I absolutely adore this series and always dive right in when I get my grubby hands on the newest installment. This one, admittedly, was not my favorite in the series. It started off pretty slow and included a lot of “educational” components that i found dry and dull. I adore Tracey and have always found her to be a complete bada**. However, I think she went off the rails a bit in this one and I found myself questioning some of her decisions. I anxiously await the next installment in the series!

I am a HUGE fan of this series and the characters in general, so I was incredibly excited to receive an ARC via netgalley.
That being said, this book lacked the usual twists and depth that I've come to know from this author. It felt very slow in the beginning and even when action/twists began, it felt more like a healing character study than a thriller at its core. I did still very much enjoy reading about the beloved characters I've grown so fond of, and I will absolutely continue reading the series as more books are released.

I have been a fan of the Tracy Crosswhite series by Robert Dugoni since I took a chance on Audible and listened to Book #1 (his Mike Bowditch series is awesome as well!) I've listened to or read every one of them since. I LOVE Tracy's character, the cops that work with her, and her family.
As with most of the books in this series, the writing and characters held my interest, but this book seemed to dive a bit deeper into Tracy's character focusing on her emotional trauma and how it effects her career and persona life. It didn't disappoint. Although, as I've said in the past, I almost prefer listening to this series versus reading it. The narration is superior on Audible.

In this new Tracy Crosswhite thriller by Robert Dugoni, the 11th in the series, a detective haunted by her sister's murder faces a devious killer with a shocking connection to her past. When the suspect is released, Tracy must protect the rest of her family in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Although upsetting, the vivid and disturbing nightmare sequences accurately portray the pervasive unease and inner torment that Tracy experiences - even in sleep. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I was so very pleased when I found out that there is some CAS going on in this book. A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni is the eleventh Tracy Crosswhite story and although I found it slow to read in parts it is still a very well written book and a joy to read. The characters in this series are much to my liking and Dugoni sure lknows how to tell a story. I do recommend this series and if you haven't tried any of his other work I think you should. I must thank Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for supplying me with this advance copy.

A detective can never be certain that someone he/she tracks down and arrests will not seek revenge. This is the umbrella that Tracy Crosswhite lives under every day. She had been relentless in hunting for her sister’s killer and making sure that he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Erick Schmidt had killed her sister as well as a number of young women. The killings were cruel and messy. Meanwhile, he languished in jail as appeal after appeal was filed on his behalf. The process is exacerbated by a judge who feels that every convict is harassed by the officers who hope to get them off the streets and put away.

Tracy’s twin sister had been one of Erik’s playthings. He hoped to put Tracy in a similar grave but was caught instead. This story exemplifies the problems faced by the police and the judicial system and the horrors that result. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Robert Dugoni continues to solidify his place as a master of suspense with "Deadly Draw." This series is addictive and the addition of Lightning Strike (Tracy"s co-protaganist gunslinger name) Dugoni has brought new life to an already exciting series. I adored this uniquely interesting character.

This latest installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series is a thrilling ride, expertly weaving together a complex murder investigation with poignant character moments.

Dugoni masterfully injects a fresh perspective into the familiar procedural formula.

While the series has a loyal following, of which I am a proud member, "Deadly Draw" stands out as a particularly strong entry.

Dugoni's writing is sharp and engaging, and the pacing is perfect, building tension steadily until it explodes in a thrilling climax.

"Deadly Draw" is a must-read for fans of the series and a compelling introduction for newcomers. Dugoni proves once again that he is a master storyteller who delivers thrilling suspense and nuanced character development.

3.5 rounded up. I so enjoy this series! As with every Tracy Crosswhite book, once I hit 65-70%, I cannot put it down. This one is a little more character driven and a little more far fetched, but it works within the world that Dugoni has built for these characters. It’s heavy on descriptions of shooting (for competitions and police force exams) which wasn’t my favorite, but heavy on Cedar Grove lore which I really enjoyed. Overall, another great book in the series and now I start the wait for book 12 to see where it takes Tracy and company.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.

The Tracy Crosswhite, Seattle’s PD Cold Cases Detective series is one of the best! I thoroughly enjoyed the latest book which has plenty of action and suspense to keep you glued to the pages! While it is helpful to read the books in order, the characters are well developed so it is not a hindrance if this one is your first. You will most likely want to go back and read earlier books to see how it flows through the storyline. This one is definitely a 5 star!

3.5 Stars

Forced into a twisted game of cat and mouse, Tracy must draw on all her training, wits, and strength to defeat a master criminal before he takes away everyone Tracy loves.

Mr. Dugoni is one of my favorite authors and I've read and enjoyed every book in the series going clear back to 2014. I still find each book to be compelling!

My very favorite parts were ALL of the parts with Lydia in them. Lydia is a young woman who has autism and she was presented in a respectful manner that felt spot-on to me. I hope this series never ends. I especially hope that Lydia will appear in some of the future books. I also loved Tracy's dogs, of course!

My least favorite parts were when Tracy and/or Dan made decisions that seemed senseless. (I found myself saying "WHAT??? Absolutely zero good can come of THAT decision!!"🤪) Also, A Dead Draw had more things to keep track of than previous books. But still ... I love this series and reading this book was like connecting with old friends.

I laughed when I read the author's notes and saw Mr. Dugoni had thanked his wife for correcting his grammar in A Dead Draw. (Ha! That sounds like my life!)

Big thanks to #ThomasAndMercer for providing this book for review consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This book is #11 in the Tracy Crosswhite series, with an expected publication date of May 27, 2025.

Robert Dugoni delivers yet another compelling read with "A Dead Draw." This novel follows Detective Tracy Crosswhite, affectionately known as Crossdraw, as she pursues the recently released suspect, Erik Schmidt. However, the question looms: is she the one hunting him, or is he stalking her? As Tracy returns to her hometown, she confronts a mix of cherished and painful memories. The narrative culminates in an exhilarating conclusion. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni
(Tracy Crosswhite #11)

The murder of Tracy's sister has always haunted her and has played small and large parts throughout each book of the series, whether it's a just a mention or more. Now Tracy's nightmares are rampant and her flashbacks are interfering with her life. It doesn't help that she's kept her increasing trauma based anxiety to herself but it all comes out into the open when she has an episode in the middle of a shooting exercise at work. Tracy needs time off, she needs to get help, and she needs to deal with the issues in a way that can allow her not to snap in public or at home.

When Tracy goes back to the basics, it is with a twist. Her old shooting teacher of her teen years now has a granddaughter that is better able to train Tracy to concentrate and focus. Enter lots of first person shooter video games. I'm a lousy first person shooter but I still play them on occasion even though they aren't my favorite, so I enjoyed this inclusion in the story. Plus more time on the actual shooting range with her old teacher hopefully will help Tracy get past the hurdles she's been experiencing.

Tracy has reason to be worried because a prison mate of the man who killed her sister seems to have Tracy in his gunsight. Now this guy is out of prison and if he can't get Tracy first, he'll go after anyone dear to her. I do have to yell, "NO NO NO" every time Tracy's bullheadedness has her thinking she is the only one to fix a problem, not allowing herself to get the backup she needs. This is another action filled story but it's also filled with family and the best of friends. My husband is following in my footsteps with this series and he's just starting book ten so this series is a big hit in our family.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoyed catching up with Tracy, the heroine of this series. I believe this is book 11 and seeing her growth as a person. It is possible to read this as a standalone. It wasn't my favorite of the series, at times, it felt like it had too many details about things that weren't necessary to move the story along, ie and that made it less interesting for me. Lots of action in the second half. A likeable new character in Lydia, on the spectrum and presented in a loving manner.

2.5 stars

Haunted by her sister’s death and the man who killed her, Detective Tracy fails her routine shooting test and is placed on leave.

The man who killed Tracy’s sister is dead, shot by Tracy herself, but someone is out to avenge his death. Someone who has murdered before but is set free on a technicality. He not so subtly threatens Tracy.

Tracy and her husband, decide to take their 3 year old daughter and go to their mountain home in Cedar Grove, where Tracy grew up.

As she settles into life in Cedar Grove, she befriends Lydia, a young woman who is on the autistic spectrum, and with Lydia’s help, she hones her skills. Skills she will soon need when events escalate and Tracy must fight for her life, and the lives of her loved ones.

So why 2.5 stars? The story was slow to take off, with the action not starting until 50-60%. Also, much of the story involves competitive shooting, which I found boring so I skimmed much of those sections. I also had to fight my irritation at some of the poor decisions made by Tracy and her husband.

These things were deal breakers for me, but diehard fans of the series may feel differently.

The author explains in his note that he and his dad were big fans of spaghetti westerns and I believe he was successful in his attempt to recreate some of those scenes.

This was a buddy read, and for Marialyce and I, it was all a bit too much. This was my 3rd book by this author. Although it’s #11 in the series, it works as a standalone.

Tracy Crosswhite, is a tough, hard as nails detective, but when a failure at a qualifying shooting challenge for her job, she imagines she sees the man who murdered her sister. This hallucination and others haunts her and sets her down a path she may never escape from.

She is told to take some time off and so she and her family head to their old home, Cedar Grove, in the mountains where Tracy reconnects with the man who taught her to shoot. There she meets Lydia, an autistic young woman who tutors Tracy in the art of computer games where split second decisions make or break a game's win or lose. Tracy learns, while helping Lydia, the means to be a fast decision maker something that might aid her upcoming battle with her nemesis, Erik Schmidt, who has an unnerving connection to the man who killed her sister.

Even though Erik Schmidt is suspected of killing two woman through a point of legality, he is set free, and Tracy is in his line of fire and Erik is out to get his man (or in this case his woman).

Will Tracy be able to save herself and her family from this evil man who is an expert in shooting and guns?

For me the start of the story was slow with its endless writing of gun, ammunition, and the like.. so the reason for only three stars.

A Dead Draw is a tense story that dives deeper into Detective Tracy Crosswhite's past. It starts when Tracy uncharacteristcally loses her temper in an interrogation of Eric Schmidt. Then, after a rare misstep in her shooting qualification test, Schmidt is set free on a legal technicality. Fearing that Schmidt will come after her Tracy takes her family back home to Cedar Grove to regroup. But when it becomes clear that nowhere is safe she turns to her old shooting competition instructor to help her get her training back into focus. I love the Tracy Crosswhite series because the character continues to grow as the series progresses. The cases are complex and intriguing and it was nice to see Tracy try to get closure about her sister's case from book 1. I look forward to book 12. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a strong eleventh entry in the Tracy Crosswhite series, Robert Dugoni was able to keep this fresh and worked with what was happening in the story. I thought the characters were everything that I wanted and were written in a way that worked together. It was everything that I wanted and was glad I read this.

Review of A Deadly Draw by Robert Dugoni

Robert Dugoni’s A Deadly Draw (Thomas & Mercer) is an intense and emotional mystery that gradually pulled me in. As someone new to the Tracy Crosswhite series, I found the beginning a bit slow. There’s a lot of backstory and character history, so it took me some time to adjust. But once the story gained momentum, I found myself fully invested.

Tracy, struggling with PTSD, faces a terrifying challenge when a dangerous killer is released from prison due to a procedural oversight by the police department. As the killer begins targeting Tracy, the stakes become deeply personal, and the tension steadily builds throughout. Dugoni does an excellent job of keeping you on edge as the story progresses.

What stood out to me, though, was Lydia, a character with autism. It’s rare to see a disability represented so thoughtfully and positively in fiction. Lydia’s role brings real depth and heart to the narrative, making it much more than just a typical mystery.

Despite the slow start for a newcomer, A Deadly Draw ultimately became a rewarding read. It’s suspenseful, emotionally rich, and filled with compelling characters. Fans of the series will appreciate this installment, and even if you’re new, it’s worth sticking with. Thank you to NetGalley for providing this copy in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This book is the 11th in a series (which I haven’t read previously), and it was both well-written and captivating. It left me wanting to dive into the earlier books. The story is fast-paced with plenty of twists, and I particularly enjoyed the character development. While much of the plot revolves around competitive shooting, I found myself skimming through some of the more detailed sections, as it felt a bit much at times. Overall, it was an engaging read!

A Dead Draw is a fast paced, pulse pounding, hold your breath and cross your fingers and hope for the best for Tracy.

This series is one of my all time favourites.

Tracy is dealing with her own personal trauma that include ghosts from her past.

When Erik Schmidt , a known killer , is released from prison on a technicality it becomes imperative that Tracy, Dan and their daughter return to their hometown of Cedar Grove.

Schmidt isnt far behind her.

Robert Dugoni shows the reader the vulnerable side of Tracy: her strengths and weaknesses.

The tension mounts with every page as Tracy lays her life on the line . She always does but this time its beyond the call of duty.

The rest of the journey I will leave to the reader but be warned its impossible to put this book down.

Its hard to believe this is Book 11 ( every book somehow gets better and better) and I cant wait to see what happens next in Tracy and Dan's life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the privilege of reading and reviewing A Dead Draw.