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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Excellent, as always!
Tracy as mother, what a concept and so well done! Going home with all the mixed emotions and the deaths. So true to the characters we love and such a great handling of this change in her life!
It’s so good to have Tracy Crosswhite active again in another well-plotted, surprise-you-to-the-very-end police procedural by Robert Dugoni!!
Tracy has returned home to Cedar Grove, Washington with her husband, lawyer Dan O’Leary and their two month old daughter, Danielle. Coming home is difficult for Tracy given that her younger sister, Sarah, disappeared when she was 18 while Tracy was away at college. The only other time she’s been back was to convict her sister’s murderer. Now, they are staying in Dan’s family house where he was raised, but only until their home is remodeled and they can return to Seattle.
Tracy is a detective for Seattle PD’s Violent Crimes Section, on maternity leave and enjoying her time with Daniella but also missing her work. Her father’s best friend Rob Calloway, chief of police in Cedar Grove for over 30 years, retired, and now called back to act in an interim capacity, asks her to help him with a case. Tracy, conflicted between her personal history, new motherhood, and desire for justice, agrees.
Little did she know that the fresh look at past events will stir others to action as well. Someone doesn’t want the past disturbed, and isn’t about killing to keep it so. Can Rob and Tracy find out what the truth is, and who is behind the latest deaths before one of them is killed as well?
Dugoni is in his element with this fast-paced, taut, suspense. And as a fan of Tracy Crosswhite, I loved the opportunity to see her in action again, learning more layers of the characters living in Cedar Grove.
This book gets a 4-star review from me! My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I received a free electronic ARC of this modern mystery/police procedural from Netgalley, Robert Dugoni, and Thomas & Mercer publishers. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I have family in this corner of the U.S., and love to visit in spring when the air is butter yellow with pollen and the poppies pop alongside the road. This book made me need a road trip…
Cedar Grove is a small town in Washington state, a town slowly dying after the mines closed years ago. Our protagonist/storyteller, Tracy Crosswhite, her lawyer/husband Dan O’Leary, and their 2-month-old baby Daniella are spending the last two months of Tracy’s maternity leave in their hometown of Cedar Grove in the small house Dan grew up in. Remodeling is being done on their home in Redmond, Washington, the city where they currently live and work. Along with this small family is Therese, a young Irish nanny, and this crew intends this detour back home will help Tracy decide whether or not to return to work as a homicide cop with the Redmond cop shop, or become a stay-at-home mom; whether Therese and Daniella make a good pairing; and if the remodeling going on on Main Street Cedar Grove is a good thing, or not. Only a couple of the few shops open for business is being run by the family who founded the business three generations ago – all others seem to be new owners investing a lot in rebuilding business in a town that is dying. What would entice a merchant into investing in a shop and a town where others have failed so obviously? And will Tracey be able to put behind her the deaths of her sister and father years ago and enjoy life in Cedar Grove again?
A COLD TRAIL….Robert Dugoni
Tracy is a homicide detective, with her husband and a new baby they come to Cedar Grove. Soon she has a case involving the murder of a local journalist.. This goes from the past to the present. Things turn risky for all the people that Tracie loves in trying to solve the case. His books are always good.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer
I discovered Robert Dugoni on a book review blog. Went back and started at the beginning of the Tracy Crosswhite series and have waited on this latest book.
Another, fast-paced, suspense story, with more of Dan front and center. Life and priorities are changing with the addition of a baby. This book takes place in their hometown. Murders, old and new, threats, court appearances, fraud, confrontations and memories create a great read…
I love this series! Tracy Crosswhite feels like a neighbor someone I know because I have watched her evolve in this series. I think Robert Dugoni hit this one out of the park. We have the awesome procedural, mystery, suspense, thriller wrapped in family, marriage and emotions running the gambit. The blurb tells you about the book, but the writing makes you feel. Thank you Robert Dugoni, Thomas and Mercy, NetGalley for the opportunity to read book 7 in the Tracy Crosswhite series. I freely volunteer to share my thoughts an opinions, unasked for 🙂
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “A Cold Trail” by Robert Dugoni, Thomas & Mercer, February 4, 2020
Robert Dugoni, author of “A Cold Trail” has written an intense, suspenseful, captivating and intriguing novel. The Genres for this novel are Mystery and Suspense, and Fiction. There are more books by Robert Dugoni in this series, but “A Cold Trail” can be read as a stand-alone. The story is written in the author’s present and goes to the past to discuss events and characters. The author describes his characters as complex and complicated.
Tracy Crosswhite is a is a homicide detective, and has come back to her home town in Cedar Grove with her husband Dan, an attorney, and their 2-month baby daughter. Tracy has traumatic memories of the town but is persuaded by the local police to help investigate some murders. Dan is involved with a business owner, and certain complicated business laws. Cedar Grove is a town that is seeing some modernization and hopefully regrowth. Neither realizes the secrets and dangers that they are facing. There are twists and turns, threats and murders. Who is behind this, and responsible? Will Tracy and her family be safe?
As Tracy is investigating, a murder case from many years ago comes up again. Many of the characters of Cedar Grove could be new suspects. This is a riveting and compelling suspenseful story that I would highly recommend for the reader who enjoys mysteries.
Suspenseful, enthralling, and meticulous!
In this latest novel by Dugoni, A Cold Trail, we head back to Tracy and Dan’s hometown of Cedar Grove, Washington where Dan is immersed in a legal battle against the Mayor who seems to be expropriating old businesses, and Tracy, who’s technically on maternity leave, is swept up in an investigation into the murder of the police chief’s wife and the 1993 cold case of a slain teen that may or may not be connected.
The prose is bold and crisp. The characters are focused, diligent, and authentic. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel quickly into a gripping tale of life, loss, family, friendship, deception, manipulation, corruption, greed, jealousy, brutality, and murder.
Overall, A Cold Trail is a compelling, complex, thrilling mystery with good characterization, great pace, and a nice sense of urgency that’s a wonderful addition to the Tracy Crosswhite series and shouldn’t be missed.
Having a new Robert Dugoni book to read is like opening and savouring your favourite Christmas present or bottle of wine.
A Cold Trail is a Tracy Crosswhite book which makes it even better.
Tracy has had her baby and is doing the local police department a favour to look into looking into a a couple of old murders and a current one . She is also struggling like all new moms with juggling work and home.
The pages turn quickly as you try and follow the trail to who is guilty and how deep are the secrets buried.
Dan in the meantime has his own challenges . Can they be related to Tracy’s case?
If you have not read anything by Robert Dugoni, you should add his books to your read pile !!
THanks to Net Galley and the Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to spend some time in Tracy’s world.
Even a New Daughter and Maternity Leave Can’t Keep Tracy From Tracking Down a Killer
The novel opens in 1993 with a lightly-dressed young woman walking back to Cedar Grove, WA, Terry Crosswhite’s hometown, on a deserted highway after dark with snow starting to fall. A car stops, and the young woman argues with the driver. She starts to walk away but is murdered.
The novel then skips to the present day. Terry Crosswhite with her husband, Dan, a nanny and a new daughter has moved into Dan’s parent’s home in Cedar Groove while their farmhouse in Redmond was being remodeled for their now larger family. While they were out for dinner, the retired police chief, Calloway, stops and talks with them. Terry quickly discovers that he is not retired but is the acting police chief. He tells them that there have been two murders recently that may be tied to the 1993 murder because both victims were looking into that murder. The prime suspect to 1993 murder was a young police officer, named Finley, who became the police chief when Calloway retired. One of the new murders was Finley’s wife. Calloway replaced Finley on a temporary basis. Terry had known Calloway her entire life, and with this quick conversation Calloway set the hook on Terry quite well; there was no way that Terry could not take up this case. Dan was spending his time representing a local store owner suing the city over code violations. The novel takes off from here.
The pace moves right along. There were adequate twists, turns and misdirections interwoven with good B-storylines that captured my interest quickly. I finished this novel faster than normal. These are major criteria for a high star rating. This is the seventh novel in this series. If you have not read any of the previous novels, that fact should not stop you from enjoying this novel as adequate background to past events are provided.
The B-storyline expands the reader’s knowledge of Tracy and Dan. As the story takes place in Cedar Groove where she and Dan grew up, many of the characters from this location fill in Tracy’s and Dan’s history and insight on how they became who they are. Introduced in this novel is a delightful character of their nanny, a young Irish woman whose mother seems to have a saying appropriate for every situation. Hopefully, she will stay around for the next few novels. Lastly, Detective Vic Fazio and his wife join the story and contribute to both the main and B-storylines.
There is just a sprinkling of vulgar language, and no graphic sex scenes so if you are sensitive to these, I believe that you should have any major issues here. There are some murders, and one described as it occurs. They are not grisly or over emphasized. Again, they should not be a problem.
Overall, I found this novel and enjoyable and compelling read. All of the story threads were tied up satisfactorily by the end of the novel. Based upon reading and reviewing this series, I have purchased previous novels by Robert Dugoni and am reading one of the novels now. I rate this novel with five stars. If you have read the previous novels in this series, you must read this one. If you have not but are intrigued with this novels description, do give it a try.
I have received a free eBook version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this novel early.
Tracy Crosswhite is a winner!
I have read all the books in this series and they are wonderful. Great storyline and characters
Dugoni can do no wrong!
Great series. I’ve enjoyed every Tracy Crosswhite book by author Robert Dugoni
I love Robert Dugoni. You come to know his characters as he brings them to life. He does a good job of making the reader want to help solve the crime but I can never guess until the very end! This book is a great Dugoni read! As he often does, he weaves a tale around more than one crime. In this case one is a cold case involving a little girl that is missing. Another is a missing woman.
Great book with unexpected twists
Totally love this book pls we need more books like this. You can publish it on N0velStar,
THIS REVIEW IS FOR BOTH THE AUDIOBOOK AND EBOOK VERSIONS
Great book, interesting plot and wonderful characters. The narrator did a wonderful job. Very well written and I recommend this book.
In A COLD TRAIL, Robert Dugoni brings murder, mystery, and suspense to a police procedural novel like few authors can. This novel, set mostly in Cedar Grove, Washington in contemporary times, has both compelling characters and a plot that captures you and doesn’t let go until the final moments.
This story starts with a prologue set in Cedar Grove in 1993, but moves quickly to current events with occasional flashbacks to 1993 and to events that occurred during the past year. Tracy Crosswhite, a Seattle police detective in the Violent Crimes Section, her lawyer husband Dan and their two month old daughter Daniella have temporarily moved to their childhood home town while contractors demolish and remodel their farmhouse. While there, Tracy is drawn into a case by the local police department and Dan takes on a case representing a local merchant.
Tracy and Dan felt very realistic as they juggled work/life balance, egos, pride, and communication issues. Their dialogue and banter felt natural and real. Additionally, the mix of personal and professional lives felt natural. There are a number of secondary characters to get acquainted with if you are not familiar with the series. However, the author uses them deftly to round out the story and even uses some humor to ensure the reader understands their personalities.
Dugoni uses vivid descriptions that help a reader to better understand the small town environment as well as the winter weather, secrets, lies and emotions that are prevalent in the book. While this book has some action, it is mostly a police procedural and a legal case until the last 20 percent. The cases are complex and challenging with numerous suspects and angles that have to be explored. There are some more extensive descriptions of legal maneuverings, but they are necessary to fully understand that case. The story is believable, complex, and has some good twists to keep Tracy and Dan as well as readers on their toes. The epilogue leaves a thread open for the next book in the series, but the subplots are all wrapped up nicely without any cliffhangers.
Overall, this was a fantastic book with well-developed characters, a great setting, realistic dialogue, and a page-turning story line. While this is the seventh book in the Tracy Crosswhite series, there is enough background material woven into the story that it can be read as a standalone. I recommend it to those that enjoy police procedurals, mysteries and crime novels and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I purchased a digital copy of this novel. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date was February 4, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
I’ve read all of Dugonis Tracy Crosswhite books and this one did not disappoint. Love all the recurring characters and can’t wait for the next book to find out what is next for them.