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I am a fan of Robert Dugoni. I have followed his Tracy Crosswhite series from the beginning and like his standalone novels. I was set to enjoy another good Crosswhite book, but this one let me down. It did deliver Dugoni's brand of murdering psychopath, but it also delved too much into material already covered in previous books.

Tracy thinks she has an air-tight case against killer Erik Schmidt, but when a technicality throws the case out, she is determined to uncover new evidence against him. Schmidt is equally determined to seek revenge against Tracy for a wrong he is convinced she committed. Concerned for her family's safety, they flee Seattle for the remote town of Cedar Grove, where she and her husband grew up. Tracy's hope of escaping Schmidt is short-lived, and she prepares for the showdown with him while fighting the ghosts from her past.

This is a gripping and fast-paced psychological thriller. Where it fell short for me was the rehashing of storylines covered in previous books and the depth to which guns and shooting competitions played a role. I am not a gun enthusiast, so my take may be biased. Dugoni did a good job weaving Tracy's need to improve her gun skills into the plot, but I didn't need that much information. 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is May 27, 2025.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access.

One of my favourite Detective series, I love coming back to this world and its characters as it's like putting on your favourite cardigan.

As is normal I was hooked from the start and ploughed through the first half of the book so quickly. I liked that we got to see competitive shooting in the book as it takes us back to when Tracy was Crossdraw and sort of gives us an insight into what her childhood must have been like and having her train with Lydia who I really liked and hope to see more of in future books.

For me Tracy is one of those detectives that go above and beyond for her cases and fellow detectives who all have each other's back and can always rely on and you can feel that from Robert's writing.

I'm sad that I've now read this and have to wait for the next installment lol.

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I've read this entire series by Robert Dugoni over the years, and I have to say I was quite disappointed by this 11th book. The plot was kind of slow to get started, the pacing felt off (Tracy only starts really investigating like 75% into the book), and ended up being heavily about shooting competitions and practice, which I have no interest in. I found the villain of the story to be fairly cartoonish, and wished there had been more significant involvement in the story from Tracy's colleagues, who bring a lot of color to the other books in the series. Lydia and Mason were enjoyable new characters, at least. The chapters told from Dan's perspective also felt awkward, especially the first one -- I'm not sure if the author intended it that way, but the sudden shift to Dan's perspective immediately gave away the secret behind his interactions in the chapter.

All in all, I'm disappointed by the latest book in this series, a series I've always really enjoyed otherwise. I hope the next one goes back to a more classic mystery.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an unbiased review!

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I don’t know how long Robert Dugoni is planning to continue writing Tracy Crosswhite, but I will happily read every single one he wants to write. There is something about this badass woman who takes charge but also shows her vulnerabilities and fallible side that continues to draw me in.

Tracy has to face off against a man in this one who gave me creepy chills. Erik Schmidt is probably the “bad guy” I’ve had the strongest reaction to in this series. His entire demeanor and so many of his actions are disturbing in how controlled they are and how rational he sees his own motivations. Even as convoluted and reaching they may seem to me, they made sense to him and the moves they drive him to make are unsettling. I don’t want to say too much, but the ultimate show down is tense and keeps the reader on edge.

I also enjoy seeing Tracy revisit some of her history in this one as well as meet a new character in Lydia, who adds another layer of purpose to her life and plays a pivotal role in this story. Tracy and Dan’s relationship is solid as always, even as they face challenges and diverging opinions on how Tracy should handle things. I love how they always communicate and work to understand each other.

I hope there is more to come with Tracy in the future. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Another Detective Tracy Crosswhite tale, A Dead Draw (2025) by Robert Dugoni is on the hunt for a serial killer. Travelling back to her hometown of Cedar Grove, battling nightmares and needing time to recover, Tracey’s holiday is cut short when a legal loophole enables Erik Schmidt, a serial killer to go free. Once again, Tracey is given the task to find Eric and the hunt results in many a twist and building tension before the surprising climax. Somewhat of a prequel, given the delving back into Tracy’s past and the reasons for her police career, it’s nonetheless a good crime mystery with a four star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Thomas & Mercer and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

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I enjoyed the latest book in the Tracy Crosswhite series. This installment finds Tracy revisiting her past and the memories of her sister’s murder, including a return to Cedar Grove where she grew up. Erik Schmidt is released from prison despite evidence to show he killed two women. This legal technicality has caused Tracy sleepless nights, a disastrous attempt to complete a shooting course, and a need to remove herself from Seattle and refocus on her family and get her head back on straight. But Schmidt is out for revenge and has followed Tracy to Cedar Grove.

As part of the story, Tracy meets up with her old shooting instructor, Mason, and his granddaughter, Lydia. Lydia is likely on the autism spectrum and also a highly skilled shooter in her own right. She and Tracy quickly become friends as she teaches Tracy through video games how to improve her shooting skills. I really enjoyed their friendship and interactions, especially as Tracy helped her to navigate the real world.

The story builds to a showdown between Schmidt and Tracy and the author does a good job of anticipating the heightened tension that exists between the two. Since the majority of this story takes place in Cedar Grove, we are given more history of the town and of Tracy’s past, and less interactions with the side characters we’ve grown to love over the years, Kins, Faz, and Del.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review.

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This is book #11 in this series and even though I have not read his other books, I was able to read this one and understand it just fine. I felt it did start out slow but it picked up speed about mid-way through. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

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I’ve read all in the Crosswhite series and I have to say this is my least favorite. There is a very thin story line piggybacking off of the first book with her sisters killer. It just seems like Dugoni just threw this one together. Crosswhite seems completely unhinged and the fact that her peers and husband allow her to just chase after a mad man seems so silly to me. I will obviously keep reading the series as I love the characters, but her character alone can’t hold my interest for an entire book. I need the other A team.

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"Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see." (Arthur Schopenhauser)

We're back with the latest book in the Tracy Crosswhite Series. Surprisingly, we're at #11. I've enjoyed each and every one of them and anything with the name Robert Dugoni on the cover. It can still be read as a standalone. But A Dead Draw didn't quite belly up to the bar for me. Let's chat.

Detective Tracy Crosswhite carries the guilt of her sister Sarah's death like a second skin. It's been years since Tracy took out Edward House who was responsible. But Robert Dugoni introduces us to Erik Schmidt who had connections to House. Schmidt knows every little detail of Tracy's life.....every detail. Schmidt begins to press upon Tracy day and night.

In fact, Tracy is now off her game. Her latest shooting exercise qualification ended in an overreaction attempt. Tracy needs to fine-tune her skills immediately if not sooner. And Dugoni takes us through guns and games and guns again. Tracy fears that Schmidt will make an attempt on her family. So Tracy transports them to Cedar Grove where she and her husband Dan would feel more safe. But safety isn't in the cards.......

I don't think that I've ever rated a Dugoni book at 3 Stars. The writing is still stellar, but the theme behind it is getting long in the tooth. Dugoni leans on past situations (Tracy's sister's death) and stirs the pot continuously. Many authors tend to reach back in time and resurrect past actions for convenience. Dugoni should be light years ahead of it, and yet, here we are.

This fear and imbalance runs throughout the book. Tracy makes decisions that go against her once solid nature. The change is so noticeable. Yes, we can weaken favorite characters at some point, but the effect can be long lasting now. It's my hope that Dugoni will up the ante in the next or maybe shelf Tracy for a while. Either way, I'll still be tuned in. It's Dugoni.....

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Robert Dugoni for the opportunity.

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Robert Dugoni’s new book in the Tracy Crosswhite series, A Dead Draw, is absolutely spellbinding from beginning to end.

From the arrest of Eric Schmidt from the cold case files for the murders of Julia Hoch and Bridget Traugott and then his being released by a judge because of a technicality in the collection of evidence, all the way to the end of the book and Tracy’s final confrontation with Eric, which you’ll have to read the book to find out about, you’ll be engrossed in the story.

You’ll be alternately surprised, shocked, amazed, confused and enraged. This book takes the reader back to the past when Tracy was a young competitive sharpshooter and Edmond House killed her sister Sarah. Later on there’s Homicide Detective Tracy who ends up killing House.

Schmidt, a sharpshooter when he was younger, who met and admired House in prison, wants to avenge House’s death so he comes after Tracy. First he cuts the brakes of her Seattle Police Department partner Kins, causing an accident and multiple injuries to the man.

Tracy and her husband Dan decide to leave the city for awhile taking their toddler daughter Daniella and nanny Therese as well as dogs Rex and Sherlock to the town they grew up in, Cedar Grove, where they’d kept a vacation home that had belonged to Dan’s parents.

She starts taking refresher shooting lessons from her old teacher Mason Pettibone and his granddaughter Lydia.

Soon Tracy learns that Schmidt, disguised as a new resident of Cedar Grove, William Kenmore, is stalking her. Then she learns that the real William Kenmore and his wife and two daughters all died on the same day, June 12, 1865. She begins to do some research into who he really was and why Schmidt is using the name.

Eventually Schmidt kidnaps Lydia and challenges Tracy to a duel. If she doesn’t show up, he says he’ll kill Lydia.

Robert Dugoni has written one of his best novels and you’ll want to read it to find out what happens.

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I have read the entire Tracy Crosswhite series and this is one of the best books, in my opinion. If you’ve followed the entire series, I think we see a lot of character development in Tracy, but also in characters such as her husband, her nanny, and I like how this particular story really tied into Tracy’s past.

Tracy found herself in a really hard situation in this book and I found myself wondering at times if this would be the end for Tracy and if this is where the series ends. I won’t drop any spoilers, but this book is a must read!

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I had a lot of fun binge-reading the first nine Tracy Crosswhite books back in 2022, and I always look forward to another installment. With its focus on cold cases in most sequels, this detective series has quickly turned into one of my favorites... And while this element is less present in this newest sequel, A Dead Draw still has plenty to offer. This is a sequel that will hit very close to home indeed for our main character, and especially the second half is impossible to put down.

Part of the reason this series is working so well has a lot to do with the fact that it has a great cast of likeable characters that you will easily grow attached to. There is a lot of room for personal development as well as the individual cases Tracy and the rest of the team investigate, and this is why I would personally suggest reading the books in order. It will help avoid spoilers, and you won't miss out on character development and background this way. Our main character Tracy Crosswhite has had quite a journey during this series, and you might not understand her behavior in A Dead Draw if you aren't aware of everything that has happened in the previous books.

A Dead Draw does have quite a different feel than the previous sequels, as it doesn't really have that strong of a focus on the cold case/detective element. Tracy is actually on a break and not in official capacity in this book, so there is less focus on the official investigation than usual. Instead, it focuses a lot on Tracy's past, her time as a competitive shooter and a new threat that is hanging over her and her family. This shift in focus and the detailed descriptions of the shooting training did slow down the pace considerably in the first half, and I can see why some people are put off by this.

I personally wasn't as bothered by this shift in focus, as I liked learning a bit more about that part of Tracy's past and Lydia is such a great character. What did bother me was the fact that Tracy and Dan made quite a few questionable decisions; not only did I feel that they weren't in line with their usual behavior but they were often simply stupid. For example: why on earth didn't Tracy show Schmidt's mug shot to Dan to confirm he is in town?! Or let their nanny in on the possible dangers?! There were also some twists you could see from a mile away, although I can't deny that the ending itself was very satisfying indeed.

While different that the previous books, A Dead Draw still turned out to be a very engaging thriller despite the slow start. Especially the second half was highly suspenseful and there is no doubt that the story ended with a bang (literally!). The cast of characters makes this whole series worth the time, and I already can't wait what the author has in store for Tracy in the next book.

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In “A Dead Draw ” (Tracy Crosswhite) by Robert Dugoni we are brought back into the life of detective Ttracy Crosswhite. This time it is personnel when an old case comes for her friends and threatens her family.

Little does she know that this will be be biggest threat she has ever faced.

All the best characters are back plus some new ones. So enjoy!

I received an ARC of this book, but this is my honest review

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A Dead Draw is the eleventh book in the Tracy Crosswhite series. This can be a stand-alone read, but the series is good, you will want to read them all.

Det. Tracy Crosswhite is haunted by the death of her sister. While at a Shoot/No Shoot qualification, she fails when she has a hallucination. She takes her family back to Cedar Grove to reset and find herself again, a killer focused on revenge sets his sites on Tracy while putting everyone she cares about in danger. Tracy goes back to her roots and meets Lydia who may be able to help an old dog learn new tricks. Lydia is on the spectrum and uses video games to help Tracy with her shooting skills. Time is running out as the killer is getting closer and people are in danger.

I loved this book and the addition of Lydia. This was a wonderful addition to the storyline of Tracy as she deals with the ghosts of the past. It is a strong and interesting storyline, but it is also fast paced which makes the reader turn the pages until the surprising conclusion.

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A Dead Draw is the 11th in the Tracy Crosswhite series. It took a little longer to draw me in, but once it did, I was hooked.
A defining moment in Tracy’s life was when her sister was murdered. Many of the prior books have touched on this event. Once again, that murder figured into the plot and what’s happening in Tracy’s life. The book begins when Tracy has a psychotic event during a shooting competition. But rather than mention it to anyone, even her husband, she chooses to hide it and bluff her way.
Through a technicality, a killer is allowed to go free rather than stand trial for the murder of two women. Even though Tracy is on leave, she continues to search for a way to bring the man to justice. It’s not giving anything away to say the man plans to come after Tracy.
Dugoni does a good job providing enough background that the book can work as a stand-alone. He also works hard to explain the killer and what has made him into a psychopath. I felt like parts of the book were formulaic - a cat and mouse game between Tracy and the killer. Still, Dugoni does a good job of keeping the tension high. And his writing is very clear, making it easy to envision each scene. There was a new character introduced, Lydia, a woman on the spectrum and I wanted to see if she would play into the ending. I felt Dugoni did a wonderful job making her realistic and relatable. Make sure to read the Author’s Note.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

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Another great novel in the Tracy Crosswhite series! A Dead Draw continues the ongoing story with demons Tracy has fought in the past but is easily read as a standalone. She stumbles on a key challenge but this makes her more determined than ever to accelerate her skills. This brings her a surprising opportunity that leads to an astonishing ending. A great, quick read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.

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This was another great book written by Mr. Dugoni, so if you feel the beginning is slow, just don't give up! Even though this is the eleventh b ook in a series, it could easily be read as a stand-alone book. (I hadn't read any of the others, and I was able to follow along fine.)

Tracey is working on a case that she has a personal connection to. Eric Schmidt, the bad guy, is good at getting into Tracey's head, making it more difficult for her to do her job properly.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

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Title: A Dead Draw, Tracy Crosswhite #11
Author: Robert Dugoni
Series: Tracy Crosswhite Book 11
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
My Rating: 4.7 rounded up 5 Stars
Pages: 373

Seattle detective Tracy Crosswhite and her former partner Kinsington Rowe, are observing Erik Schmidt, from behind one-way glass as he is being questioned for the cold case deaths of Julia Hoch and Bridgette Traugott, Tracy has never met or spoke to Mr. Schmidt but he knows her. And tells her this case is past History. He is being arrogant and knows he is ‘getting to’ Tracy. He turns and asks- Surely you remember Edmund House? Of course she does -as he is the man who murdered her sister Sarah thirty years ago and also tried to kill her
Then than says “Ed hoped you would be a better lay than your sister>
Tracy sees red and immediately has her hands around his neck.
He definitely got to her and afterwards has flashbacks of her sister’s death. She has difficult time staying focus on her job. But on a routine firearms exercise where there are armed as well as unarmed targets and the shooter has to make the correct decision. Tracy makes a serious mistake.
She is advised to take off some time.

So she, her husband, Dan O’Leary, their four-year-old daughter Daniella and Therese, their nanny all head to Tracy’s hometown of Cedar Grove for a peaceful getaway as well as a mental health refocus. She soon discovers there was a legal glitch and Schmidt goes free. Tracy fears he will follow her.
While in Cedar Grove Tracy visits her mentors who, of course, are delighted to see her. Since her reason for ‘time off’ had to do with her shooting, she visits her shooting teacher from when she was a teen. Turns out she has a granddaughter who just might be able to help Tracy. - Via shooter video games. I don’t play video games so this was a big of a surprise - something I never thought about regarding an officers training – but makes sense as I am sure many villains train this way.

I had no doubt that Tracy would get past the block she experience in her last fire arms ‘shoot-no shoot’ exercise but a whole lot more happens while in Cedar Grove.

This story was a bit different from the other Tracy stories but it was great!
I enjoyed Dugoni’s ‘Acknowledgement and the inside scoop on his motivation and inspiration for this story.
To me his is a GREAT story teller. This is my ninth [author: Robert Dugoni|63650] novel, I have read most of the novels in the Tracy Crosswhite series and always enjoyed them.


Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this granted me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 27, 2025.

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A fitting and satisfying finale to a beloved series!

A Dead Draw is another compelling entry in the Tracy Crosswhite detective series—and, in my opinion, the perfect way to close out what has been an exceptional run. Robert Dugoni continues to deliver tightly crafted thrillers with new twists and emotional depth, and this installment is no exception.

While the overall writing is strong, I did feel that the story started a bit slowly. I would have loved more early background on the cold case involving the girls, or even on Schmidt himself, to help anchor the emotional stakes right away. It might have added a chilling layer if Schmidt had mimicked House more physically, really amping up the psychological tension for Tracy and those around her.

That said, Dugoni does a fantastic job tying up loose ends and giving Tracy a grounded, satisfying path forward. The inclusion of her cowboy action shooting was such a fun and unexpected touch—it brought a unique and memorable element full circle from previous books.

A Dead Draw offers a blend of heart, suspense, and closure that fans of the series will appreciate. I’ll miss Tracy Crosswhite, but I’m excited to see what Dugoni writes next!

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Thanks to Thomas and Mercer for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Tracy Crosswhite is reminded of her sister's murder when another murderer, Eric, with ties to him is let loose on a technicality. Tracy fails a shooting exercise and is given time off, so she and her family go to their cottage to spend some time. Once there she has to worry about whether Eric knows of her whereabouts.

DNF at 78%.

This book was soooooo boring for me. I read a book from this author's lawyer series and liked it so I figured I would give this detective series a try. I like detective novels and would love to get into a good new to me detective series. I am reading from some of the reviews that maybe this was a one off, but I don't know if I will be able to try another one. Granted I started at book 11, but nothing about this book was entertaining to me regarless of the whether I had read the other books in the series. There is endless content about shooting, which is the last thing I care about and it took up the first half of the book. By then I could not have cared less about what Eric was up to. I got to 78% and asked myself, why I was still bothering when I have so many other books to read and I finally called it.

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