One Last Kill by Robert Dugoni @robertdugoni #EmilySuttonSmith @BrilliancePub

the setup…
Detective Tracy Crosswhite, now head of the Cold Case Unit, returns to work following much needed time off after the trauma of her last case only to discover that the police chief is ready to wreak new havoc for her. She’s assigned the old Route 99 serial killer case, one that had a task force headed by none other than Captain Johnny Nolasco who failed to catch the murderer during his killing spree from 1993-1995. The killer went dormant after having killed thirteen women and Nolasco’s career went sideways because he never closed the case. Now he and Tracy are partnered to resurrect the case, now fraught with political minefields.

the heart of the story…
Some books in a series can stand alone pretty well but this isn’t that one. The preceding book is especially critical to understanding the dynamics, political and otherwise. The idea of Tracy and Nolasco partnering on anything was inconceivable but as they began their reluctant investigating, they found themselves in a political nightmare where they were going to be the losers. However, it offered Tracy an opportunity to reshape Nolasco’s opinion of her and she of him. The story transitions between the present and during the old task force in 1993-1995 and I found the historical aspects highly insightful, not only for the case but Nolasco. Surprisingly, he and Tracy made a good team, finding ways to avoid being brought down by the corruption they encountered.

the narration…
I’m sounding like a broken record but Sutton-Smith really is an exceptional storyteller and is the voice for this series, at least for me. I’ll always hold out for the audiobook because she’s that good.

the bottom line…
This case was a real puzzler but what was most interesting was how Tracy and Nolasco navigated the traps laid out by the police chief in setting them up to fail. Both had serious skills and they got to see each other in action, creating a different relationship and some level of trust and respect. As for the case, I honed in on the potential killer before the reveal but didn’t know the why. I loved everything about this story, even the unsettling ending that was laden with realism. Does this change things between Tracy and Nolasco? We will have to wait to find out and that’s a really big tease.

Book Info

• Release Date: October 3, 2023
• Series: Tracy Crosswhite #10
• Narrator: Emily Sutton-Smith
• Audio Length: 10 hours, 24 minutes
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio

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(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)