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Books by Robert Dugoni and Complete Book Reviews

• From Russia, Without Love: PW Talks with Robert Dugoni
• Cold Case, Warm Heart: Close-up on Robert Dugoni

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Three Generations of Young Men Come of Age in the Wonderfully Complex “The World Played Chess”

The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni

Robert Dugoni treats us to his expert, character-driven storytelling about growing up, and you won’t want to miss it!

In his latest novel, The World Played Chess ( Lake Union ), recent high school graduate Vincent has a job working construction to make some beer money the summer before he goes off to college. On the construction site with him are two war veterans, Todd and William, who share stories of their difficult and painful experiences over in Vietnam. Trying to remain hopeful when confronted with the realities of fighting in a war as an outsider was a lot for William and the other men in Vietnam to have experienced at such a young age. And coming of age while facing emotional, moral and physical challenges, surrounded by loss and lacking family support, took its toll.

Years later, Vincent, now a father with his own son, Beau, preparing to head off to college, remembers his last summer at home working construction. When Vincent receives William’s journal in the mail, he chooses to read it, revisiting William’s memories of war. Facing tragedy at home, Vincent understands the lessons his friend taught him even more clearly as he draws strength from the journal to help his own son realize that being born into privilege doesn’t guarantee a long, full and happy life.

Each young man — Vincent working construction, William heading off to war, Beau preparing to play college football — had dreams that were impacted by fate. With lessons about friendship, love, perseverance and hope, and through multiple characters and timelines, Dugoni skillfully brings us into the lives of these three young men as we experience their growing from boys into men. I loved this story: the format that included journal entries and chapters dated to keep the timeline straight, the deep and complex characters, the friendships explored and the father-son relationships. I highly recommend The World Played Chess .

Q&A WITH ROBERT DUGONI

Q: You are a bestselling author across multiple genres: espionage, police procedurals, legal thrillers and literary fiction. Do you set out to write in a certain genre? How long does it take you to complete a book, and what do you attribute to your all-encompassing success? 

A: I do set out to write in a certain way, depending on the genre that I am writing. However, I also believe that the books readers remember are about characters who are three-dimensional and real. No matter the genre, I try to create characters that people will wonder about and worry about long after they have closed the book. I want readers to feel like they’ve just visited with a good friend and hope that good friend’s life turns out all right. The length of time it takes me to write a book really varies. Sometimes, I have a strong sense of the plot and it goes quickly. Sometimes, it can be a more difficult struggle. It also depends on what else I am doing while I am writing. Generally, anywhere from six months to nine months, including research.

Q: When did you decide you wanted to be a writer and how did practicing law influence you? 

A: I knew when I was 12 and in the seventh grade that I wanted to write, that I loved to write. My mother was a big influence on me. She had many classic books that she kept handing to me to read. Practicing law taught me how to work long hours and to multi-task as well as persevere through difficult times.

Q:  Where did you get the idea for  The World Played Chess ?

A: The idea for the book came from my own life. My summer after senior year in high school, I went to work on a construction crew with two Vietnam veterans and received the education of a lifetime.

Q: Americans growing up before the 1970s were protected in their environment and could easily live without extensive knowledge of the outside world, yet the Vietnam War coincided with more media access. How do you think this impacted young people coming of age in the 1970s?

A: Vietnam was the first media war. With the widespread use of television, the war could be broadcast into American households. The United States initially thought it would be a great propaganda machine to legitimize the war, but that thinking backfired when people at home saw the body bags and read about the number of wounded every day. People coming of age in the 1970s no longer had a glorified view of war. All the John Wayne and feel-good war movies went out the window, and we got real movies like Apocalypse Now , Platoon , Deer Hunter  and Full Metal Jacket . Young people realized you could die, just as more than 50,000 young people died.

Q: Do you think we have improved how we prepare our youth for the real world, and do we protect and nurture them any better than we did in the 1970s?

A: I don’t think that can be answered generically because not everyone comes from the same circumstances. I think we have access to more information to better equip our children for what lies ahead. We have a better understanding of things like mental illness, anxiety and other illnesses that impact what can happen at college and in the real world. But young people now are exposed much earlier to things that can be detrimental to their development. Violent gaming and the internet have removed much of the naivete I enjoyed as a young person. Those days are, sadly, gone.

Q:  You captured the painful experiences of war through William’s journal entries — how did you research and ensure what you wrote about the Vietnam War rang true, and how did you come up with the idea of journaling to convey the soldier’s story?

A: The idea of the journal actually came from my son, who read a copy of the manuscript and said he really didn’t know about the Vietnam War and wanted to know what happened to William in Vietnam. I love research, so I read about 15 first-hand accounts of men who spent time in the Vietnam War. I watched all the movies. I watched documentaries, and I had two consultants, Marines who had served in Vietnam and were willing to help me to understand that experience.

Q: Love for family and friends resonates in both coming-of-age stories, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell and The World Played Chess . How did your upbringing influence your characters? 

A: I was raised in a loving family with nine brothers and sisters. My parents sacrificed so much of their lives so that my brothers and sisters could have the very best lives possible. But it was not without heartache and pain. My Dad lost his father at a very young age. My mother’s father was an alcoholic. My youngest brother was born with Down syndrome and met with bullying. Through it all, for the most part, we found strength in each other. I remain close to my siblings and to my nieces and nephews. In the end, family is all that matters. In the end, I realize that growing old is a privilege, it is not a right. We make the best of our lives, and when we do, each of us has the chance to lead an extraordinary life.  

Q: The World Played Chess  would lend itself very nicely to a movie on the big screen. Who would you envision playing Vincent, William and Todd? 

A: I always loved Matt Damon as Vincent. Mark Wahlberg comes to mind. There are so many outstanding actors, it would be tough to choose. Orlando Bloom. James Franco. Paul Giamatti.

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Jennifer Blankfein

Jennifer Gans Blankfein is a freelance marketing consultant and book reviewer. She graduated from Lehigh University with a Psychology degree and has a background in advertising. Her experience includes event coordination and fundraising along with editing a weekly, local, small business newsletter. Jennifer loves to talk about books, is an avid reader, and currently writes a book blog, Book Nation by Jen . She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two sons and black lab.

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The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

• Publication Date: April 24, 2018
• Genres: Fiction
• Hardcover: 428 pages
• Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
• ISBN-10: 1503949001
• ISBN-13: 9781503949003
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Reading Lists → Robert Dugoni

Robert Dugoni Books In Order (Full List)

Robert Dugoni has published 18 books. The first book was Cyanide Canary in 2004. Here is a complete list of Robert Dugoni books in order.

Last update: August 26, 2024

1. Cyanide Canary (2004)

"Cyanide Canary" by Robert Dugoni is a gripping and thought-provoking true crime book that unravels the sinister plot of a deadly cyanide poisoning in a small town, revealing shocking secrets and the relentless pursuit of justice.

• 📇 498 Pages
• 📝 124,500 - 149,400 Word Count
• ⏱️ 17 Hours Reading Time
• Read Amazon Reviews →

2. The Jury Master (2006)

In Robert Dugoni's gripping legal thriller, "The Jury Master," lawyer David Sloane finds himself entangled in a deadly conspiracy as he fights to protect innocent lives and uncover the truth within the corrupt corridors of justice.

• 📇 482 Pages
• 📝 120,500 - 144,600 Word Count
• ⏱️ 16 Hours Reading Time
• Free With Audible Trial →

3. Damage Control (2007)

In "Damage Control" by Robert Dugoni, attorney Dana Hill is thrust into a high-stakes legal battle when she takes on a case involving a corrupt pharmaceutical company. As she digs deeper, secrets unravel, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew about justice.

• 📝 18,000 - 21,600 Word Count
• ⏱️ 2 Hours Reading Time

4. Wrongful Death (2009)

In "Wrongful Death", Robert Dugoni presents an enthralling legal thriller where attorney David Sloane takes on a heart-wrenching wrongful death case that unravels a dark web of corruption and cover-ups. Gripping, immersive, and full of unpredictable twists - Dugoni once again proves his mastery of the genre.

• 📇 448 Pages
• 📝 112,000 - 134,400 Word Count
• ⏱️ 15 Hours Reading Time

5. Bodily Harm (2010)

In "Bodily Harm" by Robert Dugoni, attorney Dana Hill uncovers a dark secret while defending a domestic violence victim. As she fights for justice, she finds herself immersed in a dangerous world of power, betrayal, and personal trauma. A gripping legal thriller that will leave readers questioning the price of justice.

• 📇 373 Pages
• 📝 93,250 - 111,900 Word Count
• ⏱️ 12 Hours Reading Time

6. Murder One (2011)

In Robert Dugoni's gripping thriller, "Murder One," a renowned attorney finds himself on the other side of the law when he becomes the prime suspect in a high-profile murder case. With his own reputation and innocence at stake, he must unravel a web of lies to uncover the real killer.

• 📇 452 Pages
• 📝 113,000 - 135,600 Word Count

7. Conviction (2012)

Conviction by Robert Dugoni is a gripping legal thriller that follows protagonist Tracy Crosswhite as she unravels a dark conspiracy, fighting for justice while battling personal demons. Dugoni delivers suspense, captivating characters, and thought-provoking themes in this page-turning suspenseful masterpiece.

• 📇 438 Pages
• 📝 109,500 - 131,400 Word Count

8. My Sister's Grave (2014)

In "My Sister's Grave" by Robert Dugoni, a determined homicide detective, Tracy Crosswhite, seeks justice for her sister's murder after the case is abruptly closed. As she digs deeper, she unravels the shocking truth amidst a web of deception and betrayal.

• 📇 410 Pages
• 📝 102,500 - 123,000 Word Count
• ⏱️ 14 Hours Reading Time

9. Her Final Breath (2015)

Her Final Breath takes readers on a gripping journey through the twisted mind of a serial killer. With Detective Tracy Crosswhite at the helm, Robert Dugoni delivers a chilling and suspenseful tale of suspense, murder, and her relentless pursuit for justice.

• 📇 411 Pages
• 📝 102,750 - 123,300 Word Count

10. In The Clearing (2016)

"In The Clearing" by Robert Dugoni is a heart-pounding thriller that follows Detective Tracy Crosswhite as she investigates a case from her past, unearthing long-buried secrets that threaten to destroy everything she holds dear.

• 📇 355 Pages
• 📝 88,750 - 106,500 Word Count

11. The 7th Canon (2016)

In Robert Dugoni's gripping thriller, The 7Th Canon, Father Thomas Martin fights to protect an innocent man on death row from a corrupt prosecutor, uncovering a web of deception and danger that threatens to tear his faith and life apart.

• 📇 333 Pages
• 📝 83,250 - 99,900 Word Count
• ⏱️ 11 Hours Reading Time

12. The Trapped Girl (2017)

In Robert Dugoni's riveting thriller "The Trapped Girl," a missing woman's body is found encased in ice, sparking a race against time to unravel her mysterious death and expose a chilling web of secrets hidden within a small town.

• 📇 363 Pages
• 📝 90,750 - 108,900 Word Count

13. Close To Home (2017)

In "Close To Home" by Robert Dugoni, readers are plunged into a gripping psychological thriller as Seattle-based detective Tracy Crosswhite investigates a harrowing case involving a missing young girl and a sinister secret buried close to home.

• 📇 368 Pages
• 📝 92,000 - 110,400 Word Count

14. A Steep Price (2018)

"A Steep Price" by Robert Dugoni takes readers on a spine-chilling journey as Detective Tracy Crosswhite investigates a series of shocking crimes, navigating a treacherous web of corruption and danger that could cost her everything. A thrilling addition to Dugoni's acclaimed crime fiction series.

15. The Eighth Sister (2019)

In Robert Dugoni's gripping thriller, "The Eighth Sister," CIA case officer Charles Jenkins becomes entangled in a deadly game of espionage when a dangerous Russian agent resurfaces, forcing him to risk everything to uncover her secrets and protect his family.

• 📇 478 Pages
• 📝 119,500 - 143,400 Word Count

16. A Cold Trail (2020)

In "A Cold Trail," Robert Dugoni takes readers on a gripping journey as Detective Tracy Crosswhite unravels the dark secrets surrounding an unsolved murder that hits close to home. With a blend of suspense and poignant emotions, this thrilling crime novel will keep you hooked until the very last page.

• 📇 357 Pages
• 📝 89,250 - 107,100 Word Count

17. Last Agent (2020)

In "Last Agent" by Robert Dugoni, retired CIA agent Charles Jenkins is pulled back into the world of espionage when his former KGB nemesis resurfaces, forcing him to face his dark past and fight for his survival.

• 📇 431 Pages
• 📝 107,750 - 129,300 Word Count

18. What She Found (2022)

In Robert Dugoni's thrilling novel, "What She Found," a young woman stumbles upon a hidden diary, unraveling a dark secret that challenges her perception of truth and forces her to confront her own past. A gripping tale of suspense and self-discovery.

• 📇 367 Pages
• 📝 91,750 - 110,100 Word Count

Ryan Steck's The Real Book Spy

Full coverage of all your favorite thriller authors, and their characters, unlike anywhere else on the web , a killing on the hill: robert dugoni dishes on his new thriller that comes out in april.

On April 9, 2024, A Killing on the Hill , an all-new novel from New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni, is set to be released, and trust me, this is one Book Spy Readers should jump on the second it’s available.

Dugoni, who is perhaps best known for his Tracy Crosswhite series—which kicked off in 2014 with My Sister’s Grave , and is currently at ten books (including One Last Kill , 2023) and going strong, is one of the most versatile writers in the game today. While the Crosswhite series straddles the line between mystery and thriller, Dugoni has written a bit of everything over the course of his career, which kicked off in 2006 when he published The Jury Master , a legal thriller set around a San Francisco-based lawyer named David Sloane who inadvertently winds up in the middle of a major government conspiracy. Before that, Dugoni, an Attorney by trade, actually co-authored a nonfiction book. On the fiction side, which is where he’s made a name for himself, the David Sloane series ran for five books, with the last one coming out in 2012. Since then, Dugoni has proven himself a prolific writer who can churn out multiple hits a year, all the while juggling multiple series and standalones.

One of his most acclaimed books, The Extraordinary Life of Same Hell , came out in 2018. That one tells the story of Sam Hill, who was born with red pupils and called a “devil boy” or “Sam Hell” as a child by his classmates. The coming-of-age story earned massive praise from Booklist , who said, “If it doesn’t cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border,” not to mention readers. Currently, at the time of writing this article, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell holds a 4.6/5-star rating on Amazon with more than 78,000 reviews. That, quite frankly, is unprecedented. Incredibly, Dugoni even narrated his novel, and his performance won him an AudioFile Earphones Award that same year.

The bottom line is that there’s not much Robert Dugoni can’t do. He can write anything . Which is why his latest book, on the heels of his already impressive backlist, is so intriguing.

Set in 1933 during the Great Depression, Dugoni’s latest novel follows Seattle’s hottest mystery. To call it “gripping” doesn’t begin to do it justice. The fact is, it’s special and unlike anything else hitting bookstores right now.

“I’m really excited about this book,” Dugoni told The Real Book Spy in an exclusive statement. “I stumbled upon my wife’s grandfather’s scrapbooks in the attic. He was a prominent attorney. And in those books were dozens of articles on what was called ‘The Trial of the Century’ in Seattle in 1933. The Great Depression, bootlegging, Illegal gambling in night clubs and speakeasies run by gangsters. Seattle was truly the Wild West, and this book captures that period in all its glory and depravity. I think it is some of my best work.”

Indeed, this is some of Dugoni’s best work, which is really quite incredible when you consider his stunning body of work.

Check out the official plot details and cover art below.

The Great Depression. High-level corruption. And a murder that’s about to become Seattle’s hottest mystery. It’s the kind of story that can make a reporter’s career. If he lives to write about it.

Seattle, 1933. The city is in the grips of the Great Depression, Prohibition, and vice. Cutting his teeth on a small-time beat, hungry and ambitious young reporter William “Shoe” Shumacher gets a tip that could change his career. There’s been a murder at a social club on Profanity Hill―an underworld magnet for vice crimes only a privileged few can afford. The story is going to be front-page news, and Shoe is the first reporter on the scene.

The victim, Frankie Ray, is a former prizefighter. His accused killer? Club owner and mobster George Miller, who claims he pulled the trigger in self-defense. Soon the whole town’s talking, and Shoe’s first homicide is fast becoming the Trial of the Century. The more Shoe digs, the more he’s convinced nothing is as it seems. Not with a tangle of conflicting stories, an unlikely motive, and witnesses like Ray’s girlfriend, a glamour girl whose pretty lips are sealed. For now.

In a city steeped in Old West debauchery, Shoe’s following every lead to a very dangerous place―one that could bring him glory and fame or end his life.

obert Dugoni is a critically acclaimed New York Times , Wall Street Journal , Washington Post , and Amazon Charts bestselling author, reaching over ten million readers worldwide. He is best known for the Tracy Crosswhite police procedural series. He is also the author of the Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and several stand-alone novels, including Her Deadly Game , The 7th Canon , Damage Control , and The World Played Chess . His novel The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell was named Suspense Magazine ’s 2018 Book of the Year, and Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award. The Washington Post named his nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary a Best Book of the Year. Several of his novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Book Award for fiction and a three-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He has been a finalist for many other awards. Dugoni’s books are sold in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages. He lives in Seattle. Visit his website at http://www.robertdugonibooks.com .

Readers can (and should) pre-order Dugoni’s latest novel here , available from Thomas & Mercer on April 9th, 2024.

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Robert Dugoni Books In Order

Publication order of tracy crosswhite books.

Publication Order of Charles Jenkins Books

Publication Order of David Sloane Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Keera Duggan Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

He majored in creative writing and communications/journalism in Stanford University while at the same time working as a reporter for Stanford Daily. Later he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and worked shortly as a reporter for Los Angeles Times and Metro Office. The author is a two times winner of the Northwest….. Literary Award and has been nominated for Harper Lee Award and was International Thriller’s Writer’s finalist in 2015 and 2017.

His books Murder One and Bodily Harm have been recognized by Library Journal and Los Angeles Times as top 5 thriller of the year. My Sister’s Grave became an Amazon, Suspense Magazine, and Library Journal 2014 Best Book of the Year and Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestseller. The book also became the number one Amazon download in the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, Italy, and Australia.

My Sister’s Grave My Sister’s Grave is the first book in Tracy Crosswhite series by Robert Dugoni. The book introduces the reader to Seattle based homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite. Two decades earlier, her younger sister, Sarah, who was 18 years, then vanished without a trace after the two had participated in shooting range competition.

As Tracy took off to dinner with her love, Sarah drove home in the rain never to be seen again. The two sisters had sisters had been great friends and Tracy has never moved on or forgiven herself for allowing her younger sister to drive home alone in the rain.

Twenty years later, the pain of losing her sister without a goodbye still haunts her and has resulted to Tracy giving up her professional job as a teacher to become a homicide detective. A formerly convicted rapist Edmund House was arrested and charged of Sarah’s murder, mainly on the basis of circumstantial evidence and also evidence provided by the local sheriff who confessed that Edmund had confessed to murdering Sarah, even though there was no witness or tape recording to backup the sheriff’s allegations.

However, Tracy has never been convinced of Edmund’s guilt and has continued investigating into the case in an attempt to satisfy her instincts of the fact that justice was either done or not. As the story opens up, Sarah remains are finally discovered by two hunters in a thickly dense wooded area that was previously covered by a lake.

The shocking discovery of the body sparks more suspicions and raises even more questions about the case against Edmund and makes Tracy more determined to see the person responsible for her younger sister’s death pay the ultimate price. Her efforts to seek justice will antagonize a good number of people in the sleepy town where she was born and raised and where the murder crime occurred.

Her investigations will also place her life and that of those she loves in a considerable amount of jeopardy. My Sister’s Grave is a brilliant start to a promising series and a compelling story that blends the best elements of legal thriller with that of police procedural.

Tracy Crosswhite is a very engaging heroine and the main story is fast paced such that it’s almost impossible to put the book down once you get going. Tracy switches careers from a simple chemistry teacher to a homicide detective.

Her experimental background knowledge leaves an unsettled feeling regarding how the murder case was handled by the cops. Even though Edmund was convicted of the murder, Tracy’s instincts tell her that something’s not right. She is convinced that there was foul play and more than what meets the eye.

The memory of it all is killing her mind, soul and heart and the only road that leads to peace is to tread down the memory’s pathway once again. Robert Dugoni creates his protagonist as an witty, no nonsense analytical reasoning heroine. And there is a bonus to the story.

The author knows each route around a courtroom and the dialogue in the story reflects precisely that. He delves deeper into the corner untapped and hidden in the shadows. His cast is beautifully developed. There’s tons of deep-seeded emotion that doesn’t leave sticky footprints behind.

The Eighth Sister is the debut novel in Charles Jenkins series by Robert Dugoni. We are introduced to Charles Jenkins a lad in his early sixties. His beloved wife is expecting their second child and his security firm is facing bankruptcy because of his vendors not paying the bills on time. Even though he gets some relief reading Harry Potter to his son at night, the thoughts about his financial problems trouble him. When Carl Emerson contacts him, Charlie is fascinated.

He walked away from the CIA four decades ago, but when Emerson presents him with an assignment and a way to make some quick cash, Charlie can’t refuse. Charlie speaks fluent Russian, after working with the KGB and this makes him the perfect man to gather intelligence for this undercover mission.

Charlie soon finds himself in Russia in a cat and mouse game trying to uncover the identity of the 8th sister, the person responsible for the murder of several Russian spies. Soon things become so intense and Charlie past experience in the CIA is put to test.

Through this book, Robert Dugoni shares about his family, how he was often followed on suspicions that he was a spy. He also shares a discussion he had with Kristin Hannah and several other persons who shared their lives with him. There’s a lot going on in this novel right from the first page to the last.

9 Responses to “Robert Dugoni”

I’ve read “Sam Hell” and “The World Played Chess” what’s next? I feel like nothing will equal or beat these two!

This author is new to me and I really like his novels, having read 10 between July 24- August 20 (the David Sloan & Charles Jenkins series plus 2 of the standalones.

I have read the Charlie Jenkins series! Excellent (Will there be more?) Just finished the David Sloan series! Excellent (Will there be more?) Have read Sam Hell ! Excellent! Have read The World Played Chess ! Excellent On 3rd book with Tracy C Wish there were more like top 2 series! Best author I have read in a great while!

Loved the Extraordinary life of Sam Hell. Going to bookstore to buy at least a couple more of your books today. Anyone who knows me would be surprised to hear me say, I have lived an extraordinary life! You made me realize that, by golly, I have. I praise God for your talent.

Im half way thru Sam Hell and cant put it down. Looking at more of Robert’s books, and already have put some in my shopping cart.

I loved the Tracy Crosswhite series!! I’m new to reading books on kindle (had cataract surgery and now have to wear reading glasses and for some reason still hard to see print on actual books) and the entire series was wonderful! Can’t wait for the next one!

Will there be a book 9 in the Tracy crosswhite series.

Most likely yes. There is one currently listed on Amazon called What She Found with a publication date of November 2022. We haven’t added it to the site yet as that will likely change.

I’m reading Close to Home. Would like to give you a little feedback. This is my fourth Tracy Crosswhite novel. Noticed a tone in this one that didn’t sound like you, to me.

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Word of Mouth

Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:, the jury master.

Robert Dugoni established his bona fides well before the publication of THE JURY MASTER, his first full-length novel. He practiced law for almost two decades before leaving the courtroom to write on a full-time basis. His first book publishing credit was as co-author of THE CYANIDE CANARY, a nonfiction work about a wrongful death case that reads like a detective novel. THE JURY MASTER is fiction, but Dugoni's talent for creating true-to-life characters and bringing them to the printed page gives this work the ring of truth.

When first we meet David Sloane he is in a San Francisco courtroom, representing a client who would appear to be a sure loser. Sloane demonstrates himself to be at least a magician and at most the jury master when he turns the jury around within a matter of minutes and ultimately exonerates his client who, of course, is a miserable human being.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, a police officer in West Virginia responds to what sounds like a distress call --- only to subsequently disappear. What is left is the body of Joe Branick, the best friend of the President of the United States and one of his closest advisors. Branick is an apparent suicide victim, but his actions before dying are puzzling, none more so than his repeated telephone calls --- and the mailing of a package --- to Sloane. Sloane doesn't recall ever meeting Branick, but no matter. Sloane's life is soon turned upside down as he finds that he is being pursued by a mysterious and homicidal assailant who will stop at nothing to get information Sloane does not have and documents he has not received from a man he has never met.

Tom "Mole" Molia, a rumpled homicide detective, is busily investigating Branick's demise, despite some very insistent instructions from a highly placed Federal government official that he not do so. While his very presence tends to tick off anyone who is within a 50-mile radius, Molia does get the job done. Meanwhile, Charles Jenkins, an ex-CIA operative living a satisfying but reclusive life in Oregon, finds his semi-idyllic existence abruptly shattered as well when he is the target of an attack that, for some reason, seems to be related to Sloane and Branick.

Dugoni keeps THE JURY MASTER moving quickly by alternating amongst his various plot threads while bringing the principals ever closer to each other, reaching a conclusion and a relationship that is totally unexpected. Whether he will bring back any of the surviving characters for another go-around remains to be seen. But what THE JURY MASTER demonstrates is that, in one book, Dugoni can create enough memorable characters and action scenes to fill three. You can't ask for much more than that.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub on January 22, 2011

The Jury Master by Robert Dugoni

• Publication Date: March 21, 2006
• Genres: Fiction , Thriller
• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• ISBN-10: 044657869X
• ISBN-13: 9780446578691

• Literature & Fiction
• Genre Fiction

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The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel Paperback – April 24, 2018

Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni’s coming-of-age story is, according to Booklist , “a novel that, if it doesn’t cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border.”

Sam Hill always saw the world through different eyes. Born with red pupils, he was called “Devil Boy” or Sam “Hell” by his classmates; “God’s will” is what his mother called his ocular albinism. Her words were of little comfort, but Sam persevered, buoyed by his mother’s devout faith, his father’s practical wisdom, and his two other misfit friends.

Sam believed it was God who sent Ernie Cantwell, the only African American kid in his class, to be the friend he so desperately needed. And that it was God’s idea for Mickie Kennedy to storm into Our Lady of Mercy like a tornado, uprooting every rule Sam had been taught about boys and girls.

Forty years later, Sam, a small-town eye doctor, is no longer certain anything was by design―especially not the tragedy that caused him to turn his back on his friends, his hometown, and the life he’d always known. Running from the pain, eyes closed, served little purpose. Now, as he looks back on his life, Sam embarks on a journey that will take him halfway around the world. This time, his eyes are wide open―bringing into clear view what changed him, defined him, and made him so afraid, until he can finally see what truly matters.

Winner of Suspense Magazine ’s Crimson Scribe Award.

• Print length 447 pages
• Language English
• Publication date April 24, 2018
• Dimensions 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
• ISBN-10 1503948978
• ISBN-13 978-1503948976
• See all details

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Editorial Reviews

A Suspense Magazine Crimson Scribe Award Winner

A Goodreads Choice Award Semifinalist, Historical Fiction

An Amazon Best Book of the Month: Literature & Fiction Category

“This is the bestselling Dugoni’s masterpiece, the book by which his work, and that of others, will be measured for years to come.” — Providence Journal

“Dugoni has produced a novel that, if it doesn’t cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border…Told in two separate time lines (Sam as a boy, and Sam as a man) that eventually come together, and written in a gentle, introspective yet dramatic style that is very different from that of Dugoni’s crime fiction, this is an inspirational story of a man who spends a lifetime getting to know himself.” — Booklist

“Sam Hell is inspiring and aglow with the promise of redemption.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Robert Dugoni has a rare and brilliant talent for infusing his characters with complex emotions. It is very hard not to ache for young Sam…Frankly, this might be the best book of the year.” —Bookreporter

“Distinctly different in style from Dugoni’s typical fare, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell , is a captivating and poignant journey of strength and the power of finding your true self. Without a doubt, this is Dugoni’s best yet.” — Suspense Magazine

“Dugoni’s writing is compellingly quick, simple, and evocative; readers will immediately empathize with young Sam and will race to discover how his story ends. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell is a heartwarming novel that celebrates overcoming the unfairnesses of life.” — Seattle Book Review

Past Praise for Robert Dugoni:

“Dugoni is a superb storyteller…” — Boston Globe

“Dugoni has a gift for creating compelling characters and mysteries that seem straightforward, but his stories, like an onion, have many hidden layers.” —Associated Press

About the Author

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times , #1 Wall Street Journal , and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series, including My Sister’s Grave , Her Final Breath , In the Clearing , The Trapped Girl , and Close to Home . The Crosswhite Series has sold more than 2,500,000 books worldwide, and My Sister’s Grave has been optioned for television series development. Dugoni is also the author of the bestselling David Sloane series, which includes The Jury Master , Wrongful Death , Bodily Harm , Murder One , and The Conviction ; the stand-alone novels The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell , The 7th Canon , and Damage Control ; and the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary , a Washington Post Best Book of the Year; as well as several short stories. He is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel in the Pacific Northwest. He is a two-time finalist for both the International Thriller Award and the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and has been nominated for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award. His books are sold worldwide in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than two dozen languages, including French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com, and follow him on Twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertDugoni.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (April 24, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 447 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1503948978
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1503948976
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
• #148 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
• #197 in Family Life Fiction (Books)
• #454 in Literary Fiction (Books)

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About the author

Robert dugoni.

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 10 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, the Keera Duggan legal thriller series, and several stand-alone novels including The 7th Canon, Damage Control, the literary novels, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - Suspense Magazine’s Book of the Year, for which Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award and the critically acclaimed, The World Played Chess; historical novels based on true events: A Killing on the Hill about Seattle during the great depression and Hold Strong, a WWII novel; as well as the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. Several of his novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and multiple awards 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 countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

Visit his website and follow him on Amazon, Goodreads, twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok and other social media sites.

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Customers say

Customers find the story excellent, heartwarming, and life-inspiring. They praise the writing quality as well-written, entertaining, and full of humor. Readers describe the story as heartfelt, embracing a mother/child relationship. They also appreciate the well-developed characters and the enthralling pace.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the story excellent, amazing, and inspiring. They say it's a pleasure to read, extraordinary, and moving. Readers also mention the book contains plenty of passion and realism to keep them turning the pages.

"... Dugoni's storytelling is both raw and tender, capturing the complexities of human emotions with a grace that took my breath away...." Read more

"...Besides that it was thought provoking, adorable at times but also dealt with some sad issues. I would highly recommend this book...." Read more

" Sam Hell is an extraordinary book ...." Read more

"Such a wonderful story teller . He has a great style of writing giving the characters warmth and depth. Very easy to read...." Read more

Customers find the story uplifting, wonderful, and inspiring. They say it's a beautiful story about compassion, faith, and love. Readers also mention the lessons are thought-provoking and effective. They say the book touches on real, hard truths in a positive way.

"...recommend this book to readers of all ages, as its message of courage , acceptance, and love transcends the boundaries of time and resonates with the..." Read more

"...Besides that it was thought provoking , adorable at times but also dealt with some sad issues. I would highly recommend this book...." Read more

"Sam Hell is an extraordinary book. A unique and effective coming of awareness story , a sweeping look at how cruelty and prejudice can shape the..." Read more

"...It will make you ponder the mysteries of life itself. But it's never preachy nor is it over the top in any way...." Read more

Customers find the writing quality of the book well-written, entertaining, and full of humor. They say the writing really paints a picture and is an easy and smooth read. Readers also mention the author is extraordinary and talented.

"...-acceptance are beautifully interwoven into the narrative, offering timeless lessons that resonate deeply with readers of all ages...." Read more

"...from my previous reads by Dugoni, but it is just as captivating and readable as his Tracy Crosswhite series and other less serious books" Read more

"Such a wonderful story teller. He has a great style of writing giving the characters warmth and depth. Very easy to read...." Read more

"This book was not at all what I expected. Beautifully written ...." Read more

Customers find the story heartfelt, unconditional, and warm. They say it's about relationships, perseverance, and true love. Readers also mention the romantic relationships are nice and not over the top. In addition, they say the message of forgiveness is riveting.

"...all ages, as its message of courage, acceptance, and love transcends the boundaries of time and resonates with the universal human experience." Read more

"...that it was thought provoking, adorable at times but also dealt with some sad issues . I would highly recommend this book...." Read more

"Sam Hell is an extraordinary book. A unique and effective coming of awareness story, a sweeping look at how cruelty and prejudice can shape the..." Read more

"...I tried to savor it and read it slowly. It’s a beautiful coming of age story that I recommend 100%. 5 stars!" Read more

Customers find the characters extraordinary, real, and drawn with a fine point pen. They say the storyline is touching.

"...The character development in this novel is exceptional , particularly in how Sam evolves over the years...." Read more

"...from his usual books, but I absolutely loved the change and really loved the characters ...." Read more

"...He has a great style of writing giving the characters warmth and depth . Very easy to read...." Read more

"...The storyline is captivating and intriguing. The characters are well developed and I never saw the end coming." Read more

Customers find the book entertaining, engaging, and interesting. They say the story makes them laugh, cry, and reflect on their own lives. Readers also mention the book is a page-turning delight that never loses interest.

"...unusual genre from my previous reads by Dugoni, but it is just as captivating and readable as his Tracy Crosswhite series and other less serious books" Read more

"I could not put this book down. The storyline is captivating and intriguing . The characters are well developed and I never saw the end coming." Read more

"...Highly recommend this book- never lost interest , found it to be heart warming and fulfilling!" Read more

"Smart, funny at times , and a true depiction of like in catholic school" Read more

Customers find the story well-written and flows at a good pace. They say it makes them laugh, cry, and want to turn the pages faster. Readers also enjoy the time jumps and say the timing is perfect.

"One of the most intense novels I’ve ever read. Fast paced , reflective, believable, realistic, absorbing...." Read more

"...Never grew tired of the story line. It moved quickly . The ending was great...didn't expect the story would have ended like this...." Read more

"... Moving , thought provoking, a must read !" Read more

"...I don’t get it. The ending happened and it felt rushed , unrefined and chaotic...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the plot. Some mention it's unpredictable, complex, and comprehensive. However, others say the last half becomes too predictable.

"...If I have one criticism, it's just that the ending was way too much , as if the author felt he had to tie up every loose end...." Read more

"Catholic background rings true in this book. Full of surprises & tears along the way!" Read more

"...At times, the plot was predictable , but other parts of the story were surprising. Sam Hell was so riveting, I was able to finish it in days...." Read more

"...It is a quick read and the storyline is relatively simple and predictable ...." Read more

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Books Reading Order

List of Authors and Books in Order of Publication and Chronology

Robert Dugoni

Robert Dugoni is an American crime mystery and thriller author of two main series: David Sloane, featuring the Seattle Lawyer, and Tracy Crosswhite, a Seattle PD homicide detective. He also started a third series recently featuring Charles Jenkins, retired former spy for the CIA, with the first book, The Eighth Sister , published in 2019.

Here are the Robert Dugoni books in order for his series and standalone novels. The book list is updated regularly with new additions.

New Robert Dugoni Books

• The Eighth Sister (Charles Jenkins #1), 2019

Charles Jenkins Series

• The Last Agent (Charles Jenkins #2), 2020

Tracy Crosswhite Series

• The Academy (Tracy Crosswhite #0.1), 2014
• Third Watch  (Tracy Crosswhite #0.5), 2015
• My Sister’s Grave (Tracy Crosswhite #1), 2014
• Her Final Breath (Tracy Crosswhite #2), 2015
• In the Clearing (Tracy Crosswhite #3), 2016
• The Trapped Girl (Tracy Crosswhite #4), 2017
• Close to Home (Tracy Crosswhite #5), 2017
• A Steep Price (Tracy Crosswhite #6), 2018
• A Cold Trail (Tracy Crosswhite #7), 2020

David Sloane Series

• The Jury Master  (David Sloane #1), 2006
• Wrongful Death  (David Sloane #2), 2009
• Bodily Harm  (David Sloane #3), 2010
• Murder One  (David Sloane #4), 2011
• The Conviction  (David Sloane #1), 2012

Other Robert Dugoni Books

• The Cyanide Canary , 2004, with Joseph Hilldorfer (nonfiction)
• Damage Control , 2007
• Hotel Angeline , 2011 (contributed to the novel with 35 other authors)
• The 7th Canon , 2016
• The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell , 2018 (literary novel)

Who is Tracy Crosswhite

Chronologically, Tracy Crosswhite first appears in The Academy . There we learn that she is a very driven person, especially after her sister’s disappearance. She used to work as a high school science teacher, however, after her sister disappeared, she quit her job to enroll at the Academy for working at the Seattle Police Department.

Next, in Third Watch , Tracy works as a patrol officer, just fresh out of the Academy. In My Sister’s Grave , the first main novel in the Tracy Crosswhite series, Tracy is finally working the case of her sister after her remains have been found. What she finds though is darker than she has ever imagined.

Still shaken from the trial of her sister’s old murder, Tracy returns to work in Her Final Breath , to investigate a case involving a serial killer named Cowboy, even though she seems to be personally by someone, either the killer himself or someone connected to him. In the Clearing brings back Tracy gets involved in a cold case involving the murder of a Native American high school girl. But, as usual with the Dugoni books, things are never as they first seem.

In The Trapped Girl , Tracy is forced to revisit the murder of her own sister which haunts her even today. Also, here we see a strong character development for Tracy, as well as a more maturing relationship with Dan. Tracy is also getting closer and closer to her teammates, which to her seem more like family than just colleagues at work.

Close to Home takes Tracy too close to home when she has to investigate one of her own, a military man who is suspect in a hit-and-run case. In other news, Tracy tries to get pregnant, so far without success.

In A Steep Price , Tracy Crosswhite works a missing-persons case which brings to light an issue about arranged marriages and all the problems that come with this old tradition. Finally, Tracy is pregnant, but she is keeping it, for now, a secret, especially when a new addition to their team seems too eager to take over Tracy’s position. Could the woman be Tracy’s replacement?

The Robert Dugoni Tracy Crosswhite book 7 titled A Cold Trail will be published in February 2020.

Who is David Sloane?

While the Tracy Crosswhite series is a police procedural, the first Robert Dugoni series featuring David Sloane, is a court drama that reflects the author’s own legal career. We first meet David Sloane in The Jury . He grew up in foster care, and he has no memory of his childhood years. He is now a talented and ruthless attorney who can play the jurors like a fiddle. David is extremely intelligent, highly adaptable to every situation, and quite persuasive. He is a workaholic with no real family life. He is also an ex-Marine, which he joined at the age of 17. Still, despite his great life, lots of money, and no major issues, he suffers from recurrent migraines and nightmares. He has no conscience until a case comes along that takes him right back to his long-forgotten childhood.

In Wrongful Death , David Sloane takes on a case that might just be his undoing. When a woman asks him to sue the US government and the military in the wrongful death of her husband, a military man, who died in Iraq. He starts investigating and he learns that this guy was not the only one to die mysteriously after returning home from deployment. In this book, Sloan seems to be a changed man compare to The Jury . He is now looking beyond the obvious and beyond just winning case after case. Now he wants to find the truth even if it means going down along the way. He is a man on a mission, wanting to a woman and her family justice.

In Bodily Harm , shortly after Sloan winning a case against a doctor, someone tells him that the doctor was not really the guilty one but another person. But now that David Sloan starts investigating the case on his own, he finds that the man he was pointed to him has vanished. This book again brings Sloan’s humanity to the limelight with him trying to do the right thing even when he has just won the case. He knows that if stumbles upon the actual truth, that might harm his career as well. Still, he doesn’t give up. Sloan develops a deeper friendship with the older policeman Jenkins, who will have his own series in the future, as Jenkins always has Sloane’s back.

In Murder One , we meet once again David Sloan grieving the death of his wife who died a year before. Now he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself, so on a whim, he agrees to go to a symphony black-tie event, where he meets again an opposing counsel, Barclay Reid, who is going through her own flavor of grief: the death of her daughter due to drug overdose. Now the two are working together to put the drug dealer who has just gotten off, behind bars once again. Except the guy is dead, and Barclay Reid is the main suspect. So now Sloan takes on Reed’s case to prove her innocent of killing the Russian mob.

The Conviction is so far the last David Sloan Rubert Dugoni book, and that’s a shame really. Personally, I liked David Sloan better than Tracy Crosswhite as a character. In this last book, David is trying to somehow continue with his life after his wife has been killed over a year ago, but not quite getting there. Sloan’s own son, Jake, is a rebellious young man who has become even more aggressive after his mother’s death. Sloan and his friend, Tom Molina, decide to go camping in the wilderness, and they both take their sons with them. This should help David and Jake get closer to each other once again. Except that both Jake and Tom’s son are arrested for vandalism, and the camp they are both sent to are far away from a real rehabilitation center. In fact, if David and Tom don’t come to their rescue soon, both boys might be lost forever.

Who Is Charles Jenkins?

Charles Jenkins has featured in several David Sloane books as a former CIA agent, who is now retired. He has been living in Oregon until he became closer to David Sloane, and became a private investigator. With The Eighth Sister , Charles Jenkins has received his own series starting in 2019. Charles being an ex-CIA guy, the series is a departure from Robert Dugoni’s courtroom thriller and police procedural novels. Charlie is now 64 years old, and he is running a security company with his wife who is pregnant. The business is not all that great, and money is not flowing in as much either. This is when the CIA contacts him to help them with a case and go on a mission, and Charlie knows he has to join them if he wants his cash flow to keep coming. His Russian knowledge and his deep spy background are assets that the CIA needs right at this time.

The second part of the book does go back to the legal thriller roots of the author, which is great news for all the fans of the David Sloan thrillers.

Robert Dugoni Biography

After school, he attended Stanford University, where he majored in communications/journalism and creative writing. At the same time, he was working as a journalist for the  Stanford Daily .  After graduating Phi Beta Kappa, he took several reporter jobs with the Metro Office and the San Gabriel Valley Office of the  Los Angeles Times .

As the next step in his quest for further education, Dugoni enrolled at the UCLA School of Law. He also began working as a trial attorney in San Francisco with Gordon & Rees, where he remained for the next 13 years.

Still, he never let go of his dream to write books someday. Thus, in 1998, he moved to Seattle, Washington, and began writing. It took him three years of writing in his small windowless office in Pioneer Square to complete his debut novel and the following next books.

Over the years, the author Robert Dugoni has written close to 20 books in series and as standalone novels, along with one non-fiction book co-authored with Joseph Hilldorfer. This is a true crime book about toxic chemicals in waste that caused permanent disability and brain damage in someone.

The Tracy Crosswhite series alone has sold more than 4,000,000 books all over the world so far. The author’s My Sister’s Grave has been optioned for TV for a series. The Robert Dugoni novels have been sold in over 25 countries, and many of them have been translated into languages such as French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

For his books, Robert Dugoni has received several awards, including the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction, and the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel in the Pacific Northwest. He is also a finalist for additional awards. T

Besides writing books full time, Robert Dugoni is also teaching writing to aspiring authors at the Novel Writing Intensive retreat along with author Stephen James. When not writing, the author likes traveling around the world and working out to keep himself fit.

Praise for the Robert Dugoni Books

The Eighth Sister  is a great mix of spy craft and classic adventure, with a map of Moscow in hand. (Martin Cruz Smith) Feels so fresh and authentic we could see the story breaking in the headlines tomorrow. (Mark Sullivan) Exhilarating…A tightly written, flawlessly executed espionage novel that takes the reader on a refreshingly unique, white-knuckle journey through the byzantine world of modern intelligence. ( Steven Konkoly ) Dugoni has put the thrills back in the genre. (Nelson DeMille about The 7th Canon) Dugoni has given the reader another gem of a story, full of action-packed scenes, intelligent plotlines, and very real characters. (Suspense Magazine) Dugoni is a superb storyteller, and his courtroom drama shines. (The Boston Globe) “Crosswhite is a sympathetic, well-drawn protagonist, and her next adventure can’t come fast enough. (Library Journal)

• Robert Dugoni author website
• Author’s Novel Writing Intensive Retreat
• Mystery Sequels Robert Dugoni book list

Keep Exploring

June 19, 2023 at

I just read “Her Deadly Game”. It has a copyright of 2023 and the story takes place in 2023. I happened to read chapter 20 on June 14th. And I happened to read chapter 21 on June 15. When I got to chapter 25, it was June 17th. What are the chances? Just a coincidence? Or is there something else going on here? Why did I pick this book? I checked out three books and this was the second one I decided to read. I have never had an experience like this. Can Robert explain it?

January 26, 2023 at

I’m 54 and an avid reader. A constant reader. Dugoni’s stories are Dumplings wrapped in quesadillas wrapped in street tacos wrapped strawberry crepes wrapped in pot pies. They appear as any other “normal” killer thriller with some sweetness under there until you wham into a wall of surprise, befuddle under flavored facts and Tart twists before dropping into a spicily comfortable conclusion that fits!!! How have I not found him before? The grammar is almost perfect with the exception of a subjunctive-in-need here and there. Amazingly entertaining!!!!! Must read!!!

August 30, 2021 at

absolutely the best author – had been reading Patricia Cornwell books for years and decided to try a new author – very intense – have read My Sister’ Grave which was amazing in which I couldn’t put the book down – read in 2 days!! Now reading Her Final Breath which I know will keep me in suspense. Love the Tracy Crosswhite series! Thank you, Robert!!

February 24, 2021 at

Sooo loved “Sam Hell”!! Such a touching story. Looking for more in that vein. Aka, John Irving’s ” A Prayer for Owen Meany”.

January 27, 2021 at

I just finished Damage Control and I really enjoyed it. This was the first novel of this author that I have read. Will try to find more of his books now that I have found him.

July 21, 2020 at

I absolutely love this author as it is the most entertaining books I have ever read and I can’t wait for the next one. I have read every single one except for the extraordinary life of Sam Hell. There is no other author that can keep my attention and my focus as Robert dugoni

August 7, 2019 at

I have been unable to get “Third Watch” from our library, it is not in their system, the same with “Damage Control”

What about his two new books, ” The Cold Trail” and ” The Last Agent”

When are they coming out?

August 2, 2019 at

I have read all of Dugoni’s books except : The Academy ……Third Watch ….Damage Control and The Ext Life Of Sam Hell.

I am now reading The Conviction and it is intense.

He is the best author I have ever read.

Does he have a new book for 2019 ?

August 3, 2019 at

Have you read his new Charles Jenkins series? It’s the only book for 2019 that he has published. A second book will come out next year, along with a book in the Tracy Crosswhite series.

August 5, 2019 at

What is the name of the Chares Jenkins series book?

August 6, 2019 at

The Eighth Sister is the title. It is the book with the cover shown right at the top of this page.

I have already read it.

Sadly, beyond that, the next Charles Jenkins book is coming out next year.

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WHAT SHE FOUND

by Robert Dugoni ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 23, 2022

A deep dive that manages to be both grueling and masterful.

Seattle Detective Tracy Crosswhite, bounced from Violent Crimes to the Cold Case Unit, is presented with a case that ticks both boxes and then some.

Anita Childress comes to Tracy with what might seem a perfectly reasonable request to find her mother. The complication is that Lisa Childress, an investigative reporter for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer , vanished 24 years ago, when Anita was two years old, and has long been presumed as dead as the paper she worked for. But Anita is convinced the cops never treated her mother’s disappearance as seriously as they should have, and Tracy soon comes to agree with her. Moss Gunderson, the lead detective on the case, was so determined to pin Lisa’s murder on her husband, Larry Childress, who came into a fat life insurance settlement he badly needed, that he never looked at any of the stories Lisa had been working on: There was a former Seattle mayor who seemed to have been running a pay to play scheme, a city councilman alleged to have molested minors, a police task force accused of skimming money from drug busts. One of these stories leads Tracy down a rabbit hole that’s grown even murkier since Lisa fell off the face of the earth. As Tracy’s frustration with often literal dead ends concerning crimes committed a quarter-century ago mounts, she gets a wholly unexpected break: A Facebook tip page she’s set up produces a report that suggests that Lisa is still alive, living with amnesia a thousand miles away. The prospect of returning her to the family she’s forgotten promises to be rocky but not nearly as rocky as the professional implications for Tracy herself.

Pub Date: Aug. 23, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-5420-0832-7

Page Count: 367

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022

MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | POLICE PROCEDURALS | DETECTIVES & PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS | GENERAL MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

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BOOK REVIEW

by Robert Dugoni

A CONSPIRACY OF BONES

by Kathy Reichs ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2020

Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival.

Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan.

A week after the night she chases but fails to catch a mysterious trespasser outside her town house, some unknown party texts Tempe four images of a corpse that looks as if it’s been chewed by wild hogs, because it has been. Showboat Medical Examiner Margot Heavner makes it clear that, breaking with her department’s earlier practice ( The Bone Collection , 2016, etc.), she has no intention of calling in Tempe as a consultant and promptly identifies the faceless body herself as that of a young Asian man. Nettled by several errors in Heavner’s analysis, and even more by her willingness to share the gory details at a press conference, Tempe launches her own investigation, which is not so much off the books as against the books. Heavner isn’t exactly mollified when Tempe, aided by retired police detective Skinny Slidell and a host of experts, puts a name to the dead man. But the hints of other crimes Tempe’s identification uncovers, particularly crimes against children, spur her on to redouble her efforts despite the new M.E.’s splenetic outbursts. Before he died, it seems, Felix Vodyanov was linked to a passenger ferry that sank in 1994, an even earlier U.S. government project to research biological agents that could control human behavior, the hinky spiritual retreat Sparkling Waters, the dark web site DeepUnder, and the disappearances of at least four schoolchildren, two of whom have also turned up dead. And why on earth was Vodyanov carrying Tempe’s own contact information? The mounting evidence of ever more and ever worse skulduggery will pull Tempe deeper and deeper down what even she sees as a rabbit hole before she confronts a ringleader implicated in “Drugs. Fraud. Breaking and entering. Arson. Kidnapping. How does attempted murder sound?”

Pub Date: March 17, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-9821-3888-2

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Scribner

Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2020

GENERAL MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE | MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | SUSPENSE | THRILLER | DETECTIVES & PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS | SUSPENSE | GENERAL & DOMESTIC THRILLER

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by Kathy Reichs

Awards & Accolades

Our Verdict

IndieBound Bestseller

THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB

From the thursday murder club series , vol. 1.

by Richard Osman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 22, 2020

A top-class cozy infused with dry wit and charming characters who draw you in and leave you wanting more, please.

Four residents of Coopers Chase, a British retirement village, compete with the police to solve a murder in this debut novel.

The Thursday Murder Club started out with a group of septuagenarians working on old murder cases culled from the files of club founder Elizabeth Best’s friend Penny Gray, a former police officer who's now comatose in the village's nursing home. Elizabeth used to have an unspecified job, possibly as a spy, that has left her with a large network of helpful sources. Joyce Meadowcroft is a former nurse who chronicles their deeds. Psychiatrist Ibrahim Arif and well-known political firebrand Ron Ritchie complete the group. They charm Police Constable Donna De Freitas, who, visiting to give a talk on safety at Coopers Chase, finds the residents sharp as tacks. Built with drug money on the grounds of a convent, Coopers Chase is a high-end development conceived by loathsome Ian Ventham and maintained by dangerous crook Tony Curran, who’s about to be fired and replaced with wary but willing Bogdan Jankowski. Ventham has big plans for the future—as soon as he’s removed the nuns' bodies from the cemetery. When Curran is murdered, DCI Chris Hudson gets the case, but Elizabeth uses her influence to get the ambitious De Freitas included, giving the Thursday Club a police source. What follows is a fascinating primer in detection as British TV personality Osman allows the members to use their diverse skills to solve a series of interconnected crimes.

Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-98-488096-3

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Pamela Dorman/Viking

Review Posted Online: June 30, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020

COZY MYSTERY | DETECTIVES & PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS | MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | GENERAL MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

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by Richard Osman

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