What She Found by Robert Dugoni - Book Review

What She Found by Robert Dugoni

Series: Tracy Crosswhite #9 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 23rd Aug 2022

Genre: Police Procedural, Mystery/ Thriller 

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 it).
  
  
• 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. 

#NetGalley #WhatSheFound