In New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni’s riveting series, Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite returns home to a brutal murder and her haunted past.The last time homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite was in Cedar Grove, it was to see her sister’s killer put behind bars. Now she’s returned for a respite and the chance to put her life back in order for herself, her attorney … herself, her attorney husband, Dan, and their new daughter. But tragic memories soon prove impossible to escape.
Dan is drawn into representing a local merchant whose business is jeopardized by the town’s revitalization. And Tracy is urged by the local PD to put her own skills to work on a new case: the brutal murder of a police officer’s wife and local reporter who was investigating a cold-case slaying of a young woman. As Tracy’s and Dan’s cases crisscross, Tracy’s trail becomes dangerous. It’s stirring up her own haunted past and a decades-old conspiracy in Cedar Grove that has erupted in murder. Getting to the truth is all that matters. But what’s Tracy willing to risk as a killer gets closer to her and threatens everyone she loves?
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Tracy Crosswhite and her husband Dan make the trip to their childhood home and are soon immersed into a tangled web of murder, betrayal, and conspiracies.
A series of brutal murder draws Tracy into investigating the cold case connections to a young woman’s death, along with that of Tracy’s sister, while Dan accepts a suspicious case against the city. When Tracy and Dan’s cases show a few too many coincidences, the danger ramps up.
As a killer draws close, Tracy fights not only her own parental instincts, but her husband’s disapproval. With more questions than answers, Tracy’s hunt leads to a surprise ending.
I love a good whodunit, and for the most part this story fit the bill. I did guess who the murderer was and would have liked to have felt a bit more tension throughout the book, but overall a good read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of A Cold Trail- 4 lovely kisses!
Always an entertaining page-turning read, another in the Tracy Crosswhite series from Robert Dugoni. I really love reading authors that have a series of books with most of the same characters. It gives the reader time to get to know the individuals. Grab a copy and enjoy! Cheers Lynda L. Lock (Isla Mujeres Mystery series).
Seattle Violent Crimes Detective Tracy Crosswhite is on maternity leave after the birth of her daughter. While in her home town of Cedar Grove she is asked, by the police chief, to assist in the murder investigation of a local female reporter. Does her death have anything to do with the murder of a teen from twenty years ago? While Tracy is investigating, her attorney husband Dan’s client is protesting the city’s attempts to force him out of business. The case becomes more prominent when it is discovered that the reporter was investigating the recent sale of the other main street businesses by city officials. An exciting and intricate mystery with a tough female detective. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
Family. Loss. Love. From the beginning, these issues have been the touchstones in Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite crime fiction thrillers.
In the seventh novel in the series, A COLD TRAIL, Dugoni’s protagonist—Seattle Homicide Detective Tracy Crosswhite—is married to her childhood friend, attorney Dan O’Leary. She is also the mother of an infant daughter. Needless to say, the complications in her life mirror those of every working mom.
Add to it a killer bent on stopping at nothing to hide a few heinous crimes and you’ve got a non-stop thriller.
Dugoni’s forte has always been his ability to show empathy to the victims of his novels. Additionally, he never fails in bringing realism to both the police procedures and the plots courtroom drama. A COLD TRAIL is no exception.
Where this novel excels is in the personal life of his lead character. The taint of loss never dissipates. But allowing Tracy to attempt, and succeed, at some semblance of a normal life makes you want to cheer for her all the more.
I had an opportunity to interview Robert Dugoni about A COLD TRAIL. You can find it on my Author Provocateur podcast:
Podbean: https://authorprovocateur.podbean.com/e/robert-dugoni-a-cold-trail/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/authorprovocateur/author-provocateur-interviews-robert-dugoni
A Cold Trail by Author Robert Dugoni is the seventh book in the Tracy Crosswhite series. Tracy is a smart and fearless detective. I have really enjoyed this series of books and how Tracy was able to find answers about the murder of her sister. She is now home on maternity leave but is asked to unofficially help in a cold case in Cedar Grove where she and Dan are staying while her house is being renovated to make room for baby Daniella. This causes some problems for Tracy and Dan, but she just can not resist looking into the murder of Kimberly and the possible link to the death of Heather from years past. She hopes this will answer the cloud of suspicion which hangs over Finlay and he will be able to go back to work with the Cedar Grove police department. After reading the complete book I could understand how Dan’s current case for one of the owners of the Market Street business district had suspicions of fraudulent motives as the city was purchasing and reselling the historical buildings which seemed to have been abandoned for current business. Even though the court case proved to be linked to a planned scheme, it did take away from the suspense of the overall plot of the book. It overshadowed Tracy’s strengths and abilities. Of course with a two-month-old baby, Tracy can not be in the middle of an action-packed thriller, but I did find this book lacking the pace of the previous books in this series. The rescue of Therese by Tracy was the most exciting scene in the book. It will be interesting to see what the next book will hold for Tracy and Dan.
Publication Date: February 4, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
4 stars
Detective Tracy Crosswhite and her attorney husband Dan have moved back to Cedar Grove temporarily while their home in the city is being remodeled. Tracy and Dan both grew up in Cedar Grove. They are now the proud parents of a two-month-old daughter whom they name Daniella. Tracy has two months to go on her maternity leave and hasn’t yet decided if she will go back to work at all.
Former sheriff and now acting sheriff Roy has a puzzle on his hands. Since he knows Tracy quite well he cajoles her into “assisting” on the case. Basically he wants her to look into three murders and solve them. The first was an eighteen-year old young woman named Heather, the second an attorney from the city (who was an alcoholic), and the third is the current sheriff’s wife in a house fire. But before the fire was set, she was hit on the head.
Dan is not happy about Tracy taking the case for what happened to Heather is too much like what happened to Tracy’s sister Sarah several years ago.
Meanwhile Dan also picks up an interesting case involving the city of Cedar Grove and his client; a man whose business is in trouble as a direct result of the city’s actions.
As time goes by, Dan and Tracy’s cases begin to dovetail. Some very interesting coincidences begin to crop up. Meanwhile, Sheriff Calloway and Tracy continue to interview people. Some are reluctant to answer their questions and some seem to be pretty forthcoming.
The exciting conclusion to the story reveals the killer. I was suspicious of this person since about fifty per cent of the book. But I had a very good time getting to the conclusion.
This book is written in Robert Dugoni’s usual well thought out style. The events in the story followed one another in a logical manner. I really liked the parts of the story that dealt with Tracy and Dan’s relationship. I liked getting to know them better and it seemed like they had such a mature relationship. I liked the good guys in the book. They were of a similar mindset and seemed to be the best people that they could be. This book has action, a little romance, tension and moves along at a very good pace. It may be my favorite Tracy Crosswhite story to date. Well done, Mr. Dugoni.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
Dugoni is a master at weaving a tale about love in a small town. It certainly is a compelling mystery, full of intrigue and suspense. Tracy Crosswhite fans will likely find this a good addition to the series.
Homicide Detective Tracy Crosswhite is back in the small town of Cedar Grove. This time she has her husband and infant daughter in tow. The last time she made sure to put her sister’s killer behind bars.
Her husband, an attorney, is representing a local businessman while Tracy is being a stay-at-home mom … for the moment. That lasts until the local law enforcement ask for her help on case.
The brutal murder of a police officer’s wife and local reporter who was investigating a cold-case slaying of a young woman has never been solved. Against her husband’s wishes…she gets involved … causing some at-home strain.
While investigating, Tracy finds evidence that her case and that of her husband are connected. Tracy’s trail becomes dangerous, stirring up her own haunted past and a decades-old conspiracy in Cedar Grove that has erupted in murder.
As with all books in this series, it is well-written, nicely paced, and swirling amid murder and lies and secrets. Characters are deftly written with several suspects to watch for. Although 7th in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone, and I highly recommend reading the books in order. They are filled with gems that should not be missed. The suspense starts at the very first page and holds steady until the conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
A Cold Trail: Tracy Crosswhite, Book 7, my ninth read from author Robert Dugoni. Outstanding police fiction. 10-hours 31-minute/355-pages. The Tracy Crosswhite universe has expanded over the course of nine books, ever-expanding & improving. I’m voluntarily reading & reviewing it because every book needs reviews. Narrator Emily Sutton-Smith has become the voice of Tracy Crosswhite and her outstanding narration adds to the book’s enjoyment, in this she’s saved her best for last, adding an outstanding Irish brogue. I look forward to reading more from this author who needs to get the next book written. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018).
Great series by one of my favorite authors!
The Tracy Crosswhite series has been a favorite of mine and this book did not disappoint. The story line following different characters with flashbacks was fantastic. Multiple mysteries over the years all tied together beautifully. I also enjoyed Dan having more presence in this book and of course Faz. The audio version was excellent like always!
Another fine installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series. Tracy and Dan temporarily move back to Cedar Grove as their house in Redman is being remodeled. The Chief enlists Tracy’s help in investigating a couple of murders, years apart, that seem connected. Although I almost had the ending I was quite there! With Dan representing a client of Cedar Grove’s long time businesses and Tracy investigating the murders, the couple have their hands full.
I sure didn’t put this one down very often. It’s the first book I’ve read in the Tracy Crosswhite series. It’s Book 7, and I was never lost. Oh, I could tell things had happened previously in Tracy’s life that weren’t explained in detail, but I don’t think there was one thing that made me feel I was in the dark in this book. I’m not sure how an author writes a continuing series; contains a whole new story in a book; gives you a sense of background and doesn’t go over and over trying to explain what happened before but…Dugoni did it here.
So my previous paragraph probably made it clear I enjoyed this book. I liked all of the characters. Tracy and her husband and their occasional taut relationship and I enjoyed the sense of motherhood weaving in and out. Dugoni built a great sense of tension and danger in his story. He made you worry about Tracy’s daughter Daniella, even about her friends and family. I immediately liked her old chief, Cal and their friends Faz & Vera, even their nanny, Therese. Good grief I’ve listed all of the main characters. I suppose that shows what distinct personalities Dugoni gave them.
As I mentioned, this is book 7 in the series. I’m not one to often go backward in a series but this seems as if it might be worth it. However, I noticed Bugoni has another series or two and I hope he’s writing Book 8 of this one as we speak.
Book 7 of the Tracy Crosswhite series touched me on a very deep level. The characters are more developed and the fact that they are human beings comes through strongly. As always, the non-stop action got me sucked in from the beginning. Each book in the series is better than the previous one!
Tracy Crosswhite is back in this riveting new book by Robert Dugoni! Now a mom and on maternity leave, Tracy and husband Dan have moved back to her hometown Cedar Grove. It isn’t easy for Tracy coming back to the town where her sister was murdered and her father committed suicide. But it was a great place to grow up and Tracy wants her baby daughter Daniella to know it. But Tracy’s a good detective, and unsolved cases seem to just follow her around. When her old boss asks her to take the case of a local journalist (whose husband just happens to be someone that Tracy grew up with), Tracy can’t resist. In strange twist, the journalists husband was also involved with a girl who was murdered 20 years ago. Is he a killer? Has he killed again?
Cedar Grove seems to be a town that is dying (or maybe already moribund) and yet someone is buying up properties in the old downtown in what appear to be forced sales. Tracy’s husband Dan is hired by one of the property owner to stop the seizure by the town of his property. Why anyone would want to own parts of a dying town is a mystery, but as Dan digs into his clients case there are indications that Dan’s property case and Tracy’s cold case may share some startling connections. Throw in a shocking courtroom revelation and a finale that I didn’t see coming at all, and A Cold Trail is literally a book that you won’t be able to put down. Clearly this is one of Robert Dugoni’s best efforts yet!
A Cold Trail by Robert Dugoni is a diabolical story of deceit, jealous, and small-town politics. I loved it.
Will Tracy figure out who what happened to her home town?
Tracy Crosswhite
Tracy is a new mother, but the homicide detective in her can’t rest. She wants to be with her daughter, but Tracy also wants the world to be a better place. Mother’s guilt is what Tracy is feeling with Daniella. Tracy’s husband, Dan, has his own troubles with the case that he is also working in their hometown of Cedar Grove.
She is also going stir crazy being cooped up in her home town. Well, until the acting/former Police Chief ask for her assistance in three unsolved deaths. Chief Roy knows something is off with each of the cases, but he isn’t sure if they are connected or how they could be. Yet, he thinks that Tracy could figure it out. Tracy agrees and starts talking to people in town about each of the victims. This act sets the story in motion.
The character of Tracy Crosswhite is so realistic. She is going through what most women go through after having a baby and deciding to go back to work. Tracy is also smart as a whip; she picks up on the smallest things. However, she doesn’t seem to judge people negatively, as some in her profession would do. The relationship she has with her husband is also true for many new parents, trying to insert parenthood into their already busy lives.
The Mystery
Tracy is investigating three murders spread apart over the years. The first in 1993, a teenage girl, the second a lawyer new to town in 2013, and most recently, the Police Chief Finlay’s wife, Kimberly. Are these murders connected?
Dan is investigating the city of Cedar Grove buying the current businesses in town and selling them cheap to new owners set on making a go of the previously dead village. He also seems to have found a conspiracy regarding some property outside of town. But is it a group of people or just one person?
OMG! What a convoluted mess. There are so many moving parts and twists throughout the story. And who would have expected the motive of the culprit? It was all such a well-played mysterious web of deceit and lies. Yes! I loved it.
Five Stars
I love the way that Mr. Dugoni mixes the investigation with courtroom drama. His books are always entertaining and keep me on the edge of my seat. A Cold Trail is no different, and therefore I am giving it a rating of five stars.
If you like a thrilling mystery with lots of twists and turns, then I highly recommend this one.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Cold Trail by Robert Dugoni.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book on your site.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
I have read all of the books in this series. The characters seem like old friends, and the reader is taken on the journey of their lives. The twists in this new book add to the complexities of the plot and the characters. Each book just gets better. I will be looking for the next one.
Dugoni doesn’t disappoint with the latest in the Tracy Crosswhite series. Well written prose and expressive dialogue move this story at a fast pace from the start. Dynamic characters, both old and new are the stars of the story.
I highly recommend this book to fans of the suspense genre.
Tracy and Dan return to hometown of Cedar Grove after the birth of their daughter while their home gets remodeled.
While in Cedar Grove, Tracy is approached with a case that she could perhaps look into for the city. A unsolved mystery that happened a long time ago.
This of course brings up tragic memories from what happened to Tracy’s sister, Sarah.
I love it when Tracy investigates a crime. It’s a great mystery and the author does a fabulous job weaving the story. Kept me guessing throughout the book.
I wasn’t sure who the killer was and it wasn’t till maybe 75-80% through the book that I was starting to guess who it may be but I wasn’t sure. It was such a thrilling ride!!
I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narrator did a great job narrating the book and portraying all of the characters.
Another fantastic book in the Tracy Crosswhite series! Tracy, her husband, Dan, and their daughter, Daniella, are back in her hometown of Cedar Grove. They are staying in the house Dan’s parents left to him, which he and Tracy are using as a vacation house. It comes in handy now while their main home is getting renovated. Tracy is still on maternity leave and up in the air about whether or not she will fully return to work as a detective.
Dan has taken on a civil case against the city of Cedar Grove and the town’s somewhat fraudulent purchasing of failing businesses. Soon, Tracy is asked to help assist with an old cold case and a recent murder. Both point the finger at a police officer, enough that he has been put on leave while a previous chief of police fills in. You wouldn’t think at first that these two cases would ever intersect, but it’s surprising just how many secrets the town of Cedar Grove holds.
Although at times a bit technical with the legal jargon, the story is generally easy to follow and quick to pull you right back into the lives of Tracy and her family. Tracy’s friend and associate, Faz, makes an opportune appearance in this book, and his character is as delightful as ever. You will not be disappointed!