My Sister's Grave

The first book in the series that has garnered millions of readers across the globe, from New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

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.

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 10 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, the Keera Duggan legal thriller series, and several stand-alone novels including the literary novel, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - One of Newsweek Magazines Best Books of All Time and Suspense Magazine’s Book of the Year. Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award. He has also written critically acclaimed historical novels based on true events: The World Played Chess a coming of age story and the Vietnam War; Hold Strong an untold story of WWII; and A Killing on the Hill, about a 1933 killing and trial in Seattle. HIs nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, was a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. His novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and multiple awards for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He has also been a finalist for many other awards including the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award.

Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than forty countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

Visit his website and follow him on Amazon, Goodreads, twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok and other social media sites.

A Goodreads Best Book of the Month

“One of the best books I’ll read this year.” ―Lisa Gardner, bestselling author of Touch and Go

“Dugoni does a superior job of positioning [the plot elements] for maximum impact, especially in a climactic scene set in an abandoned mine during a blizzard―which is melodramatic but nevertheless effective.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Yes, a conspiracy is revealed, but it’s an unexpected one, as moving as it is startling...The ending is violent, suspenseful, even touching. A nice surprise for thriller fans.” ―Booklist

Starred Review: “Combines the best of a police procedural with a legal thriller, and the end result is outstanding...Dugoni continues to deliver emotional and gut-wrenching, character-driven suspense stories that will resonate with any fan of the thriller genre.” ―Library Journal

“Well-written and its classic premise is sure to absorb legal-thriller fans...Though the pace lags at times, the characters are richly detailed and true to life, and the ending is sure to please fans.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“My Sister’s Grave is a chilling portrait shaded in neo-noir, as if someone had taken a knife to a Norman Rockwell painting by casting small town America as the place where bad guys blend into the landscape, establishing Dugoni as a force to be reckoned with outside the courtroom as well as in.” ―Providence Journal

“What starts out as a sturdy police procedural morphs into a gripping legal thriller...Dugoni is a superb storyteller, and his courtroom drama shines. This ‘Grave’ is one to get lost in.” ―Boston Globe

“This story captured my attention, and made me care about Tracy and Sarah and what happened to them. This is a compelling story, difficult to put down, and the ending was not at all what I expected. I loved My Sister’s Grave and was drawn in from the beginning, and can easily recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery.” ―Bitten by Books

My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni centers on Tracy Crosswhite, a skilled homicide detective in Seattle who has spent two decades haunted by the disappearance of her younger sister Sarah. The story opens with the discovery of Sarah's remains in a remote grave near their hometown in the Pacific Northwest, a find that reopens old wounds and forces Tracy to confront the painful events of the past. Sarah vanished after competing in a shooting tournament, and the man convicted of her murder, Edmund House, has always maintained his innocence from behind bars. Tracy, who once believed in the justice system that put him away, now questions everything as new evidence suggests the case was built on shaky ground.

Tracy returns to her childhood town, where memories of her sister linger in every corner. She teams up with her former boyfriend Dan O'Leary, now a local attorney, to dig deeper into the original investigation. Together they uncover inconsistencies in the timeline, overlooked witnesses, and possible motives that point away from House. Tracy's determination is fueled by guilt over the night Sarah disappeared, when she had encouraged her sister to enter the competition despite their father's reservations. As she interviews old acquaintances and reviews dusty police files, Tracy begins to suspect that someone in their close-knit community may have orchestrated the crime and framed an outsider to protect themselves.

The novel builds tension through Tracy's personal struggles as much as the mystery itself. She grapples with the loss that fractured her family, her strained relationship with her parents, and the professional risks of challenging a closed case. Flashbacks reveal the close bond between the sisters and the small-town dynamics that shaped their lives. Tracy faces resistance from local authorities who prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, and she encounters threats that suggest powerful people have secrets worth hiding. Her investigative skills shine as she pieces together forensic details and behavioral clues, but her emotional vulnerability makes the stakes feel intensely personal.

Dugoni weaves a narrative that explores themes of justice, forgiveness, and the long shadow of grief. Tracy's journey forces her to reckon with how trauma can distort memory and how easy it is for the truth to be buried under layers of assumption. The supporting characters, from the skeptical sheriff to the enigmatic House, add depth to the story by revealing their own motivations and regrets. The pacing stays measured, allowing quiet moments of reflection to balance the mounting suspense of each new discovery.

As the investigation progresses, Tracy finds herself in increasing danger, both physically and emotionally. Revelations about the night of the disappearance challenge her understanding of the people she once trusted most. The book maintains a steady focus on Tracy's growth as she learns to balance her need for answers with the possibility that some truths may bring more pain than closure. The rural setting enhances the atmosphere, with its isolated landscapes and tight community ties creating a sense of claustrophobia even in open spaces.

By the later stages, the story reaches a gripping climax where Tracy must confront the real killer and decide how far she is willing to go for justice. The resolution ties together the threads of family loyalty, legal ethics, and personal redemption without rushing through the emotional weight of the events. Dugoni's writing captures the quiet resilience of a woman driven by love and loss, making Tracy a compelling protagonist who feels real and relatable. The novel leaves a lasting impression through its portrayal of how one tragedy can ripple through generations, reminding readers that the search for truth often comes at a steep personal cost. It is a thoughtful thriller that blends mystery with heartfelt character work, keeping the focus on the human cost of unsolved crimes.