“A Cold Trail” is Robert Dugoni’s seventh entry in the Tracy Crosswhite series, and this one, like the earlier novels, features a cleverly constructed, expertly woven mystery plot. Dugoni is an extraordinarily talented creator of fascinating, complex characters embroiled in puzzling and dangerous situations.

Tracy is a detective; she is complicated, affectionate, disciplined, stubborn, and driven. In “A Cold Trail,” she and her husband Dan, a lawyer, have returned to their old hometown in order to work on rebuilding an old childhood home. But she is soon drawn into an investigation concerning three murders, one committed twenty years earlier, two more recently, all displaying murderous methods which lead to the conclusion that they were all perpetrated by the same vicious individual.

The list of suspects is comprised of several characters who all have ample apparent motives: one is the former wannabe lover of the original victim, and he is also the husband of one of the later ones. Another is the town’s mayor, who has been involved in some shady dealings. Others are people who work with or for those suspects. The guilty person is desperate, cunning, and — to say the least — threatening. And a very possible next victim is Tracy herself.

Dugoni’s suspenseful work is demonstrative of an expert craftsman. He knows exactly how to place readers on the edge of their seats and keep them there until the nail-biting climax. “A Cold Trail” certainly exemplifies those talents. It’ll grab you!

Review by Jack Kramer

Please note: This review is based on the final, paperback book provided by the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for review purposes.