As I have mentioned in earlier reviews of Robert Dugoni’s books, I first “met” Seattle Homicide Detective Tracy Crosswhite in My Sister’s Grave and I loved her, so I then eagerly read Her Final Breath. Following along in short order (he definitely can crank out books at a fast clip) were In the Clearing, The Trapped Girl, Close to Home and A Steep Price (all of which I reviewed on littorallibrarian.org).  I enjoyed them all, particularly the way Dugoni makes his characters REAL, somehow writing a female perspective incredibly well. So I was pleased to receive a copy of #7 in the Tracy Crosswhite series, A Cold Trail, from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite  has returned to her hometown of Cedar Grove, where she grew up and where she returned a few years ago to see her sister’s killer put behind bars. She and her husband Dan, and their new daughter, Daniella, are staying temporarily in Dan’s house, and getting reacquainted with The town and the people.  

Cedar Grove has declined, and the powers that be in the city have been working to revitalize the downtown…and not all the local businesses are happy with the “progress.” Dan and Tracy are both drawn into working, despite their plan to lay low: Dan is representing a local merchant who is not thrilled with the revitalization, and Tracy is roped into investigating the brutal death of a police officer’s wife and local reporter who had been investigating a murder. As their cases crisscross, events from Tracy’s past and a decades-old conspiracy get tangled up, and as usual, she generates some excitement getting things straightened out. It’s another solid entry in Dugoni’s terrific series. Four stars.