Robert Dugoni has quietly sneaked up on me to become one of my absolute favorite authors of today. This most recent book has only strengthened how I feel. Good mysteries do not give too much away until truly necessitated by the events in this book and this book truly follows that recipe.
A woman is pulled out of the water in a crab trap by a young boy crabbing well outside the season. While some of the answers as to what happened come quickly, many do not. The investigation and the detective Tracy Crosswhite (who coincidentally has become a favorite fictional character of mine) seem to take us in first one direction, then another, and then yet another. Every time, just as you think you have figured it out, it all comes crashing down over your head. I didn't put the breadcrumbs the author had left for me to find until towards the very end of the book. True mastery. I highly recommend this book to all mystery fans out there.
[A copy of this book for the purposes of an honest review was made available to me by the publisher through Netgalley]

The trapped girl is a good title for this book as it’s exactly how I felt when reading it. I was trapped from page one and did not want to move. What a story and what a twist! The first chapter pushes you right in that water into that crab pot and then as it draws the victim out, it draws you in to the action even further.

This is the shockingly the forth in the series so slap my hands I now have 3 more to read. A nice treat for me. This doesn’t spoil your enjoyment of this book at all however. No sir.

A woman found in a crab pot who might not actually be dead? What?? This ovel messes wih your head in a good way and it was a thrilling read from start to finish. It’s quite complicated in places as you get as tangled as that poor woman in the mesh of the crab pots but never does it get overly so or confusing as a result.

The setting, the raw natural landscape and the mercy of the people to the elements was a neat touch and made for some really good characters I just got on board with immediately . The police team are a strong unit, characters are well fleshed out (sorry) and the storyline concerning facial reconstruction and suchlike is just fascinating.

Ever since I read My Sister's Grave I have loved these characters and this writer! I was so happy when I found out that Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley was allowing me to read this story for my honest review.

Tracy become involved in the murder of a woman who was found in a crab pot, which links to the apparent murder of a woman on Mt. Rainier. I loved the excerpts from the missing woman and we see who she was, while Tracy is trying to discover why she was killed. Lots of twists in this story and I can't wait to see what case Tracy and Kins get next!

3 1/2 Stars

This is the 4th installment of the Detective Crosswhite series. I received this copy from NetGalley and the publishers. I have also read the previous three books and would definitely recommend reading the previous books, but the author has written these novels in such a way that you can read them without reading the previous installments, but definitely recommend reading them in order, much more satisfying.

A woman's body is discovered inside a crab pot, submerged deep in the waters of Puget Sound. Once again, Detective Tracy Crosswhite finds herself with yet another difficult case to solve. The first order of business is to find out who this woman is. During the course of the investigation, they find that this woman went to a lot of trouble to hide who she really is. What or who is she running from?

As Tracy and her A Team of detectives begin to unravel this case, they discover that their Jane Doe is actually a woman who went missing weeks earlier from Mount Ranier. This woman was married and her husband had been the prime suspect in her disappearance and becomes the prime suspect again now that she has been found dead. Just as the case gets rolling, the team is told that the case is going back into the hands of the jurisdiction that handled the disappearance case. Tracy doesn't want to let go and she is willing to risk her entire career to solve this case.

As the case goes on, it dredges up memories of Tracy's sister and the twenty year search for justice in her case. This is another case that hits close to home. The young woman who disappeared had much in common with Tracy. She lost her entire family at a young age and Tracy feels that she owes it to this woman to find out the truth, no matter the cost.

Once again, Tracy is an admirable protagonist and I love her strength and her convictions. But I am getting a little bored with the whole "personal connection" to every case. It's starting to feel a little forced at this point, as is the strained relationship with her Captain. The guy is a creep and should have been shown the door after the last book. Her team is full of amazing people too and I'm glad to see them taking a larger role in this book. I especially love Faz and Del. We also get to see more of Tracy from a personal level and her relationship with Dan. It was nice to see her outside of the role as Detective and in the role of just an ordinary woman in love with a man.

If you have read any of the previous books in this series, I definitely recommend this one. I would not recommend this to someone who hasn't read the backstory, it just wouldn't give you the complete story and for that reason alone, I had to deduct half a star. It's always hard to review books in a series to someone who hasn't read the previous books. But this is a solid undertaking and I don't think we are done seeing Detective Tracy Crosswhite.

I have become a huge fan of Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series, devouring the other three books before this one. I was able to get an advanced copy of this one through NetGalley, and I devoured it in just the same manner.

One thing that I love about Dugoni is that he is able to make each novel just that little bit different enough from the last that they don't all feel like the same book, even though the characters are the same. In this one, Dugoni gives little snippets from the point of the view of the victim, either confirming or disproving piecing of evidence that the homicide team has found. This added a layer of intrigue, while also allowing the reader to get to know the victim on a more personal level. This technique hooked me.

As usual, the dialogue between Tracy and partner Kins is both character building and story telling, developing their relationship more and more throughout each novel while also filling the reader in on the thought processes of the detectives as they work on solving the crime. The same thing happens with detectives Faz and Del, with a little comedy thrown in the keep some light in what could otherwise quickly become a heavy murder story.

Dugoni also develops Tracy's personal life in this one, exploring the idea of Tracy and Dan having children and whether or not they want to move forward in their relationship or maintain the status quo. Having Dan there as a supportive character gives more insight into each case Tracy works, but it also serves to develop Tracy as a character.

The victim in this story, Andrea Strickland, turned out to be such a wonderful character. The glimpses into her life build her into someone who has struggled from the beginning, and yet she finds a way to survive. She keeps hoping that life will get better and she just keeps on going. And while there's a part of me that recognizes that people have no choice but to keep on keeping on, I still respect the fact that she did it.

The climax to this novel was, in typical Dugoni fashion, a last minute surprise to me. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Tracy gets that one last piece of evidence, makes that one last connection, and it totally blows the story open. There are few things that are greater than being continually surprised by a novel, and Dugoni does that extremely well.

If you aren't reading the Tracy Crosswhite series, you need to be. These books are all amazing, well-written suspense novels, with snarky and heartfelt characters built right in. Pick these up!

This book was a great addition to this series! I love the series, Tracy is one of my most favorite badass female characters! The story had more twists and turns than any rollercoaster, and all the ups and downs and thrills of one too! I highly recommend reading the series in order and highly recommend that you read them all! Really great series.

A body pulled up in a fishing trap turns out to be a much deeper—no pun—mystery than anyone thought, especially the detectives.
The main character—not counting the investigators—goes from supposed victim to possible serial killer and back, and everywhere in between. From being conned into marriage—though I never understood her husband’s motive for that—to becoming a new woman in more than a changing-identities-kinda way, her story was well done and the best part of the novel.
I love reading mysteries set in places I’m familiar with, and Seattle has always been a favorite, squeeing about spots I’ve been. In this book there’s a prominent scene up in the Alki Point lighthouse, which I’ve been to but never for an occasion like this. Now I feel like an intruder.
So this turned out to be one of the best mystery novels I read this year, keeping me guessing throughout. The killer was well thought out, and I loved detective Tracy, which is the most important thing.

He sneaks down to the waterfront quietly. He's poaching crabs and doesn't want to get caught. When he brings up the pot from his honey spot, he realizes the one he has isn't his. When he sees the hand in it, he knows he definitely doesn't want it...

Thomas & Mercer and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 24th.

When Tracy shows up, she notices blue fingernail polish on the hand and suspicions it's a woman. The interesting part is that when they try to prove who she is the trail quickly goes south. She's had medical work to change her face. That gives them a lead because the implants they used are numbered. They find her doctor and confirm her name. The only problem is that when the name goes public, they find out she's already dead and has been for some time. She disappeared on Mt. Rainier and the rangers there said she was most likely in a crevice and wouldn't be recovered. But did she really die there? If not, why would she be in a crab cage now?

This is a complex mystery with lots of investigation and lots of danger, too. The killer is willing to do anything he has to get the trust fund of the supposedly dead woman. When the police find out about the trust find, they also find it was moved the day after the crab pot discovery. A dead woman can't transfer money. Who's dead, who's alive and who is telling the truth?

There was an interesting twist in the story. It was easy for me to believe her husband was the killer because he wanted to use her trust fund money. But it was someone totally unknown and unrelated. Someone very dangerous who intended to leave no witnesses.

It's a story that caught my interest because it happened in the Seattle area (I grew up in Western Washington) and the body was in a crab pot. I wasn't sure if the woman was alive or dead. But even if she was alive, the killer didn't intend to leave her that way.

You won't be bored. I read this book in one day. I'll also be watching for more in this series. It's a good one.

Thank you Net Galley. I enjoyed this book very much. A well written book that combines a nail biting police procedural with well fleshed out characters and complex interpersonal relationships. Highly recommended.

Tracy Crosswhite is the lead investigator in a case where a woman's body is pulled up in a crab pot by an unsuspecting teen out trying to make a little money crabbing. Tracy and her team fight for jurisdiction and against the higher-ups to bring justice to the woman. Through many twists and turns, each clue gets her closer to the truth...and things aren't quite as they seem.

This entire series is fantastic. Robert Dugoni does a fabulous job with writing for a female lead character. Tracy is a strong lead character without the typical brashness and foul language portrayed in many police procedural/investigative novels. Actually, the character development for all of Tracy's homicide team (Del, Faz and Kins) is superb. I highly recommend this series.

I received this book through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley.com, to Thomas and Mercer, and to Robert Dugoni for this opportunity.

This is the fourth in the Tracy Crosswhite series. I have read all other novels in the series and The Trapped Girl is my favorite. It always amazes me that some writers get better and better while others coast along or slowly diminish in their ability to tell an entertaining story. I loved the style used in the early part of the book, between the history of Andrea Strickland and the current day crime scene/s, merging together until it is all current and progresses forward. We also get to see a softer, more femine side of Tracy. Another thing I really like in all of Mr. Dugoni's book is how he shares the forensics. I'm sure I must have been a CSI in another life cause I just can't get enough of it.
I'm a huge fan of this series and wait impatiently to see what the next one will bring.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley and of course, Mr. Dugoni for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have read all the books in this series and really enjoyed them all. Tracy Crosswhite is a character that I like and I enjoy reading about the cases she solves and her relationship with Dan. All the characters in these books are believable. The twists and turns in the plot in this book are brilliant and well written. The identity of the girl in the Lobster Pot and who killed her makes for a page turning read full of surprises.

Another 5 star novel by Robert Dugoni who is becoming one of my favorite authors. I want to thank Netgalley without you I might not have discovered this author. I would highly recommend this book to fans of the legal thrillers genre. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

I have just recently found Robert Dugoni's Tracy Whitecross series. The Trapped Girl is an great addition to the series which is shaping up to be on par with CJ Box's Joe Pickett series.

A teenager finds a body in his illegally placed crabbing pot in Puget Sound. Identification of the women's body lead Whitecross and her Seattle homicide squad on search for the true identify of the woman. This is a well crafted, tightly woven plot. One of the best things about the book is the clues are all there for you to solve the crime with Whitecross.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to review this book.

This book was excellent. I started reading it late in the day and could not stop until I finished it. I highly recommend this book

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC, The Trapped Girl by Robert Dugoni. This was my first Robert Dugoni detective and mystery thriller and oh what a wild ride. I could not put down this 4th book in the Tracey Crosswhite series, loved the plot with all its twists & turns and the characters of Tracy and her team were authentic, hardworking, honest detectives while Dan (her sweet boyfriend) and Andrea Strickland (shy, quiet victim) were normal everyday people. But I especially enjoyed the nasty characters as well- especially Andrea’s weasel husband and suspect, Graham. Dugoni’s story was a taut, suspenseful mystery with so many angles and seemingly very complicated. A woman’s body is found in a crab net on Puget Sound and as Detective Tracy Crosswhite investigates, it becomes very apparent, the victim was not going to be easily identified. The back story about Tracy’s sister’s unsolved murder was a tense added plot element. As a result of this psychological thriller, I will definitely be reading many more Robert Dugoni novels. Highly recommended!

I have listened to several of Mr. Dugoni’s books in my car and sometimes find that one format is better than another depending on the story, but both of his written and audio books are compelling and suspenseful. I’ve read several of his David Sloan books and My Sister’s Grave, which is about Tracy Crosswhite’s missing sister. Tracy had so many losses in that book that I was surprised she was able to move on.

With Tracy a homicide detective with the Seattle PD Violent Crimes section, we meet several of her co-workers who are entertaining and each has their own area of expertise. I loved the interactions between the detectives with their teasing banter to offset the grisly details of their work.

Someone said that Tracy takes her cases too personally because of the way she lost her sister. Since she works homicide and the majority seem to be women killed by men, there is definitely a basis for that comment.

With a female body found in a crab pot, the story starts out just as suspenseful as Mr. Dugoni’s other books and I love to try to figure out where a story will go next. I figured out a few clues but others were a complete surprise as details were expertly interwoven throughout the story. It was intriguing to read as Tracy worked on one piece of information, which lead to another and then there would be an unexpected twist which lead the investigation in another direction. There were questions on whether Andrea Strickland had been killed by her husband on Mt. Ranier, was it her body found in the pot, who was missing, did this person or that one commit murder, etc.? The questions kept me turning the pages to see what would come next.
The story alternated between the past and present and I had no difficulty moving from one time to another.

I was happy that Tracy reconnected with her childhood friend, Dan, especially since she no longer had any family. I love epilogues and this one was especially poignant.

I really enjoy Mr. Dugoni’s writing style, which makes it difficult to put the book down or turn off the MP3 in the car. The dialogue and character development are excellent. In this story, I could feel the despair, fear, and frustration of the various characters and I look forward to reading more of his work.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Robert Dugoni, and Thomas and Mercer for providing the ARC.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review. Thank you NetGally!

The Trapped Girl opens with a naked female body being found off the Seattle shoreline stuffed into a crab pot. Detective Tracy Crosswhite and her team work an investigation that seems to lead to more questions than answers among some interesting jurisdictional issues as the investigation proceeds.

I found the degree that delved into Tracy's personal past was sufficient to note the events and explain her drive to a resolution without unnecessary drama to sideline the main storyline. The author's writing that stayed within the bounds of believability makes this story work all around.

This is my first Robert Dugoni book and I look forward to reading his others. There's nothing better than intelligent, realistic writing full of unexpected twists and turns to keep you turning the pages.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30226698-the-trapped-girl