Un juego mortal

Keera Duggan #1

by Robert Dugoni, Patricia Mata (Translator)

La abogada Keera Duggan estaba construyendo una prometedora carrera como fiscal en Seattle hasta que una relación fallida con un colega la obligó a abandonar la fiscalía y volver al bufete familiar, donde conviven la genialidad de su padre y los viejos conflictos con sus hermanas.

La gran oportunidad para que Keera recupere su carrera llega con la defensa de Vince LaRussa, un poderoso asesor financiero acusado de asesinar a su esposa en pleno divorcio. Con la cadena perpetua en juego, Keera se enfrentará a un fiscal implacable: Miller Ambrose, su antiguo amante, quien hará todo lo necesario para ganar el caso.

Mientras sigue las pistas, Keera se adentra en un juego letal de engaños y revelaciones inesperadas que pondrán a prueba su lealtad al cliente, a su familia y a sí misma. En un tablero donde nada es lo que parece, cada movimiento puede decidir su futuro. ¿Qué ficha moverá ahora?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Legal Thriller, Crime, Audiobook

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2023

About the author

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 11 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and The Keera Duggan legal thriller series. He has written several stand-alone novels including the historical novels A Killing on the Hill and Hold Strong, as well as the suspense novel The 7th Canon, and Damage Control. He has written the literary novels, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - one of Newsweek Magazine's Best Books of All-Time and Suspense Magazine’s 2018 Book of the Year, for which Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award. He has also written the critically acclaimed novel, The World Played Chess; as well as the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, 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 a four-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award 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 thirty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com, and follow him on twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertDugoni

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni

Keera Duggan didn't want to join the family law practice so she built her reputation as a Seattle prosecutor. That career path was torpedoed after a failed romantic relationship with a senior DA. Now Keera is back at her family’s failing criminal defense law firm and even that career path might go down in flames if the family can't keep her alcoholic father from pulling the entire firm down with him.

Keera's claim to fame in her younger days was as a competitive chess prodigy. Her father is the one who fueled that competitive fire and he and Keera had once been close until her father's problems ruined the connection between them. Now Keera has been retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser, whose wife was found murdered in their mansion. To round out the challenge of her first homicide defense, Keera is going up against prosecutor Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former lover and the man who wants to destroy her for being the one that got away.

Chess plays a huge part in this story as Keera uses her chess knowledge to determine how she makes all her moves in life. In her meager off time she has been playing offline chess with a fierce competitor, which seems to help her think through the LaRussa case. There are strange occurrences connected to the case, such as messages from a mysterious Jack Worthing, who seems to be pointing Keera to learn the worst about LaRussa. What we see is that successfully defending a client may be the goal but will success leave one feeling good about the job?

The chess aspect of the story was my least favorite part of it, especially with so much detail about the moves between Keera and her online opponent. My bit of chess playing was so long ago that the moves meant little to me although I think that part of the story would be very interesting to someone who understands the reasoning of the moves better than I did. I do see the connection between chess and the way Keera tackles her job, this case, and her relationships with those around her. If there is another book in Keera's future, I'll be there for it and maybe some of my old knowledge of chess with come back to me.

Pub Mar 28, 2023

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keera had just ended a bad relationship with Ambrose Miller and at that time she worked in the PA's office. She felt like she did not have a good future with this job. So she asked her father for a job working for him at Patrick Duggan & Associates. She had sworn that she would never work for him. Her father had a drinking problem and needed a lot of help and the whole family always kept an eye on him so she started working for him.

Keera wants to have a better relationship with her Dad. She wants her Dad to have a better reputation. She then ends up getting a big case defending Vince Larusso who is an investment advisor and is accused of murdering his wife who is very wealthy. Larusso is facing life in prison. The prosecutor is Ambrose Miller, Keera's former lover, who wants to destroy her.

Keera also is an excellent chess player and is playing chess with the Dark Knight when she is not in the court room.

I really did enjoy this book. I love legal thrillers. It also is a police procedural. I did not like the chess playing in the book but never liked playing chess. I really loved Keera and her family.
This book gets very shocking and I loved the dramatic ending.

I want to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

[Holly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little police procedural and a lot of courtroom drama!

This one is for those who enjoy well developed characters and courtroom scenes. It is very detailed and realistic. I felt like I was a courtroom spectator at times. I didn't want to miss anything and took my time reading and pacing myself to enjoy the unfolding of events.

Keera Duggan's father is a famous defense attorney with his own firm. She has joined him and will be defending her first murder case. She is a fantastic character who is flawed, but strong and determined. Her family is dysfunctional, but she doesn't shy away from a challenge.

A husband is accused of killing his wealthy wife and when the news gets out the circus comes to their upscale neighborhood. The show begins.....

Isn't it always the husband? More like he is always a suspect............... Someone is playing games and throwing wrenches into the mix. Nothing seems logical and there is a little game within a game going down.

After the verdict, someone will need a shower.

Thanks to Netgalley for my arc. OUT March 28, 2023

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s important to choose wisely if you need an attorney to represent you when you have been accused of murder.

Keera Duggan was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. She had to leave the prosecutors office, and join her father’s firm-Patrick Duggan & Associates-and now she is defending the “accused”, creating “reasonable doubt” if she cannot prove undeniable innocence.

Her first big test will come when she is retained by Vince La Russa, an investment banker worth millions, who may have murdered his wife. And, it will come against her former lover, Miller Ambrose, who is determined to destroy her in court.

How will that play out for the “accused”?

As a former Chess prodigy, Keera is used to strategizing. The game has helped her to consider not just what her opponent’s next move could be, but also the two or three moves which may follow it. This has helped her in her law career, and serves as a way to unwind, after a challenging day.

And, now someone aware of her Chess playing, someone calling themselves “Jack Worthing”, is sending her emails with clues to follow, which may help with the case.

If she can figure the clues out in time….

I have been wanting to give this author a try for quite sometime, so since I enjoy LEGAL THRILLERS, I jumped at the chance to download this stand-alone, by Robert Dugoni.

Part Police Procedural and part Courtroom Drama, there is some repetition which bogged down the middle JUST A BIT.

And, Keera is challenged to a game of chess by online competitor, “Dark Knight” which plays out in its entirety throughout the narrative, so the you will be reading about chess moves which may be meaningless to you if you aren’t familiar with the game. ♟♟

And, my biggest “dislike” was the justification used for the guilty party’s behavior-it wasn’t necessary in this story, and it’s one that I always hate when it is used.

STILL- there is definitely more to LIKE than to dislike as you get to know this family of “Irish Brawlers” who just happen to practice law.

And, like the CBS show, “Blue Bloods” which is a multi generational family of Cops, who meet for a weekly family dinner after solving crime all week- the Duggans will also invite you to their monthly family dinners, after they spend their time, practicing the law.

Whether this becomes Dugoni’s next LEGAL series, remains to be seen, but if it does-I am game to spend more time with them.

AVAILABLE NOW!!

Thank You to Thomas & Mercer for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***

This book is part police procedural, courtroom thriller and family drama.

Keera Dugan is a trial attorney who, because of personal issues, was forced to return to her father’s law firm. She has a wonderful relationship with her father Patrick Duggan, aka Patsy, famous for his reputation as the winning Irish Brawler in legal circles.

Lately the law firm has been in trouble due to Patrick, aka Patsy’s alcoholism. Part of the reason for Keera’s return is the hope that she can gain a reputation as a big time defense attorney and restore clients faith in their firm.

From the blurb: Keera’s chance to play in the big leagues comes when she’s retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife. There’s little hard evidence against him, but considering the couple’s impending and potentially nasty divorce, LaRussa faces life in prison. The prosecutor is equally challenging: Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former lover, who’s eager to destroy her in court on her first homicide defense.

There are so many elements that made this novel completely enthralling to me.

**First we have the complicated case of who killed LaRussa’s wife. The police are hiding something and so is the husband, Vince LaRussa. Keera has to deal with Miller Ambrose who is a cut throat lawyer and wants to win this case to prove he is the best and to also avenge Keera ending their relationship. He will stop at NOTHING to win the case.

**Keera was a child prodigy chess champion who only plays online for fun now. It’s calming to her. Her best opponent is the Dark Knight and she doesn’t know who he is but he helps her apply the strategies of chess to solving this case.

**The family dynamics and character development are top notch. This is a firm run by her father that also includes two of her sisters who work in other aspects of the law.

**There are a multitude of characters but they are all well developed and I enjoyed getting to know all of them.

I think character development and wonderful writing is what draws me to all of the books that Durgoni writes. In the author’s notes there is reference to his being an attorney which accounts for all of the great detail during the trial.

If you enjoy a strongly character driven courtroom trial with lots of interesting “moving parts” then I think you will love this one as much as I did. I promise it will keep you guessing until the very end.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

This was a buddy read with Jan and Marialyce, be sure to check out their wonderful reviews!

[Rosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A fast-paced and entertaining legal thriller with great characters. Enjoyed it thoroughly.

Story Synopsis:

Keera Duggan was an up-and-coming prosecutor until her romantic relationship with a colleague Miller Ambrose ended badly. Now she is forced to work in her family’s criminal defense law firm, which itself is struggling after her father’s repeated alcohol-induced misbehaviour. For Keera, who has always been an overachiever and a chess prodigy, this is a big comedown.
When wealthy businessman Vince LaRussa, who is arrested on the charge of murdering his wife, approached Duggan’s firm to represent him, Keera knows that this is the chance to get everything – career, family, business – back on track. But there are many challenges as well, not least of which being that the prosecutor handling the case for the state is Ambrose himself.
As Keera handles the defense side while navigating through some tricky leads, she realises that she is in a far more dangerous game than she had bargained for.
The story comes to us in the limited third person perspective of Keera and another key character, Frank Rossi, who is the lead detective on the LaRussa case.

Where the book worked for me:
♛ Let’s be honest. No one reads legal thrillers wondering if the lawyer/character we see will win the case. Of course, they will! What we want is to see a brilliant legal battle unfurling inside and outside court, one that keeps us on our toes and challenges many assumptions. On that count, this book is a big winner. The courtroom scenes were fascinating.

♛ That said, some parts of the ending did take me by surprise. I appreciate how the author didn’t push too hard to ties all ends neatly. A few things are left unsaid, with just enough for us to know what might transpire.

♛ Keera Duggan makes for a compelling lead character. While she does meet the standard portrayal of having a prodigious intelligence and a competitive streak, she is also not shown as a superwoman who can handle everything alone. I love how the author showed her as a team player.

♛ I think this is the first time ever that I have ever counted an alcoholic character as among my favourites. Patrick Duggan, Keera’s dad, is so well-written! He shines not just as a lawyer but also as a dad. His addiction to the bottle is also depicted well in the story. I appreciate how alcoholism is portrayed not as a choice but as an illness.

♛ Through Keera’s big family – two brothers, two sisters and parents, we get a great glimpse of a dysfunctional family’s dynamics. The sibling relationships across the three sisters are especially spot on.

♛ A book with many strong women characters, none of whose portrayals are sexualised and none of whom are perfect role models but *almost* regular humans - this deserves credit, all the more coming from a male writer. A further plus point for not forcing a romantic track into the book.

♛ The story is well-paced, with the action ranging from fast to medium but never slow. Perfect for a legal thriller.

♛ The last time I read a satisfying legal thriller must have been when John Grisham was in his heyday. So to return to this genre after so many years gave me a nice glimpse of modern-day legal proceedings, complete with PowerPoint presentations and videos. The author’s being an ex-lawyer is a huge advantage, because there is a ring of authenticity to all the scenes.

♛ There is plenty of chess in the book, and every reference is used intelligently. I don’t play chess, but I know the pieces and the basic moves. So while I loved the references to the game coming through various characters and situations, I speed-read through the paras detailing an online chess game Keera was playing with an online opponent. What surprised me most was that the author doesn’t play chess, as he reveals in his final note. After the way he incorporated chess seamlessly into the narrative, I sure didn’t see that coming!

♛ On that note, the author’s note – one of the best I’ve read. Well-detailed, and providing the perfect background to the story and the events therein. Loved it!


Where the book left me with mixed feelings:
♞ As an ardent fan of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, I both loved and hated the way the play was used in this story. Also, I beg to differ, Keera, but ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ is NOT similar to Wilde’s play!


Where the book did not work for me:
♟ Sorry, minor spoiler here.
I am a bit tired of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) being brought up in reference to criminals. DID doesn’t automatically indicate psychopathic tendencies. In this story, the mention of DID wasn’t even necessary. Simply portraying the said character as a sociopath or a psychopath was enough to make us understand his motivations. Why was the DID reference shoved in? ASPD would have made far better sense.


All in all, you can see from the skew of my feedback that this was a great read for me. After a long while, I have read a legal thriller that IS a legal thriller and not a dressed-up crime thriller or police procedural.

I hope the author plans to turn this into a series, because I would love to see more of Keera Duggan and Frank Rossi, not necessarily together. Could we please have more of Pan and Ford in the next installment? And do bring back Harrison as well. Oh, and Patrick Duggan too! Heck, just make sure every good key character returns, dear author!!

This was my first Robert Dugoni work, and it won’t be the last!


4.5 stars, happy to round up in the hopes that the author will be convinced to write a sequel!


My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the DRC of “Her Deadly Game”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The book is also available on Kindle Unlimited.

———————————————

A special shout-out to my friend Bharath. While many of my GR friends had rated the book highly, it was his praise that compelled me to go for the book. I am so grateful! Do check out his review as well.

———————————————

This was a buddy read with Srivalli. After a long streak of duds, we've finally hit upon a winner, yay! Do check out her review as well to see if she matches my rating. (She's even more miserly than I am in doling out 5 stars. 😁)

———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

[JanB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keera Duggan, a Seattle prosecutor, returns to her family law practice after a failed relationship with a colleague. Her father, a celebrated defense attorney, is also a raging alcoholic with all the fallout that entails, both personally and professionally.

Keera is retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his disabled wealthy wife. The prosecutor? Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former SO, who is determined to win and take down Keera in the process.

As a former chess prodigy, Keera takes solace in online chess as a way to relax and decompress at the end of a long day. Just who is her anonymous online opponent, The Dark Night? The answer will surprise you! I don’t play chess and the moves went over my head, but I appreciated that the skills and logic needed to be a top chess player are the same skills needed to be a top defense attorney.

I love courtroom dramas and this is among the best. The ending became just a tad bit convoluted and the specifics of the murder were a bit OTT.

But,I loved the character of Keera and her dysfunctional but loving family. Overall, the positives outweigh my reservations about the ending, and I was able to overlook a few sticking points.

The case ends with a conundrum which leaves Keera with a dilemma, and left me furiously turning the pages. I couldn’t see how the author could end this satisfactorily, but he pulled it off. I was left with wanting more from these characters which is a sure sign of a successful read for me. I want more stories featuring the Duggans!

This was a buddy read with Marialyce and Dorie, be sure to check out their reviews to see what they thought. This was only my second book by this author, but not my last.

• I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple" The Importance of Being Ernest - Oscar Wilde

Robert Dugoni writes a complex blend of family drama and legal thriller, set in Seattle, Washington for his latest novel. Keera Duggan had been building her career as a Seattle prosecutor, until her personal relationship with a senior prosecutor, Miller Ambrose, falls apart. A former competitive chess prodigy, this has pushed her into her family’s failing criminal defense law firm to work for her father, Patrick Duggan, aka Patsy, famous for his reputation as the winning Irish Brawler in legal circles. She is far from happy being thrust back into her chaotic and dysfunctional family, their law firm is in trouble with Patsy's alcoholism, he is unable to function and letting everyone down is his norm, jeopardising the business.

Keera now has to establish a reputation as a hotshot defence lawyer in order to save her family, the law firm, her relationship with her father, and her career, to do that she needs a big, high profile client. Her first murder case comes in the form of a successful investment advisor, Vincent LaRussa, accused of murdering his wheelchair bound wife, Anne, at their home, after it emerges Anne suspected him of an affair and wanted a divorce. The stage is set for a exciting courtroom drama, with Keera having to face the challenges of her former colleague and lover, Ambrose, intent on winning at any cost, and despite her reservations, having Patsy beside her at the trial, desperately hoping he would not let her down.

She is helped by an ongoing online chess match with The Dark Knight, the strategies and moves echoing what is happening in the trial, but Keera is concerned by emails she begins to receive from a 'Jack Worthing' that raises concerns about her client, just who is he and is he a dangerous man? You can always rely on Dugoni for a thrilling, complex and well plotted story, and this is packed with suspense and tension, with some surprising twists. Here, the author creates a compulsively gripping character in the chess playing Keera, she has her own personal crises, and is part of a large and sprawling Irish family with issues, they must come to together and support each other if their law firm is to survive. Fans of Dugoni are likely to love this, as are those who enjoy legal thrillers, and the crime and mystery genre. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quiet please…court is now in session!

Keera left the prosecutor’s office to join the family business. Her fathers’ criminal defense firm to be precise. And before the dust even settles, she learns her first big case will be a murder trial. (No pressure, Keera!) But hold on, there’s more…much more. The prosecutor assigned to the case just happens be an old flame that ended disastrously. Can they perform their duties professionally or will their behaviors jeopardize the case.

Vince LaRussa is on trial or killing his wife. He swears he’s innocent, but no one’s buying it. I mean, come on, isn’t it always the husband?💁🏻‍♀️

Does Keera believe he’s truly an innocent man? Can she cast enough doubt in the jurors’ minds to get a not-guilty verdict?

With equal amounts of courtroom and family drama, there was plenty to keep me glued to the pages.
I loved Keera’s family and their struggles growing up in a home with someone with an addiction to alcohol.
The courtroom scenes were riveting…including some good ole’ fashion, Perry Mason “Gotcha” moments!

To all legal thriller fans, don’t miss out! Though I wanted a bit more in the end, I would still recommend!

A buddy read with Susanne🤓⚖️

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

After a failed relationship with her senior colleague prompts her to quit her job as a prosecutor, Keera Duggan joins her father’s law firm Patrick Duggan & Associates despite having misgivings about working for him. Her father “Patsy” Duggan known as The Irish Brawler in legal circles had had problems with alcoholism in the past and her family is constantly ( and unsuccessfully for the most part) trying to keep him from falling off the wagon. Keera lands her first case as a defense attorney when she is retained by affluent financial advisor Vince LaRussa who is accused of murdering his disabled wife. The prosecutor is Ambrose Miller, Keera's ex-flame who has a personal axe to grind.

Keera, a former chess prodigy also has a mystery opponent The Dark Knight with whom she is playing a chess game online which somewhat mirrors what is going on in her case. As the narrative progresses, it is revealed that all was not well in Vince's marriage. Complicating things further are emails from an unknown entity that hint that there are aspects of Vince’s life that need looking into. It is up to Keera, Detectives Frank Rossi and Billy Ford of Seattle's Violent Crime Division who is investigating the case and Patsy to get to the truth of the matter. Keera has a lot on her plate having to protect her reputation and that of her father's law firm, all the while trying to determine whether her client is guilty and if not, proving the same in court.

Part legal thriller, part police procedural with a good dose of family drama thrown into the mix, Robert Dugoni’s Her Deadly Game is built on a solid premise. The first half of the book was a tad too slow for my liking but the pace does pick up in the second half of the novel. I did enjoy the suspenseful buildup but felt the ending was too convoluted and I thought that the connection established between certain incidents mentioned in the narrative felt forced and a tad too convenient. While the chess references were interesting, I don’t think they were particularly impactful or necessary. I loved the courtroom scenes and thought they were exceptionally well written. Both Keera and Patsy Duggan are very well-written characters and I did enjoy their scenes in the courtroom and their personal interactions. The family dynamics were realistic and did enrich the narrative. Overall, while I did not dislike this thriller, I wasn’t as taken with it as other readers.

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great start to a new to me series! Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni is the first book in a legal thriller series featuring Keera Duggan. Kerra was building a strong reputation as a prosecutor until a romantic relationship with a senior colleague ends badly. After an uncomfortable work environment ensues, she decides to join her family’s criminal defense law firm. Her father’s alcoholism has adversely affected the firm in recent years. She hopes to restore the family’s reputation, her relationship with her father, and her career.

When she’s retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife, Keera gets the chance at a high-profile case. Most of the evidence is circumstantial, but the couple’s impending divorce doesn’t help his case. Additionally, the prosecutor is Miller Ambrose, her former lover, who wants to destroy her in court.

Keera is an expert chess player who once competed in tournaments. She uses logic and strategy from the game that she learned from her father in her approach to court cases. She’s competitive, calculating, a strategizer, and one who evaluates before reacting. The other great thing about this series is that there are references to characters in the Tracy Crosswhite series. While they play minor roles, it helped to bring cohesion to the Seattle law enforcement aspect of the case.

It took a long time to determine how the prologue fit with the rest of the story. However, starting with chapter one, I was immediately pulled into Kerra’s world. The author brings mystery, suspense, questions, and complexity to the story as Kerra and her team investigate and prepare for the trial. Additionally, readers get insights from Detective Frank Rossi and his partner Detective Billy Ford as they conduct their investigation and meet with the assigned prosecutor. There are plenty of twists and some surprises along the way. The courtroom drama and dynamics were exceptionally riveting. The author is a great storyteller and seamlessly weaves family dynamics, alcohol abuse, prescription medicine addiction, toxic romantic relationships, and murder into a riveting legal thriller.

Overall, this engaging and well-written book has well-developed characters and a compelling plot. If you enjoy a solid series that will have mysteries, suspense, crime, and intense court scenes, then this is a series that I recommend. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was March 28, 2023.
--------------------------------------
My 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
Robert Dugoni’s latest is a legal thriller with a new main character. Keera Duggan has recently joined her family’s law firm after leaving the prosecutor’s office after an affair gone wrong with her boss. The firm isn’t doing well as her father, a functioning alcoholic, is starting to slip and lose his confidence. She’s the lawyer on call when a wealthy investment advisor calls. His wheelchair bound wife has been murdered while he was at a charity function, but as the spouse, he’s still the prime suspect. As you would expect, she ends up going against her ex-lover as the prosecutor on the case and he makes the case a personal vendetta to boot.
Keera was a chess prodigy in her youth and still plays online to relax. In fact, chess was a major focus of this story. I don’t play and don’t really understand the game and the moves involved. But Dugoni did a good job of giving someone like me an understanding of the logistics of the game.
It’s a strong plot and I was bamboozled up until almost the end. I did figure out the big secret about the defendant early on but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the story. I hadn’t realized that Dugoni was originally a lawyer before switching to writing. He wasn’t a criminal attorney, but his understanding of the mindset shines through.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

" Never ever play games with a girl who knows how to play them better. I'm not waiting for the Karma train. I'm driving it." (Unknown)

Nothing wounds greater than a love affair on the skids. Keera Duggan found out the hard way. Her former lover, Miller Ambrose, keeps turning the knife. But Keera cut all ties with Miller. Doesn't seem like Miller can read a Stop sign.

Keera even left the law practice in Seattle where she and Miller worked. Her only option was to fall into the open arms of her family's law firm headed by her famous father, Patrick Duggan, known as "Patsy". At seventy-two, he's still a force to be reckoned with. Her sisters, Ella and Maggie, work there as well.

High Point: Keera is approached by Vince LaRussa, a successful investment adviser. Upon returning home from a charity affair, Vince came upon his wife, Anne, dead from a gunshot wound in their kitchen. Anne had been relegated to a wheelchair for some time which made the crime even more gruesome. Suspect #1 is the husband. Vince is gonna need a top-notch lawyer.

Investigating Detectives: Frank Rossi and Billy Ford of Seattle's Violent Crime Division step into this circle. Both have years of experience under their belts. This is no suicide with a shot to the back of the head. No other suspects but Vince.

Gasoline On the Fire: Miller Ambrose has been assigned as the prosecuting attorney. He will try to lay bear traps along the way for Keera. It's personal.

Trick Up the Sleeve: Keera was a Chess prodigy for years. She and Patsy played non-stop and she continues to enter games online. Strategy is always key. But is it enough to, once again, sharpen her skills when a man's life is at stake and your ex is lobbing grenades around every turn?

Needless to say, if you've read Robert Dugoni in the past, you know he's shoulder to shoulder with even John Grisham when it comes to courtroom tactics and scenes. The man holds your attention taut throughout. And with a lead female character like Keera Duggan who is well aware of her potential for checkmate, you're in for a mighty good read. Buckle up and let's set up the board.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Robert Dugoni for the opportunity.

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Her Deadly Game we meet Keera Duggan, a young Prosecutor working in Seattle for her family's failing firm. Her father was once a leading light in the field but is now too fond of the bottle and is losing his edge. As a consequence Keera, although inexperienced, finds herself taking the lead in the defence of an accused murderer.

This is a court room thriller with a side of police work accompanied by a family drama. Something for every one and I loved it! The characters are written excellently well, and Keera in particular stands out as smart, determined and no one's fool. I especially liked the theme of a chess game running parallel with and reflecting the action in court.

The book starts well, moves at an excellent pace and finishes in great style with an unexpected twist. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Literally Lesia · Rating 5 out of 5]

І ось так несподівано я прочитала найкращий детектив цього року 🤩

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keera Duggan was busy building a career as a Seattle prosecutor when she entered a relationship with a senior colleague. When their relationship ended, she went to work for her family’s criminal defense law firm. She has her work cut out for her as the firm is not doing well. One night she receives a call from Vince LaRussa, a successful investment advisor who needs her firms help. His wife has been murdered and he is being questioned by the police.

Keera rushes to help and comes face to face with her former lover, Miller Ambrose, who has every intention of bringing LaRussa to justice and in the process go up against her in court.

Keera, a former chess prodigy, will use her knowledge of the game, thinking several steps ahead, to help her mount her defense and defend her client. As she and her firm look further into the evidence while receiving emails from Jack Worthing, it becomes clear that there is a deadly game being played. No stranger to games, Keera is up for the challenge.

The beginning of the book was a little too slow for me. I am also not a chess player so when Keera was playing chess, the chess moves where lost on me. Chess players may appreciate this aspect of the book. Around the halfway mark, this book picked up a lot of steam. As the case went to court, I was glued to my seat. I enjoy court room scenes and drama, and this had my full attention. I enjoyed the back and forth as well as the twists and revelations which came out.

Although it was slow in the beginning for me and the chess moves went over my head, I enjoyed this book. I thought the case/investigation/court scenes were interesting and very nicely done. The second half of the book became a real page tuner for me and reinforced why I enjoy Dugoni's writing/books.

Clever, well thought out and interesting.


#HerDeadlyGame #NetGalley

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I enjoyed this, but I know nothing about chess and that did lower my rating of this book. I don't mind a little bit of chess as a metaphor, though it's not particularly unique and can be found in a lot of mystery/thriller books in particular. But this book was like 15% descriptions of an actual chess match which was a crazy amount for to me to skim read. And I say that as someone who watched and loved Netflix's, The Queen's Gambit, which is focused on chess because at least they made it entertaining.

But if you removed all the chess references from this book then you have a pretty solid and interesting criminal investigation/court room drama on your hands. I don't usually read these kinds of books, so I don't have much to compare it to, but this one kept my interest overall. Keera was a relatable character, as was her family though I wish they were a bit more fleshed out. But this book seems to be setting up the possibility of future books as a series, and if so I will gladly pick up the next one! Hopefully the chess references will be dialed down some ;)

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keera Duggan has recently switched sides of the law. Formerly a rising star in the Seattle prosecutor’s office, she was forced to leave and join her family law firm after a relationship with a colleague went south. Not exactly thrilled by the change in scenery, Keera finds herself back in the belly of family drama which mainly centers around her father’s lifelong alcoholism.

Determined to wet her feet now that she’s a defense attorney, Keera’s excited to prove herself after being hired by the prominent and wealthy Vincent LaRussa. Charged with the senseless murder of his handicapped wife, Anne, he is adamant that he has nothing to do with her death. Unfortunately, however, the case against him appears to be a slam dunk.

After all, it seems that Anne believed that Vince had been cheating on her, which may have been leading to a rather vicious divorce. On top of that, the circumstantial evidence against Vince places him squarely in the frame for Anne’s murder and he faces the very real chance of ending up behind bars for life.

Only adding to Keera’s worries, however, is who will be prosecuting Vince’s case. Miller Ambrose, an arrogant yet highly successful attorney in the prosecutor’s office also happens to be Keera’s former lover. The very same one that led her to switch to defending clients instead of prosecuting them. Now, he’s all but too hungry to get back at Keera by destroying her in court.

But as the case gets going and Keera begins to try to piece together the evidence, a deadly game is revealed. It seems someone out there may have information pertinent to her case. Are they trying to help or hurt her chances in the courtroom? Suddenly, however, Keera’s faced with some bombshell information which turns the entire case upside down and she must decide how it fits into the bigger picture. Because the deeper she gets into the puzzle of what happened that night in June, the more she realizes that the price of winning just might be too high.

Holy cannoli! What a stunningly good book Her Deady Game was! While I was already an avid fan of Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series, this novel was truly a work of art. Between the family dynamics at play and the truly epic plot, I was blown away. Even better, the character development was top-notch, crafting wholly believable and three-dimensional individuals that felt fully fleshed out.

I was also particularly partial to the riddle of a case that was at the center of the plot. Entirely unguessable, I raced through the pages (reading altogether too late just to learn what happened) surprised time and time again by the twists and turns. Addictive and perfectly paced, this was absolutely my favorite by Dugoni to date. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tracy dearly, but Keera’s the ultimate female protagonist in my opinion. Fierce, dogged, and sharp, she gets the job done and I am crossing my fingers that this is just the start of her literary journey.

As I closed the book (with a definite book hangover), I was left unbelievably satisfied. Especially since I had absolutely no clue where this ride was taking me. But between some superlative courtroom drama on top of a healthy pinch of delicious police procedural action, Her Deadly Game was the epitome of perfection.

Quite frankly, I honestly don’t know how it could possibly have been improved and I can only imagine that no one but Dugoni could have pulled it off. I’m already eagerly awaiting book two in what I pray is a new series by this literary master. If you’re searching for a new first-rate legal thriller, look no further. You’ve found it. Rating of 5+ stars.

Scroll for my trigger warning if you don’t mind a potential spoiler…


























































Trigger warning: alcohol abuse, suicide, cancer, financial crimes, mention of: stalking, spousal and child abuse

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

the setup…
Keera Duggan is a former Seattle prosecutor who left to join her family’s criminal defense law practice after her relationship with a high profile colleague turned toxic after she broke things off. It’s not a choice she would ordinarily have made despite her father Patrick (Patsy) having a formidable reputation. Keera has a complicated relationship with the man whose unacknowledged alcoholism is now affecting the firm. Her two sisters, Ella and Maggie, also are in the family business and things are prickly. That is until Keera accepts a call late one evening from Vince LaRussa asking for representation. He’s a highly successful wealth manager who discovered his dead wife that evening and though he’s not yet been charged, things seem to be headed in that direction. Even though he asked for Patsy, Keera takes the reins, seeing the opportunity to prove herself to family and the lead prosecutor…yeah, that former “colleague.”

the heart of the story…
While Keera is the youngest and the most recent sibling to join the family practice, she’s actually the one who’s most like Patsy. She’s also a former chess prodigy and that skill serves her well as she develops courtroom and defense strategies with that same thoughtfulness and tactical precision. Miller Ambrose, the lead prosecutor, is determined to see her fail, counting on her inexperience to make that happen and letting his bitterness drive his strategy. In the middle of all this is LaRussa who is quite the enigma, a man that Keera believes is innocent of the crime but senses something else “there.” But it’s her relationship with Patsy who is sitting as her second chair that’s interesting and compelling, him seeing himself in her and she using his counsel but fearing he’ll slip during the trial.

the narration…
Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorites and was ideal for the role of Keera. Her tone, pacing and voice were pitch perfect not only for her but the host of other players. She far surpassed expectations.

the bottom line…
There was a lot of chess moves going on here and that made this one heck of a courtroom drama. Keera has extraordinary instincts and was so much like her father, described as the “Irish brawler” but she had a bit more finesse. Figuring out what actually happened to LaRussa’s wife was equally intriguing and kept me guessing. Fans of the Tracy Crosswhite series will be pleased as I was to see a few crossover characters though this is a very different landscape. The ending was exciting and a bit twisty, just the way I like them. I want much, much more of this character and her complicated family as this is a grand start of a new series.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

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

[Bharath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a legal thriller as good as this after long. The story is very engrossing & fast paced and I loved it – a new author to follow now.

Keera Duggan was a prosecutor, who was constrained to join the family law firm founded by her dad Patsy, after her relationship with colleague Miller Ambrose ends. Patsy has built a reputation for himself as “The Irish Brawler” for his bold approach to defending his clients. A case comes their way – that of Vince LaRussa who is accused of killing his wife, and Keera grabs it. Vince’s wife Anne was shot dead, and it was Vince who called emergency services. Vince is arrested in a few days. As Keera digs into the case, she realizes that defending Vince is going to be tough – there are very few other possible suspects. Just prior to her death, Anne had expressed suspicion to a friend that Vince might be having an affair and also enquired with her solicitor on some terms of their pre-nuptial agreement. Keera gets some cryptic mails from an unknown sender, which the connection to the case is difficult to make. Keera is an avid chess player and there are sprinklings of the games she plays online & how she strategizes to win.

I liked the procedural work and the courtroom drama. The pace is very good and I was hooked. Some aspects feel a little far-fetched, and yet they cannot be dismissed as the build-up and context is pretty solid. The only real weak element is the chess moves. This feels strange as I follow chess keenly myself and am an amateur player, but the sketchy moves through the book served no purpose. The character development is very good and I liked the entire family including Keera’s dad & sisters. I loved Keera’s character as a bold, thoughtful, and determined go-getter.

Overall, if you like crime and legal thrillers, this is a great choice. Strongly recommended!

My rating: 4.5 / 5.

Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for a free electronic review copy.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Deadly Game (Keera Duggan, #1) by Robert Dugoni

Synopsis /

Keera Duggan was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. For the competitive former chess prodigy, returning to her family’s failing criminal defence law firm to work for her father is the best shot she has. With the right moves, she hopes to restore the family’s reputation, her relationship with her father, and her career.

Keera’s chance to play in the big leagues comes when she’s retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife. There’s little hard evidence against him, but considering the couple’s impending and potentially nasty divorce, LaRussa faces life in prison. The prosecutor is equally challenging: Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former lover, who’s eager to destroy her in court on her first homicide defence.

As Keera and her team follow the evidence, they uncover a complicated and deadly game that’s more than Keera bargained for. When shocking information turns the case upside down, Keera must decide between her duty to her client, her family’s legacy, and her own future.


My Thoughts /

Rossi's day began when the victims' days ended.

Before I could start reading Beyond Reasonable Doubt (book #2 in this series), I took myself on a short excursion to my local library. I don't know what my local library looks like during the week (as I'm usually working), but on a Saturday it's a hive of activity. Local gardening groups are out in the sunshine cultivating the garden, eliminating weeds, chatting, and laughing. Plant cuttings are left in the front area near the doorway - potted and labelled and free to take home to beautify your own garden space. Inside, the lounge chairs are filled with people reading. Desks with computers have people researching, children doing their homework (maybe?????) - one can only hope! Each week the 'theme' inside the library is usually different to the weekend before - which means the books on display have also changed - and I might peek something of interest. I knew my book-hold (Her Deadly Game) would be waiting for me on the shelf at the back with all the other holds (with thanks to the efficient library staff!). I go to the 'H's, find my name and take my book; but not before having a little looksee at what other 'H's are reading. Anyone else do that? Someone please say yes because I don't want to be the only book stalker here!

Seattle trial lawyer, Keera Duggan works at her father's law firm. As career choices go, Patrick Duggan & Associates wasn't her first choice of law firms, but a failed relationship with her previous work supervisor at the PA's office left her with few choices.

Keera's father, Patrick "Patsy" Duggan is a successful defence attorney who has sparred with the best for the last four decades and won. He's known locally as the Irish Brawler because he's beaten so many prosecutors in the courtroom with his unparalleled knowledge of the law and out-of-the-box thinking. Patsy's love for the law is legendary throughout the legal community; but so is his love for alcohol. The extent of his binge drinking has not only slowed his reflexes and softened his courtroom reputation, but more importantly hurt those he loves the most.

When a high-profile case lands on the doorstep of Patrick Duggan & Associates, Keera realises this might be the one opportunity the firm gets to restore its flagging reputation. But the question to be asked is: can Patrick remain sober throughout the entirety of the case? For Keera, this is a make-or-break situation.

When Anne LaRussa, wife of prominent and wealthy financial investment adviser, Vince LaRussa, is found dead in their Seattle home, shot in the back of the head, all the evidence points to the husband. Vince LaRussa denies he had any involvement in his wife's death, but the initial evidence is damning.

With this series, Dugoni gives the reader three well written genres for the price of one. A well plotted crime mystery. A police procedural where all team members work together gathering and evaluating clues, collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and forming hypotheses. And lastly, the courtroom drama. It's usually this piece which features the most riveting elements, as courtroom drama almost always proposes a moral dilemma - murder, betrayal, deception, perjury, injustice, and conspiracies. In its simplest terms - you've got the accused, who, at face value is a nobody. Then there is the caller-to-action. This person is key. The person who allows the story to come to life. The first person to come across something that doesn't seem right. The person who can discern the difference between a hypothesis and a theory. The person who knows something the other side doesn't. Dugoni's courtroom scenes are meticulously crafted.

The writing style is concise and engaging, and the banter between characters has just the right amount of conflict. Dugoni's use of descriptive writing means the reader has no trouble visualising each scene. This is a book with MANY strong characters. None of whom are singular - they are all team players. None of whom are perfect - yet they resonate with the reader as vulnerable and willing to learn from their mistakes.

Now, as I close out book #1, I'm already looking forward to reading the next instalment.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is the greatest challenge to any defense attorney besides getting their client off?

Is it perhaps believing that their client is innocent?

Is that why most defense attorneys never ask that question of them?

In this interesting page-turner, we follow Keera Duggan as she defends her client who is accused of the murder of his wife. Did he do it?

As more details are unraveled, and email clues are submitted to the defense, more questions arise.

How will this case turn out?

We want Keera to succeed, but at what cost?

(Please do not presume that spoilers are being shared.)

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5~4★
“Keera couldn’t help but feel as though she’d been brought on board a sinking ship and handed a bucket.”

Keera Duggan is one of the three daughters of noted attorney ‘Irish brawler’ Patrick ‘Patsy’ Duggan, who has been drunk more often than not and losing his edge. Her two sister work for the firm in other capacities, but she's the one with courtroom experience.

This is part complex murder/suicide investigation and part lengthy courtroom drama. I could have used a little less of both, I think, but overall I enjoyed it. Keera doesn’t live at home anymore, but Sunday dinners with the family are a must, so we see how close she is to her parents and sisters, although there is some friction with the girls.

She takes on a wealthy client whose disabled wife has been found shot dead in the back of her head while seated in her wheelchair, looking out the kitchen window. A gun is on the floor off to the side.

The prosecuting attorney is Miller Ambrose, Keera's former boss and beau, which promises to complicate things, as he will be anxious to unsettle her. It seems the gun is a ghost gun, so-called because there is no serial number, making it untraceable.

“She didn’t trust Ambrose as far as she could throw him, and she wondered what else, besides the ghost gun, she’d have to deal with.”

She was a chess champion in her youth, taught by Patsy, and still plays online anonymously as SeattlePawnslayer. It’s a way of reminding herself to focus on the end game, and maintain a powerful position while luring her opponent into thinking they’ve got the better of her.

During the course of this story, she plays against Darkknight, playing a few moves now and then, Darkknight doing likewise. I don’t follow chess, nor does the author, he says, but he has a good friend who helped map this out. At first, I thought it was annoying, but I gradually enjoyed the short interludes which helped Keera concentrate on stabilising her thinking rather than wandering off mentally into wild conjectures.

As it turned out, some of the wild conjectures had merit, With the help of a hired private investigator and far too many late nights with Patsy (on the wagon), Keera and her sisters burn the midnight oil, to use a cliché, of which there are more than I’d like in this book. At one point, “Her mother waved off the praise like it was the bubonic plague”, a phrase I haven’t heard since I don’t remember when.

Still, it was an entertaining read with an interesting dilemma as the case went on. It isn't clear what happened or how it could have happened. Keera suggests to their private investigator that one of the witnesses might be lying.

“Harrison looked over at her. ‘The SODDI defense?' he said with skepticism. SODDI stood for Some Other Dude Did It. Often a defense of last resort.

Keera shrugged. ‘Need to create reasonable doubt.’ ”

When Keera worries that her client may be guilty, her father notices.

“ ‘You have that look,’ he said.

‘What look is that?’ Keera said, feigning ignorance.

‘That look young defense attorneys get when they realize the person they’re fighting so hard to get off is guilty. They wonder what the hell they’re doing, what kind of person they’re putting back on the street.’

‘You’ve experienced it’ Keera said.

Patsy smiled, rueful. ‘I have. And I can tell you it isn’t nearly as bad as that feeling you get when you know an innocent client is going to be convicted.’

“I’m sure it isn’t.”
. . .
Maybe . . . but I don’t think he’s innocent, Dad. I just don’t know what he’s guilty of.’ ”

She is not the only one confused. The tension and suspense continues to the last page. Dugoni fans will enjoy it, and I enjoyed learning a new term, SODDI. I can just imagine toddlers pointing to spills and crying “Soddi!”

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy for review from which I’ve quoted, so wording may have changed.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new legal thriller by Robert Dugoni! How exciting is that! Dugoni is a wonderful storyteller, and in Her Deadly Game, he pulls out all the stops. We have new characters in a familiar setting, Seattle, Washington, which is the locale of his popular Tracy Crosswhite series.

Keera Duggan is an up-and-coming attorney following in her father’s footsteps. She recently left the prosecutor’s office due to unpleasant circumstances and is now employed at her father’s firm, Patrick Duggan & Associates. She has just mopped up a drunk-driving court case, making a favorable impression on those present. Now, she has a chance at a case that could make or break her career. The wealthy wife of a successful company, LaRussa Wealth Management, has been found murdered. The husband is not charged – at first. But we all know how that goes, don’t we?

Her Deadly Game did not strike me as a run-of-the-mill legal thriller/courtroom drama. Having read quite a few novels by Mr. Dugoni in the past, I expected a very good book. I didn’t know how complex this story would prove to be, however. I was intrigued by the inclusion of the game of chess, which was interesting because I’d previously read Dugoni’s The World Played Chess, which is not at all about chess. Keera Duggan is a former chess champ, taught the game by her father “Patsy,” and she still plays online against someone going by the name Dark Knight. It helps her focus. Patsy always compared working a case to playing chess. You don’t just think of your next move; you try to foresee your opponent’s move and prepare for it. As a reader who has never played chess, it was a minor distraction that was easy to skip over. I found the author’s admission that he doesn’t play chess either to be quite unexpected! I did enjoy the inclusion of chess in the plot, however.

I’d be misleading you if I told you that this book is only about the death of Anne LaRussa and the subsequent murder trial. It’s also about relationships, good and bad. Dysfunction within relationships due to alcohol, abusive language, and possessiveness, dependency, and even physical and mental illnesses that affect our choices and decisions. It’s also about the togetherness and support of family, especially in challenging circumstances.

It took me a while to feel comfortable with these new characters, but as the story developed, I started to root for Keera Duggan. I had a hard time deciding on the guilt or innocence of her client, but I was rooting for her. I loved her investigator, JP Harrison, who worked extremely hard to figure out the puzzle of Anne LaRussa’s death. I proudly state that I had come up with most, but not all, of those pieces correctly myself. I also rooted for Patrick Duggan, the old Irish Brawler. When the going gets tough, the tough get going, and he proves it by supporting his daughter in a big way in her first big case. I’d like to see more of Duggan & Associates. It has the makings of another fine series.

I received a digital copy of Her Deadly Game from NetGalley in return for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks also to Thomas & Mercer and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC version of Her Deadly Game

4 stars

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: June 4, 2023
Seattle, Washington

Keera left her house for Sunday dinner before she lost track of time and missed the monthly event. Tempting, but Ella and Maggie would skewer her, and her mother would inflict Irish guilt - similar to Catholic guilt, which her mother was adept at inflicting, and just as insidious.
She picked up a blueberry cheesecake from the bakery in Madison Park and minutes later pulled to the curb at the base of her parents' sloped driveway - in case she needed to make a quick getaway. She didn't want any late-arriving lunatics blocking her in, though a quick car inventory indicated she was the last lunatic to arrive at the asylum.

ABOUT 'HER DEADLY GAME': Keera Duggan was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. For the competitive former chess prodigy, returning to her family’s failing criminal defense law firm to work for her father is the best shot she has. With the right moves, she hopes to restore the family’s reputation, her relationship with her father, and her career.

Keera’s chance to play in the big leagues comes when she’s retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife. There’s little hard evidence against him, but considering the couple’s impending and potentially nasty divorce, LaRussa faces life in prison. The prosecutor is equally challenging: Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former lover, who’s eager to destroy her in court on her first homicide defense.

As Keera and her team follow the evidence, they uncover a complicated and deadly game that’s more than Keera bargained for. When shocking information turns the case upside down, Keera must decide between her duty to her client, her family’s legacy, and her own future.

MY THOUGHTS: I have never been a big fan of the legal thriller/courtroom drama, but Robert Dugoni certainly kept me glued to the page with his latest thriller. Her Deadly Game is so much more than a legal thriller. There's a wonderfully absorbing family drama woven through this, along with multiple twists and turns, and an extremely puzzling death.

The pace is fast and tension filled as Keera battles to prove the innocence of her client. The characters are complex and compelling in their roles, especially that of Keera. She's strong, she's determined and she approaches the case the same way she does the chess games she loves. I was sorely tempted to pull out my neglected chess set and replicate the game she plays against her unknown opponent.

I also appreciate Keera's relationship with her family. While she loves them, she doesn't always like them.

Legal thriller, family drama, who and howdunnit, this is an exciting mix of genres with an unexpected ending that left me hoping that Robert Dugoni is going to develop this into a series. I definitely want to read more of Keera Duggan.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#HerDeadlyGame #NetGalley

I: @robertdugoni @thomasmerceruk

T: @robertdugoni @AmazonPub

#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #friendship #legalthriller #mystery

THE AUTHOR: A writer turned lawyer turned writer.
Robert Dugoni was born in Idaho and raised in Northern California the middle child of a family of ten siblings. Dugoni jokes that he didn't get much of a chance to talk, so he wrote. By the seventh grade he knew he wanted to be a writer.

Dugoni wrote his way to Stanford University, receiving writing awards along the way, and majored in communications/journalism and creative writing while working as a reporter for the Stanford Daily. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and worked briefly as a reporter in the Metro Office and the San Gabriel Valley Office of the Los Angeles Times.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Dugoni, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Robert Dugoni, master storyteller and legal thriller writer extraordinaire, is back with a standalone novel that will have readers on the edge of their seats. Set in his usual Seattle, Dugoni explores a case in which a wheelchair-bound woman is found shot in her home and the husband is the prime suspect. Keera Duggan is ready to work the case, but it will take all her efforts, both to defend the husband and show her family that she can play in the big leagues. A great story that could easily be the opening salvo in a new series. Dugoni at his best and just what fans need to tide them over.

Keera Duggan has a great future as a prosecutor in Seattle, but some personal choices made that path all but impossible. She’s back working in the family law firm, serving as a defense attorney, and trying to keep her alcholic father away from the bottle. Her past as a competitive chess player keeps her memories somewhat positive, though Keera is ready for a new challenge and wants to leave the shadow of her siblings’ disappointing views.

When Keera takes the call of Vince LaRussa, she thinks that she may have found a way to rebuild her career and help the firm rebound to its successful past. LaRussa is an investment advisor who has been accused of murdering his wife, whose wealth is the only positive she has left. Wheelchair-bound after a freak accident, Mrs. LaRussa has been biding her time, but made mention to her closest friend that she may be ready to divorce Vince. This motive, tied with the fact that she was shot in the back of the head, is enough for Seattle PD to begin pulling out all the stops to determine how Vince may have committed the crime. With her former lover serving as the lead prosecutor, Keera is fired up and hopes to make her mark.

While prepping for trial, Vince shows honest sadness for his wife’s murder and hopes that the killer can be found. Keera uses this and a series of cryptic emails to better understand her client and his past. Soon, Keera and her team uncover a complex situation that could better explain the crime scene and those who came to visit the victim in the hours before her death. While Keera follows the path, she learns that there is more to her client and the day of the murder than she first presumed. While it could be a slam dunk to help her win this tense case, it could also open a Pandora’s Box to larger and more troubling things. Dugoni weaves a story of legal loopholes, deception, and a lawyer’s attempt to claim the prize she feels will help her build the family back up once more.

Robert Dugoni is a master at writing stories that will pull the reader into the middle of things and keep them entertained. His stories are always multi-faceted and provide quick development, as the plot thickens and the narrative gains momentum. Dugoni knows what he’s doing and provides a roadmap for the reader to follow. Pulling on past experiences and surely significant research, Dugoni dazzles with each new book he publishes, be it a standalone or one of his highly-acclaimed series novels featuring Tracy Crosswhite. I cannot wait to see where things will go from here and whether Keera Duggan will be back again soon.

Dugoni’s narrative style is one in which the reader is subsumed with ease as things progress around them. A strong foundation helps guide the reader along and adds depth to an already great piece. Strong characters emerge throughout, hinting that Dugoni might want to bring them back for future Seattle adventures, while allowing the reader to decide if they are curious to discover even more. Plot lines develop throughout and build on one another, offering the reader a better insight into the case, Keera’s past, and what could be the real story behind Vince LaRussa. I can only hope that other readers will be as excited as I was when they plunge into this one, sure to keep them flipping pages well into the night.

Kudos, Mr. Dugoni, for proving yet again that you have that magic touch.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author (I know, right?)

Keera Duggan worked for the prosecutor's office and was quite good at her job. However, after a not-so-friendly romantic split with her boss, Miller Ambrose, she left her position and joined her family's firm.

Her father, a famous defense attorney, is an alcoholic, and the firm is in financial jeopardy. They need an influx of money fast, and when Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser, is accused of murdering his disabled wife, Keera becomes his defense attorney.

Keera was a childhood chess prodigy. She used to compete and win, but she gave it all up when her dad showed up drunk at one of her competitions. She still plays chess online, and her latest competitor, the Dark Knight, has reignited her love for the game. Her dad taught her the ropes of chess when she was a kid, and she applies those strategic lessons to her cases. She’s always thinking several steps ahead to win them.

I loved this novel. Keera was a fantastic character, and there was enough family drama to keep me engaged, along with the gripping courtroom drama unfolding simultaneously. Her dad’s alcoholism felt very real, and the impact it had on all his children was portrayed authentically.

As soon as I finish this one, I’ll be starting her next book, which is already available!

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Former Seattle prosecutor Keera Duggan.......



.......left her job after she broke off an affair with her boss, prosecutor Miller Ambrose, who then stalked and harassed her.



Keera now works for her father's law firm, Patrick Duggan & Associates, which has a fine reputation in Seattle.



In addition to Keera, personnel at Patrick Duggan & Associates include Keera's father Patrick (Patsy) - an attorney whose prodigious skills are fading because of his long-term alcoholism;



Keera's sister Ella - an attorney who functions as the firm's managing partner;



Keera's sister Maggie - the office administrator;



and JP Harrison - the firm's private investigator.



Keera gets her first big court case when affluent wealth manager Vincent LaRussa is accused of killing his wheelchair-bound wife Anne LaRussa.



The police, led by Violent Crimes Detective Frank Rossi......



......believe they have a strong case. CCTV footage from the LaRussa mansion show that, on the night of the murder, a lawyer and a friend visited Anne shortly before her husband Vince came home. And the husband is ALWAYS the prime suspect.



Vince CLAIMS he was at a fund raiser and found his wife dead in the kitchen when he entered his house. Vince engages Patrick Duggan & Associates to defend him, and Keera becomes his attorney, with her dad Patsy (who promises to stay sober) as second chair.

When Keera and her investigator JP Harrison examine the crime scene they find a burn mark on the door of the oven, water on the kitchen counter, and a few cotton fibers - evidence the police dismissed as unimportant. However JP, who was a Seattle detective for 25 years before he became a PI, thinks these are significant clues.



In any case, Keera, in consultation with her colleagues, plans a SODDI defense (some other dude did it), and hopes at least one juror will have reasonable doubt.



As it happens, Keera was a chess whiz when she was a youngster, and still plays anonymous opponents online. While Keera is preparing her defense of Vince LaRussa, she's playing a skillful opponent called Darkknight - and Keera's chess strategy helps with her defense strategy.



Keera is also aided by anonymous emails from a mysterious person called Jack Worthing, who points Keera to people who knew Vince in previous years.

Keera knows the trial will be a battle, since prosecuting attorney Ambrose Miller resents Keera for ending their relationship AND has lofty political ambitions. The courtroom scenes are compelling, with 'Perry Mason' moments I enjoyed.





I also liked the family interactions among the Duggans: the alcoholic father; the enabling, protective mother; the sibling rivalry among Keera, Ella, and Maggie - all add interest to the story.

This is a fine legal thriller, recommended to fans of the genre.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The State vs Vince LaRuss in the murder of his wife.

Opening statement: it's always the husband, or is it?
Defense/Prosecution: focused on the time line around when the murder occurred.
Closing statement: if only the Defense and the Prosecutor didn't have a past romantic relationship that ended badly.

If you like a good ol' lawyer type book, this one's for you.

Keera has a brilliant mind. She uses strategic thinking methods. As a skilled chess player she uses those same skills in this case. I admire her brilliant mind. Her family certainly plays a big role in her life, especially her alcoholic father and I thinks with all the home life drama it has made her a stronger person. I have a soft spot for legal thrillers, that is, if they are brilliantly crafted, and this one did not disappoint!

Outcome: Chess is not my strong point, so I did feel a bit disadvantaged.

I haven't picked up a lot of Robert's books, but the few I have read is really good. I'll be adding more of his books to my TBR!

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Robert Dugoni’s Tracey Crosswhite series so I was excited to read something different from him. I did like the mentions of some the characters from those books in Her Deadly Game too.

Legal thrillers are some of my favourite thrillers. Nothing like a good courtroom showdown and this was a cracker. The lawyers have a history, a relationship that ended baldly so the sparks flew. Our main character, Keera, is working her first murder case and it is a doozy. It is always the husband right? Wealthy businessman, Vince LaRussa is on trial for murdering his wife. She was shot in the back of her head in the couples home. Keera and her family of lawyers will need to use all their resources and tricks for this case.

Thanks so much to Thomas and Mercer for my advanced reading copy of this book.