The Academy

A Short Story

By: Robert Dugoni

Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith

Length: 1 hr and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

Quitting her job as a high school science teacher to join the Seattle Police Department was an easy decision for Tracy Crosswhite. Years earlier, what should have been one of the happiest days of her life instead became her worst nightmare when her younger sister, Sarah, disappeared. After the murder trial, while her family disintegrated, Tracy turned her heartbreak and her lingering questions into a passion for justice.

But people don't just become world-class detectives. If Tracy wants to uncover the truth about what happened to her sister, first she must be forged in the fires of the Police Academy, where not everyone wants her to succeed.

©2014 Robert Dugoni (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Nice Short Prequel to a Blockbuster Series

I am presuming you have read at least the first two Crosswhite novels. If nothing else, this reveals the beginning of the rivalry between Crosswhite and her commanding officer. I have finished the first three novels of this series and rated each of them with 5 stars. I just finished Her Final Breath for the second time.

Should you buy this short story? It is good, but certainly not neccessary. I bought it because I love the series.

As a female cop I found the book offensive.

What would have made The Academy better?

A training scenario that was more likely to happen and a reasonable response by the academy administration.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not a cop book.

Which character – as performed by Emily Sutton-Smith – was your favorite?

Tracy Crosswhite

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I like the main character and the descriptions and behavior of the cadets.

Any additional comments?

I have read another book in the Tracy Crosswhite series and enjoyed it very much. I intend to read additional books in the series. This short story, however, suggests a highly unlikely training scenario. Surely no professional law enforcement officer or trainer was consulted before this book was published. I actually went back to check the date that this book was published. 2014! Not only is it unlikely that the behavior would take place, but there is no freaking way that the behavior of the trainer as described in the book would go unpunished. I spent 30 years in law enforcement and was one of the first females hired by my agency. I have been a certified law enforcement trainer for over 20 years. I am not usually critical of cop stories with flaws in police procedure but I do admire accuracy and when an author has obviously researched a topic. While I like the way that the cadets were portrayed in the book and the way that the female cadets handled the training scenario that I find so offensive, if this had been my introduction to the author's work I would never read another of his books.

Short But Good

What would motivate a high school chemistry teacher to become a homicide detective?

The Academy, an exciting prequel to Robert Dugoni's book, My Sister's Grave, answers that question. My Sister's Grave is a series featuring Tracy Crosswhite. All the books in the series are great. The Academy, Tracy must overcome the obstacles placed in her path to become a police officer.

Robert Dugoni has created a strong and intelligent female protagonist I hope to see more of in the future.

Emily Sutton-Smith was outstanding with the delivery of the story.

Very nice prequel

Robert Dugoni did a nice job on this prequel to My Sister's Grave. It provided background on the main character, Tracy Crosswhite. She is a very strong woman and I'm looking forward to starting book 1. Emily Sutton-Smith did a wonderful job bringing all the characters to life, especially Tracy. If you're into the mystery/thriller genre I highly recommend this book.

Great prequel to the Tracy Crosswhite series

Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite detective series started with My Sister's Grave followed by Her Final Breath. Both novels earn my solid 5 star ratings. The third book is this wonderful series In the Clearing, will be released on May 17, 2016.

Tracy Crosswhite is a detective with the Seattle police department. This prequel goes back to when she decided to give up teaching high school to apply to the police academy. It is a must listen for fans of Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series.

Emily Sutton-Smith narrates this prequel as well as the novels in the series. She is superb.

TooShort for price.

The lable "short story" should be prominently displayed so we know what we are buying. Was enthralled with the story but very disappointed in the length.

the prequel has me hooked

short story prequel to a series of books by Robert Dugoni; a high school chemistry teacher goes to the police academy a little later in life; Tracy Crosswhite is looking like she will be a strong female character; story takes place in Washington state; yes I already bought the 1st book in the series: My Sisters Grave

How did it all began

This is how all the tension between Detective Crosswise and Lt. Nolasco got started.

This is good to listen to after the 3rd book

really enjoyed this short stories. best to listen to after the third book in the series.

want more!

easy story to follow. Great heroin and good obnoxious villain. I wish that this would continue into a full-blown novel.

Bite sized goodness

Just long enough to enjoy, and Nolasco getting his comeuppance was a welcome read/listen. It's a shame it happened at a time when sexual harassment/assault was part of a woman's daily life, and Jen would have a long wait for justice without Tracey 😎

BRIllANT

As all Robert Dugoni books are, i can,t put them.

Narrator was just the right one for this book.

You have to read this before reading my sister's grave

Any additional comments?

I know this is only a short story but it's a must read before reading the next in the series. I started to read my sister's grave but didn't understand are follow the story so I looked to see if there was another book before my sister's grave and found this, I did not want to buy it because it was so short but I was so glad I did, it explains a lot for the next book, plus it's an excellent story I may be tempted to get some more short stories

Don't mess with women you don't know

Brilliantly funny 1.2 hours of sheer entertainment and enjoyment. Giving the history of Tracy's enrolment in the police it gives lots of foresight in this series and if possible should be read first before My Sisters Grave. Along with the other books of Roberts I've read this is well deserving of its 5* rating