My Sister’s Grave – Tracy Crosswhite Series #1

Author: Robert Dugoni
Genre: Crime Thriller
402 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer, Seattle, 2014

Synopsis
Tracy Crosswhite has spent twenty years questioning the facts surrounding her sister Sarah’s disappearance and the murder trial that followed. She doesn’t believe that Edmund House — a convicted rapist and the man condemned for Sarah’s murder — is the guilty party. Motivated by the opportunity to obtain real justice, Tracy became a homicide detective with the Seattle PD and dedicated her life to tracking down killers.

When Sarah’s remains are finally discovered near their hometown in the northern Cascade mountains of Washington State, Tracy is determined to get the answers she’s been seeking. As she searches for the real killer, she unearths dark, long-kept secrets that will forever change her relationship to her past — and open the door to deadly danger.

My review
My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni is the first novel in the Tracy Crosswhite series. After thoroughly enjoying One Last Kill, the latest installment, I decided to go back and start from the beginning. My Sister’s Grave was a smartly written, slow simmering crime thriller and I was immediately engrossed in the story. The character-driven narrative and top-notch writing are a standout in this genre. Dugoni’s expertise in courtroom dynamics shines through, delivering detailed police procedural elements with ease, clarity, and sharpness.

Tracy Crosswhite, the main protagonist in the story, is a strong, smart, and determined female lead. Driven by facts and unwavering in her beliefs, she stands up for what is right. After reading One Last Kill, I thoroughly enjoyed starting from the beginning of Crosswhite’s story and look forward to getting to know her and the other members of her team as I progress through the series.

My Sister’s Grave is a compelling story that masterfully combines the best elements of a legal thriller with a gripping police procedural. Tracy Crosswhite is an engaging protagonist, and the story moves at such a fast pace that it’s nearly impossible to put the book down once it gets rolling. Overall, it’s a really good book and an excellent introduction to the series. Among the many police procedurals available, this one definitely stands out!

My recommendation: read it!