Close to Home – Tracy Crosswhite Series #5

Author: Robert Dugoni
Genre: Crime Thriller
362 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer, Seattle, 2017

Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni’s acclaimed series continues as Tracy Crosswhite is thrown headlong into the path of a killer conspiracy.

While investigating the hit-and-run death of a young boy, Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite makes a startling discovery: the suspect is an active-duty serviceman at a local naval base. After a key piece of case evidence goes missing, he is cleared of charges in a military court. But Tracy knows she can’t turn her back on this kind of injustice.

When she uncovers the driver’s ties to a rash of recent heroin overdoses in the city, she realizes that this isn’t just a case of the military protecting its own. It runs much deeper than that, and the accused wasn’t acting alone. For Tracy, it’s all hitting very close to home.

As Tracy moves closer to uncovering the truth behind this insidious conspiracy, she’s putting herself in harm’s way. And the only people she can rely on to make it out alive might be those she can no longer trust.

My review
Close To Home by Robert Dugoni is the fifth novel in the Tracy Crosswhite series. This installment is a standout addition that continues to highlight Dugoni’s superb writing and storytelling skills. True to style, Dugoni provides detailed police procedural and forensics elements and the narrative paints a harrowing picture of addiction of both the user and those close to them. This compelling and intricate story is a definite page-turner!

Close To Home is driven by its characters centering around Tracy Crosswhite, one of my favorite female leads in crime fiction. Crosswhite is strong, intelligent, and guided by facts; she trusts her instincts and is unwavering in her quest to uncover the truth, no matter the obstacles. The story is well-plotted and gripping, and kept me entertained and engaged throughout. The novel features a wide range of characters, including familiar faces and new introductions. In this installment, we also get to see more of Kins and Del, with a deeper look into what makes them tick. There’s a good dose of humor and glimpses into their personal lives, including Crosswhite’s struggles with infertility and Kins’s health concerns.

Close To Home is a gripping police procedural and a fantastic fifth installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series. The case is complex and multi-layered, with the impact of drugs and drug addiction woven into the narrative. Dugoni consistently delivers, filling the pages with sharp dialogue, suspenseful moments, and well-timed humor. Although this is the fifth book in the series, each can be read as a standalone; however dedicated Dugoni fans will want to read the series in order to fully appreciate the growth of the characters and overarching storylines.

My recommendation: read it!