What do you think?
Rate this book
Tracy Crosswhite #9
What She Found
Solving a decades-old disappearance sets Tracy Crosswhite on a dangerous collision course with the past.
Detective Tracy Crosswhite has agreed to look into the disappearance of investigative reporter Lisa Childress. Solving the cold case is an obsession for Lisa’s daughter, Anita. So is clearing the name of her father, a prime suspect who became a pariah. After twenty-five years, all Anita wants is the truth—no matter where it leads.
For Tracy, that means reopening the potentially explosive investigations Lisa was following on the dark night she vanished: an exposé of likely mayoral graft; the shocking rumors of a reserved city councilman’s criminal sex life; a drug task force scandal compromising the Seattle PD; and an elusive serial killer who disappeared just as mysteriously as Lisa.
As all the pieces come together, it becomes clear that Tracy is in the midst of a case that will push her loyalties and her resilience to the limit. What she uncovers will come with a greater price than anyone feared.
Detective Tracy Crosswhite has agreed to look into the disappearance of investigative reporter Lisa Childress. Solving the cold case is an obsession for Lisa’s daughter, Anita. So is clearing the name of her father, a prime suspect who became a pariah. After twenty-five years, all Anita wants is the truth—no matter where it leads.
For Tracy, that means reopening the potentially explosive investigations Lisa was following on the dark night she vanished: an exposé of likely mayoral graft; the shocking rumors of a reserved city councilman’s criminal sex life; a drug task force scandal compromising the Seattle PD; and an elusive serial killer who disappeared just as mysteriously as Lisa.
As all the pieces come together, it becomes clear that Tracy is in the midst of a case that will push her loyalties and her resilience to the limit. What she uncovers will come with a greater price than anyone feared.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2022
5075 people are currently reading
19650 people want to read
About the author
Robert Dugoni
74 books32.7k followersRobert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 11 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and The Keera Duggan legal thriller series. He has written several stand-alone novels including the historical novels A Killing on the Hill and Hold Strong, as well as the suspense novel The 7th Canon, and Damage Control. He has written the literary novels, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - one of Newsweek Magazine's Best Books of All-Time and Suspense Magazine’s 2018 Book of the Year, for which Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award. He has also written the critically acclaimed novel, The World Played Chess; as well as the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. His novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and a four-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He has also been a finalist for many other awards including the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award.
Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than thirty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.
Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com, and follow him on twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertDugoni
Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than thirty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.
Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com, and follow him on twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertDugoni
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,060 reviews
October 6, 2023
What She Found by Robert Dugoni
(Tracy Crosswhite #9)
Tracy Crosswhite knows what it's like to have lost someone to brutality and not have at least the closure of the crime being solved. That is what led her to become a police officer and still leads her to look for the missing and to look for murderers who have gotten away, for years, with what they did. Now she is the one woman Cold Case department detective and she already has so much good work behind her.
Lisa Childress disappeared twenty five years ago and her daughter, Anita, asks Tracy to take up her case. Finding out what happened all those years ago could expose her father as a murderer since he's the prime suspect in the case, even though there wasn't enough evidence to charge him. But, Lisa was working as an investigative reporter on several cases that could have gotten her in trouble and her case was just brushed aside without much of an investigation.
Where this case takes Tracy leads back to so much more than just a missing woman. Important people, now and then, don't want her to pursue the case and she's officially told to back away and look at other things. No chance of that! Tracy is on a trail, several trails, and she is not going to give up until she knows where they really lead. She may not get the answers she wants, she may not be able to do much with what she learns, but she has people on her side who are willing to back her and spread whatever word needs spreading.
I follow cold cases often and it is interesting to see a cold case detective at work. Having read all the Tracy Crosswhite stories I like having been there with her as she's perfected her skills and especially her nose for the rotten, out in the world and among those who should be keeping the world safe. We get to spend time with her while Tracy does the foot work. phone work, and whatever she needs to do to get this case moved forward and it's always fun to watch someone try to block her way, because it's not going to happen.
The short story, The Last Line (Tracy Crosswhite #8.5), ties into this story so I suggest you read it if you can do so. It's interesting to see things from different angles and at earlier times.
Pub: Aug 23, 2022
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.
(Tracy Crosswhite #9)
Tracy Crosswhite knows what it's like to have lost someone to brutality and not have at least the closure of the crime being solved. That is what led her to become a police officer and still leads her to look for the missing and to look for murderers who have gotten away, for years, with what they did. Now she is the one woman Cold Case department detective and she already has so much good work behind her.
Lisa Childress disappeared twenty five years ago and her daughter, Anita, asks Tracy to take up her case. Finding out what happened all those years ago could expose her father as a murderer since he's the prime suspect in the case, even though there wasn't enough evidence to charge him. But, Lisa was working as an investigative reporter on several cases that could have gotten her in trouble and her case was just brushed aside without much of an investigation.
Where this case takes Tracy leads back to so much more than just a missing woman. Important people, now and then, don't want her to pursue the case and she's officially told to back away and look at other things. No chance of that! Tracy is on a trail, several trails, and she is not going to give up until she knows where they really lead. She may not get the answers she wants, she may not be able to do much with what she learns, but she has people on her side who are willing to back her and spread whatever word needs spreading.
I follow cold cases often and it is interesting to see a cold case detective at work. Having read all the Tracy Crosswhite stories I like having been there with her as she's perfected her skills and especially her nose for the rotten, out in the world and among those who should be keeping the world safe. We get to spend time with her while Tracy does the foot work. phone work, and whatever she needs to do to get this case moved forward and it's always fun to watch someone try to block her way, because it's not going to happen.
The short story, The Last Line (Tracy Crosswhite #8.5), ties into this story so I suggest you read it if you can do so. It's interesting to see things from different angles and at earlier times.
Pub: Aug 23, 2022
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.
August 23, 2022
***NOW AVAILABLE***
I love the Tracy Crosswhite series and author Robert Dugoni never disappoints!!
This is the second novel since Tracy has been named the head of Cold Cases for the Seattle Police Department. She had previously worked with a team in Violent Crimes.
Tracy is still adjusting to her new job but enjoys more flexibility in work hours so that she can spend time with her husband and young daughter Daniella.
While Tracy is wading through hundreds of cold cases, she is contacted by Anita Childress. She has never gotten over the mysterious disappearance of her mother, Lisa, 25 years ago. At that time the case of her disappearance was never solved because there were no witnesses or leads and her body was never recovered.
Lisa was described by her daughter as possibly being on the autism spectrum because she was somewhat socially awkward. She, however, had a brilliant mind and was working as an investigative reporter for a Seattle newspaper.
When she disappeared it was known that she was working on an important case, possibly implicating people in high places, but she never revealed what she was working on until it was time to publish the story.
Her husband reported that she left the house in the middle of the night and never returned. Her car was found by a greyhound station, with blood on the inside but no indication of what happened to Lisa or where she may have gone.
Though her new boss is pushing Tracy to work on more recent cold cases where they can recover DNA evidence, Tracy feels that Anita deserves an answer to her mother’s disappearance.
Besides the excellent mystery in this novel and the multi-layered plot, I also enjoyed the fact that this book includes some background information on Tracy’s old teammates Vic Fazzio and Del Castigliano.
There is much to love about this book and I don’t think anyone who loves mysteries, especially cold cases, will be disappointed in this one!
Highly recommend this latest installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series!!
This was a buddy read with Jan and Marialyce. Be sure to watch for their reviews in the upcoming week!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
I love the Tracy Crosswhite series and author Robert Dugoni never disappoints!!
This is the second novel since Tracy has been named the head of Cold Cases for the Seattle Police Department. She had previously worked with a team in Violent Crimes.
Tracy is still adjusting to her new job but enjoys more flexibility in work hours so that she can spend time with her husband and young daughter Daniella.
While Tracy is wading through hundreds of cold cases, she is contacted by Anita Childress. She has never gotten over the mysterious disappearance of her mother, Lisa, 25 years ago. At that time the case of her disappearance was never solved because there were no witnesses or leads and her body was never recovered.
Lisa was described by her daughter as possibly being on the autism spectrum because she was somewhat socially awkward. She, however, had a brilliant mind and was working as an investigative reporter for a Seattle newspaper.
When she disappeared it was known that she was working on an important case, possibly implicating people in high places, but she never revealed what she was working on until it was time to publish the story.
Her husband reported that she left the house in the middle of the night and never returned. Her car was found by a greyhound station, with blood on the inside but no indication of what happened to Lisa or where she may have gone.
Though her new boss is pushing Tracy to work on more recent cold cases where they can recover DNA evidence, Tracy feels that Anita deserves an answer to her mother’s disappearance.
Besides the excellent mystery in this novel and the multi-layered plot, I also enjoyed the fact that this book includes some background information on Tracy’s old teammates Vic Fazzio and Del Castigliano.
There is much to love about this book and I don’t think anyone who loves mysteries, especially cold cases, will be disappointed in this one!
Highly recommend this latest installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series!!
This was a buddy read with Jan and Marialyce. Be sure to watch for their reviews in the upcoming week!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
June 30, 2022
This is the latest in Robert Dugoni's much loved Seattle based crime series featuring SPD's Tracy Crosswhite, now working on cold cases that offer her the opportunity of more normal working hours so that she can spend more time with her family, lawyer Dan, and her young daughter, Daniela. With her recent successes, Tracy finds herself fronting a media campaign to improve the image of the police when she is approached by reporter Anita Childress. 25 years ago when she was 2 years old, her well regarded socially awkward investigative journalist mother, Lisa, working for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, disappeared after setting out at night to meet an informant. Assumed to be murdered, Anita's father, Larry, had his life ruined as he became the prime suspect in a police inquiry that did not look into the 4 below the radar exclusives that Lisa was chasing, including looking into police officers from The Last Line taskforce thought to be skimming money from drugs busts. Her city editor, Bill Jorgensen, knew nothing of what Lisa was working on, relying on her ability to come up with the goods when it mattered.
Anita wants to know the truth of what happened to her mother, although she hopes her father's name will be cleared after his decades of living under a cloud of suspicion. The loss of her mother left a huge hole in Anita's life and it led to her following in Lisa's footsteps by becoming a journalist too. With her own traumatic past, Tracy cannot help but feel for Anita, and this is what she does, look into cold cases with a remarkable degree of success. So begins a complicated investigation that ends up with unexpected surprises and is to test Tracy's resilience when she finds herself on the path of conflict as she clashes with a Chief of Police who insists that she drops the case. As Tracy worries about what involvement Del and Faz have in her inquiry, she pursues leads gathered from interviews conducted with the likes of the colourful hippie Dennis Hopper with his razor sharp memory, and the imprisoned Captain Jack Flynt, the skipper of the Egregious, who tells of a raid that was never reported and 2 dead Mexican crew members.
However, although the truth begins to become clear, the problem is that Tracy has no proof and she stands to lose the professional career that she loves so much. This was a riveting addition to this brilliant series, well written and well plotted, with levels of suspense and tension that had me turning the pages as fast as possible, desperate to find out how it all ends. Fans of the series are likely to love this, and I encourage other readers of the crime and mystery genre to acquaint themselves with Seattle and Tracy Crosswhite too. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Anita wants to know the truth of what happened to her mother, although she hopes her father's name will be cleared after his decades of living under a cloud of suspicion. The loss of her mother left a huge hole in Anita's life and it led to her following in Lisa's footsteps by becoming a journalist too. With her own traumatic past, Tracy cannot help but feel for Anita, and this is what she does, look into cold cases with a remarkable degree of success. So begins a complicated investigation that ends up with unexpected surprises and is to test Tracy's resilience when she finds herself on the path of conflict as she clashes with a Chief of Police who insists that she drops the case. As Tracy worries about what involvement Del and Faz have in her inquiry, she pursues leads gathered from interviews conducted with the likes of the colourful hippie Dennis Hopper with his razor sharp memory, and the imprisoned Captain Jack Flynt, the skipper of the Egregious, who tells of a raid that was never reported and 2 dead Mexican crew members.
However, although the truth begins to become clear, the problem is that Tracy has no proof and she stands to lose the professional career that she loves so much. This was a riveting addition to this brilliant series, well written and well plotted, with levels of suspense and tension that had me turning the pages as fast as possible, desperate to find out how it all ends. Fans of the series are likely to love this, and I encourage other readers of the crime and mystery genre to acquaint themselves with Seattle and Tracy Crosswhite too. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
April 29, 2023
EXCERPT: She told him about Anita Childress and about what Tracy had learned about Anita's missing mother. 'It was originally considered a missing person case, not a homicide.'
'And how are you considering it?'
'Homicide. I don't have any doubt she's dead.'
'Has anyone considered otherwise?'
'It's statistics, Dan. Unless a missing woman is found within twenty-four hours, the odds of her being alive are greatly diminished. After twenty-five years . . .'
ABOUT 'WHAT SHE FOUND': Detective Tracy Crosswhite has agreed to look into the disappearance of investigative reporter Lisa Childress. Solving the cold case is an obsession for Lisa’s daughter, Anita. So is clearing the name of her father, a prime suspect who became a pariah. After twenty-five years, all Anita wants is the truth—no matter where it leads.
For Tracy, that means reopening the potentially explosive investigations Lisa was following on the dark night she vanished: an exposé of likely mayoral graft; the shocking rumors of a reserved city councilman’s criminal sex life; a drug task force scandal compromising the Seattle PD; and an elusive serial killer who disappeared just as mysteriously as Lisa.
As all the pieces come together, it becomes clear that Tracy is in the midst of a case that will push her loyalties and her resilience to the limit. What she uncovers will come with a greater price than anyone feared.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm always eagerly awaiting Dugoni's next Tracy Crosswhite book, and What She Found doesn't disappoint. Dugoni is an excellent storyteller, and I clung to the pages like a drowning woman to a raft.
I like cold case stories, and I have appreciated Tracy's change of tack so that she is able to spend more time with her husband and small daughter.
The mysteries are more difficult to solve too with the passing of so much time - in this case, twenty-five years. Witnesses have died, people have moved, or forgotten, and DNA wasn't collected for testing; so pickings can be relatively slim. But Tracy is like a dog with a bone; once she has her teeth in something she doesn't easily give up. And what she finds . . . well, you'll have to read the book to find that out, but I bet that when she started this investigation, she had no idea what she was going to uncover.
I like Tracy's character. She's not all 'gung-ho' and rushing into danger. She's a thinker; a strategist. I love the relationship she and lawyer husband Dan have. They are very supportive of one another.
Although she is no longer working closely with them, Faz and Del play a large part in this story, just not in roles we would normally associate them with.
This has been an amazing series and I can't wait to read book #10, a read I will approach with both anticipation and trepidation as this series was contracted for ten books. Let's wait and see.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#WhatSheFound #NetGalley
I: @robertdugoni @thomasmerceruk
T: @robertdugoni #Thomas&Mercer
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #mystery
THE AUTHOR: A writer turned lawyer turned writer.
Robert Dugoni was born in Idaho and raised in Northern California the middle child of a family of ten siblings. Dugoni jokes that he didn't get much of a chance to talk, so he wrote. By the seventh grade he knew he wanted to be a writer.
Dugoni wrote his way to Stanford University, receiving writing awards along the way, and majored in communications/journalism and creative writing while working as a reporter for the Stanford Daily. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and worked briefly as a reporter in the Metro Office and the San Gabriel Valley Office of the Los Angeles Times.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of What She Found by Robert Dugoni for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'And how are you considering it?'
'Homicide. I don't have any doubt she's dead.'
'Has anyone considered otherwise?'
'It's statistics, Dan. Unless a missing woman is found within twenty-four hours, the odds of her being alive are greatly diminished. After twenty-five years . . .'
ABOUT 'WHAT SHE FOUND': Detective Tracy Crosswhite has agreed to look into the disappearance of investigative reporter Lisa Childress. Solving the cold case is an obsession for Lisa’s daughter, Anita. So is clearing the name of her father, a prime suspect who became a pariah. After twenty-five years, all Anita wants is the truth—no matter where it leads.
For Tracy, that means reopening the potentially explosive investigations Lisa was following on the dark night she vanished: an exposé of likely mayoral graft; the shocking rumors of a reserved city councilman’s criminal sex life; a drug task force scandal compromising the Seattle PD; and an elusive serial killer who disappeared just as mysteriously as Lisa.
As all the pieces come together, it becomes clear that Tracy is in the midst of a case that will push her loyalties and her resilience to the limit. What she uncovers will come with a greater price than anyone feared.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm always eagerly awaiting Dugoni's next Tracy Crosswhite book, and What She Found doesn't disappoint. Dugoni is an excellent storyteller, and I clung to the pages like a drowning woman to a raft.
I like cold case stories, and I have appreciated Tracy's change of tack so that she is able to spend more time with her husband and small daughter.
The mysteries are more difficult to solve too with the passing of so much time - in this case, twenty-five years. Witnesses have died, people have moved, or forgotten, and DNA wasn't collected for testing; so pickings can be relatively slim. But Tracy is like a dog with a bone; once she has her teeth in something she doesn't easily give up. And what she finds . . . well, you'll have to read the book to find that out, but I bet that when she started this investigation, she had no idea what she was going to uncover.
I like Tracy's character. She's not all 'gung-ho' and rushing into danger. She's a thinker; a strategist. I love the relationship she and lawyer husband Dan have. They are very supportive of one another.
Although she is no longer working closely with them, Faz and Del play a large part in this story, just not in roles we would normally associate them with.
This has been an amazing series and I can't wait to read book #10, a read I will approach with both anticipation and trepidation as this series was contracted for ten books. Let's wait and see.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#WhatSheFound #NetGalley
I: @robertdugoni @thomasmerceruk
T: @robertdugoni #Thomas&Mercer
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #mystery
THE AUTHOR: A writer turned lawyer turned writer.
Robert Dugoni was born in Idaho and raised in Northern California the middle child of a family of ten siblings. Dugoni jokes that he didn't get much of a chance to talk, so he wrote. By the seventh grade he knew he wanted to be a writer.
Dugoni wrote his way to Stanford University, receiving writing awards along the way, and majored in communications/journalism and creative writing while working as a reporter for the Stanford Daily. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and worked briefly as a reporter in the Metro Office and the San Gabriel Valley Office of the Los Angeles Times.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of What She Found by Robert Dugoni for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
May 30, 2022
Memory.....
Fresh, forced, forgotten.
Detective Tracy Crosswhite of the Seattle Police has been relegated to the Cold Case files. She welcomes a reprieve from the likes of the irritating Captain Johnny Nolasco. Tracy now reports to Marcella Weber, Chief of Police. Weber presses Tracy to only look into cases with new DNA evidence.
Good intentions and hell. You know the drill. Tracy has been contacted by Anita Childress whose mother disappeared 25 years ago when Anita was only two years old. Lisa Childress was a talented journalist who left the house around midnight one evening to meet an informant. She never returned. Her car was found at a Greyhound bus terminal. No sign of Lisa ever. Anita's father was hounded as suspect number one all these years. Anita wants her father cleared.
So Tracy starts to dive into old files and little by little becomes intrigued with what she finds. Lisa may have been working on something that placed her in the center of a danger zone. And other information comes to light that may involve some of Tracy's previous partners. Tracy may be heading into a dark tunnel herself.
If you catch the name of Robert Dugoni on a book cover, stick around. You're into something good. Dugoni presents his Prologue: neat, tidy, and packed with quick background stories and fill-ins. Don't shy away from this #9. It reads as a perfect standalone. Dugoni spreads his net wide in this one catching some bad drug running escapades and a questionable task force that looks a bit hazy.
Dugoni's main female character, Tracy Crosswhite, is a force to be reckoned with. Tracy still lives in the shadow of the loss of her own missing sister and can readily relate to others in the Cold Case challenges. She and her husband, Dan, also have a toddler daughter. But her close partners at the department are her extended family now. Could they have been wrapped up in something in the past? Stay tuned.......this one is a treasure of a read.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Robert Dugoni for the opportunity.
Fresh, forced, forgotten.
Detective Tracy Crosswhite of the Seattle Police has been relegated to the Cold Case files. She welcomes a reprieve from the likes of the irritating Captain Johnny Nolasco. Tracy now reports to Marcella Weber, Chief of Police. Weber presses Tracy to only look into cases with new DNA evidence.
Good intentions and hell. You know the drill. Tracy has been contacted by Anita Childress whose mother disappeared 25 years ago when Anita was only two years old. Lisa Childress was a talented journalist who left the house around midnight one evening to meet an informant. She never returned. Her car was found at a Greyhound bus terminal. No sign of Lisa ever. Anita's father was hounded as suspect number one all these years. Anita wants her father cleared.
So Tracy starts to dive into old files and little by little becomes intrigued with what she finds. Lisa may have been working on something that placed her in the center of a danger zone. And other information comes to light that may involve some of Tracy's previous partners. Tracy may be heading into a dark tunnel herself.
If you catch the name of Robert Dugoni on a book cover, stick around. You're into something good. Dugoni presents his Prologue: neat, tidy, and packed with quick background stories and fill-ins. Don't shy away from this #9. It reads as a perfect standalone. Dugoni spreads his net wide in this one catching some bad drug running escapades and a questionable task force that looks a bit hazy.
Dugoni's main female character, Tracy Crosswhite, is a force to be reckoned with. Tracy still lives in the shadow of the loss of her own missing sister and can readily relate to others in the Cold Case challenges. She and her husband, Dan, also have a toddler daughter. But her close partners at the department are her extended family now. Could they have been wrapped up in something in the past? Stay tuned.......this one is a treasure of a read.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Robert Dugoni for the opportunity.
July 27, 2022
Tracy Crosswhite is back in the 9th installment of the Tracy Crosswhite series! Tracy has been approached by Anita Childress whose mother; Lisa Childress went missing when Anita was 2 years old. Anita has always wondered what happened to her mother as her body was never found and the police only focused on her father as the prime suspect. Tracy, who works in cold cases, agrees to investigate the case. Soon Tracy finds that there is more to this story than meets the eye. Lisa Childress was an investigative reporter who was meeting a source in the middle of the night, when she went missing.
Has Tracy bit off more than she can chew with this case? Who was Lisa Childress meeting that night? What was she investigating?
I will admit that after the gripping and riveting opening chapter of the book, things took a slower turn, and I struggled a little with the book. Then the 50 % mark came and WOWZA, Dugoni kicked things into high gear, and I could not get enough. The first part of this book builds the story and mystery and the second half had me fully invested and wanting more.
This book is heavy on detective work and showcases Tracy personality and detective work. She will not let things go due in part to her dedication to her job also due to her competitive nature. She doesn't mind ruffling a few feathers if it means solving a case.
Dugoni delivers every time, although this was slow in the beginning for me, it paid off and he has me wanting more and looking forward to book #10.
**Buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review as well.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Has Tracy bit off more than she can chew with this case? Who was Lisa Childress meeting that night? What was she investigating?
I will admit that after the gripping and riveting opening chapter of the book, things took a slower turn, and I struggled a little with the book. Then the 50 % mark came and WOWZA, Dugoni kicked things into high gear, and I could not get enough. The first part of this book builds the story and mystery and the second half had me fully invested and wanting more.
This book is heavy on detective work and showcases Tracy personality and detective work. She will not let things go due in part to her dedication to her job also due to her competitive nature. She doesn't mind ruffling a few feathers if it means solving a case.
Dugoni delivers every time, although this was slow in the beginning for me, it paid off and he has me wanting more and looking forward to book #10.
**Buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review as well.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 23, 2022
This is my first book by Robert Dugoni and finally I can see why my blogger friends have been raving about this author for years! Although What She Found is the ninth instalment in his hugely successful Tracy Crosswhite series, it is possible to read it as a standalone. Most likely, you will want to pick up the previous books after reading this one anyway.
The beginning was very dynamic- an investigative reporter Lisa Childress gets a phone call from a mysterious source and heads to a secret meeting place in the industrial zone of Seattle. There she finds her contact has been murdered and she herself is attacked by a masked man. Lisa, a brilliant journalist described as socially awkward and possibly on the autism spectrum, has a two year old daughter Anita and husband Larry who often begged her to buy a pepper spray to protect herself and even started putting a can of bear spray in Lisa's bag. Lisa reaches for the can...
Tracy Crosswhite is still getting used to working as a one-detective-investigative unit. Her new Chief of Police Weber is urging her 'to showcase' the importance of investigating cold cases in a press conference. Weber is mostly concerned with the public image and preventing the police department from being de-funded. She would like Tracy to focus on 'easy' cases, cases where there is DNA evidence that can be analysed by using new scientific advances. Lisa Childress's case doesn't fall into this category, but Tracy cannot resist Anita Childress's pleas to look into her missing mother's case. The police investigation was rushed and concentrated on her father who became the prime suspect. Anita, who is a reporter herself, has put together the notes from her mother's cases, stories Lisa was actively pursuing at the time when she went missing. Tracy is sympathetic- she has a personal knowledge of what getting a closure means to he family of a victim. She is also intrigued by Lisa's potentially explosive stories.
While the beginning was fast and action-packed, the rest of the book was more steady-paced with Tracy following various leads, hitting deadends, getting breakthroughs, hitting more deadends and so on. In a police procedural that focuses on an active case there is more tension and inherent urgency to catch the perpetrator(s). Things are different in a cold case investigation, where there are other factors to take into consideration such as statutes of limitation on prosecuting certain crimes and deceased witnesses.
This is a 'high-content-density' book. We take a look at police corruption- how it starts, how new police officers get involved, how difficult it is to investigate and prosecute it as well as the personal price of not coming forward. We also see how Tracy is juggling family life and motherhood with her highly-demanding job. Family is an important topic in this story, its 'one-line-through'. Tracy can't give up on bringing closure to victims' families. Other characters also have to make difficult personal choices involving their families. There's also another interesting topic touched upon- a court of law with its insistence on the right procedure Versus the court of public opinion, which can ruin someone's life and turn them into a social pariah or it can force the guilty into confessing their crimes where it is impossible to get admissible evidence.
Tracy is a wonderful character and I would love to read the series from the beginning to appreciate the development she must have gone through. She is fair, loyal, and tenacious, and isn't afraid to put her career on line for the sake of her principles. At the same time she is very wary of judging other people for their behaviour. It was great to see how much she values her family and her colleagues esp.Faz and Del who have taught her so much.
Definitely recommended to anyone who loves an interesting series of police procedurals with a strong female lead. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
The beginning was very dynamic- an investigative reporter Lisa Childress gets a phone call from a mysterious source and heads to a secret meeting place in the industrial zone of Seattle. There she finds her contact has been murdered and she herself is attacked by a masked man. Lisa, a brilliant journalist described as socially awkward and possibly on the autism spectrum, has a two year old daughter Anita and husband Larry who often begged her to buy a pepper spray to protect herself and even started putting a can of bear spray in Lisa's bag. Lisa reaches for the can...
Tracy Crosswhite is still getting used to working as a one-detective-investigative unit. Her new Chief of Police Weber is urging her 'to showcase' the importance of investigating cold cases in a press conference. Weber is mostly concerned with the public image and preventing the police department from being de-funded. She would like Tracy to focus on 'easy' cases, cases where there is DNA evidence that can be analysed by using new scientific advances. Lisa Childress's case doesn't fall into this category, but Tracy cannot resist Anita Childress's pleas to look into her missing mother's case. The police investigation was rushed and concentrated on her father who became the prime suspect. Anita, who is a reporter herself, has put together the notes from her mother's cases, stories Lisa was actively pursuing at the time when she went missing. Tracy is sympathetic- she has a personal knowledge of what getting a closure means to he family of a victim. She is also intrigued by Lisa's potentially explosive stories.
While the beginning was fast and action-packed, the rest of the book was more steady-paced with Tracy following various leads, hitting deadends, getting breakthroughs, hitting more deadends and so on. In a police procedural that focuses on an active case there is more tension and inherent urgency to catch the perpetrator(s). Things are different in a cold case investigation, where there are other factors to take into consideration such as statutes of limitation on prosecuting certain crimes and deceased witnesses.
This is a 'high-content-density' book. We take a look at police corruption- how it starts, how new police officers get involved, how difficult it is to investigate and prosecute it as well as the personal price of not coming forward. We also see how Tracy is juggling family life and motherhood with her highly-demanding job. Family is an important topic in this story, its 'one-line-through'. Tracy can't give up on bringing closure to victims' families. Other characters also have to make difficult personal choices involving their families. There's also another interesting topic touched upon- a court of law with its insistence on the right procedure Versus the court of public opinion, which can ruin someone's life and turn them into a social pariah or it can force the guilty into confessing their crimes where it is impossible to get admissible evidence.
Tracy is a wonderful character and I would love to read the series from the beginning to appreciate the development she must have gone through. She is fair, loyal, and tenacious, and isn't afraid to put her career on line for the sake of her principles. At the same time she is very wary of judging other people for their behaviour. It was great to see how much she values her family and her colleagues esp.Faz and Del who have taught her so much.
Definitely recommended to anyone who loves an interesting series of police procedurals with a strong female lead. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
July 23, 2022
What She Found is the 9th book in the Tracey Crosswhite series and keeps up the tradition of a strong police procedural. Tracey remains the sole detective in the cold case area of the Seattle PD. She’s coming off a big serial killer case when she gets a call from a daughter, asking for her mother’s missing person case to be re-opened. The mother, an investigative reporter, disappeared 25 years ago when she went out in the middle of the night to meet a confidential source. While her boss wants her to focus on cases with DNA, Tracey keeps investigating this, especially the cases the reporter was working on. And several names of police officers keep coming up.
This was a well done tale about drug dealing, corruption and solving a case as old as this one. It felt very realistic, with a healthy mix of politics and legal standards of proof. I liked that the ending didn’t involve any big display of force or violence. I also liked that we learn more about Del’s start on the force. The Author’s Notes also made me aware of a short story that details even more about Del called The Last Line (available for free to Prime members).
Dugoni does a great job fleshing out his characters. And not just the main characters, but also the characters that are unique to this story, like Henderson Jones.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.
This was a well done tale about drug dealing, corruption and solving a case as old as this one. It felt very realistic, with a healthy mix of politics and legal standards of proof. I liked that the ending didn’t involve any big display of force or violence. I also liked that we learn more about Del’s start on the force. The Author’s Notes also made me aware of a short story that details even more about Del called The Last Line (available for free to Prime members).
Dugoni does a great job fleshing out his characters. And not just the main characters, but also the characters that are unique to this story, like Henderson Jones.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.
August 21, 2022
3.5 stars
This was my first Robert Dugoni book and I very much enjoyed the character of Tracy Crosswhite as a cold case investigator. I found her sweet family provided relatability to her character and I love the names of her two dogs, Sherlock and Rex. How appropriate for a detective.
However, I do feel I was hampered by jumping into a series without the necessary background. Tracy is supposedly a superstar investigator but would it really have been that easy for Tracy to solve a 25 yr old cold case?
I appreciated the author’s afterward and his reason for writing a book with the theme he chose, but I feel it’s a tired trope and much of what happened simply stretched believability.
Drug running and police corruption are my two least favorite themes in detective fiction, which added to my dissatisfaction.
In the end, I liked it enough to finish and perhaps I will start the series with book #1.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
* This was a buddy read with Dorie & Marialyce. Be sure to check out their reviews!
This was my first Robert Dugoni book and I very much enjoyed the character of Tracy Crosswhite as a cold case investigator. I found her sweet family provided relatability to her character and I love the names of her two dogs, Sherlock and Rex. How appropriate for a detective.
However, I do feel I was hampered by jumping into a series without the necessary background. Tracy is supposedly a superstar investigator but would it really have been that easy for Tracy to solve a 25 yr old cold case?
I appreciated the author’s afterward and his reason for writing a book with the theme he chose, but I feel it’s a tired trope and much of what happened simply stretched believability.
Drug running and police corruption are my two least favorite themes in detective fiction, which added to my dissatisfaction.
In the end, I liked it enough to finish and perhaps I will start the series with book #1.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
* This was a buddy read with Dorie & Marialyce. Be sure to check out their reviews!
April 25, 2023
I really just wanted an audiobook from Kindle Unlimited, and I'm DNFing at 85%. What She Found is incredibly long, and I found it to be an incredibly tedious police procedural thriller.
Not to mention.. at about 30% of the way in, I predicted almost everything that was revealed, so it's not a fun mental challenge and therefore bored me. I need to not see everything coming and have it laid out so well.
I don't think Dugoni's writing style is for me. This book has a staggering 20k+ reviews on Amazon... and I'm genuinely bewildered how that many people got through it and didn't keel over of boredom.
**The reason I'm still giving it two stars is because the audio narration was actually top-tier. If you like police procedurals, this one is included with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Not to mention.. at about 30% of the way in, I predicted almost everything that was revealed, so it's not a fun mental challenge and therefore bored me. I need to not see everything coming and have it laid out so well.
I don't think Dugoni's writing style is for me. This book has a staggering 20k+ reviews on Amazon... and I'm genuinely bewildered how that many people got through it and didn't keel over of boredom.
**The reason I'm still giving it two stars is because the audio narration was actually top-tier. If you like police procedurals, this one is included with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
August 24, 2022
Okay so I have at last been worn down by all the Tracy Crosswhite fans and I have tried one of her books. I am sure I have missed lots by joining in at #9 but it was still a great read.
In What She Found Tracy is lead detective in the Cold Case unit. She is approached by Anita whose mother, Lisa Childress, has been missing for 25 years. Anita just wants to know what happened to her and, as a mother of a young daughter, Tracy feels sympathy for her and begins to search for clues. The reader already has a few of those because there is a prologue and I must admit it gave me an idea of what was going to occur.
What follows is Tracy's determined pursuit of the truth even when she discovers she is exposing crooked cops and people who kill to cover up their wrong doings. Tracy is an admirable character with a strong sense of justice and a determination to do the right thing. When it comes to strong, sensible, female leads she is the real thing.
I enjoyed the whole book very much and will certainly now go back to the start and get to appreciate the whole series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In What She Found Tracy is lead detective in the Cold Case unit. She is approached by Anita whose mother, Lisa Childress, has been missing for 25 years. Anita just wants to know what happened to her and, as a mother of a young daughter, Tracy feels sympathy for her and begins to search for clues. The reader already has a few of those because there is a prologue and I must admit it gave me an idea of what was going to occur.
What follows is Tracy's determined pursuit of the truth even when she discovers she is exposing crooked cops and people who kill to cover up their wrong doings. Tracy is an admirable character with a strong sense of justice and a determination to do the right thing. When it comes to strong, sensible, female leads she is the real thing.
I enjoyed the whole book very much and will certainly now go back to the start and get to appreciate the whole series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 13, 2022
the setup…
Seattle Detective Tracy Crosswhite is still dealing with the aftermath of her last high profile cold case when she’s contacted by Anita Childress who wants her to investigate her mother’s disappearance 24 years ago. Lisa Childress, an investigative reporter, purportedly left home in the middle of the night to meet with a confidential source and was never seen again. Anita has been obsessed by the need to get answers, even following in her footsteps by becoming a reporter. Tracy finds that Lisa was working on four potential stories, one of them involving a potentially corrupt unit within the police department that may just point in uncomfortable directions.
the heart of the story…
It’s important to read the short story that precedes this book as there’s a direct connection. While Tracy has four lines of direction to follow in searching for answers about Lisa Childress, she’s not biased towards any but one gets traction rather quickly. The more she probed, the more the path opened up disturbing information. She’s still heading the Cold Case Unit but the investigation leads her back to her former colleagues in Violent Crimes. We know how they connect and I held my breath as she got closer, worrying she’d form wrong conclusions before uncovering the truth. But, this is Tracy so I was just as confident she’d be thorough and exacting.
the narration…
This was all about storytelling, getting the pace and tension just right and Sutton-Smith was perfect in her performance. There were also several character speech dialects and accents important in this one and she nailed them. Just another typical, outstanding delivery.
the bottom line…
I inadvertently started this series by reading the connected story first so I’ve had to wait a long time to see how the events from that book would eventually resurface. If there’s any question, I highly agree that it best fits where it is in the series listing. The search for what happened to Lisa was highly intriguing because Tracy smartly followed the clues and leads, making intelligent connections. It’s almost like she’s perfectly wired to investigate cold cases as she’s methodical, resourceful and sensitive to how the people involved may have shifted priorities. Despite having some insight as to what may have happened to Lisa, I was blown away by the outcomes with twists I never envisioned. This was a low burn, building in suspense about the mystery to a shocking conclusion. The aftermath left residues that have yet to fully manifest themselves. I’m now caught up in this wonderful series, which leaves a vacuum until the next release as I won’t have my normal monthly connection with these characters and their fascinating world.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Seattle Detective Tracy Crosswhite is still dealing with the aftermath of her last high profile cold case when she’s contacted by Anita Childress who wants her to investigate her mother’s disappearance 24 years ago. Lisa Childress, an investigative reporter, purportedly left home in the middle of the night to meet with a confidential source and was never seen again. Anita has been obsessed by the need to get answers, even following in her footsteps by becoming a reporter. Tracy finds that Lisa was working on four potential stories, one of them involving a potentially corrupt unit within the police department that may just point in uncomfortable directions.
the heart of the story…
It’s important to read the short story that precedes this book as there’s a direct connection. While Tracy has four lines of direction to follow in searching for answers about Lisa Childress, she’s not biased towards any but one gets traction rather quickly. The more she probed, the more the path opened up disturbing information. She’s still heading the Cold Case Unit but the investigation leads her back to her former colleagues in Violent Crimes. We know how they connect and I held my breath as she got closer, worrying she’d form wrong conclusions before uncovering the truth. But, this is Tracy so I was just as confident she’d be thorough and exacting.
the narration…
This was all about storytelling, getting the pace and tension just right and Sutton-Smith was perfect in her performance. There were also several character speech dialects and accents important in this one and she nailed them. Just another typical, outstanding delivery.
the bottom line…
I inadvertently started this series by reading the connected story first so I’ve had to wait a long time to see how the events from that book would eventually resurface. If there’s any question, I highly agree that it best fits where it is in the series listing. The search for what happened to Lisa was highly intriguing because Tracy smartly followed the clues and leads, making intelligent connections. It’s almost like she’s perfectly wired to investigate cold cases as she’s methodical, resourceful and sensitive to how the people involved may have shifted priorities. Despite having some insight as to what may have happened to Lisa, I was blown away by the outcomes with twists I never envisioned. This was a low burn, building in suspense about the mystery to a shocking conclusion. The aftermath left residues that have yet to fully manifest themselves. I’m now caught up in this wonderful series, which leaves a vacuum until the next release as I won’t have my normal monthly connection with these characters and their fascinating world.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
July 30, 2022
In the ninth Tracy Crosswhite book she is still a one woman cold case unit. It suits her, the hours allow her to get home in time to see her nearly 2 year old daughter and she has had some successes. One day she is contacted by young woman Anita Childress who begs her to look at the case of her mother who disappeared 24 years ago. Lisa Childress left her home in the middle of the night to meet a source at 2:00 am. Her husband, David, tucked a can of bear spray into her pocket as she left.
Tracy is not convinced this is worth pursuing as it really was a long time ago and there is no new evidence. Anita hands over all her research including her mother’s notebooks. She used to be an investigative journalist who was famously reticent about divulging any details of what she was was working on.
Tracy looks through these materials and reckons there were at least four cases that could have been “dangerous” and agrees to help Anita while cautioning her not to expect too much. Tracy soon narrows it down to one case and learns that there is much more to this one than meets the eye.
We have a couple of dead crewmen who were never investigated properly, a ship that was raided for drugs but there is no record of this, a secretive Seattle police unit set up to crack down on drugs who always wore masks (ostensibly for their safety), a harbour master who apparently killed himself in his car on the same night that Lisa Childress disappeared. Tracy speaks to as many witnesses as she can and sets up a Facebook page seeking tips. Her boss, Chief of Police Marcella Weber, tells her in no uncertain terms to drop this one and focus on cases where DNA evidence gives a possibility of an outcome. Of course Tracy goes rogue because she has a bad feeling about this one.
This was a different kind of story for Tracy. There was a bit less action but deeper character development and she learns that both Faz and Del, who were both on her homicide team, are hiding something. Del has a secret past he is not proud of. There may yet be serving officers who were involved in covering up some of the corruption by this secret drugs unit. Can Tracy find Lisa Childress - dead or alive? I can’t say but I certainly enjoyed the journey to the truth! This is Robert Dugoni at his absolute best. The book never lagged and you get immediately invested in this story. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Tracy is not convinced this is worth pursuing as it really was a long time ago and there is no new evidence. Anita hands over all her research including her mother’s notebooks. She used to be an investigative journalist who was famously reticent about divulging any details of what she was was working on.
Tracy looks through these materials and reckons there were at least four cases that could have been “dangerous” and agrees to help Anita while cautioning her not to expect too much. Tracy soon narrows it down to one case and learns that there is much more to this one than meets the eye.
We have a couple of dead crewmen who were never investigated properly, a ship that was raided for drugs but there is no record of this, a secretive Seattle police unit set up to crack down on drugs who always wore masks (ostensibly for their safety), a harbour master who apparently killed himself in his car on the same night that Lisa Childress disappeared. Tracy speaks to as many witnesses as she can and sets up a Facebook page seeking tips. Her boss, Chief of Police Marcella Weber, tells her in no uncertain terms to drop this one and focus on cases where DNA evidence gives a possibility of an outcome. Of course Tracy goes rogue because she has a bad feeling about this one.
This was a different kind of story for Tracy. There was a bit less action but deeper character development and she learns that both Faz and Del, who were both on her homicide team, are hiding something. Del has a secret past he is not proud of. There may yet be serving officers who were involved in covering up some of the corruption by this secret drugs unit. Can Tracy find Lisa Childress - dead or alive? I can’t say but I certainly enjoyed the journey to the truth! This is Robert Dugoni at his absolute best. The book never lagged and you get immediately invested in this story. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
July 29, 2022
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Dugoni, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Excited to get my hands on the latest Robert Dugoni novel, I rushed to read it and learn more about the adventures of Detective Tracy Crosswhite. While things in Seattle have been running smoothly, Crosswhite has a great deal still going on, particularly with her work in Cold Cases. Dugoni continues to develop his protagonist in a story where the twists do not stop until the final page. A wonderful addition to the series.
Detective Tracy Crosswhite could not be happier working within the Seattle Police Department, especially with a new Chief of Police. While she has been able to make an impact, she knows that her daily work must not be shelved. When a local reporter approaches Crosswhite to help with the disappearance of her mother 25 years ago, the detective is keen to see what she can uncover. Anita Childress is keen to learn what happened all those years ago and how her mother could up and disappear without a trace.
While Lisa Childress was herself a roaming reporter in 1996, she knew that she could not rely on the memory of others to reveal the truth of many cases. Chasing down a lead one night, Childress simply vanished and her husband was presumed to have murdered her. Living under a veil of suspicion for years, the family soon became local pariahs. Now, Anita wants answers and is not sure her own reporting will be enough to fill in all the gaps.
With Detective Crosswhite now on the case, it would appear that Lisa Childress had been looking into some fairly damning stories, including one about drug trafficking through coastal waters where a police team could have been looking the other way. Might this have been a reason Childress disappeared and could have been murdered? Crosswhite is keen to discover the truth and pulls on some leads of her own, including the original investigating detective.
The more she learns, the less sure Detective Crosswhite is about what she is discovering, but it is only after a trip out of town that things really take a turn. With everything up in the air, a daughter seeking answers about her mother’s disappearance, and Crosswhite feeling the pull from her own family, the case ramps up. Guilty parties seek to hush the sleeping dog that remained quiet for many years, which could have dire consequences. Dugoni adds chills to an eventful thriller, perfect for series fans.
There is nothing like knowing Robert Dugoni has a new book ready for reading, as he is able to mix wonderful ideas with an addictive storytelling ability. I am always highly impressed with Tracy Crosswhite in her stories, especially as there is no lack of character development throughout the experience. Dugoni has a great handle on the series and one can only hope there will be many more books to come, as I am keen to see where things will progress from here.
There is nothing better than an author who has mastered the art of storytelling and knows how to convey their ideas well. Robert Dugoni has never had this issue and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. An easy flowing narrative make the pages melt into one another, as chapters rush by and the story progresses wonderfully. Key characters provide wonderful contrast throughout and there is nothing like seeing Tracy Crosswhite grow, personally and professionally, while those around her also advance in their own way. The plot proves unique and yet grounded, keeping series fans feeling that sense of life in Seattle is ever-evolving and crime is always being explored in new ways. While this is book nine, I can only hope Dugoni has a lot more for his protagonist to do in a series that has not lost its lustre whatsoever.
Kudos, Mr. Dugoni, for proving that some series can stand the test of time and additions, without getting stale. I want to see what Tracy Crosswhite has to show when she returns soon.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Excited to get my hands on the latest Robert Dugoni novel, I rushed to read it and learn more about the adventures of Detective Tracy Crosswhite. While things in Seattle have been running smoothly, Crosswhite has a great deal still going on, particularly with her work in Cold Cases. Dugoni continues to develop his protagonist in a story where the twists do not stop until the final page. A wonderful addition to the series.
Detective Tracy Crosswhite could not be happier working within the Seattle Police Department, especially with a new Chief of Police. While she has been able to make an impact, she knows that her daily work must not be shelved. When a local reporter approaches Crosswhite to help with the disappearance of her mother 25 years ago, the detective is keen to see what she can uncover. Anita Childress is keen to learn what happened all those years ago and how her mother could up and disappear without a trace.
While Lisa Childress was herself a roaming reporter in 1996, she knew that she could not rely on the memory of others to reveal the truth of many cases. Chasing down a lead one night, Childress simply vanished and her husband was presumed to have murdered her. Living under a veil of suspicion for years, the family soon became local pariahs. Now, Anita wants answers and is not sure her own reporting will be enough to fill in all the gaps.
With Detective Crosswhite now on the case, it would appear that Lisa Childress had been looking into some fairly damning stories, including one about drug trafficking through coastal waters where a police team could have been looking the other way. Might this have been a reason Childress disappeared and could have been murdered? Crosswhite is keen to discover the truth and pulls on some leads of her own, including the original investigating detective.
The more she learns, the less sure Detective Crosswhite is about what she is discovering, but it is only after a trip out of town that things really take a turn. With everything up in the air, a daughter seeking answers about her mother’s disappearance, and Crosswhite feeling the pull from her own family, the case ramps up. Guilty parties seek to hush the sleeping dog that remained quiet for many years, which could have dire consequences. Dugoni adds chills to an eventful thriller, perfect for series fans.
There is nothing like knowing Robert Dugoni has a new book ready for reading, as he is able to mix wonderful ideas with an addictive storytelling ability. I am always highly impressed with Tracy Crosswhite in her stories, especially as there is no lack of character development throughout the experience. Dugoni has a great handle on the series and one can only hope there will be many more books to come, as I am keen to see where things will progress from here.
There is nothing better than an author who has mastered the art of storytelling and knows how to convey their ideas well. Robert Dugoni has never had this issue and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. An easy flowing narrative make the pages melt into one another, as chapters rush by and the story progresses wonderfully. Key characters provide wonderful contrast throughout and there is nothing like seeing Tracy Crosswhite grow, personally and professionally, while those around her also advance in their own way. The plot proves unique and yet grounded, keeping series fans feeling that sense of life in Seattle is ever-evolving and crime is always being explored in new ways. While this is book nine, I can only hope Dugoni has a lot more for his protagonist to do in a series that has not lost its lustre whatsoever.
Kudos, Mr. Dugoni, for proving that some series can stand the test of time and additions, without getting stale. I want to see what Tracy Crosswhite has to show when she returns soon.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
August 18, 2022
I have read a number of Robert Dugoni books and have enjoyed them all. This book was for me surprisingly slow and the fast pace I am so use to his stories was missing.
Tracy Crosswhite is back again investigating cold cases, When a twenty-five year old missing case comes onto her path, she is intrigued. Brought on by the missing woman's daughter, Anita, Tracy begins a laborious search for Lisa Childress which brings her into conflict with the powers that be.
Lisa was an investigative reporter, who kept her reporting close to the chest, so no one really knew what she was working on, (including er husband who of course becomes the primary suspect in her disappearance.)
Going down many alleys and finding leading to corruption in the police department, she encounters opposition and a tinge of danger. However, there a few surprises in store for her and all involved. Tracy will not let the past be forgotten and although she doesn't get her man, she does uncover a case that had serious repercussions for all involved.
I enjoyed the story but found I had a hard time with all the details. I realize this was a police procedural and facts ad tracking down the real from the imagined is a laborious task.
Probably I bear a differing opinion from most, but this was my least favorite of the author's book I have read so far.
Thank you to Robert Dugoni and NetGalley for a copy of this story which is soon to be published.
Tracy Crosswhite is back again investigating cold cases, When a twenty-five year old missing case comes onto her path, she is intrigued. Brought on by the missing woman's daughter, Anita, Tracy begins a laborious search for Lisa Childress which brings her into conflict with the powers that be.
Lisa was an investigative reporter, who kept her reporting close to the chest, so no one really knew what she was working on, (including er husband who of course becomes the primary suspect in her disappearance.)
Going down many alleys and finding leading to corruption in the police department, she encounters opposition and a tinge of danger. However, there a few surprises in store for her and all involved. Tracy will not let the past be forgotten and although she doesn't get her man, she does uncover a case that had serious repercussions for all involved.
I enjoyed the story but found I had a hard time with all the details. I realize this was a police procedural and facts ad tracking down the real from the imagined is a laborious task.
Probably I bear a differing opinion from most, but this was my least favorite of the author's book I have read so far.
Thank you to Robert Dugoni and NetGalley for a copy of this story which is soon to be published.
September 3, 2022
I have read a few of Robert Dugoni’s previous books but What She Found was the first book I read in the Tracy Crosswhite series. It can definitely be read as a stand alone book but What She Found was the nineth book in this series. It was a crime fiction book that had a well crafted plot with lots of twists. It took place in Seattle, Washington. I have never been disappointed by reading a book by Robert Dugoni. He is a masterful and superb storyteller. What She Found grabbed my attention immediately from the tense, scary and unsettling beginning and did not let go until I finished reading the very last page.
Tracy Crosswhite had recently been tasked at working solo solving cold cases at the police headquarters in Seattle. She hoped she could bring closure to families of the victims. She liked working by herself and helping families finally find solace. Her hours also gave Tracy more time to spend with her husband Dan and young daughter Daniella. That pleased Tracy very much. Tracy had a personal history with cold cases. Her sister had disappeared years ago and no one was ever able to solve what had happened to her until just recently. Tracy was well respected for the years that she had worked for the Seattle police department. She had won three medals of valor for her outstanding achievements.
One day, Tracy got a call from a woman named Anita Childress. Anita was a reporter at the Seattle Times newspaper. Her story tugged at Tracy’s heartstrings and own memories. When the two agreed to meet for coffee, Anita confessed her ongoing obsession to find out the truth about what happened to her mother almost twenty-five years ago. Anita was a very young child when her mother Lisa Childress, then an investigative reporter for a newspaper that had since been reduced to only reporting digitally, left her house at 2 a.m. to meet a person who claimed to have information for her on a case she was investigating. Lisa, Anita’s mother, never returned home that night. The police force members that were assigned to investigate Anita’s mother’s disappearance suspected that either Anita’s father had murdered his wife or Lisa had wanted to disappear and start a new life. Anita’s father became their number 1 suspect. Her father was ostracized by the community and the press destroyed his reputation and infringed upon his privacy. His life was never the same but he devoted himself to making sure Anita was loved and cared for. Tracy decided she would try and help Anita find out what happened to her mother more than two decades ago but held no promises. What would Tracy uncover? Would Tracy Crosswhite be able to solve the cold case that concerned Lisa Childress and give Anita closure?
What She Found by Robert Dugoni was an addictive and twisty crime fiction book that was hard to put down. I kept thinking that I would read one more chapter and put it down to get some sleep but that was easier said than done. Robert Dugoni never seems to disappoint. What She Found was fast paced and suspenseful. I loved all the colorful characters but especially Tracy Crosswhite. She was strong and determined and stood up for what she believed. I love a story with a strong female protagonist and Tracy Crosswhite was most definitely that. This is a series that I will definitely go back and read the prior books. I look forward to reading Robert Dugoni’s next book and I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer Publishers for allowing me to read What She Found by Robert Dugoni through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Tracy Crosswhite had recently been tasked at working solo solving cold cases at the police headquarters in Seattle. She hoped she could bring closure to families of the victims. She liked working by herself and helping families finally find solace. Her hours also gave Tracy more time to spend with her husband Dan and young daughter Daniella. That pleased Tracy very much. Tracy had a personal history with cold cases. Her sister had disappeared years ago and no one was ever able to solve what had happened to her until just recently. Tracy was well respected for the years that she had worked for the Seattle police department. She had won three medals of valor for her outstanding achievements.
One day, Tracy got a call from a woman named Anita Childress. Anita was a reporter at the Seattle Times newspaper. Her story tugged at Tracy’s heartstrings and own memories. When the two agreed to meet for coffee, Anita confessed her ongoing obsession to find out the truth about what happened to her mother almost twenty-five years ago. Anita was a very young child when her mother Lisa Childress, then an investigative reporter for a newspaper that had since been reduced to only reporting digitally, left her house at 2 a.m. to meet a person who claimed to have information for her on a case she was investigating. Lisa, Anita’s mother, never returned home that night. The police force members that were assigned to investigate Anita’s mother’s disappearance suspected that either Anita’s father had murdered his wife or Lisa had wanted to disappear and start a new life. Anita’s father became their number 1 suspect. Her father was ostracized by the community and the press destroyed his reputation and infringed upon his privacy. His life was never the same but he devoted himself to making sure Anita was loved and cared for. Tracy decided she would try and help Anita find out what happened to her mother more than two decades ago but held no promises. What would Tracy uncover? Would Tracy Crosswhite be able to solve the cold case that concerned Lisa Childress and give Anita closure?
What She Found by Robert Dugoni was an addictive and twisty crime fiction book that was hard to put down. I kept thinking that I would read one more chapter and put it down to get some sleep but that was easier said than done. Robert Dugoni never seems to disappoint. What She Found was fast paced and suspenseful. I loved all the colorful characters but especially Tracy Crosswhite. She was strong and determined and stood up for what she believed. I love a story with a strong female protagonist and Tracy Crosswhite was most definitely that. This is a series that I will definitely go back and read the prior books. I look forward to reading Robert Dugoni’s next book and I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer Publishers for allowing me to read What She Found by Robert Dugoni through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 3, 2022
What She Found is the ninth book in the wonderfully compelling Tracy Crosswhite series, about a Seattle homicide detective who solves Cold Cases, usually involving missing women. I’ve read all of the full novels in order, but think they would work as stand-alone mysteries, although Tracy’s relationships with her colleagues and family are a major strength of this series. I was delighted to be approved for an ARC, and bumped this to the top of my reading queue. It’s not the strongest of the series, but still delivers an enjoyable police procedural that should keep established fans happy.
Months after the events of In Her Tracks, Tracy is winding up that investigation and ready to take on a new case, when a young newspaper reporter asks her to look into the disappearance of her mother twenty-four years earlier. Lisa Childress vanished after arranging a late night meeting with a source when her daughter Anita was only two. The police suspected her husband, but the case went nowhere due to a lack of witnesses and evidence. Now Anita wants Tracy to try again, opening up links to the past which will threaten one of her closest friends.
There’s a short story in this series, called The Last Line, which I haven’t read yet, about past events referred to here. Obviously you don’t need to have read it to follow this story, but it probably would’ve been better to read that first. While there are mentions of a (yawn) serial killer being one of the possible explanations for Lisa’s disappearance, I’m happy to reassure readers that this is ruled out early - I have a particular disdain for detective series bringing them in to every book. This takes the investigation into a different direction, and while not as exciting as some of the earlier books, the eventual reveal was in many ways more satisfying. Tracy continues to grow as a character and I enjoyed the snippets of her home life with her giant dogs and cute baby, and her refreshingly conflict-free marriage to the gorgeous Dan.
The author’s note explains that he has consciously decided to keep Covid-19 out of his books in order not to upset readers who want an escape from it. I can respect this stance without agreeing with it, you just have to accept that they are progressing in an alternate reality that nevertheless does include mentions of defunding the police as an issue. This book has minimal violence and isn’t as dark as some of the earlier ones which was a welcome relief.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
What She Found is published on August 23rd.
Months after the events of In Her Tracks, Tracy is winding up that investigation and ready to take on a new case, when a young newspaper reporter asks her to look into the disappearance of her mother twenty-four years earlier. Lisa Childress vanished after arranging a late night meeting with a source when her daughter Anita was only two. The police suspected her husband, but the case went nowhere due to a lack of witnesses and evidence. Now Anita wants Tracy to try again, opening up links to the past which will threaten one of her closest friends.
There’s a short story in this series, called The Last Line, which I haven’t read yet, about past events referred to here. Obviously you don’t need to have read it to follow this story, but it probably would’ve been better to read that first. While there are mentions of a (yawn) serial killer being one of the possible explanations for Lisa’s disappearance, I’m happy to reassure readers that this is ruled out early - I have a particular disdain for detective series bringing them in to every book. This takes the investigation into a different direction, and while not as exciting as some of the earlier books, the eventual reveal was in many ways more satisfying. Tracy continues to grow as a character and I enjoyed the snippets of her home life with her giant dogs and cute baby, and her refreshingly conflict-free marriage to the gorgeous Dan.
The author’s note explains that he has consciously decided to keep Covid-19 out of his books in order not to upset readers who want an escape from it. I can respect this stance without agreeing with it, you just have to accept that they are progressing in an alternate reality that nevertheless does include mentions of defunding the police as an issue. This book has minimal violence and isn’t as dark as some of the earlier ones which was a welcome relief.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
What She Found is published on August 23rd.
December 2, 2022
Tracy Crosswhite returns to work in the ninth installment in the series but in a new role. She is no longer working active cases with the Violent Crimes unit. Instead she is working cold cases. Part of what appealed to her and why she agreed is because it will allow her to have somewhat regular hours and spend more time with her daughter, Daniella. Plus she will no longer have to report to Captain Johnny Nolasco.
Anita Childress comes to Tracy asking if she can look into the disappearance of her mother. Lisa Childress was an investigative reporter when she disappeared twenty-five years ago. She had been on her way to meet a confidential informant at 2AM. She was never seen again. Anita was two years old at the time. Now she wants to find out what happened to her mother. Her father had been considered a suspect in Lisa's disappearance. Anita wants to clear his name if possible but mostly she wants to know the truth. It has become an obsession for her. Tracy can relate. She spent twenty years investigating the facts surrounding her sister Sarah’s disappearance.
At the time she disappeared Lisa had been working on several stories ... an exposé of mayoral graft; the rumors of a city councilman’s criminal sex life; a drug task force scandal compromising the Seattle PD; and an elusive serial killer. Any one of these stories could put Lisa in danger.
As she digs into Lisa's disappearance Tracy learns facts that hit close to home and test her loyalties. As one of her formers partners in the Violent Crimes unit says she is like a dog with a bone. Once she starts working on a case she will not let go. No matter where the truth leads her.
Anita Childress comes to Tracy asking if she can look into the disappearance of her mother. Lisa Childress was an investigative reporter when she disappeared twenty-five years ago. She had been on her way to meet a confidential informant at 2AM. She was never seen again. Anita was two years old at the time. Now she wants to find out what happened to her mother. Her father had been considered a suspect in Lisa's disappearance. Anita wants to clear his name if possible but mostly she wants to know the truth. It has become an obsession for her. Tracy can relate. She spent twenty years investigating the facts surrounding her sister Sarah’s disappearance.
At the time she disappeared Lisa had been working on several stories ... an exposé of mayoral graft; the rumors of a city councilman’s criminal sex life; a drug task force scandal compromising the Seattle PD; and an elusive serial killer. Any one of these stories could put Lisa in danger.
As she digs into Lisa's disappearance Tracy learns facts that hit close to home and test her loyalties. As one of her formers partners in the Violent Crimes unit says she is like a dog with a bone. Once she starts working on a case she will not let go. No matter where the truth leads her.
October 14, 2022
Investigative Reporter Anita Childress asks Cold Case Detective Tracy Crosswhite to re-open her mother's file. Twenty-Five years ago, Reporter Lisa Childress received a call from a confidential informant about a story she was working on. She left to meet him in the middle of the night and was never seen again. Anita wants to know what happened to her mother. She also wants to clear her father's name since he was the prime suspect in the disappearance.
This is the 9th book in the Tracy Crosswhite series. Tracy starts by looking into the stories that Lisa was working on at the time of her disappearance. A case involving two bodies found in a local marina leaves Tracy up to her neck in police corruption, drugs, a cover-up, and murder. She also learns that co-workers who are close to her are hiding something. My rating: 4 Stars.
This is the 9th book in the Tracy Crosswhite series. Tracy starts by looking into the stories that Lisa was working on at the time of her disappearance. A case involving two bodies found in a local marina leaves Tracy up to her neck in police corruption, drugs, a cover-up, and murder. She also learns that co-workers who are close to her are hiding something. My rating: 4 Stars.
August 6, 2022
Oh, happy dance! I am always excited when Robert Dugoni comes out with a new book. What She Found is the ninth novel in his excellent Tracy Crosswhite series. I was pleased to receive a digital copy from NetGalley in return for my honest review. Thanks also to Thomas & Mercer and the author.
Tracy is now working solo solving cold cases for the Seattle Police Department. While she misses her teammates, Kinsington Rowe, Vic Fazzio and Del Castigliano, she enjoys the fact that she can usually get home at a decent hour to spend time with her husband Dan and young daughter Daniella. As she is wrapping up a horrific serial killer case, a woman comes to her asking for help finding out what happened to her mother who disappeared 25 years earlier. Lisa Childress was an investigative reporter for the Post-Intelligencer. She left home in the dark of night and never returned. Her husband was left to care for their young daughter Anita. Because of the mysterious disappearance and absence of information, Lisa was presumed dead, perhaps by foul play, and her husband was considered a prime suspect.
Anita tells Tracy that her mother was socially awkward, perhaps autistic; nonetheless, she was a gifted journalist who relentlessly pursued her stories. She never shared her sources or her stories until they were ready to be published, according to her husband and her editor. This gave the police nothing to go on, which meant that they did little to dig beyond the surface to solve her disappearance. Not Tracy. Despite the passage of time, lack of witnesses, and pushback from within the department, Tracy is determined to find answers.
Robert Dugoni – whew! What a complex tale you’ve spun! The characters feel real, and you’re not afraid to make them fallible, are you? Guys like Faz and Del are not allowed to fly under Tracy’s radar. Everyone from back then comes under scrutiny. Some are dead and can’t defend themselves. The statute of limitations is long past expired for some offenses. Other witnesses are not going to talk. But some do. There are some fabulous minor characters here. I’d also like to see Anita Childress in another book or two, but somehow, I don’t see that happening.
We get a glimpse of what happened to Lisa Childress in the Prologue, but we don’t actually see the outcome. We’re left with some of the same questions that Anita brings to Tracy. Sit back, get comfortable, and enjoy!
5 stars
Tracy is now working solo solving cold cases for the Seattle Police Department. While she misses her teammates, Kinsington Rowe, Vic Fazzio and Del Castigliano, she enjoys the fact that she can usually get home at a decent hour to spend time with her husband Dan and young daughter Daniella. As she is wrapping up a horrific serial killer case, a woman comes to her asking for help finding out what happened to her mother who disappeared 25 years earlier. Lisa Childress was an investigative reporter for the Post-Intelligencer. She left home in the dark of night and never returned. Her husband was left to care for their young daughter Anita. Because of the mysterious disappearance and absence of information, Lisa was presumed dead, perhaps by foul play, and her husband was considered a prime suspect.
Anita tells Tracy that her mother was socially awkward, perhaps autistic; nonetheless, she was a gifted journalist who relentlessly pursued her stories. She never shared her sources or her stories until they were ready to be published, according to her husband and her editor. This gave the police nothing to go on, which meant that they did little to dig beyond the surface to solve her disappearance. Not Tracy. Despite the passage of time, lack of witnesses, and pushback from within the department, Tracy is determined to find answers.
Robert Dugoni – whew! What a complex tale you’ve spun! The characters feel real, and you’re not afraid to make them fallible, are you? Guys like Faz and Del are not allowed to fly under Tracy’s radar. Everyone from back then comes under scrutiny. Some are dead and can’t defend themselves. The statute of limitations is long past expired for some offenses. Other witnesses are not going to talk. But some do. There are some fabulous minor characters here. I’d also like to see Anita Childress in another book or two, but somehow, I don’t see that happening.
We get a glimpse of what happened to Lisa Childress in the Prologue, but we don’t actually see the outcome. We’re left with some of the same questions that Anita brings to Tracy. Sit back, get comfortable, and enjoy!
5 stars
April 23, 2025
"What She Found" is Book 9 in author, Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series. Twenty-five years ago, Seattle investigative reporter, Lisa Childress disappeared without a trace, believed murdered, leaving behind a husband who was the prime suspect in her murder and Anita, her daughter. Detective Tracy Crosswhite, who has been relegated to cold case duties by her chief, is asked by Anita to look into her mother’s disappearance. Not only would it be gratifying to know exactly what happened to her mother, Anita also wants to clear her father’s name as he had become a pariah when the police at the time focussed their attention on him as his wife’s killer. Tracy soon gets her teeth into the investigation but she is hampered by her boss, Chief Webber and road-blocks put in her way by those who would prefer that events in the past remain buried there. As she searches for the truth, some breathtaking surprises come to light.
Robert Dugoni fans will find no disappointment in Book 9 of his Tracy Crosswhite series. It has an unusual and engaging storyline, well-developed characters, many of whom they will recognise from earlier books in the series and his vivid description of a far from run-of-the-mill investigation. "What She Found" is a page-turner with twists and turns and an elaborate plot that will keep the reader guessing until the end. Throw in Dugoni’s characteristic in-depth research and knowledge of the Seattle area and police procedure and Book 9 will be a great addition to the series.
Robert Dugoni fans will find no disappointment in Book 9 of his Tracy Crosswhite series. It has an unusual and engaging storyline, well-developed characters, many of whom they will recognise from earlier books in the series and his vivid description of a far from run-of-the-mill investigation. "What She Found" is a page-turner with twists and turns and an elaborate plot that will keep the reader guessing until the end. Throw in Dugoni’s characteristic in-depth research and knowledge of the Seattle area and police procedure and Book 9 will be a great addition to the series.
August 7, 2022
Publication Date: 23rd Aug 2022
3.8 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining
Tracy Crosswhite is working on cold cases, trying to bring closure to grieving families in whichever way possible. Anita Childress contacts Tracy to find out more about her missing mother, Lisa Childress, who disappeared when Anita was two.
Lisa Childress was a start reporter working on explosive cases twenty-five years ago. She leaves home one night to meet a source and vanishes. Her husband, Larry Childress, becomes the prime suspect, though there is no proof. Anita is tired of the speculations and the cloud hanging over their heads. She was to move on.
Tracy realizes there’s too much to do when she goes through Lisa’s notes. The reporter was working on four potential exposes involving big names and a serial killer. As Tracy digs deeper, things start to make more sense. However, it also puts her in a difficult position. It’s not just about helping Anita but a tough fight for justice that can bring to the light the biggest scandal ever.
The story comes in the limited-third person POV of Tracy Crosswhite.
My Observations:
I jumped right in by starting with this one. It’s the ninth in the series but works very well as a standalone. A wee bit of it reminded me of In Death series by JD Robb (police procedurals will have common elements).
This book is a bit dialogue heavy as Tracy talks to many people, and some have a lot to say. It’s not action-intensive, though I can’t say if that’s common in the series or if this book is an exception.
The book has a decent pace (though it dips in the middle and picks up in the second half). The threads come together well, and we can connect the dots before it is revealed.
Tracy’s family life (husband and a sixteen-month-old) blends well with her profession. It’s not easy, and Tracy has to make a few compromises.
The prologue is perfect. The story depends on it. There’s an epilogue, which answers some questions and raises a few more. It is the launch pad for the next in the series (I’ll read that one).
The ending is anti-climatic and feels like a deflated balloon. I’m a little disappointed, but I see why it’s done. The case itself is such that quick action wouldn’t be possible.
I know I missed most of the dynamics between Tracy and others in the previous books. However, it’s easy to go with the flow. The characters are well-etched and do their job.
To sum up, What She Found is an entertaining police procedural without high voltage action but a well-done plot. Grab it when you want something less intense yet engaging.
Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #WhatSheFound
3.8 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining
Tracy Crosswhite is working on cold cases, trying to bring closure to grieving families in whichever way possible. Anita Childress contacts Tracy to find out more about her missing mother, Lisa Childress, who disappeared when Anita was two.
Lisa Childress was a start reporter working on explosive cases twenty-five years ago. She leaves home one night to meet a source and vanishes. Her husband, Larry Childress, becomes the prime suspect, though there is no proof. Anita is tired of the speculations and the cloud hanging over their heads. She was to move on.
Tracy realizes there’s too much to do when she goes through Lisa’s notes. The reporter was working on four potential exposes involving big names and a serial killer. As Tracy digs deeper, things start to make more sense. However, it also puts her in a difficult position. It’s not just about helping Anita but a tough fight for justice that can bring to the light the biggest scandal ever.
The story comes in the limited-third person POV of Tracy Crosswhite.
My Observations:
I jumped right in by starting with this one. It’s the ninth in the series but works very well as a standalone. A wee bit of it reminded me of In Death series by JD Robb (police procedurals will have common elements).
This book is a bit dialogue heavy as Tracy talks to many people, and some have a lot to say. It’s not action-intensive, though I can’t say if that’s common in the series or if this book is an exception.
The book has a decent pace (though it dips in the middle and picks up in the second half). The threads come together well, and we can connect the dots before it is revealed.
Tracy’s family life (husband and a sixteen-month-old) blends well with her profession. It’s not easy, and Tracy has to make a few compromises.
The prologue is perfect. The story depends on it. There’s an epilogue, which answers some questions and raises a few more. It is the launch pad for the next in the series (I’ll read that one).
The ending is anti-climatic and feels like a deflated balloon. I’m a little disappointed, but I see why it’s done. The case itself is such that quick action wouldn’t be possible.
I know I missed most of the dynamics between Tracy and others in the previous books. However, it’s easy to go with the flow. The characters are well-etched and do their job.
To sum up, What She Found is an entertaining police procedural without high voltage action but a well-done plot. Grab it when you want something less intense yet engaging.
Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #WhatSheFound
August 18, 2022
Tracy Crosswhite is back in the ninth installment of this series by Roger Dugoni. Tracy is now heading of up the Code Case Unit, and this time Tracy is looking at the disappearance of a reporter, Lisa Childress that happened twenty-five years ago. Lisa's father could have killed her, he was once a suspect. She was an investigative reporter and could have gotten involved in something that put her in bad situation. Or could Lisa still be alive somewhre?
To find out what really happened Tracy must reopen the explosive investigation Lisa was working on at the time of her disappearance involving people in high places and a possible drug task force scandal involving the police department. She could make some real enemies here.
I always look forward to Tracy Crosswhite's next adventure because she gets into some difficult situations and handles them with integrity and determination. This one was no different and the story was intriguing. If you like a good detective novel, I can highly recommend this one as well as the entire series.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 23, 2022.
To find out what really happened Tracy must reopen the explosive investigation Lisa was working on at the time of her disappearance involving people in high places and a possible drug task force scandal involving the police department. She could make some real enemies here.
I always look forward to Tracy Crosswhite's next adventure because she gets into some difficult situations and handles them with integrity and determination. This one was no different and the story was intriguing. If you like a good detective novel, I can highly recommend this one as well as the entire series.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 23, 2022.
March 31, 2022
What She Found is the ninth novel in Dugoni’s acclaimed Seattle-based Tracy Crosswhite police procedural series. Crosswhite is the very epitome of a cold case Detective, dogged, determined, and unwilling to let go. Dugoni’s offers us a police novel that is so fascinating that it’s hard to put down even though it lacks the gratuitous sex and violence most crime novels center around. Although Crosswhite is tasked with resolving cold cases where new testing procedures such as DNA can unearth new evidence, a phone call from a woman whose investigative reporter mother disappeared 24 years ago gets Crosswhite’s attention, particularly when investigation starts to show her disappearance might be related to another homicide and an unreported drug raid in a marina. Soon Crosswhite finds herself in the middle of a story bigger than she could have imagined.
April 2, 2022
This is the ninth book in the Tracy Crosswhite series by author Robert Dugoni. I have read so many books by this author in the last twelve months with his standalones as well as the David Sloane, Charles Jenkins and Tracy Crosswhite series. Unfortunately I have now read the authors complete catalogue and must wait for each new book.
Detective Tracy Crosswhite now works on cold cases and has agreed to look into the disappearance of investigative reporter Lisa Childress. Lisa’s daughter Anita is determined to clear the name of her father who was a prime suspect when her mother went missing. Twenty five years later she remains obsessed with solving the mystery and finding the truth.
But this is no straightforward case for Tracy, this is an investigation that could potentially open up other investigations and problems for Tracy. Who was Lisa following on the night she vanished and implications and rumours involving key local figures could lead to trouble for Tracy. The more Tracy delves into this case the more she realises she is likely to have her loyalties tested to the limits.
This is a very strong series, well written, good characters and exciting plots.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Tracy Crosswhite now works on cold cases and has agreed to look into the disappearance of investigative reporter Lisa Childress. Lisa’s daughter Anita is determined to clear the name of her father who was a prime suspect when her mother went missing. Twenty five years later she remains obsessed with solving the mystery and finding the truth.
But this is no straightforward case for Tracy, this is an investigation that could potentially open up other investigations and problems for Tracy. Who was Lisa following on the night she vanished and implications and rumours involving key local figures could lead to trouble for Tracy. The more Tracy delves into this case the more she realises she is likely to have her loyalties tested to the limits.
This is a very strong series, well written, good characters and exciting plots.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2022
My thanks to Thomas and Mercer, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of What She Found!!
I have loved the Tracy Crosswhite series from the beginning and What She Found is the perfect addition! Investigative reporter Lisa Childress disappeared 24 years ago and her daughter has asked for Tracy's assistance in finding out what happened to Lisa, no matter the outcome. Tracy works Cold Cases so it should be easy to take a look at this cold case, right? Wrong!! Tracy finds herself being thwarted by members of her former team and even by the Captain of the precinct. Tracy, being the dogged and determined detective she is, is unwilling to let it go.
I so loved the characters in What She Found. Henderson was an inspiration. I can't remember the name of the aging hippie on the houseboat but he was hilarious! I also loved reading about Tracy's home life. Her wonderful husband. Her sweet baby. Her funny dogs. Another great book from Mr. Dugoni!!
I have loved the Tracy Crosswhite series from the beginning and What She Found is the perfect addition! Investigative reporter Lisa Childress disappeared 24 years ago and her daughter has asked for Tracy's assistance in finding out what happened to Lisa, no matter the outcome. Tracy works Cold Cases so it should be easy to take a look at this cold case, right? Wrong!! Tracy finds herself being thwarted by members of her former team and even by the Captain of the precinct. Tracy, being the dogged and determined detective she is, is unwilling to let it go.
I so loved the characters in What She Found. Henderson was an inspiration. I can't remember the name of the aging hippie on the houseboat but he was hilarious! I also loved reading about Tracy's home life. Her wonderful husband. Her sweet baby. Her funny dogs. Another great book from Mr. Dugoni!!
February 28, 2023
Another great addition to the Tracy Crosswhite series!
Besides writing accurate and stellar police procedure, Robert Dugoni is always top notch with this series.
His plot themes, characters and having this set in Seattle always makes it easy to come back too.
I live in Seattle so it feels real and relevant with the locations, people and culture that Dugoni writes about.
In What She Found, Tracy Crosswhite is a detective that’s now working cold cases.
She gets asked by Anita, the daughter of a missing investigative reporter to find out what really happened to her Mom. Lisa Childress disappeared one night and has not been seen or found in 25 years.
The blame has always been with the husband, Anita’s father. She just wants to find out for once whether her Dad had something to do with her Mom’s disappearance or if it’s in relation to the four investigative pieces that Lisa was pursuing.
Of the four investigations, Detective Crosswhite will have to investigate if the disappearance has to do with shady deals with a former Seattle mayor, sexual allegations of a politician, a serial killer targeting women on SR 99, and a police narcotic task force that’s doing more then just busting drug dealers.
I really enjoyed this one and loved how it ended along with some of the underlying messages that happen in What She Found.
Looking forward to the next book and also reading more series by Dugoni!
Besides writing accurate and stellar police procedure, Robert Dugoni is always top notch with this series.
His plot themes, characters and having this set in Seattle always makes it easy to come back too.
I live in Seattle so it feels real and relevant with the locations, people and culture that Dugoni writes about.
In What She Found, Tracy Crosswhite is a detective that’s now working cold cases.
She gets asked by Anita, the daughter of a missing investigative reporter to find out what really happened to her Mom. Lisa Childress disappeared one night and has not been seen or found in 25 years.
The blame has always been with the husband, Anita’s father. She just wants to find out for once whether her Dad had something to do with her Mom’s disappearance or if it’s in relation to the four investigative pieces that Lisa was pursuing.
Of the four investigations, Detective Crosswhite will have to investigate if the disappearance has to do with shady deals with a former Seattle mayor, sexual allegations of a politician, a serial killer targeting women on SR 99, and a police narcotic task force that’s doing more then just busting drug dealers.
I really enjoyed this one and loved how it ended along with some of the underlying messages that happen in What She Found.
Looking forward to the next book and also reading more series by Dugoni!
August 30, 2023
This is a refresh of a book series I read. Ready to now post my review to Goodreads.
Even though this could be read as a stand-alone, it is always better to read the Tracy Crosswhite series in order. As an example, when Tracy mentions her sister, longtime readers know she means Sarah, the teen sister who disappeared in “My Sister’s Grave” – and the effects and reverberations that had on Tracy’s life which led her to choose becoming a Seattle Detective. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In this story, readers find Tracy working cold cases. She agrees to investigate the decades-old disappearance of an investigative reporter, Lisa Childress. Lisa’s daughter, Anita has been obsessed for over 25 years with her mother’s disappearance, and is pushing for resolution.
Tracy reviews the materials that Lisa was working on the night she disappeared. Apparently, it involved a rogue drug task force that would have dismantled the inner-workings of the Seattle Police Department.
When the case turns unexpectedly, Tracy unearths a shocking surprise that now brings about threats against her and her family. This makes her wonder if maybe it might now be time to retire.
Dugoni is at his best, again with his twists and turns and realistic characters addressing difficult choices.
Even though this could be read as a stand-alone, it is always better to read the Tracy Crosswhite series in order. As an example, when Tracy mentions her sister, longtime readers know she means Sarah, the teen sister who disappeared in “My Sister’s Grave” – and the effects and reverberations that had on Tracy’s life which led her to choose becoming a Seattle Detective. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In this story, readers find Tracy working cold cases. She agrees to investigate the decades-old disappearance of an investigative reporter, Lisa Childress. Lisa’s daughter, Anita has been obsessed for over 25 years with her mother’s disappearance, and is pushing for resolution.
Tracy reviews the materials that Lisa was working on the night she disappeared. Apparently, it involved a rogue drug task force that would have dismantled the inner-workings of the Seattle Police Department.
When the case turns unexpectedly, Tracy unearths a shocking surprise that now brings about threats against her and her family. This makes her wonder if maybe it might now be time to retire.
Dugoni is at his best, again with his twists and turns and realistic characters addressing difficult choices.
July 11, 2022
What She Found is the ninth book in the Tracy Crosswhite series by best-selling award-winning American author, Robert Dugoni. With her successes in her new role as the Cold Case detective being publicised, Tracy Crosswhite is asked by Seattle Times journalist, Anita Childress to look into the disappearance of her mother, then a Seattle Post-Intelligencer journalist, twenty-four years earlier.
In late February, 1996, after a phone call, Lisa Childress went out in the early hours to meet a source and never returned. Was she abducted by someone that one of her powerful hard-hitting news articles would damage? Did she leave of her own accord? Or did her husband murder her? It was this last that Seattle Detective Moss Gunderson settled on and pursued, without result.
While she suspects that Lisa is probably dead, Tracy decides not to reject any of the possibilities. Photos and a police sketch of Lisa as she would now look go onto a web page appealing for information. Lisa was working on four investigations at the time: a corrupt ex-mayor, a mayoral candidate facing accusations of impropriety, the Route 99 serial killer, and cops skimming off drug busts.
After some preliminary calls and interviews, it seems the police corruption around the drug busts is most worth a detailed follow up. But her colleague, Detective Del Castigliano, whose first murder case is closely related, is uncharacteristically evasive, and Detective Vic Fazio warns her that those covering up such a situation wouldn’t hesitate at violence: she should watch her back.
Tracy realises that city authorities might also have a stake in keeping things quiet to avoid what could be a national embarrassment of the highest order. In typical Tracy Crosswhite fashion, she doggedly pursues every lead, does some intelligent detective work, and eventually, she’s pretty sure she knows what happened, but she doesn’t have any credible evidence to prove it.
Dugoni offers another tightly plotted police procedural and just when the reader thinks they know where the story is going, he throws in an excellent twist. While not essential, reading the short story The Last Line first does enhance the enjoyment of this novel. Brilliant crime fiction, once again.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer.
In late February, 1996, after a phone call, Lisa Childress went out in the early hours to meet a source and never returned. Was she abducted by someone that one of her powerful hard-hitting news articles would damage? Did she leave of her own accord? Or did her husband murder her? It was this last that Seattle Detective Moss Gunderson settled on and pursued, without result.
While she suspects that Lisa is probably dead, Tracy decides not to reject any of the possibilities. Photos and a police sketch of Lisa as she would now look go onto a web page appealing for information. Lisa was working on four investigations at the time: a corrupt ex-mayor, a mayoral candidate facing accusations of impropriety, the Route 99 serial killer, and cops skimming off drug busts.
After some preliminary calls and interviews, it seems the police corruption around the drug busts is most worth a detailed follow up. But her colleague, Detective Del Castigliano, whose first murder case is closely related, is uncharacteristically evasive, and Detective Vic Fazio warns her that those covering up such a situation wouldn’t hesitate at violence: she should watch her back.
Tracy realises that city authorities might also have a stake in keeping things quiet to avoid what could be a national embarrassment of the highest order. In typical Tracy Crosswhite fashion, she doggedly pursues every lead, does some intelligent detective work, and eventually, she’s pretty sure she knows what happened, but she doesn’t have any credible evidence to prove it.
Dugoni offers another tightly plotted police procedural and just when the reader thinks they know where the story is going, he throws in an excellent twist. While not essential, reading the short story The Last Line first does enhance the enjoyment of this novel. Brilliant crime fiction, once again.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,060 reviews