Quick Synopsis

A defense attorney is prepared to play. But is she a pawn in a master’s deadly match? A twisting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

Publisher’s 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 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.

Book Review

Her Deadly Game is the first novel in a new series focusing on Keera Duggan, who was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with a more senior colleague ended poorly. As a result, Keera had to leave the prosecutor’s office and join her family’s fledgling law firm. Now as a criminal defense attorney, Keera must defend an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy, disabled wife, to ensure the firm’s success and reputation. What looks like a straightforward murder turns out to be part of a complicated and deadly game.

Her Deadly Game is part police procedural, part courtroom thriller, and part family drama. The story starts with a murder and then follows as the police make their case and Keera defends the accused. While all of this is unfolding, we are privy to the inner workings of Duggan & Associates, founded by Keera’s alcoholic father and ran by her older sisters. I found this to be an enthralling mix that kept me engaged until the last page. Dugoni’s strength is in the details, allowing you to become a fly on the wall in the courtroom and other settings.

Chess plays an interested part in this novel and becomes almost a character. However, this was also my least favorite aspect of the story. I am not a frequent chess player and found the plentiful details about the chess moves between Keera and her online opponent to be tiresome. I ended up skimming these parts since I do not know the cell assignments of a chess board and did not feel like it was necessary. Moreover, I felt like the parallel Dugoni drew to Keera’s chess moves and her legal choices became overwrought, like the beating of a dead horse.

In contrast, the character development in Her Deadly Game is pretty well done. Even the secondary characters in this book have clear personalities. Keera is a complex character who is flawed, yet strong and determined. Her complicated feelings about her father and dysfunctional family are clearly expressed. And Robert Dugoni does deserve congratulations for writing a female protagonist that felt like she was written by a woman.

Overall, Her Deadly Game is a solid legal thriller that brings a lot to the table, including a little too much chess. If you are a fan of Blue Bloods, I think you will particularly enjoy this novel.

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