Tracy Crosswhite can outshoot almost anyone, but when she has trouble with a police drill she’s drawn back into her past in a way she never expected. Going back to her roots might just bring back her equilibrium, but will it save her and her family. Once again Dugoni draws us in from the get go and has us turning pages quickly to find out the final outcome. With his real characters and suspenseful plots, this is one you won’t want to miss. Enjoyed this even more as a dual read/listen. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

Erik Schmidt, a military-trained marksman who had a psychotic break and was dishonorably discharged before serving prison time for drug dealing, where he made friends with the man who killed Detective Tracy Crosswhite’s sister. Due to a legal technicality, he is released rather than held for trial for the murder of two women, and believing Tracy killed his mentor, he is hell-bent on retaliation.

Schmidt gets into her head and as a result, Tracy makes a surprising error during a shooting assessment. Taking time off to clear her head, she and her family return to their childhood town. There, she also returns to the man who trained her for shooting competitions growing up, to work on improving her skills, and befriends his grand-daughter, Lydia, a young woman on the spectrum.

To say more would reveal too much, suffice it to say: Dugoni delivers yet again. This was a suspenseful cat-and-mouse thriller, and for any fan of old time westerns, you are in for a real treat. I can always rely on this series to engage and entertain, and I look forward to the next installment.

NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer kindly provided me an ARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Dugoni's Detective Tracy Crosswhite series is one of my favorites, and A Dead Draw did not disappoint! It brings together Tracy's past and present in a tense nail-biter that starts off with Tracy interrogating Erik Schmidt, a suspect in two linked cold case murders she is investigating. Schmidt gets into Tracy's head when he brings up Edmund House, the man who killed Tracy's sister when they were teenagers and who Schmidt befriended in prison, bringing back her PTSD symptoms and causing her to screw up during her annual shooting test. Needing a break, Tracy and her family head to her hometown of Cedar Grove in rural Washington for the summer, but Schmidt knows where to find her and after he gets out on a technicality, she worries he may be coming for revenge. Tracy is a capable, smart woman who commands respect from her colleagues and from readers, and the supporting characters are equally well-developed and interesting. The story is fast-paced, suspenseful, and well-written, which I expect of anything by Dugoni!

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni is #11 in his excellent Detective Tracy Crosswhite series, set in the Seattle area. Still haunted by her sister’s murder over 20 years before, Tracy is faced with her nemesis, psychopath Erik Schmidt, being released from prison on a technicality. He will stop at nothing to wreak revenge on Tracy for his evil mentor’s death.
This is a novel that is both a compelling police procedural and has a good dose of domestic drama. There are great investigative details and fascinating court proceedings. Conversely, the vignettes of Tracy and husband Dan provide warmth and humanity as they grapple with difficult situations like ordinary couples. The plot is strong and the characters engaging.
This book can be read as a stand-alone story, but the experience will be richer if the reader has read some of the earlier entries in the series.
Kudos to Robert Dugoni for bringing us back in to the world of Tracy Crosswhite, the detective with strength and heart.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. This is my honest review.

A DEAD DRAW by Robert Dugoni, the eleventh book in the series, is a thrilling addition. Erik Schmidt has unnerving ties to the monster who murdered Tracy’s sister, Sarah, more than ten years ago, and he is out for revenge. Tracy is haunted by the murder of her sister, Sarah, more than 10 years ago. As she retreats to her Cedar Grove hometown with her family, she finds herself in a dangerous game of revenge. Will Tracy be able to keep her family and friends safe?

Robert Dugoni, an exceptional storyteller, consistently captivates me with his novels. A DEAD DRAW is no exception, with its well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story is a perfect blend of suspense and drama, maintaining a high level of tension throughout. While the book may start slowly, it quickly becomes an engaging cat-and-mouse game between Tracy and Erik rather than a typical police procedural story.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, publishers Thomas & Mercer, and the esteemed author Robert Dugoni, one of my personal favorites. I appreciate their generosity in providing me with a copy of this publication. I eagerly look forward to his next work, One Split Second!

In this latest installment to his Tracy Crosswhite series, Robert Dugoni transports Tracy and her family back to their hometown of Cedar Grove where a sinister plot slowly unfolds, culminating in a final showdown between past and present; good vs. evil.

As a master storyteller, this author delivers yet another riveting saga from start to finish, taking readers on one helluva suspenseful ride. This is one of my all-time favorite series, and “A Dead Draw” didn’t disappoint!

Thank you to @robertdugoni @amazonpublishing @netgalley for the #gifted e-book and @brilliancepublishing for the #gifted audiobook.

I am absolutely captivated by this series featuring the remarkable Tracy Crosswhite, and Book #11 does not disappoint!

Detective Tracy Crosswhite is typically the epitome of composure, but her interrogation of Erik Schmidt, a suspect linked to two chilling cold cases associated with her sister’s murder, tests her like never before. After a harrowing incident during training leaves her haunted by nightmares, she seeks solace in Cedar Grove with her family. But when an unexpected legal loophole releases Schmidt, her unease deepens—she fears he may be stalking her. Now, ensnared in a perilous game of cat and mouse, Tracy must harness her formidable skills and unwavering determination to outmaneuver Schmidt and safeguard her loved ones.

Tracy is an inspiring figure, resilient in the face of adversity. She has endured so much that few things can unsettle her. This narrative kept me glued to the edge of my seat from start to finish. Each book showcases Tracy's personal growth alongside her family dynamics and her evolving investigative skills. The supporting characters remain steadfastly by her side, adding depth to the story. The introduction of Lydia, the granddaughter of her former shooting instructor who is on the spectrum, was a brilliant touch that enriched the narrative.

The author masterfully conveys police procedures, making the complexities understandable and engaging. I found myself engrossed in the world of shooting competitions and learned how they sharpen accuracy. The storyline is not only captivating but also filled with suspense and tension that keeps the reader guessing.

The narrator’s performance is truly commendable, breathing life into these characters with a straightforward tone that perfectly encapsulates Tracy’s essence.

If you have a penchant for suspense, police drama, and fiercely strong female protagonists, this book is a must-read. Be sure to mark your calendars for May 27, 2025—you won’t want to miss this thrilling installment!

An action packed, suspense filled story. Tracy is back and this one is another pulse pounding read. I was up way past bedtime. I couldn't put it down.

A Dead Draw is book eleven in the Tracy Crosswhite series and while it could be read as a standalone the reader would miss out on the majority of character development that is essential to understand the protagonist. A little slower than past books, this novel focuses a little more on Tracy’s history and the issues she’s dealing with. The book is not really centered on a big cold case but on a killer with ties to Tracy’s past stalking her and threatening her family. After the action starts, the pages turn quickly and the story follows through on the promised thrills. Taking a little bit of a hook from the old west, the story finishes strong and makes any slow beginning well worthwhile. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Erik Schmidt was brought in through a search warrant served by Tracy Crosswhite’s former partner, Kinsington Rowe. She is interrogating him. Schmidt appears to be unusually calm for someone sitting in an interrogation room. She's working on two murder cases, Julia Hoch and Bridgette Traugott. The gun seized under the search warrant ballistically matched the bullets that killed those two girls. Schmidt admits to knowing them but not killing them. He immediately questions the probable cause basis for the seizure of the guns. From this start, a gripping thriller starts.

This novel has two main storyline threads. The first thread is the investigation into the murders of Hoch and Traugott. This thread dies on the vine after a hiccup during arraignment. A terrible accident to Rowe serves as a transition to the second thread. Crosswhite's self-confidence took a brutal hit when she recently failed a shoot/no-shoot test. With all that is happening in Seattle, she and her husband decide to move back to Cedar Grove for a while to train again with her shooting instructor. But Schmidt seems to have Crosswhite in his crosshairs. She discovers very disturbing information about Schmidt. Then, events begin to unfold, and the tension in the novel continues to escalate. While Crosswhite provides the voice for most of the chapter, the reader is aware of some events that she is not. All these aspects gained and held my attention to the end. The novel’s pace was quick, but not with heart-throbbing action.

I particularly enjoyed seeing Crosswhite deal with her most serious blow. Her shooting ability strongly supports her confidence that she now questions. When she shows up at the home of her old trainer, he opens the door and is on crutches. He tells her that she needs to use a new instructor. He introduces her to the new instructor, Lydia. This marks the beginning of an important B-storyline that reveals aspects of Crosswhite I had not seen before. Her background in this novel is the richest since the first novel in this series. Within this B-storyline, a C-storyline exists, illustrating how Lydia changes under Crosswhite’s mentoring. Needless to say, this aspect of the novel was one of the primary reasons I liked it.

The aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading are at a low level in this novel. There are no intimate scenes. The inappropriate language is more rude than vulgar. A few impious words are in the novel. Violence is described chiefly after the fact, except for the ending. With the significant background in this novel, there should be no problem reading it as the first before others in the series.

What I liked the most about this novel was that it was not a typical Tracy Crosswhite novel. In this novel, she is vulnerable and has to make what, up to this point in her life, are the most difficult decisions she has ever faced. This novel does tug at the heartstrings some, but I still liked the ending. All the potential loose ends were tied up by the end of the novel.

I have read 20 previous novels by this author. He is one of my most favorite authors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. His next novel appears to be the start of a new series, and it cannot come too soon. I highly recommend reading this novel. I rate this novel with five stars.

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

Suspense, action, a killer out for revenge, and a detective haunted by guilt are combined into a thrilling new novel in the Tracy Crosswhite series. A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni is the eleventh book in the series and maintains the high level of crime fiction the series is known for.
Tracy, a detective in Seattle, is working two cold case killings. Erik Schmidt, a suspect, taunts her during the interrogation. He also has ties to the man who murdered Tracy’s sister. Haunted by nightmares and flashbacks leading to a critical mistake during a shooting exercise, Tracy and her family head to her hometown of Cedar Grove, Washington to refocus. What was supposed to be a peaceful getaway becomes a nightmare after a legal glitch allows Schmidt to go free. Sleepless nights and the fear that he has followed her are only the beginning of this game of cat and mouse.

Tracy feels realistic and authentic as she continues to struggle with guilt for not being there to protect her sister years ago. She has been using meditation, work-outs, and breathing techniques to help her anxiety, but they aren’t always successful. Tracy is a successful investigator and enjoys the cold-case work she is doing. She can be stubborn and isn’t good at asking for help, even when she needs it. She’s an expert shot, so the shooting exercise mistake weighs on her. This time she asks for help from a former mentor, Mason. This also allows her to be taught in new ways as she is instructed by both Mason and his granddaughter, Lydia. Working with and interacting with Lydia brings out a different side of Tracy than readers normally see. Tracy’s ability to mentor and support others while also being mentored was great to see.

Robert Dugoni is an excellent storyteller who always immediately engages me in his novels. This one is written in a style that draws you in and keeps you rapidly turning the pages. Full of well-developed characters, a compelling plot, and plenty of suspense and drama, this is an excellent addition to the series. The storyline is engaging, suspenseful, and includes some tense scenes. This engrossing crime novel keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Overall, this a well-written and suspenseful book that has well-developed and compelling characters and occasionally pulls on the heart strings contains plenty of action as well. If you are expecting a solid series that will have mysteries, suspense, crime, and action, then this is a series that I recommend. I believe it should be read in order and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Thomas and Mercer and Robert Dugoni provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 27, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I’ve come to this series late, more than ten years after the first book, with numerous episodes preceding this one. The lead character is a hard driven police detective, Tracy Crosswhite, whose sister was murdered years ago by a man who was subsequently jailed. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since book 1, but this latest instalment does a pretty good job of sketching out the basic back story, at least as it pertains to this latest tale. At first, it seems that her latest tangle with a man who looks likely to escape justice despite proof that he’s a serial killer has no link to Tracy’s sister or her death. But then a link emerges - it’s tenuous, but it’s there.

Set in largely in a small town in the state of Washington, the place with all it’s charm and history is to play a large part in how the story plays out. In its past, it was a gold and silver mining area, with parts once full of miners seeking their fortunes now virtually inaccessible. It’s in this place that Tracy finds herself under threat with the potential for a face-off with a very dangerous foe.

I liked Tracy, she’s fierce and dogged and yet with a soft side in evidence. The author does a great job of keeping the story pacy, too, and it kept me interested throughout. The only negative for me is that having set the scene well in the first half of the book, it seemed pretty clear where this was all headed, and as a result how it would inevitably play out. There are some late twists, but they’re also pretty well telegraphed. That said, I enjoyed the book enough that I'm considering going back to book one and working my way through the series. We’ll see how that goes, but it’s definitely a series that’s pricked my interest.

Wow! This was really good, and very hard to put down. I love the Tracy Crosswhite series, and this was one of the best. I am hoping that she is done with these guys that are making her revisit her past with her sister's death, as it is now finished! But aside from that, this was great and would like to see Lydia in more books, maybe actually becoming a detective! I knew when Tracy got hurt, that Lydia would be there to help! Very exciting and suspenseful. Great book, well done Dugoni!

Highly recommend.

I am always excited to read a new Tracy Crosswhite book and enjoyed “A Dead Draw”. The book establishes its villain early on and it is impossible not to detest Erik Schmidt. I liked the story going back to the beginning and being in Cedar Grove. The plot moved along well and I really enjoyed the characters of Mason and Lydia. I read the Acknowledgements section and appreciate the research Dugoni did about people on the spectrum. I thought it was tastefully done and I like how he went through the stages of helping Lydia become independent while addressing her needs as an adult. The traumas that Tracy and her family faced were also addressed through the promotion of therapy and I appreciate the realness of it for all of the characters involved. We need to normalize asking for and getting help. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”A Dead Draw” in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Dead Draw
Book 11 of Tracy Crosswhite series
by: Robert Dugoni
Thomas & Mercer
Pub date: May 26, 2025
General Fiction (Adult) / Mystery & Thrillers

A Dead Draw is book eleven in a favorite series of mine, Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series. Detective Tracy Crosswhite is haunted by her past. She retreats from her job in Seattle with husband Dan and daughter Daniella to have a break from the turmoil that her memories are causing, including nightmares and hallucinations. In addition, she is fearful because of happenings related to two cold case killings.

This book is one of the best, in my opinion, in the series. Dugoni has consistently sharply developed his main character, so the story is more than the criminal and procedural happenings. It is also a deep study of Tracy's feelings and emotions within herself and in her relationships.

I received a complimentary advance reader's copy from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer. My review is my own.

#ADeadDraw #RobertDugoni #ThomasMercer #tracycrosswhiteseries

The Tracy Crosswhite series is one of my favorites. This 11th in the series takes us back to the event that Tracy has dealt with for years, the death of her sister Sarah and the part she feels she played by leaving Sarah to go home alone after a shooting competition. This act has been in the background of all the books. Here we find Erik Schmidt, a murderer, being released from prison due to a technicality. The weapon found at the time of his arrest was tested without securing the proper warrant, This was done by Tracy's former partner, Detective Kinsington Rowe. While in prison, Schmidt was a "friend" to another inmate Edmund House, the man who’d kidnapped and murdered Tracy’s sister, Sarah, 30 years ago, He was released after an appeal and later killed. Now out, Schmidt begins to taunt Tracy. Schmidt's release, his taunts cause Tracy to have nightmares about him and House. These affect her to such a degree that she fails her police shooting qualification. She decides to move her family to her childhood home,Cedar Grove (where Schmidt follows). It is here that she decides to work on her shooting skill with Mason Pettibone, her first shooting instructor. Mason declines, saying he is too old, but introduces her to his granddaughter, Lydia “Lightning Strike” Johnson.

This book started slow and I felt there was an over abundance of information regarding guns and shooting. The pace picked up about midway through as the cat and mouse game between Tracy and Schmidt escalates. The climax and ending reward the reader with an unexpected twist. I hope we see more of Lydia, she is a great character. For loyal readers of the series, such as myself, anytime spent with Tracy is entertaining and edge of your seat suspenseful. I did miss seeing more of Kinsington Rowe, Vic Fazzio and Delmo Castigliano. I look forward to Tracy's next appearance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for an ARC. The review is my own.

A welcome and long awaited new chapter for Tracy Crosswhite! After a training exercise goes awry, Tracy finds herself questioning whether or not it is safe for the public for her to continue defending the public and finding criminals. Haunted by her poor performance, Tracy and her family retreat to her hometown of Cedar Grove to recover. But when a criminal who Tracy put away gets free as the result of a legal oversight, Tracy fears she is next in his cross hairs. The cat and mouse game that ensues is typical Robert Dugoni, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat as the bad guy moves closer and closer to his revenge. But at home, Tracy meets the daughter of a friend who is a wiz at video games. Using the power of the computer the young woman helps Tracy regain her edge and her confidence. Their special relationship leads the young woman into the circle of danger that surrounds Tracy and her family.

A Dead Draw is well named and is Robert Dugoni at his best. Can’t wait for the next one to come out!

(4.5) Tracy Crosswhite always keeps me flipping pages. Does she always make the right choices, considering her profession (Detective), no but they always come from a good heart and show you her flaws and vulnerabilities making her much more realistic. Trying to protect her family and little bombs going off all over (not literal) made some heart pounding moments. Meeting Lydia and learning more about being on the spectrum in this book makes the reality easier to understand. I absolutely loved the possibilities that were brought out at the end. Book 12? Thank you for the advance copy. I freely volunteer my honest thoughts and opinions. #ADeadDraw #TracyCrosswhite #RobertDugoni #ThomasandMercer #NetGalley

** This review was posted to my blog, socials and Indigo.ca on May 23, 2025. **

This new book in the Tracy Crosswhite suspense/police procedural series knocks it out of the park!

This book felt like going home for this reader when Tracy returns to Cedar Grove, the small town of her childhood and the scene of her worst memories. Tracy returns to keep her family out of the line of fire when a mad man with a link to Tracy's past wants to hunt her down.

This 11th book in the series is tightly connected to the first book, My Sister's Grave (which I read almost 10 years ago!). To better understand Tracy's history and its emotional impact on her, I strongly recommend you at least read the first book in the series so you understand the backstory and loss that will always haunt Tracy.

One of the strengths of this series is its secondary characters and we see a bit of Faz and Kins but they lie low for the most part. Instead, we meet a unique, new character who Tracy meets in Cedar Grove and through this relationship Tracy undergoes rigorous (and well-described) training to improve her shooting skills.

This is a non-stop, tension-filled, twisted game of cat and mouse and while I saw the big twist coming, it was satisfying to see it all play out. This is a story of revenge and a past that has come back to haunt Tracy.

I'm not sure how long this series will continue but I am in it for the long haul. If you haven't yet picked up a book by Robert Dugoni, you're going to want to fix that right away. He's got lots of series (and a couple of standalones) to choose from and I just know you'll love them.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for the complimentary advanced digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

Dare I say the Tracy Crosswhite series might be waning in interest for me? *bites nails*

This installment and the book before it were just...okay. Since Tracy has moved departments and there is no longer the simmering rage aimed at her from Nolasco, the stories lose their oomph. While there is some danger, action and adventure, I was kind of bored. The technical aspects of shooting and firearms didn't add much to my enjoyment and contributed to the slower pace that made parts of the book drag.
As well some of the story line (that ending conversation with Dan about a 'new job') either leads to another vein for Tracy or a signal that the end is nigh.
What Dugoni does well is character work. The introduction of Lydia, a character with autism brings a fresh perspective. The book also creates connections back to the very beginning of the series by revisiting the trauma of Tracy's sister's murder. The western elements, including the showdown concept and spaghetti western references weren't enough to recapture the tension of the earlier books in the series. Or... it could just be a book that didn't work for me.
I know I'm a reader that is still hopeful that the next Grisham will be as good as The Firm, The Client, The Pelican Brief. I don't have another delusional author obsession in me, LOL. The great thing is that Dugoni does great standalones, so even if the Crosswhite series is on the fence, he's still a great writer to follow.