suspect gets free because of a legal technicality, and certain unspoken threats, Tracy Crosswhite goes back to her home town Cedar Grove, to distance herself from the situation. Once a champion competitive shooter, she fails a shooting test first time in her career. She turns to her old shooting coach for help, meets his granddaughter Lydia and bonds with the young neurodivergent sharpshooter. All the while the man that got free is lurking in the shadows.

Tracy reminisces a lot about the past and her late sister. I enjoyed learing more about what happened and how it has affected her. The book has a lot of detailed descriptions of guns and shooting, which did not interest me much. Tracy has a family, loyal friends and colleagues, who all love her and want to protect her. Tracy is persistent, kind and fair, and that's what I like the most about her. She's an ordinary person, not a superhero. The first half of the book was slow moving, but the pace picked up the second half. The final showdown left me speechless.

The Tracy Crosswhite series is one of my go to reads, and A Dead Draw is another strong installment. I love following Tracy’s journey, and this book continues her work with cold cases in a way that feels both compelling and seamless. The emotional layers add depth to her character without slowing down the plot. I was hooked from the first chapter.

I recommend this series to anyone looking for quick mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an eARC of this book

Thank you NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. T vs his is the 11th installment of the Tracy Crosswhite series. Robert Dugoni has done it again. He kept me entertained from the moment I opened the book with the suspenseful storylines..

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni is a tense and riveting thriller that kept me on edge from start to finish. Tracy Crosswhite’s battle with personal demons while facing a cunning and dangerous adversary creates an unrelenting sense of suspense. The emotional depth, sharp pacing, and high-stakes twists made this an unputdownable read. I enjoyed it immensely and rated it five stars.

I'm not sure any of us ever fully gets rid of our demons. I think we just learn to better live with them. It's what makes us human.

Detective Tracy Crosswhite is still haunted by the murder of her sister and how it destroyed her family. Erik Schmidt has brought those demons to light with his taunting when he is suspected of 2 other murders and is let out on a technicality. Her team and her family feel like Tracy may need a reprieve. She goes back to her hometown Cedar Grove where she meets Lydia the granddaughter of her old trainer Mason. Lydia and her trainer bring her back to basics in her shooting skills. Lydia brings up old memories of her sister Sarah. Working on the force for so many years, Tracy knows when danger is close and she feels coming back to Cedar Grove may have put her and her family in danger.

Tracy is such strong character thru out this series and you never know where the next book will take you. I did enjoy getting to Tracy's sister Sarah thru her relationship with Lydia. I felt that Lydia was the redemption Tracy needed.

A special thank you to Thomas Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Dugoni returns to his longest running character and it's a welcome return. I thought the last book in the series was him at his best, and I'm happy report this one is just as good. Less of a mystery (you know the bad guy from the get go), but just as suspenseful, this book returns Tracy to her roots. Very much feels like a book 10 in a series, where the author often gets introspective about the longevity of the character. It almost feels like a companion piece to the first book, but I wouldn't recommend jumping from there to here, as you miss most of the relationships built up over the years. Ideally, I would've liked to see more of the Seattle team (especially Faz), but here's still here, as is the rest of the gang. Tracy is a great character and I'm happy to see there's another book of her coming in the future.

When people think of the Old West, they rarely think of Washington State, even though Washington is as far west as it gets in the continental United States. However, author Robert Dugoni, a native Washingtonian, grew up watching classic Westerns and visited many Old Western towns in Washington and other states. His love for that era is on display in “A Dead Draw,” the latest novel featuring Seattle police detective Tracy Crosswhite. Tracy’s marksmanship skills are put to the test in an old-fashioned showdown with a psychopath that forms the climax of this entertaining entry in the series.

“A Dead Draw” is somewhat of a sequel to “My Sister’s Grave,” the first Crosswhite novel. (The author includes enough backstory so that newcomers to the series can follow the plot. However, the book reads much better for those familiar with the earlier novel or who do some internet research, as I did.) Years before the events in “Grave,” Tracy’s sister Sarah was brutally murdered, and a drifter named Edmund House was later convicted and jailed. That murder led Tracy to become a police officer. As a detective, though, she became convinced House had been framed, and she helped get him out of prison. Unfortunately, he actually was guilty, and Tracy was forced to kill him.

In the present day, House is long dead, but his former cellmate, Erik Schmidt, also a murderer, is out of jail and vows revenge on Tracy for killing House. After his recent arrest for murdering two women, Schmidt was released due to the proverbial “technicality.” As “A Dead Draw” begins, Tracy isn’t at her best mentally, having bouts of PTSD featuring images of House and Schmidt. So, she takes her husband and young daughter and moves back temporarily to her hometown of Cedar Grove to give herself time to recover. Because Schmidt is a former Army sniper and prize shooter, Tracy also embarks on a crash course to refine her own badly shaken marksmanship skills.

In Cedar Grove, Tracy reunites with various people from her past, including the current sheriff and the retired former sheriff. She also seeks help from her former shooting instructor. Because of his age and infirmity, he can’t provide Tracy with much help, so he introduces her to Lydia, his college-age autistic granddaughter. Lydia is by far the liveliest and most interesting character in “A Dead Draw.” The author has studied the mannerisms of people on the autism spectrum. Lydia’s unfiltered speech, although it sounds at times like Dustin Hoffman in “Rain Man,” is bright and refreshing. Not surprisingly, she and Tracy soon bond. Lydia is also an expert at first-person shooting video games and begins teaching Tracy how to play. Tracy’s resulting improved reflexes soon helped her in actual shooting practice.

The last quarter of “A Dead Draw” is a mix of action and suspense, as Tracy must climb a treacherous mountain path in bad weather to meet Schmidt. This change of pace transforms the novel from a traditional police procedural to a well-crafted action thriller. The author does a good job of recreating Tracy’s hazardous nighttime journey to meet Schmidt. (Her husband, Dan, also figures out where she’s heading and takes a different path to meet and help her.) The author then throws in a twist towards the end that’s relatively easy to guess, but very satisfying nonetheless.
I was impressed by the author’s skillful characterizations of some troubled characters. Lydia seems like a real person, and Tracy’s stress-related difficulties, which led her to Cedar Grove in the first place, are presented clearly but not in an overly sensational manner. Dugoni also explores Schmidt’s twisted psyche, showing how he turned from an exemplary soldier into a serial killer.

The author also provides a historical perspective of the events in the novel. The fictional Cedar Grove and another nearby town, Silver Pines, were once old mining towns in the Cascade Mountains, dating back over a century. Tracy eventually researches the town’s past and discovers some dark deeds and double-crosses. These findings aren’t just interesting from a historical perspective. (The author’s familiarity with the mining towns of the region gives this material a highly authentic feel.) They also help explain some characters’ motivations and actions.

Although there’s a lot to like in “A Dead Draw,” the book has some nagging problems as well. The exclusionary rule has been established as black-letter law for over half a century, not, as the author implies, a loophole that shady defense lawyers sometimes exploit. Here, the police neglected to confirm the ballistics match that connected Schmidt to the two murdered women, as required by state law. This was gross negligence (although the author explains how it happened in a manner that makes the error somewhat more understandable). Also, the author provides an overly detailed and simplistic discussion of the exclusionary hearing that’s held. Experienced attorneys and judges would never talk to each other the way they do in the book.

“A Dead Draw” has a more fundamental flaw, one that completely took me out of the story for a few chapters. Tracy is supposed to be an expert detective. However, when she asks some of the Cedar Grove locals, including her husband, about a mysterious stranger who shows up asking a lot of questions, she neglects to show any of them Schmidt’s mug shot. That elementary blunder conceals Schmidt’s presence in Cedar Grove from Tracy and alters how the last quarter of the book unfolds. Schmidt would never have gotten as far as he did if Tracy had been aware of his presence earlier.

“A Dead Draw” is mostly a taut, exciting thriller with engaging characters and an intriguing premise. Robert Dugoni takes advantage of extensive research and his own experiences to enhance the story’s realistic feel, despite its far-fetched premise. The author allows the book to run on a couple of chapters too long after the climactic showdown, but the buildup and presentation of that encounter would make for a highly entertaining movie or TV show. I haven’t read any previous Crosswhite novels, so I don’t know how this book ranks among them. However, based on “A Dead Draw,” I’m willing to saddle up with Tracy Crosswhite in the future.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

Another great Tracey Crosswhite novel from Robert Dugoni! Dan, Tracey, Daniella and Theresa are back and this time, Tracey is up against a serial killer. This book presents slightly differently to the others, in that we know from the very beginning who Tracey is up against. The Cat and mouse game between Tracey and Eric Schmidt keeps you on edge til the very last page. Eric is so well written as a bag guy that you hate him from the moment you meet him. The turmoil that Tracey and her family go through makes this a great thriller.
Dugoni also does a fantastic job of writing Lydia, a teenage gamer who is also autistic. I hope we see more of her.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni
Tracy Crosswhite #

~ Excellent addition to this exciting series ~ Couldn’t put it down ~ Loved learning about single action shooting competitions and that armed forces marksmen have competitive teams ~

What I liked:
* Tracy: * Tracy: cold case detective, wife, mother, good friend, dedicated, professional, persistent, focused, detail oriented, marksman, competitive shooter when young, protective,
* Dan: lawyer, husband, father, loving, kind, generous, supportive, professional, protective, there for his family and friends
* The family of daughter Daniella, nanny Therese, Rhodesian Ridgebacks Rex & Sherlock ~ all played a part in this story
* The police that rallied around Tracy in Seattle and in their getaway home where she and Dan grew up
* Lydia Johnson: young woman, competitive single action shooter, excellent computer gamer, loving daughter and granddaughter, on the spectrum, plays a bit part in this story
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing with twists & turns aplenty
* Learning the impact than following the rules as a law enforcement officer can have
* The fleshing out of the characters, good and bad, and how it added to the story
* The surprise at sunrise and how it provided the perfect way to deal with the killer in this story
* That there were no loose ends and the ending left me on a positive note
* The authors comments in the acknowledgements that reminded me of my father that loved a good Western and who was also a was a marksman grade shooter in WWII

What I didn’t like:
* Edmund House & Erik Schmidt: killers, psychopaths, evil men who had no remorse
* Thinking about what can turn a “normal” person into a ruthless killer

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review

5 Stars

I’ve read every book in the Tracy Crosswhite series, and A Dead Draw definitely kept me hooked. The stakes felt higher than ever, especially with Tracy coming face to face with someone connected to her sister’s killer. You can really feel how much the past is weighing on her, and that emotional tension adds a new layer to her character.

The story moves fast and has some great twists, though the ending wrapped up a little quicker than I expected. Still, it’s another strong addition to the series, and I’m already looking forward to what’s next for Tracy.

Thank you to Robert Dugoni, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Tracy “Crossdraw” Crosswhite, a police officer, is wracked with grief over her sister’s kidnapping and murder. Haunted by the inmate responsible and the fallout from that night, she finds her past stalking her every move. Overwhelmed and emotional drained, she finds herself unraveling both on the job and at home. When she no longer trusts herself to do the job right, she retreats to her family’s side and starts the hard work of facing her trauma.

The character development was excellent. Reading about Tracy wrestle with soul crushing PTSD and guilt felt raw and authentic. The tension builds perfectly. The ending was so chilling and unexpected.

Tracy Crosswhite installment #11
Funny thing is, I have about 4 books in this series unread… and this is my first Crosswhite. I know I know… I’m ashamed. 🫣

Tracy became a homicide detective with the Seattle PD over twenty years ago. The motivation, her sister was murdered and she wanted justice.

This book is connected to her murder and a big reveal. Everything was explained in the book and I had no problem catching up. I think it could be read as a standalone however, reading the first book, My Sister’s Grave, is probably a better experience.

Gun violence and gun awareness is an important part of the story. There is a character with autism that really melted my heart. I really loved how Dugoni represents the autistic community. He did an excellent job!

This is a cat-and-mouse crime story that I highly enjoyed. Tracy’s character is real and relatable. It’s easy to root for her. I will mention that it was slow the start. However, the second half really kicks off. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Tracy Crosswhite series is maybe one of the only male writing a female lead that I never question. I've been reading this series since the beginning and this installment brought back the excitement that I always feel when I read them.

I am always a little leery when a male author writes a female main character but I have liked this series in general. The plot may be a little of a rehash with the same nemesis, or his disciple, posing a threat. I think it's time to move on. I prefer a concentration on police work rather than Tracy facing personal issues. And why so much about guns and competition? I liked it but I don't think this is the best in the series.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. Mine is an independent review.

This series is always an adventure. Life circumstances have changed for Tracy. She is still working cold cases and she is more focused on her family. But success in trying to solve cold cases brings danger. Erik Schmidt is the primary suspect in the death of two women years ago and unnervingly, he seems to know too much about her. His taunts lead her to discover his past ties to the man who murdered her sister over a decade ago. He stirs up haunting memories of her deadly confrontation with Edmund House which leads to nightmares and flashbacks that seem more like hallucinations.

After making a detrimental mistake that could end her careers as a detective, Tracy needs to regroup. Tragedy strikes again when her previous partner is critically injured in a car accident that she suspects was actually an attempt to kill him. Recalling Erik Schmidt’s taunts, Tracy sees red. To protect her family, she decides it is time to return to Cedar Grove. This move also allows her to seek out her shooting coach to sharpen her shooting skills. She has the instinctual feeling that she will need to be ready for a shoot out the next time she encounters Erik Schmidt.

Really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to seeing how the story continues.

This is Robert Dugoni at his best! Strangely enough, I can't stop thinking about the story. That's how great it was! Tracy Crosswhite has been forced into a deadly cat and mouse game, and she finds herself in a position where she will not be able to comply with the killer's latest demand. And then, along comes Lydia, the granddaughter of Tracy's shooting instructor, Mason. And the rest is history, folks!

Think about The Quick and The Dead movie with Sharon Stone for a minute and then delve into the book. There will be so many twists that you won't see coming! You won't be able to put the book down because the eagerness and excitement to see what happens won't leave you alone!

#A Dead Draw #Net Galley thank you for the AC!

Yolie McLaughlin

Robert Dugoni is on my must-read list for a couple of his series, and Tracy Crosswhite is one of them. The 11th installment provides us with more details about her younger years and introduces us to new and intriguing characters, as well as a new villain.

This story is exciting and moves along at a quick pace. Tracy’s found family and my favorite characters make an appearance. I also learned some history of the PNW mining towns, which is always a bonus. Overall, another thrilling adventure for Tracy and her family.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Robert Dugoni for the eARC.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

A Dead Draw is the 11th book in this series by Robert Dugoni. I read this as a stand alone and a new reader to this author I have heard so much about.
I’m not sure what I’ve missed but I really enjoyed this thriller so I may have to go back to the beginning and play catch up!

Detective Tracy Crosswhite needs to get away from work, the suspect of the latest case, Erik Schmidt is playing heavily on her chest. Looking forward to unwinding and finding some much needed downtime Tracy, her husband, child and nanny escape to her home town of Cedar Grove for the weekend.

But can she ever truly escape ? It seems not. This suspenseful thriller had me rapidly turning pages which is always a good sign. I got immersed and really quickly drawn into this game of cat and mouse. This is the hallmark of a great thriller for me, one that has me on the edge of my seat and quickly scanning ahead to ensure it’s safe to keep reading !

I’m happy to have found a great author to play catch up on.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I didn't end up finishing this but it's more my fault that the authors fault. I didn't realize it was part of a series and I was really confused. There's a whole lot of memories and context about people and cases without background but it might have been in the other books.

Another homerun by Robert Dugoni! This is the 11th novel in the Tracy Crosswhite series. I may be an outlier, but since I love other books by this author, I jumped at the chance to review this book, even though it's my first in the series to read. So, yes, it can be read as a standalone!

The beginning of the story was a little slow for me, but by about 50% of the way, I was hooked and the action/drama did not stop! I absolutely loved the characters, especially Lydia, the neordivergent sharp shooter. The author did a fantastic job with this character and I hope she appears in future stories.

I won't rehash the synopsis, just know this, the story involves deep character development, it's a cat and mouse chase, very suspenseful and at times had me yelling because I was scared for a couple of the characters! So if you haven't read anything in this series, don't hesitate to start here. I plan to read the entire series eventually.

Thanks to Thomas and Mercer for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.