In Her Tracks: Robert Dugoni

In her Tracks: Robert Dugoni

Sometimes you get blindsided when you least expect it. Tracy Crosswhite is returning to work after being on maternity leave. Thinking she was going to back working in the Violent Crimes  she unhappily learns that is not to be. Instead, she is pushed into working cold cases and decides to revisit the missing disappearance of a five year who was kidnapped. Dealing with PTSD from childbirth and thinking she is going back to working in Violent Crimes Section she never sees it coming. While gone Maria Fernandez is supposed to take her place until she returns but unfortunately her underhanded boss, Captain Johnny Nolasco explains that she is no longer needed there, her replacement will take her place and now she is being assigned to The Cold Case Unit to replace Detective Art Nunzio as the one-person Detective in this unit. Unhappy about the transfer she goes in whole hog and delves into the missing case of Elle Chin whose father, Bobby and ex police officer took her on Halloween night to the corn maze and promised she could go through it. But Elle was in her defiant mood and insisted that her father play hide and seek saying her mother and her boyfriend did too. But, closing his eyes, not thinking straight and wanting to let her have fun, she disappears in the few seconds his eyes are closed and now five years later Tracy wants to find out more. At the same time her former partner, Detective Kinsington Rowe, needs her help to find Stephanie Cole a receptionist who was jogging on a path in North Park in the area where two prostitutes Donna and Angel disappeared. Working both cases, she must deal with Bobby Chin, his ex-wife Jewel whose behavior we learn, and witness is anything but motherly and get the impression that Elle was her meal ticket, and she could care less that she is gone. Tracy is impulsive, delves into cases and does not stop for a moment to catch her breath and her counselor, Lisa Walsh thinks that she is too involved, gets obsessed with cases involving young women since the disappearance and death of her sister Sarah. Meet the Sprague brothers who are unstable, one mentally challenged, Franklin dangerous and threatens both of his brothers and abuses them in any way he sees fit. Evan is mentally challenged; Carrol is afraid of him and we learn that Franklin and his brothers have something to do with the three missing women.

Throughout the novel Tracy faces off with her boss at times, she interviews witnesses in the area where Stephanie was jogging, we hear the voices of the three women being held captive and her diligence at times pays off and at others it does not. But is there a connection between the three cases?

Getting help from several tech guys and learning the background of Elle’s father she meets with him, but you get the impression that he might or might not have had anything to do with her kidnapping, but someone saw a child walking with a woman could it have been her mother? What happened to this child? Even going to her school and talking to her kindergarten teacher she learns limited facts but even less about the parents who had little or no involvement in her education. Even the mother’s boyfriend commits suicide as she plays people to get what she wants and then tosses them aside when she does. Nolasco gets wind of her working the violent crimes case and immediately wants the other detective that took her place filled in and brought up to speed. But this will not stop her from pursuing her leads and going after the Sprague family, checking out their work and their alibis. Getting to know the Sprague brothers will give you the chills as each one has his own issues, Franklin being dangerous and arrested for prostitution giving Tracy the ammunition to keep going. Evan the youngest had something to do with her disappearance, Carrol just covers for them both and a neighbor Mr. Bibby is not exactly who you think he is when you get to know him better.

When a lead comes through and she learns that about a foster sister named Lindsay that lived in the horror house that Ed Sprague created, things begin coming together, the body count rises, the deaths that happened over years are uncovered but will the three women that are locked away be found? Added in we learn what Bibby had to do with this kidnapping ring, who was behind it and who would pay for all the crimes committed. When that case is solved and Tracy and Kins are awarded a special medal of valor what she requests of the new police chief is priceless.

With the help of Lindsay and her sister, they uncover where more bodies are buried but what about Elle? Author Robert Dugoni creates an ending that you will not expect, a surprise as to what happened to Elle and leaves you wondering if some endings should remain that way, some cases remain open not closed and lives that would be damaged possibly saved even fi the actions are wrong.

With the wherewithal to never stop until the case is solved, getting the answers she needs what she and Kins uncover will give you more than nightmares and chills. Crimes that the killers justified in their own minds. A father what was so demonic, evil and cruel that his sons were more than just afraid of getting his wrath. A wife that kept her mouth shut and three brothers so damaged that there was no hope ever for repair. What will happen to Evan who is mentally challenged? What happened to Elle? Some things remain for the reader to find out what you learn what happens when someone runs in the park, someone goes for a jog and you need to find out how to find the person when you follow IN HER TRACKS.

Once again Tracy is vigilant, obsessive and determined to solve the cases but where does she decide to remain: Cold Cases or Violent Crimes? Learn more when author Robert Dugoni pens the 9the Tracy Crosswhite novel. A definite MUST READ!

Fran Lewis: Just reviews