2018-04-03
The sixth case for Detective Tracy Crosswhite (Close to Home, 2017, etc.) poses a pair of unrelated but equally vexing problems for the Violent Crimes squad of the Seattle Police Department.Monique Rodgers may not have been successful enough to warrant the label community activist, but it's clear that she's done all she's ever going to do when someone shoots her down in broad daylight in her South Park neighborhood. Detective Vic Fazzio, whose wife has been stricken with another round of cancer, would dearly love to tie the murder to Little Jimmy, ne Ricardo Luis Bernadino Jiminez, a drug runner whose father, Big Jimmy, was stabbed to death six months after Faz sent him to prison. But the best evidence at the scene, a telltale handprint on a parked car, leads to a suspect who gets killed by Detective Andrea Gonzalez, a newcomer to A Team, before they can slap the cuffs on him. Meanwhile, Tracy, intent on concealing a pregnancy Gonzalez noticed literally within seconds of first meeting her, does a favor for Katie Pryor, a friend in Missing Persons, by talking to Aditi Dasgupta, a recent University of Washington graduate whose old friend and roommate, Kavita Mukherjee, has disappeared. The two cases couldn't be more different. The first, which offers an obvious suspect and an obvious motive, runs into endless complications over Gonzalez's fatal shot; the second, which heats up after Tracy and Pryor find Kavita's body in a disused well, is a whodunit that will cast suspicion on pretty much everyone who knew the victim, whose determination to apply to medical school instead of allowing her family to arrange her marriage turns out to be far from her only act of defiance.Dugoni (The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, 2018, etc.) winds up both cases satisfactorily, if not very compellingly or brilliantly, in this solid grade-B procedural.
Robert Dugoni has multiple stories that weave into a beautiful narrative. What makes A Steep Price stand out is the authentic feel of how it feels to work as a police officer in a major city. With relevant and timely issues, including the treatment of women in the workplace and how some cultures believe in the practice of arranged marriage, the result is another outstanding novel from one of the best crime writers in the business.” —Associated Press
“Packed with suspense, drama, and raw emotion…Dugoni has a firm grasp of the plot threads, and he shifts back and forth between them expertly, building suspense and keeping us on our toes. A fine entry in a solid series.” —Booklist
“Fully developed characters and a fast-moving plot that builds to a shocker of an ending distinguish this crime novel.” —Publishers Weekly
“A Steep Price is both compelling and politically relevant, a perfect addition to this beloved series. One of the strongest elements of Dugoni’s books has always been his ability to balance numerous plotlines, characters, and twists without ever confusing or distracting the reader. In A Steep Price, he is at his absolute best, juggling several timely, personal, and riveting storylines without a single misstep. In a world full of police thrillers and crime fiction, this is what has always made the series stand out. Tracy Crosswhite and her team have never just been police officers, and Dugoni makes their personal lives every bit as fascinating as their lives on duty without ever sacrificing a single detail. Their continuous development over the course of the series is believable, relatable, and endlessly riveting. It seems there is no stone left unturned by Dugoni, and his love for his creations leaps off the page. Longtime readers will adore following Tracy’s pregnancy; Dugoni is compassionate and thoughtful in his exploration of motherhood, and it adds a whole new depth to the series as a whole…A Steep Price is without a doubt one of the best books in the series…” —Bookreporter
“A riveting suspense novel…A gripping story.” —Crimespree Magazine
Praise for The Tracy Crosswhite Series and Robert Dugoni:
“Dugoni has a gift for creating compelling characters and mysteries that seem straightforward, but his stories, like an onion, have many hidden layers. He also is able to capture the spirit and atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest, making the environment come alive.” —Associated Press
“Crosswhite is a sympathetic, well-drawn protagonist, and her next adventure can’t come fast enough.” —Library Journal (starred review)
“An immensely—almost compulsively—readable tale…A crackerjack mystery.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Dugoni is a superb storyteller…” —Boston Globe
“[Dugoni is the] master of Seattle menace.” —The Big Thrill
“Dugoni does a masterful job...If you are not already reading his books, you should be!” —BookReporter
“Dugoni has become one of the best crime novelists in the business...” —RT Book Reviews
“Dugoni breathes life into the police procedural like never before. Put the Tracy Crosswhite series…on your ‘must read’ list!” —Suspense Magazine
“Dugoni’s twisted tale is one of conspiracy and culpability…Richly nuanced and entirely compelling… Further amplifying such gravitas is the richly atmospheric sense of place, with Seattle’s bitter chill serving as a suitable backdrop…” —Criminal Element