Blog Tour: Review of The Eighth Sister by Robert Dugoni

Author: Robert Dugoni
Publisher:  Thomas & Mercer
Date of publication: April 2019

A pulse-pounding thriller of espionage, spy games, and treachery by the New York Times bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series.

Former CIA case officer Charles Jenkins is a man at a crossroads: in his early sixties, he has a family, a new baby on the way, and a security consulting business on the brink of bankruptcy. Then his former bureau chief shows up at his house with a risky new assignment: travel undercover to Moscow and locate a Russian agent believed to be killing members of a clandestine US spy cell known as the seven sisters.

Desperate for money, Jenkins agrees to the mission and heads to the Russian capital. But when he finds the mastermind agent behind the assassinations—the so-called eighth sister—she is not who or what he was led to believe. Then again, neither is anyone else in this deadly game of cat and mouse.

Pursued by a dogged Russian intelligence officer, Jenkins executes a daring escape across the Black Sea, only to find himself abandoned by the agency he serves. With his family and freedom at risk, Jenkins is in the fight of his life—against his own country.

I am a fan of this author's Tracy Crosswhite series.  So, I was looking forward to reading this first in a new series.  I have to admit that while it was well written, it wasn't for me.  The story started out well, but I up being bored and found myself not reaching for it.  This was very different from his other series.  I guess intrigue may just not be my genre.  As I said, the book is well written, so I do recommend giving this one a shot. If you are a fan of espionage and spies, then you will prbabbly love this one.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Connect with Robert

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Instagram tour:

Monday, April 8th: @jennblogsbooks

Monday, April 8th: @tarheelreader

Tuesday, April 9th: @createexploreread

Wednesday, April 10th: @bookishwinterwitch

Thursday, April 11th: @dropandgivemenerdy

Thursday, April 11th: @readingwithmere

Friday, April 12th: @beritaudiokilledthebookmark

Saturday, April 13th: @basicbsguide

Tuesday, April 16th: @jessicamap

Review tour:

Monday, April 8th: Helen’s Book Blog

Tuesday, April 9th: Mystery Playground

Wednesday, April 10th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, April 11th: Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Friday, April 12th: Audio Killed the Bookmark

Monday, April 15th: Jathan & Heather

Tuesday, April 16th: Jessicamap Reviews

Wednesday, April 17th: Wining Wife

Thursday, April 18th: Amy’s Book-et List

Monday, April 22nd: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind

Tuesday, April 23rd: Lori’s Reading Corner – spotlight

Wednesday, April 24th: Books and Cats and Coffee

Thursday, April 25th: Kahakai Kitchen

Friday, April 26th: The Baking Bookworm

Monday, April 29th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Tuesday, April 30th: Kritter’s Ramblings

Thursday, May 2nd: Thoughts on This ‘n That

My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni

Author: Robert Dugoni
Publisher: Thomas Mercer
Date of publication: November 2014

Tracy Crosswhite has spent twenty years questioning the facts surrounding her sister Sarah’s disappearance and the murder trial that followed. She doesn’t believe that Edmund House — a convicted rapist and the man condemned for Sarah’s murder — is the guilty party. Motivated by the opportunity to obtain real justice, Tracy became a homicide detective with the Seattle PD and dedicated her life to tracking down killers.

When Sarah’s remains are finally discovered near their hometown in the northern Cascade mountains of Washington State, Tracy is determined to get the answers she’s been seeking. As she searches for the real killer, she unearths dark, long-kept secrets that will forever change her relationship to her past — and open the door to deadly danger.

My Sister's Grave was a random pick from my library.  I had never heard of the book, but it looked like an intriguing story.  I ended up really liking it.  Tracy Crosswhite is a chemistry teacher turned homicide detective who had never been satisfied with the way the disappearance of her sister was "solved".  She knows that the man who was put away is an evil rapist, but she was convinced his conviction was fishy.  When her sister's body if found 20 years later, she decides to try to get to the bottom of the case and find out what really happened.

I thought this was a good solid mystery.  I was definitely surprised in the end so that was a bonus. I don't want to talk about the plot too much because I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. The story waffles between the present and 20 years earlier revealing details of what happened to Sarah at just the right moments.  I liked Tracy and couldn't blame her for not giving up on trying to find to what happened to her sister. We do also get a little bit of romance in the story so that was an unexpected bonus as well.

One of the things that I struggled with was the question of letting such a despicable man like Edmond House go free.  If he didn't do that particular crime, he shouldn't be in prison.  And will letting him out put other women at risk all these years later?  It left me with something to think about.  

I read in a Q&A with the author that this is the first in a series.  I look forward to reading the next book. This is the first book I have tried by this author.  I know I'll be seeking out some of his earlier works while I wait!