Deborah Crombie's newest book, No Mark Upon is out No Mark Upon Her is, as always,several books.

Crombie's English police procedurals are interesting in part because Crombie lives near Dallas, Texas. That's right, Texas. She has lived and England and Scotland and that shines through, but I'll bet she logs a lot of air miles.

Crombie writes the continuing saga of Gemma James, a single mother trying to make her way in the male world of policing. In her personal sphere are a number of interesting people, including Scotland Yard's Duncan Kincaid, a superior officer. Over the course of the books, their interaction becomes its own story, and a well done one at that. Anyone who has ever been a single working mother knows the ticking clock of having to pick up a little one and put dinner on the table (MommyRushHour). Of all the things you juggle, you can't drop the ball named Child.

Each book is about a murder and the working through of it sometimes depends on someone else to pick up the slack at home. Then comes the mommy guilt and self-doubt of NOT being there for MommyRushHour.

So we have a story (Gemma the mom and woman) within a story (a murder mystery)... and with Crombie, we also have a story within a (the backstory of the murder. Some go back a generation or more. Sort of like the Russian dolls: to solve the mystery at hand requires solving the mysteries inside.

The only thing that could make the series better is to put a number on each cover. Never, ever read them out of order or you'll find yourself flummoxed.

The first, I THINK is A Share in Death. After that, you're on your own to find each succeeding one. They are addicting, which is the nicest thing this self-admitted bookaholic can say.

And all you do-gooders, back off. I'll read as much as I like, though I don't read while driving, crossing the street, walking up stairs or cooking. I did that a few times with disastrous results. Anyone for take out?

Dixie Swanson
www.theaccidentalpresident.com