Early in 2020, I reviewed A Cold Trail, #7 in Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series. As I noted them, 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 #8 in the Tracy Crosswhite series, In Her Tracks, from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

One thing to know about the books in this series: any one of them can be read as a standalone, and not knowing all the back story doesn’t detract from the excellent plotting and character development. However, as noted above, the characters (particularly Tracy) are so REAL and their lives and situations evolve, so reading them in order is perhaps more satisfying.  Tracy has become a wife and mother as the series moves along — but she is still a Seattle Homicide Detective. Or is she? As this latest book opens, Tracy is just returning from an extended leave in her old hometown of Cedar Grove, and she finds her old spot in the squad is being occupied by someone else, and she is being reassigned to the cold case squad. Her first case is that of a five-year-old girl, the daughter of a fellow police officer, who was apparently abducted five years earlier.

At the same time that she is investigating the days leading up to the girl’s disappearance, Tracy is also brought into an active investigation of the disappearance of a young woman who vanished while on an isolated jogging trail. As she and her former partner, Kinsington Rowe, pursue this case, Tracy finds herself working two cases of mysterious disappearances, both of which include secrets and lies — in one case, in a broken marriage, and the other in what appears to be a quiet middle-class neighborhood.

This book is classic Dugoni (and Tracy). It’s a great read, with strong characters and interesting plotlines. Tracy is a strong woman who isn’t hesitant to speak up, while at the same time becoming more comfortably settled with her life choices. Recommended for both fans of this series as well as newcomers. A great way to pass the day while sheltering in place. Four stars.