Interview with Robert Dugoni

Robert Dugoni is quickly becoming one of the most popular police procedural authors with his Tracy Crosswhite series! We were able to catch up with him to get his thoughts on the series and what he sees in the future.

1. What do you find most challenging/rewarding about writing?

Someone just asked me that question and I said, “Writing is like breathing. I feel better when I do it.” Yeah, I was being facetious, but it’s true. I love to write, and like all people who love something, when you’re not doing it you feel crappy. The most challenging part is making the characters come alive for the reader, to make the characters have problems and issues just like readers have. When I can do that, readers become immersed in the story and it becomes real for them. I love to receive emails from readers telling me that they stayed up very late to finish one of my novels. That means I’ve done my job.

2. The Trapped Girl is the fourth in the Tracy Crosswhite series, can we expect more? (I sure hope so)

Tracy 5, “Close to Home” is already finished and is being copy-edited. It will be out next summer. After that, I have a literary novel, “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hill” which will be out in April 2018. Then it will be back to Tracy. I’ll keep writing them so long as they are fresh and people enjoy them.

3. Of all your novels which has been your favorite to write?

I loved My Sister’s Grave because it was challenging. I really created everything out of whole-cloth and learned my characters and my story along the way. It was scary at times, but I trusted the process. I also really enjoyed The Trapped Girl because I had this 20 year old woman talking to me the entire time I wrote and finally I just gave in and wrote her scenes in first person, as she told them to me. Little did I know that the entire book would suddenly come together.

4. Do you prefer writing legal thrillers or more of the police procedural with Tracy Crosswhite?

I love them both. There is something intriguing about courtroom dramas that pull the reader into the story. But I also love sitting down with experts in their field and asking them questions and finding scenes in my novels I had never contemplated. My friend, Chris Humphreys says your scenes are in your research and he’s right.

5. What are you working on now?

Tracy 5, Close to Home, which I’m editing with my editors. I’m also working on Tracy #6 and I suspect I’ll be editing Sam Hill here shortly.

6. Who are your favorite authors?

I don’t really have one, other than Stephen King. But he’s on another planet than the rest of us. The man is so gifted it’s scary. The Green Mile. The Shawshank Redemption. 11-22-63. The details of those stories is remarkable. Beyond that, I just love to read a good book, and I read everything. I read mysteries, thrillers, romance, literary. I read “Boy” books and “Girl” books, young adult. Anything with a good story and characters, I’ll read it.

7. What t.v. shows and movies are you currently into?

Love The Crown. Love Victoria. Loving Westworld. Beyond that, I’m a sitcom guy. I love the creation of each character with a unique quality that makes that person memorable. I also am impressed that good sitcoms can tell a story that truly moves you, makes you laugh, sometimes cry in under 30 minutes. No wasted words. It is a gift and screenwriters who get it write are remarkable.

8. What are a few of your favorite books, either already out or even coming soon?

I named a few by Stephen King. I love The Nightengale, A Man Called Ove, Blind Your Ponies. My buddy Sheldon Siegel has a new one coming out called The Felony Murder Rule, which I’m really enjoying. In Harm’s Way – The Sinking of the Indianapolis. Frozen in Time, The Boston Girl. It’s a wide variety, I know. But I’ve really enjoyed them all.

9. I know you teach about writing, (I have been to the novel writing intensive with you and Steven James and highly recommend to anyone wanting to pursue writing). What would be your number one piece of advice for aspiring writing?

Learn the craft. Writing is a job. It is a craft. People teach it because it can be taught. You wouldn’t pick up a violin and start playing it in public without lessons. You wouldn’t operate on someone unless you had been trained in medicine as a surgeon. Writing is no different. It is a craft. Take time to study it and find what works and why and what doesn’t.

10. What do you enjoy doing when not writing?

I love to travel to other countries and I love to work out. I really love watching my kids play sports, but my son is now in college and my daughter is injured so I’m going through serious withdrawals. I also work out a lot – It keeps me sane, and that’s a good thing when you listen to people in your head for a living.

The Travelers

the-travelers Author: Chris Pavone

Publisher: Crown

Release Date: March 8, 2016

Rating: 3 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Spy thriller that lacked most of the thriller.

Will Rhodes is a travel writer who has really been ramping up the travel part lately. His wife used to work for the same magazine that he does, but to limit competition between them, she left to be an editor at another magazine. They move through the motions of marriage, but since they haven’t been able to get pregnant, things have started to dissolve lately and Will is not sure why. When he is at a conference in Europe, he meets a young Australian freelance writer who really hits it off with him. He is very drawn to her, but manages to stay faithful to his wife. Later while in South America, he meets her again and things end up going a little too far. Only then does Will realize that he has been played. The young woman is actually an American secret agent who is now using their videoed affair as blackmail to recruit him into the CIA. After all, he already has the perfect cover to move around without arising suspicions. But can Will actually do this? Is it worth it for his marriage? And is it really legit?

This seemed like a really interesting concept story. A travel writer turned into a spy sounds like a great idea. I mean, sure it’s been done before, but a good story is just that, a good story. Unfortunately, that is not how this one felt. The story was very disjointed in my opinion and just never really got traction. The prologue hooked me in, but then it was just like the line couldn’t reel me in. There were a lot of characters to set up and you spend half your reading time trying to figure out who this is referring to, maybe it’s her, maybe it’s him, maybe it’s someone who hasn’t even been introduced yet. Which got a little frustrating overall, but it is what it is. There was also a lot of strong language throughout the book which could have been handled a lot differently. Should you decide to read it, I would recommend it for mature audiences.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Mermaids of Lake Michigan

mermaids Author: Suzanne Kamata

Publisher: Wyatt-McKenzie

Release Date: February 14, 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Definitely not what I was expecting.

Elise Faulkner loves her home close to Lake Michigan. She has never been one for social functions, as she is more prone to read a good book or send pen pal letters to other girls around the world that she has never met. However, her mom wants her to be more like her sister, who has an active boyfriend and goes out all the time. So, she sets her up with a neighbor’s granddaughter who is visiting. When Elsie meets Chiara, she starts making a friend right away. Chiara is different from other people and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. She also doesn’t think any of the dreams that Elise has are weird. They really hit it off great, but Chiara is far from a positive role model. She is a drinker, smoker, and likes to skip school. She even manages to talk Elise into taking a road trip into Chicago with her one weekend which will change Elise’s life forever.

This was a very different book than what I was expecting. First of all, it really reads more like a memoir than fiction, which is really kind of fascinating in itself. Second, I didn’t realize that is was going to be set in the 1970s and the author did a great job of setting the scene for that. From the beauty pageant to the parades, it really felt nostalgic when reading. But the best part was the overall character development of Elise. She started out what seemed very shallow and reserved, but grew throughout the story over her time with Chiara and then when looking for Miguel. There was definitely a twist thrown in there that really ramped up the conflict of the story. The point of view remained through an eighteen year old girl’s eyes. Her experiences and memories really seemed true to the events that took place.

There is some language throughout this book as well as a mild sex scene. There are also some scenes that depict underage smoking, drinking, and drug use. I recommend this for mature young adults and up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Freedom Broker

the-freedom-broker Author: K. J. Howe

Publisher: Quercus Books

Release Date: February 7, 2017

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A fast paced, action packed story that will keep readers guessing until the very end!

When Thea Paris was a little girl she witnessed her brother being kidnapped. He was returned to the family after nine months, but that experience would shape the future for everyone in the Paris family. Thea is one of the best kidnap and ransom specialists in the world and she is the only woman in the freedom broker business. She is the team leader at Quantum Security International’s black-ops team, which goes on sensitive rescue missions to recover high value targets. On the eve of the party for her father’s sixtieth birthday party, Christos Paris is taken from his yacht, mere days before the biggest deal of his career. Everyone aboard the boat is killed and Thea waits for a ransom demand that is slow to come. Pushing aside the fact that she is too close to the case, she throws herself in to the job more determined to find her father than any case she has ever worked. The more she digs, the more the past comes to haunt them all and it becomes clear this is no ordinary case.

It is hard to believe that this is the debut novel. Howe wrote a very intriguing fast paced thriller that I very much enjoyed. One of the best aspects of the novel was the pace, it flowed easily even with chapters of different length. This actually helped because as the action intensified, the chapters got shorter making the pages fly faster and faster. The main character, Thea is the heroine, but is also very relatable with her weakness, diabetes. She is reluctant to share this information with anyone because she doesn’t want them to view her as weak because of it. I have read kidnap books before but never one where the focus is on the team that is sent in to get them back. It was a unique view of how things unfold on that side of the story. There was a fair amount of back and forth between past and present, usually this can be confusing and take the reader out of the story. Howe was able to make the transitions smoothly with the past scenes providing emotional support for the characters in the story. There were a few graphic moments of sexual content and some adult language making this only appropriate for a mature audience.

I picked this up after seeing a favorite author recommended it and I am really glad I did. I really hope there will be more to come from Thea Paris and her rescue missions. I recommend this book to lovers of suspense thrillers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Valiant

the-valiant

Author: Lesley Livingston

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: February 14, 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Sword fights, Julius Caesar and betrayal worse than Brutus makes for a captivating and impressive story.

Fallon has always dreamed of being a warrior in her father’s army. But the Celtic King has other plans. Having lost his oldest daughter, Sorcha, to the armies of Julius Caesar, he refuses to let Fallon suffer the same fate and gives her hand in marriage to the brother of the man she loves. She flees in the night and is captured and sold into slavery. She ends up in the hands of an elite training school for female gladiators owned by Caesar. She now finds herself placing her survival in the hands of the man she has hated for longer than she can remember. Fallon is in for the fight of her life as treachery is around every corner and she doesn’t know whom to trust. To top it all off, she finds herself falling in love with a roman soldier, something she never would have dreamed. With danger ahead, Fallon will have to use all her training to stay alive and prove how valiant she can truly be.

I don’t even know where to start, other than to say that this was such a powerful and exciting story I am sad to see it end. This is the type of book that you almost hate to read because you know that whatever you read next isn’t going to stand much of a chance of being even remotely as good. Usually with a good story, it starts with a coincidence and only one. From that point on, everything needs to come together as the characters should do and act. That is a hard feat to accomplish but was done so well here that I loved every moment of the story. There were so many twists that played out beautifully. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say the reveals of who some of the characters actually were and how they tied in together had me smiling and pumping my fist at how well Livingston pulled it all off. This is a story that is unique, genuine, and highly entertaining. I can’t really say which group of readers I will be recommending this too because I don’t want to leave anyone out that would enjoy the story as much as I did. There is something here for almost everyone, in my opinion. I heard there is a sequel coming out and that can’t come soon enough. This will for sure be one of my top picks for the year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Breaking and Holding

breaking

Author: Judy Fogarty

Publisher: Lake Union

Release Date: August 2, 2016

Rating: 3 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A story of love, betrayal, and what to do when you find love but can’t have it.

Set in the summer of 1978, Patricia Curren finds out her husband has had an affair. Instead of approaching him about this and dissolving her marriage, Patricia decides to spend the summer alone on Kiawah Island. She has always been a loner, hiding away in her books. On the island, she ventures out and meets Terry Sloan, a college tennis player working at the country club for the summer. It is an instant attraction for them both that quickly turns toward obsession. They both have secrets, some worse than others, and the summer is quickly coming to a close. Terry is trying to turn pro and has a sponsor interested in him who is about to bring their relationship to the edge of imploding. Between the sponsor, Patricia’s husband coming to the island, and so many other problems, they are about to face more than either of them can handle.

Breaking and Holding had a lot of potential that didn’t fully hold up for me. There were several good points that I want to highlight first. My biggest praise would have to be that this book had some of the best character development of any I have read in a long time. From beginning to end, the characters fully change and develop into who they are at the end of the story and not the same as at the beginning. I didn’t think it would happen but the end was satisfying for how it played out throughout the novel. Even with those positives, there were several negatives for me. The language bothered me. I got very, very tired of seeing the F word. It was just not necessary so much of the time. Most of the novels I read don’t have that kind of language, and that’s how I prefer it. But there are a rare few that have language that are written so well that it doesn’t bother me, especially if it isn’t overused. The story is told from several different viewpoints, mostly Patricia and Lynn (Patricia’s husband’s assistant), and a few instances of the view point of Terry. This could bother some readers, but I had no problems with following who was talking and how it shaped the story. Overall it was an okay story but not one I will be picking up again.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Redeeming Grace

redeeming-grace Author: Jill Eileen Smith

Series: Daughters of the Promised Land #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: February 14, 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Another well-known story of redemption told beautifully.

Many people know the story of Ruth, or at least they think they do. But is it really Ruth’s story? Or Naomi’s story? When Elimelech and Naomi leave Bethlehem with their two sons to find relief from the famine, they come to the land of Moab. Moab is land that worships gods made of stone and wood, which the people offer human sacrifices to. But Elimelech isn’t worried as the land he is harvesting is very plenty and bountiful. But when he is suddenly mauled by a bear on his way home from the town, things begin to change in Naomi’s life. Suddenly both her sons plan to take Moabite women as their wives rather than from their own people. These two women are Orpah and Ruth. As the years go own, Naomi’s sons become more engrossed in the culture and working the land rather than returning home until they suddenly become ill and die on the same day. Now in grief, Naomi plans to return home, but releases the holds of her two daughters-in-law so that they may return to their families. Orpah leaves and returns, but Ruth journeys back with Naomi to Bethlehem, but will she be welcome?

I end the synopsis here because if you do not know the story of Ruth, I want you to read this fantastic fictional account. I have always loved the history that Jill Eileen Smith brings to her stories and how the details always seem to fall into place. The book of Ruth in the Bible is very short and may appear vague when you read it. It may leave you with questions as to why was Ruth so loyal to Naomi? But I believe it is really more about the change in culture over time with regard to the Bible. When the Israelites would have heard the story of Ruth recited, they would have known the importance of land possession and the kinsman redeemer. Today, the common person probably doesn’t have the same biblical knowledge as they did at the time. Thankfully, this book really takes on the story and tells it in such a way that makes it extremely understandable. This is one of my favorite stories and this book just makes it that much better.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Recruits

recruits Author: Thomas Locke

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: February 14, 2017

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

An out of this world Fantasy adventure that will leave the reader aching for more!

Sean and Dillon Kirrel are twin brothers who have always enjoyed looking into the possibilities of other worlds. So much in fact, that they have sketched out what one might look like. Shortly after they turn seventeen, they are approached by a man telling them he is interested in them for a potential job. It turns out that he is looking to them for a unique gift they have, the ability to transition between worlds, including the one they have sketched and imagined. He shows them how to transition between the different worlds and it is quickly clear that the twins are destined for great things in this world and beyond.

I haven’t read much science fiction, just not my go-to books, but the way Thomas Locke writes I think I might just have to add more to my pile. Recruits was a very interesting story. For the most part, the story is set on Earth, and the times it is on another planet. In this book, we don’t see enough of the planet to need a large amount of setup for the location. And even though it talks about many different planets, it is mostly dealing with humans so you are not having to picture all kinds of different beings, except towards the end. The writing was quick and clean without a lot of unnecessary information to slow down the story which I appreciated.

There were a few aspects that did leave me scratching my head. The twins are basically on their own at seventeen. Their parent’s lack of involvement is explained but I didn’t totally buy it. Additionally, the ending tied up all the loose ends and all but I didn’t feel it left it open well enough with suspense for the next in the series. It also felt like there wasn’t enough closure and explanation; it was almost like, BAM finished. The attack at the end could have been played out with a little more explanation. Overall it was a very enjoyable read and fans of Science fiction and Fantasy are sure to love it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Code Name: Papa

code-name-papa Author: John Murray

Publisher: Archway Publishing

Release Date: September 30, 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Ever wonder about who keeps evil out of everyday life? Just know that Papa’s taking care of it.

Just when you think you are living a mediocre life, everything gets turned upside down. That’s what happened to John Murray. He joined up to serve in the Vietnam War and made two close friends named Jake and Bill. After a disaster where everyone believed John to be dead, he was picked up by a Japanese freighter and delivered back to the United States where he was reunited with Jake and Bill. Soon, Jake’s father says that he wants to have a meeting with all three where he briefs them into the intelligence world, should they choose to accept. Jake’s father is code named Papa. After their first few missions, Papa calls them back in and explains that he has stage four cancer and only has weeks to live. From now on, John will be Papa. The adventures that ensue include several missions throughout the world for several different governments and agencies. Kill missions, cleanups, arms deals, you name it, this team did it. But at what cost to keep people safe? Marriages, health, families, and sanity all suffer. But in the end, they know they can’t turn their back.

This is an eye opening read. The amount of conspiracy throughout the world is staggering. The amount within the United States own borders and even military is even more alarming. I was shocked to learn of how this team was used to clean up high ranking officers that had gone rogue because the Uniform Code of Military Justice wouldn’t be effective or cause too much bad PR for the US. Not to mention that a US sanctioned team would be used by Russia in the 1970s and 1980s to handle their dirty work. I guess it just goes to show that you don’t know what you don’t know.

Overall, this was a really interesting book that was very fast paced. There is a lot of emotion throughout the book based on what happened to several of the different team members. From suicide to murder, it is all in there. And no one outside the direct team knew what was going on. It was well written and kept my attention throughout the book. If you like real life espionage, then this one is for you. However, there is a considerable amount of foul language, so only mature audiences should read this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Newcomer

the-newcomer Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Series: Amish Beginnings #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: January 31, 2017

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A beginning novel about finding your true place in life.

Bairn Bauer has had rough life after being separated from his family and sold into slavery until he was bought to be a cabin boy for someone who was actually good. Then on a trip across the sea, he sparked up a romance with Anna Konig, who was coming to the New World from Germany with her Amish Church. He was even reunited with his mother on the ship and his father once it arrived at Port Philadelphia. But now they don’t want to talk about the lost years. They just want to move on like nothing happened and have Bairn become a leader in their church. But Bairn being a man of the sea can’t resist an opportunity he is given as a first mate on a ship running to England and back over the winter. Will Anna wait for him upon his return? Especially with a newcomer on the ship over named Henrik Newman?

Anna Konig has fallen in love with Bairn Bauer, but is pained watching his reunion with his parents. She knows it must be difficult, but hopes that Bairn can find a way to get along with his parents as they travel to the land that their bishop has warranted. But when Bairn suddenly tells her that he is going back on a ship, she begins to question whether she ever rely or trust him. As they travel to meet up with their bishop, a newcomer, Henrik Newman seems to have taken an interest to her. His views are a little different, but he seems to be a natural leader. When they arrive at the settlement, no one has seen or heard from the bishop. When people begin getting restless for a new leader, they begin looking to Henrik and possibly to Anna to become his wife. But what is in Anna’s heart?

I’m not a huge reader of Amish fiction, but I decided to give this one a try. I was very impressed with how much this story intrigued me. I haven’t read the first in the series, but this on easily stands on its own. The romance between Bairn and Anna played out very well, but was pained to see them part. Then the events of the ship that Bairn was on that led her to believe he was dead easily played into Henrik’s hand. I found Henrik very easy to dislike through the entire book, even up till the end. At one moment, there was a pang of sympathy (only a pang), but it was quickly erased within the next few pages. Not quite a happy ending, but definitely an open transition to the next book. I’ll be looking forward to it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.