Tracy Crosswhite Series Order: How to Actually Read Robert Dugoni's Bestsellers

So, you’ve decided to dive into the world of Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite. Good choice. Robert Dugoni has built something pretty special here. It isn't just another cookie-cutter police procedural where the lead has a generic "dark past." Tracy’s history—specifically the disappearance of her sister, Sarah—is the literal backbone of the first book and the emotional anchor for everything that follows.

But if you’re looking at the tracy crosswhite series order, it’s easy to get a little turned around. Between the main novels, the short story prequels, and the way the character’s life evolves, you might wonder if you can just jump in anywhere.

Honestly? You could. Dugoni is a pro; he catches you up. But you shouldn't. Reading these in the right sequence makes a massive difference in how you feel about Tracy’s team—the A-Team—and her husband, Dan. Watching their relationships grow over a decade of storytelling is half the fun.

The Definitive Tracy Crosswhite Series Order (Publication Order)

Most readers prefer sticking to the way the books were released. This is usually the best way to avoid spoilers for the overarching Sarah Crosswhite mystery that spans the early part of the series. Here is how they hit the shelves:

1. My Sister’s Grave (2014) – This is the big one. It’s where Tracy finally gets answers about what happened to her sister twenty years ago.
2. Her Final Breath (2015) – Tracy is back in Seattle, hunting a serial killer known as the Cowboy.
3. In the Clearing (2016) – A cold case from north of Seattle brings up some nasty small-town secrets.
4. The Trapped Girl (2017) – A body in a crab pot leads to a complex identity-theft web.
5. Close to Home (2017) – Things get personal when a hit-and-run involves the military and Tracy’s own community.
6. A Steep Price (2018) – Tracy is dealing with a high-risk pregnancy while trying to find a missing woman.
7. A Cold Trail (2020) – Tracy returns to her hometown, Cedar Grove, and—surprise—there’s a murder.
8. In Her Tracks (2021) – Back on the cold case unit, Tracy is hunting a killer while balancing new motherhood.
9. What She Found (2022) – An old disappearance of an investigative reporter comes back to haunt the department.
10. One Last Kill (2023) – The "Series Killer" case from the 90s gets reopened.
11. A Dead Draw (2025) – A brutal encounter with a suspect named Erik Schmidt changes everything for Tracy.
12. One Split Second (Expected late 2026) – The latest entry in the saga, dealing with the fallout of the previous book's traumatic events.

What About the Prequels and Short Stories?

This is where people get confused. Dugoni has written a few shorter pieces that technically happen before the first book.

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Basically, there’s The Academy. It’s a novella that shows Tracy’s time at the police academy. It’s gritty and shows just how much of a "boys' club" the SPD was back then. Then you have Third Watch, which covers her early days on patrol.

If you’re a completionist, you might want to read these first. But if you want the emotional "hook" of the series, I’d still say start with My Sister's Grave. Those prequels feel much more rewarding once you already know and love the character.

There’s also a short story called The Last Line (often labeled book 8.5). It actually focuses on Del Castigliano, Tracy’s partner. It’s a great look at the "A-Team" from a different perspective and fills in some gaps about the internal politics of the Seattle Police Department.

Why the Chronological Order is Kinda Tricky

If you really want to read them in the order the events actually happened, your list would look like this:

• The Academy (Short Story)
• Third Watch (Short Story)
• The Last Line (Short Story - focusing on Del)
• My Sister’s Grave (Book 1)
• And then the rest of the novels in order...

But here's the thing: My Sister's Grave relies on the mystery of Tracy's past. If you read the prequels first, you might lose a little bit of that "who is this woman?" intrigue that makes the first novel so propulsive.

The "A-Team" and Why They Matter

One reason the tracy crosswhite series order is so important is the character development of her colleagues. In most crime fiction, the partners are just... there. In Dugoni’s world, Del, Faz, and Kins are actual people with lives.

Throughout the series, you watch:

• Faz (Kinsington Fazackas) deal with his own family dynamics.
• Del (Delmo Castigliano) navigate his dating life and eventually settle down.
• The group's shift from being wary of Tracy to becoming her fiercest protectors.

By the time you get to A Dead Draw, these people feel like your own friends. If you skip around, the impact of their loyalty is totally lost.

Dealing with the 2025 and 2026 Releases

If you're catching up now, you're in a weird spot because the tone shifts slightly in the later books. A Dead Draw (Book 11) is a bit of a departure. It’s less of a "whodunnit" and more of a high-stakes cat-and-mouse thriller. Tracy gets into a physical altercation with a suspect, Erik Schmidt, and the consequences are massive. It actually forces her to leave Seattle for a while.

The upcoming 2026 release, One Split Second, is highly anticipated because it has to deal with the cliffhanger elements of Tracy's career. Is she still a detective? Can she ever go back to the homicide unit after what happened? These are the questions that keep the series fresh even twelve books in.

Common Misconceptions About the Series

A lot of people think you need to read Robert Dugoni’s David Sloane series first. You don't. While they exist in the same "universe" and there’s an occasional name-drop or minor crossover, Tracy is her own entity.

Another mistake? Thinking it’s a "romance-heavy" series. It’s not. While Tracy’s relationship with Dan is a vital part of her stability, it’s maybe 20% of the book. The focus is always on the procedural, the forensics, and the psychological profile of the killer. It’s a crime thriller first and foremost.

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Final Advice for New Readers

If you want the best experience, start with My Sister's Grave. It’s the strongest entry to the series and sets the stakes perfectly. Save the short stories for when you’re waiting for the next book to be released.

Keep an eye on the release dates for One Split Second in late 2026. The series is currently at a major turning point, and it’s a great time to get caught up before the next big shift in Tracy's life.

Actionable Next Steps:

• Check your library's digital catalog: Most of the early Tracy Crosswhite books are available on platforms like Libby or Hoopla because they are published by Thomas & Mercer (an Amazon imprint).
• Track your progress: Use a site like Goodreads or a simple notes app to keep the titles straight, as the names (like A Cold Trail vs. In Her Tracks) can start to sound similar after a while.
• Don't skip Book 8.5: Even though it's a short story, The Last Line provides crucial context for the team's loyalty heading into the final few books.