There are uncanny similarities between Tracy Crosswhite's investigation in My Sister's Grave and her current one in A Dead Draw. Tracy's investigation into Erik Schmidt brings back unwanted memories of Edmund House, her sister's murderer. There are singular similarities between Schmidt and House that cause Tracy to come unglued. To get herself back into the right mentality, Tracy and Dan take the family back to Cedar Grove. There, Tracy decides she needs to refresh and enhance her shooting abilities if she's going to face Schmidt. She returns to train with her former shooting instructor, Mason Pettibone who pairs Tracy with his granddaughter, Lydia, whose speed and accuracy make her an ideal firearms instructor for Tracy. However, Schmidt has his own ideas on how he can avenge House. The tension and suspense builds and builds, ending with a dangerous, climactic encounter and a startling twist. There seems to be every indication that there will be more novels in this well-constructed police procedural series. Looking forward to reading more of Tracy's investigations as well as getting to better know her family and her police partners.

One of the best things about long-running series by talented writers is that they can explore different genres. Previous volumes were procedurals, whodunits and even creepy mysteries. At first, I thought that this would be a legal thriller, which is not my thing. I was still interested because I love these characters. Very soon it was clear that this was not limited to the courthouse, but that it was something darker and more personal for Tracy, leading to a final part that would make Gary Cooper proud. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just say that Tracy’s teammates are peripheral to this plot, and we get to see some characters that haven’t been around for some time. There is also a new cast member so fantastic, that it feels like I’ve known her forever. The plot is really, insanely suspenseful. I saw the final twist coming, but that didn’t take away its impact. Poignant, thrilling and insanely entertaining, this is what fiction is about. Five shining stars!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer.

One cold case, excellent. Two cold cases amazing. That’s great writing. We love Tracey C. And love R. Dugoni. Keep writing these amazing stories and more episodes of Tracey Crosswhite.

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer for providing the copy of A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni. This is book 11 in the Tracy Crosswhite series and it might be my favorite. I loved Tracy’s emotional resonance when she befriends the granddaughter of her former shooting teacher. I have always enjoyed reading about how Tracy changes throughout the series, and she really grew this time. I never thought I would be enthralled reading about shooting guns, but Dugoni made it so accessible I was glued to the pages. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful book with characters that feel alive, this is the book for you. 5 enthusiastic stars.

In A DEAD DRAW, written by Robert Dugoni, Tracy Crosswhite is a Seattle detective who works cold cases. While Tracy is interrogating Erik Schmidt, he laughs and baits her regarding the death of her sister at the hand of Edmund House. The image of Erik Schmidt enters Tracy’s mind during her shooting test causing her to fail. I am intrigued and read on.

I immediately care about Tracy Crosswhite and want her to prevail over her psychological issues. I appreciate having access to Schmidt’s history and the possible effect it has on him doing such evil things. The plot is well-structured and leads to a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to reading the next Tracy Crosswhite book. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of A DEAD DRAW.

Robert Dugoni does it again! A Dead Draw is another fantastic installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series—full of suspense, heart, and twists that keep you hooked. Tracy’s journey just keeps getting better, and I loved every page. If you’re a fan of the series, this one won’t disappoint!

I enjoyed the book and the suspense and thrill of it some scenes or chapters were exciting

I would have liked less of the gun story Tracey going to training as it got dragged to long into the book
I would have liked more details of characters
apart from that it was good
can not wait for next book

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

I enjoy this series and this was a great addition. I look forward to the next one!

I just finished reading A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni. It is now 1:00 am. I had to stay up and finish it. It seems like we haven't seen Tracy Crosswhite in a while. I love her character and her stories. She sure gets injured a lot but considering all the risks she takes it is not surprising. This was an excellent book. Very fast paced and the unexpected happen in this story. I enjoy her family and her love and protection she has for them. I will buy this book for my sister. She will enjoy it too. I like the way Robert Dugoni writes. He is one of my favorites. Keep the Tracy books coming and I will keep reading them.

Another fast paced thrilling book in the Det. Tracey Crosswhite series. Familiar characters with the introduction of new characters that are interesting & hopefully will appear in future books. The story line follows the usual formula of Tracey chasing the bad guy at considerable risk to herself and those she loves as ever however it is another thrilling page turner.

This book was a disappointment at best. The first of the book was exceeding slow and the second half picked up some, but not enough to salvage the rating. While the book can work somewhat as at stand alone novel, it will be helpful for any reader to read the prior novels in the series to get a better feel for the storyline.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

Not my favourite book of this series. I found this one slow going and a tad boring. Most of the action happens in the last 10-15%. I'm just not a fan of authors who milk one storyline over numerous books.

A killer seeks revenge on Tracy Crosswhite
Erik Schmidt is a suspect in two unsolved murders, but he also has ties to the man who murdered Tracy Crosswhite’s sister years ago and whom Tracy herself ultimately killed. Questioning Schmidt touches off memories so disturbing to Tracy that she takes a break from work and goes with her husband, daughter, and nanny to the family retreat but finds neither peace nor safety as danger follows them.
Exciting as it sounds, the plot was to me the weakest part of the book. It started slowly, seeming to focus too much on her past trauma. A Dead Draw is more of a people story than a thriller. It is very character-driven. Tracy and her family seem very genuine, and I liked the way the various law enforcement people were depicted as human and caring. There is also Lydia, a young woman who is on the autistic spectrum and reminds Tracy of her murdered sister. Tracy takes an interest in her, and Lydia responds.
Another aspect of the book that can be interesting to some readers but that detracts from an emphasis on the plot is the discussion and description of marksmanship as both a professional skill and a hobby of Tracy’s. It was fun to read how Lydia shows Tracy a way modern technology can help improve your shooting skills!
Actually, one of my favorite sections of the book is the Acknowledgments, where author Dugoni talks about what inspired this particular book, including local news, his family background, and the influence of friends who are gamers and recreational shooters.
Although you can enjoy this book without having read the previous ten books in the series, you will enjoy it much more if you have read the first, My Sister’s Grave, because the events in that book are very important to A Dead Draw.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

This book is a great addition to the Tracy Crosswhite series. It will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. It has a great cast of characters, I particularly like Lydia, along with a good plot. There is a twist at the end of the story that caught me by surprise. This book is part of a series and all of them are worth reading but it could be read as a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
Sent from my iPad

5 stars for the next book in the Tracy series. What a great level of suspense and unexpected ending. I love Robert Dugoni's books for exactly those reasons. You can't wait to turn the page, you can't wait to get back to the book if you had to stop reading....I already can't wait for the next one!
I feel like I need to go back to the book that dealt with the House and Tracy showdown, because I didn't remember a lot of the details and it was referenced so much in this book.

My Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

While this was another solid installment of the Tracy Crosswhite series, I don't feel as though it was as intense as the others have been. In fact, while there were subtle hints to the overlying threat of Schmidt hanging over her head, I feel like more attention was paid to the competitive shooting aspect of Tracy's life instead of her trying to alleviate the threat. Sure, she tries to justify it to Dan by saying that she wanted to brush up on her skills because she failed the shoot/no shoot testing required by her police department, but in reality she tells herself its because she has a gut feeling its all going to come down to a shoot out between herself and Schmidt. Sadly, I found these passages to drag down the pace of the novel, and as interesting as Lydia was, was playing first person shooter games really necessary? Sure, Lydia helps Tracy with her focus on getting through one level before worrying about the next, but I cannot fathom how clicking a mouse is meant to help her with her shooting.

In fact, more than once I questioned things that Tracy did (or did not do). For example, I understand her not wanting to worry her nanny any more than she had to, but because Teresa was often left alone for periods of time with Danielle, I felt it would have been prudent for Tracy to warn her of the threat so that Teresa would know to be on the lookout and maybe would have reconsidered some of her own actions.

There were also some things that happened towards the end of the novel (in the time leading up to the final chapters) that I found to be implausible at best, which was very disheartening considering one of the things I enjoy most about these novels is how close to reality they tend to be. However, I did enjoy the final showdown such as it was, feeling that it was a fitting end all things considered.

If there will be more books in this series, I look forward to reading them. If there are not, I am sure I will read more from this author (I am also looking forward to more books in his Keera Duggan series as that is another favorite of mine).

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Dead Draw is the newest Detective Tracy Crosswhite installment. I’ve been enjoying this series from the beginning but this one started out slow for me. Tracy is pulled into a case that is personal for her and she is losing sleep and possibly her career when she can’t pass a shooting test.
Personal cases make Tracy sloppy and she is much better on the cold cases she’s been assigned to.
However the book did get into its grove with some great action and finished strong.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Dugoni, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always excited to get my hands on a new Tracy Crosswhite novel, I eagerly accepted this ARC by Robert Dugoni. The story worked well and complemented the past novels in the series, as Dugoni works to keep his protagonist in the middle of the action without being too repetitive. The story of yet another cold case is thrust into the present, as Detective Crosswhite is forced to come to terms once again with the murder of her sister and the man who did the deed. Dugoni fills some more gaps while opening new storylines with this piece, all in an exciting and well-developed manner. I could not get enough of this novel or the series as a whole.

Detective Tracy Crosswhite has long been known to keep herself calm, especially in front of a suspect. Having worked for various units of the Seattle Police Department, she has seen her fair share of people who have the most heinous crimes associated with them. However, when she encounters Erik Schimidt, her rage boils over. Schmidt knows how to push her buttons and activates the one trigger she cannot keep under wraps, the murder of her sister all those years ago. The angst and pain come out, first in a physical altercation with Schmidt in an interrogation room and then on the shooting range, where things go off the tracks.

Her actions and the reckless work by a colleague see Erik Schmidt dodge a legal bullet. This sends Crosswhite and others away from SPD for a time, while Schmidt is free to roam the streets of Seattle. However, those who know Tracy Crosswhite can be sure she will not rest until justice is done. She's motivated to get answers and ensure those who commit crimes pay handsomely.

Returning to her hometown, Crosswhite seeks to calm herself down and try to stay safe from Erik Schmidt's grasp. Her family means more than anything to her and while Tracy Crosswhite tries to protect them, she realises that the animosity is only heightened. Schmidt is ready to ensure she suffers as he did and that Detective Crosswhite is soon a distant memory. What follows is an intense game of cat and mouse, with the prize unlike anything either party could imagine. Another Dugoni gem in a series that has me fully committed.

I have long enjoyed the work of Robert Dugoni and his various series. He gets to the heart of the matter and provides entertaining stories along the way. The ease with which the narrative flows kept me reading well into the evening, always wondering what awaits Tracy Crosswhite and those closest to her. As the story gained momentum, the characters came alive once more. Those familiar with the series know Crosswhite and her team, each of whom have their own backstory. Dugoni added just enough to keep the reader wondering what is to come in the next piece. Plot points worked well, particularly in this cat and mouse hunt, rather than a traditional police procedural. I was eager to delve deeper and see how things would resolve themselves, as well as where things might be headed next!

Kudos, Mr. Dugoni, for a story that really gets to the heart of the protagonist.

I love all of Robert Dugoni's books. Tracy Crosswhite has been one of my favorite series...this was good read.

If you like your thrillers with a side of snark, A Dead Draw is your new best friend. Robert Dugoni’s latest takes you on a fast-paced ride through twists, turns, and some seriously sharp dialogue. The plot is gripping, and the characters are as flawed as they are lovable—think “I can't believe they just did that” moments, followed by “Oh, wait, I can believe they just did that” moments.

It’s like the perfect mix of suspense and humor with a dash of "how is this even real?" But here’s the thing: it’s almost perfect. Sometimes the plot gets a little too tangled for its own good, but overall, it’s a wild ride you won’t want to stop.

Rating: 4/5 Stars – Because who doesn’t love a good page-turner that doesn’t take itself too seriously?