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Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James #14
No Mark Upon Her
New York Times Notable author Deborah Crombie is regularly named among the greats of British-set crime fiction (P.D. James, Ruth Rendell, Elizabeth George et al) for her riveting police procedurals featuring Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, Scotland Yard partners as well as devoted life-mates.
A brilliantly conceived and executed, deeply atmospheric mystery, No Mark Upon Her embroils Kincaid and James in the case of the puzzling drowning of a rower, a Met detective, on the Thames. A finely-hued and twisting tale of psychological suspense—a story rich in deadly secrets, salacious lies, and unexpected betrayals—No Mark Upon Her is everything Crombie’s fans have come to expect from this exceptional writer…and more.
A brilliantly conceived and executed, deeply atmospheric mystery, No Mark Upon Her embroils Kincaid and James in the case of the puzzling drowning of a rower, a Met detective, on the Thames. A finely-hued and twisting tale of psychological suspense—a story rich in deadly secrets, salacious lies, and unexpected betrayals—No Mark Upon Her is everything Crombie’s fans have come to expect from this exceptional writer…and more.
369 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2011
582 people are currently reading
3028 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Crombie
53 books2,518 followersDeborah Crombie is the author of 17 novels featuring Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Detective Inspector Gemma James. The 18th Kincaid/James novel, A BITTER FEAST, will be released by William Morrow in October, 2019.
Crombie lives in McKinney, Texas with her husband, two German Shepherd Dogs, and two cats. She travels to Britain frequently to research her books.
Crombie lives in McKinney, Texas with her husband, two German Shepherd Dogs, and two cats. She travels to Britain frequently to research her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 762 reviews
November 30, 2019
No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie is a 2011 McMillian publication.
Hands down, THE best book in the series to date!
I’ve been in the mood to catch up with some of my favorite crime series this month. It’s always great to touch base with favorite characters, which often gives me a comforting feeling. However, I got a lot more than I bargained for with this fourteenth chapter of the Kincaid and James series.
The story is centered around Becca Meredith, a member of law enforcement who is considering making a run for the Olympics as a rower. However, she is murdered before she gets the chance. Kincaid and Doug catch the case, while Gemma and Melody work behind the scenes to help solve the case.
Meanwhile, Gemma and Kincaid are laying the groundwork to adopt sweet Charlotte, which brings some unexpected backlash from Gemma’s family.
Although is was published eight years ago, the subject matter would fit right in with today's headlines. The challenges women face in a male dominated field, on top of the politics designed to protect the image of the Met, made this story absolutely riveting. It is one of the darkest installments yet, but the execution was nearly flawless.
I’m only a few books away from being completely caught up with the series. I’m glad I read the books in exact order and had the chance to watch the series and its well-drawn characters grow and develop, as well as the author’s skill at writing complex and thoughtful mysteries.
If you haven’t tried this series, I highly recommend it!!
On to book fifteen!
5 stars
Hands down, THE best book in the series to date!
I’ve been in the mood to catch up with some of my favorite crime series this month. It’s always great to touch base with favorite characters, which often gives me a comforting feeling. However, I got a lot more than I bargained for with this fourteenth chapter of the Kincaid and James series.
The story is centered around Becca Meredith, a member of law enforcement who is considering making a run for the Olympics as a rower. However, she is murdered before she gets the chance. Kincaid and Doug catch the case, while Gemma and Melody work behind the scenes to help solve the case.
Meanwhile, Gemma and Kincaid are laying the groundwork to adopt sweet Charlotte, which brings some unexpected backlash from Gemma’s family.
Although is was published eight years ago, the subject matter would fit right in with today's headlines. The challenges women face in a male dominated field, on top of the politics designed to protect the image of the Met, made this story absolutely riveting. It is one of the darkest installments yet, but the execution was nearly flawless.
I’m only a few books away from being completely caught up with the series. I’m glad I read the books in exact order and had the chance to watch the series and its well-drawn characters grow and develop, as well as the author’s skill at writing complex and thoughtful mysteries.
If you haven’t tried this series, I highly recommend it!!
On to book fifteen!
5 stars
December 15, 2014
I have read a number of enjoyable mysteries of late, but this one . . . Oh, how I love thee, Deborah Crombie! Where have you been all my life and why haven't I read anything by you before? No Mark Upon Her is the 14th book in the series, I believe, but my first one by the author. It didn't matter that I didn't know the history of the characters (although, I am infinitely curious now and must know all!). The author offers enough background story to give the reader a good feel for the characters and their situations while at the same time not introducing irrelevant information.
What is the book about, you ask? A detective who is a skilled rower is found dead on the Thames. Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid is called back from vacation to investigate the matter. It's a particularly sensitive case, one in which people in high placed hope it will get resolved quickly, even if that means swept under the carpet. Duncan Kincaid, however, is not the kind of man to take the easy way out. He wants to find justice for the victim even if it means his job. His wife, a detective herself, helps on the sidelines while juggling the care of their three children.
Rowing isn't a particularly favorite sport of mine--I have nothing against it, mind you, just very little exposure to it--but I am not one to let something like that stand in my way of reading a book. I like learning about new things. That's part of what reading is all about, right?
I liked the way Crombie weaved the characters' personal stories in with the murder investigation. Seeing them at home, so to speak, made them all the more relatable. There was just enough of their personal life to give the reader a good idea of what kind of people the characters are and to understand their way of thinking.
I was quite taken with Duncan Kincaid. He is intelligent and open minded. He is also a good father. I especially liked how much he respects and loves his wife. Gemma James is just as strong a character as her husband, and I could appreciate her inner conflict--looking forward to getting back to work but at the same time not wanting to leave the children.
Two characters I wish I could get to know better but doubt I will see in future books are the K-9 rescue team, Keiran and Tavie and their dogs. Both seem like formidable people and it was impossible for me not to fall in love with a couple of rescue dogs. Keiran in particular won me over. He was a sad sort of character, dealing with a broken heart as well as quite a few health problems due to injuries incurred in war.
As for the investigation, the detectives did not have a lot to go on, and with pressures from above, they were faced with even more challenges. While I am not sure "sitting on the edge of my seat" is an apt description of the pacing of the book, I certainly had a hard time putting it down and couldn't wait to get back to it. The weekend everyone in the house was sick and I'd left the book at work was torture. I kept thinking of Becca and wondering what had happened to her.
No Mark Upon Her has it all: characters who get under your skin, an idyllic English setting, betrayal, ethical issues, family, suspense, and an itch to read more. Deborah Crombie has won me over with this one novel and is sure to become among my favorite mystery authors.
What is the book about, you ask? A detective who is a skilled rower is found dead on the Thames. Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid is called back from vacation to investigate the matter. It's a particularly sensitive case, one in which people in high placed hope it will get resolved quickly, even if that means swept under the carpet. Duncan Kincaid, however, is not the kind of man to take the easy way out. He wants to find justice for the victim even if it means his job. His wife, a detective herself, helps on the sidelines while juggling the care of their three children.
Rowing isn't a particularly favorite sport of mine--I have nothing against it, mind you, just very little exposure to it--but I am not one to let something like that stand in my way of reading a book. I like learning about new things. That's part of what reading is all about, right?
I liked the way Crombie weaved the characters' personal stories in with the murder investigation. Seeing them at home, so to speak, made them all the more relatable. There was just enough of their personal life to give the reader a good idea of what kind of people the characters are and to understand their way of thinking.
I was quite taken with Duncan Kincaid. He is intelligent and open minded. He is also a good father. I especially liked how much he respects and loves his wife. Gemma James is just as strong a character as her husband, and I could appreciate her inner conflict--looking forward to getting back to work but at the same time not wanting to leave the children.
Two characters I wish I could get to know better but doubt I will see in future books are the K-9 rescue team, Keiran and Tavie and their dogs. Both seem like formidable people and it was impossible for me not to fall in love with a couple of rescue dogs. Keiran in particular won me over. He was a sad sort of character, dealing with a broken heart as well as quite a few health problems due to injuries incurred in war.
As for the investigation, the detectives did not have a lot to go on, and with pressures from above, they were faced with even more challenges. While I am not sure "sitting on the edge of my seat" is an apt description of the pacing of the book, I certainly had a hard time putting it down and couldn't wait to get back to it. The weekend everyone in the house was sick and I'd left the book at work was torture. I kept thinking of Becca and wondering what had happened to her.
No Mark Upon Her has it all: characters who get under your skin, an idyllic English setting, betrayal, ethical issues, family, suspense, and an itch to read more. Deborah Crombie has won me over with this one novel and is sure to become among my favorite mystery authors.
November 16, 2012
You would be hard pressed to find an author who can create such a tightly plotted and richly detailed mystery than Deb Crombie. No Mark Upon Her is another hit by this fantastic author showing that she's still got plenty of ideas left in her bag of tricks for Duncan, Gemma and company as well as the skills to pull them off.
Each one of her novels holds a different flavor. This time she combines her well thought out and well told police procedures along with K9 rescue teams and the cherished heritage of the sport of rowing. When Becca Meredith, a one time olympic hopeful rower and senior officer at the MET, is found drown in her boat on the banks of the Thames its up to Duncan to find out who the murdered is and why she was killed. What follows is a finely spun and intricately detailed mystery with many twists and turns, suspects and subplots.
Crombie is a MASTER at dropping clues every so often that make total sense in the end without giving away the culprit. No detail is insignificant in a Crombie novel.
Crombie is also a master of fleshing out and giving life to the supporting characters. From the victim to her ex husband to the K9 unit that perform the search and rescue, everyone has their back story and everyone is interesting and fun to read. The usual supporting cast are back as always from Doug Cullen who has his own life changing events going on during the telling as well as Melody Talbot who has found herself missing working for Gemma while she's been out on family leave.
Another staple of these novels is the juggling act that Duncan and Gemma have to perform in order to balance their hectic work schedules along with maintaining a semblance of normalcy with their unorthodox family. At the time this story is told, they're in custody of Charlotte, the little three year old they took under their care from the previous novel and Gemma is home on leave that is nearing its end while Duncan is still working. The case complicates matters because Duncan is fighting the case, his schedule and the higher ups at the yard to get it done quickly and quietly while knowing his life is due to change when he is set to take leave from work while Gemma goes back until Charlotte is old enough for pre school. It's the human element, the realism of this type of situation that adds the personal dynamic to all of Crombie's characters and novels. These characters are more than just their jobs. They have lives outside of work and nothing is simple for them (as it is for us all in real life) so there's a vast amount of empathy.
I really can't say enough good things about this novel or the series and author as a whole. Her plots, her characters, the way she changes the feel of each and every novel and researches to the point where she can make the reader understand any new subject her story revolves around...well, needless to say she's a favorite for a reason. When an author can write this many novels featuring the same core cast and make you want the next one as soon as you turn that last page, they've got you hooked.
If you're reading this and you haven't read any of this series before, I highly encourage you to start at the beginning (A Share in Death) and enjoy the ride. I envy people that haven't read the series yet because they're in for a treat!
Each one of her novels holds a different flavor. This time she combines her well thought out and well told police procedures along with K9 rescue teams and the cherished heritage of the sport of rowing. When Becca Meredith, a one time olympic hopeful rower and senior officer at the MET, is found drown in her boat on the banks of the Thames its up to Duncan to find out who the murdered is and why she was killed. What follows is a finely spun and intricately detailed mystery with many twists and turns, suspects and subplots.
Crombie is a MASTER at dropping clues every so often that make total sense in the end without giving away the culprit. No detail is insignificant in a Crombie novel.
Crombie is also a master of fleshing out and giving life to the supporting characters. From the victim to her ex husband to the K9 unit that perform the search and rescue, everyone has their back story and everyone is interesting and fun to read. The usual supporting cast are back as always from Doug Cullen who has his own life changing events going on during the telling as well as Melody Talbot who has found herself missing working for Gemma while she's been out on family leave.
Another staple of these novels is the juggling act that Duncan and Gemma have to perform in order to balance their hectic work schedules along with maintaining a semblance of normalcy with their unorthodox family. At the time this story is told, they're in custody of Charlotte, the little three year old they took under their care from the previous novel and Gemma is home on leave that is nearing its end while Duncan is still working. The case complicates matters because Duncan is fighting the case, his schedule and the higher ups at the yard to get it done quickly and quietly while knowing his life is due to change when he is set to take leave from work while Gemma goes back until Charlotte is old enough for pre school. It's the human element, the realism of this type of situation that adds the personal dynamic to all of Crombie's characters and novels. These characters are more than just their jobs. They have lives outside of work and nothing is simple for them (as it is for us all in real life) so there's a vast amount of empathy.
I really can't say enough good things about this novel or the series and author as a whole. Her plots, her characters, the way she changes the feel of each and every novel and researches to the point where she can make the reader understand any new subject her story revolves around...well, needless to say she's a favorite for a reason. When an author can write this many novels featuring the same core cast and make you want the next one as soon as you turn that last page, they've got you hooked.
If you're reading this and you haven't read any of this series before, I highly encourage you to start at the beginning (A Share in Death) and enjoy the ride. I envy people that haven't read the series yet because they're in for a treat!
December 16, 2011
In the opening pages of Deborah Crombie’s 14th novel, DCI Rebecca [“Becca”] Meredith, an Olympic contender and a senior officer in West London’s Major Crimes unit, is found dead in the waters of the Thames near her home in the town of Henley, 35 miles from London. The events that follow take place, amazingly, over a period of about a week. I say ’amazingly’ because so much happens, in a terrifically plotted novel. The case falls to Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid, of Scotland Yard’s Murder Investigation Team, with some aspects of it falling to his bride, Gemma James, DI with the Notting Hill Police.
The book is filled with wonderfully drawn characters, including not only both the protagonists but also Kincaid’s partner, Sgt. Doug Cullen, about to become a first-time homeowner and nervous at the prospect; Gemma’s colleague, Melody Talbot; Becca’s ex-husband, Freddy; Kiernan Connolly and Tavie Larssen, members of the SAR [Search and Rescue], or K-9, team as well as its four-legged members, Finn, a Labrador retriever and Tosh, a German shepherd, every bit a part of the plot as are their human partners.
The common thread among several of the characters is a love of – in fact, a passion for – rowing or, to be more specific, sculling, a very specific skill employing the use of sleek racing shells, apparently a world of its own. Just how much so is made very clear through the author’s use of quotes, preceding the start of most chapters, from various publications on the subject, as well as Ms. Crombie’s own prose in the early pages, describing the victim shortly before she is killed: “she sat backwards on a sliver of carbon fiber narrower than her body, inches above the water, and that only her skill and determination kept her fragile craft from the river’s dark grasp.”
The James/Kincaid family dynamic of ‘his’ [Kit], ‘hers’ [Toby - - their respective 14-year-old sons], and ‘theirs’ [Charlotte, the mixed-race 3-year-old foster child they are planning to formally adopt], is a constantly active one that makes the protags’ personal lives every bit as engaging as their professional ones.
The author comments “Things were always so much more complicated than they appeared on the surface,” and employs mini-cliffhangers throughout, maximizing the suspense, as well as some shocking revelations, producing several OMG moments. But I’ll leave those discoveries to the readers of this highly-recommended novel.
The book is filled with wonderfully drawn characters, including not only both the protagonists but also Kincaid’s partner, Sgt. Doug Cullen, about to become a first-time homeowner and nervous at the prospect; Gemma’s colleague, Melody Talbot; Becca’s ex-husband, Freddy; Kiernan Connolly and Tavie Larssen, members of the SAR [Search and Rescue], or K-9, team as well as its four-legged members, Finn, a Labrador retriever and Tosh, a German shepherd, every bit a part of the plot as are their human partners.
The common thread among several of the characters is a love of – in fact, a passion for – rowing or, to be more specific, sculling, a very specific skill employing the use of sleek racing shells, apparently a world of its own. Just how much so is made very clear through the author’s use of quotes, preceding the start of most chapters, from various publications on the subject, as well as Ms. Crombie’s own prose in the early pages, describing the victim shortly before she is killed: “she sat backwards on a sliver of carbon fiber narrower than her body, inches above the water, and that only her skill and determination kept her fragile craft from the river’s dark grasp.”
The James/Kincaid family dynamic of ‘his’ [Kit], ‘hers’ [Toby - - their respective 14-year-old sons], and ‘theirs’ [Charlotte, the mixed-race 3-year-old foster child they are planning to formally adopt], is a constantly active one that makes the protags’ personal lives every bit as engaging as their professional ones.
The author comments “Things were always so much more complicated than they appeared on the surface,” and employs mini-cliffhangers throughout, maximizing the suspense, as well as some shocking revelations, producing several OMG moments. But I’ll leave those discoveries to the readers of this highly-recommended novel.
March 17, 2013
A friend order this book for me from Amazon, and it was a lovely surprise.
First off, I was so amazed that a Texan could write, as if she were a Native, and so well about Leander and Henley. Well done Ms. Crombie. You are a smashing story teller. Two of my family members worked at Leander, so I am familiar with the club and also the local area, and of course Sonning on the Thames. The authors detailed description of Leander and the area is brilliant in itself. She transported me right back there across the pond. I am an avid fan of rowing. Go Cambridge!
Story, a female detective is planning on trying out for the Olympics. She has her secrets, and one evening her dreams, hopes, and life ambitions are taken away from her.
In comes the detective team,and obviously,I have missed all the prior books before about the detectives Kincaid's and their family lives. However, this book explains what has gone on before, might bore others who already know all about the Kincaid's, but...brought me up to snuff. I like this family.
Many different twists and turns, to the story. So to get into the British mood, I had to make my pot of tea, accompanied with cucumber sandwiches, while wearing my Navy apron with my pink Leander Hippo on it! (It makes sense once you start reading about pink Hippos).
Thank you Ms. Crombie for an excellent read, I will certainly look for your other books. Book is already packaged up to take a trip across the pond to Twyford!
First off, I was so amazed that a Texan could write, as if she were a Native, and so well about Leander and Henley. Well done Ms. Crombie. You are a smashing story teller. Two of my family members worked at Leander, so I am familiar with the club and also the local area, and of course Sonning on the Thames. The authors detailed description of Leander and the area is brilliant in itself. She transported me right back there across the pond. I am an avid fan of rowing. Go Cambridge!
Story, a female detective is planning on trying out for the Olympics. She has her secrets, and one evening her dreams, hopes, and life ambitions are taken away from her.
In comes the detective team,and obviously,I have missed all the prior books before about the detectives Kincaid's and their family lives. However, this book explains what has gone on before, might bore others who already know all about the Kincaid's, but...brought me up to snuff. I like this family.
Many different twists and turns, to the story. So to get into the British mood, I had to make my pot of tea, accompanied with cucumber sandwiches, while wearing my Navy apron with my pink Leander Hippo on it! (It makes sense once you start reading about pink Hippos).
Thank you Ms. Crombie for an excellent read, I will certainly look for your other books. Book is already packaged up to take a trip across the pond to Twyford!
October 30, 2012
It's hard to say why but this book just didn't resonate with me. I found it hard to care about the story and the murdered Olympic hopeful. Also, the family situation with Gemma's family, her and Duncan's home life, and with his cousin Jack and Jack's wife Winnie sort of grated on my nerves. Gemma is now married to Duncan but had to go through 3 weddings to satisfy everyone which was stupid beyond belief. Apparently they must take in every stray cat, dog or kid they encounter. The newest is 2 year old mixed race Charlotte whose parents' murder they solved and Gemma has snatched her up. Duncan's cousin Jack is married to Winnie, a church of England goody two shoes vicar who is in her 40's and starting to have kids. They are kid crazy in these books. Everyone is always getting pregnant, miscarrying, giving birth, or finding a kid to take home.
I have loved some books in this series but not this one. I'll be waiting to see the next book, probably in 2013, and hope it clicks with me.
I have loved some books in this series but not this one. I'll be waiting to see the next book, probably in 2013, and hope it clicks with me.
January 29, 2021
4.5 STARS! This was a terrific installment in the Duncan & Gemma series. It truly gets better with each book. The murder is just so well plotted, with very interesting information on rowing the Thames river. I love how Crombie fits together the characters in each town she sets a murder in, along with the theme of each mystery. The ongoing saga of their blended family is also well done. And as always the end paper maps are what sets this series just a bit higher than most!
August 13, 2016
First Sentence: A glance at the sky made her swear aloud.
Police Det. Chief Inspector Rebecca Meredith, also an Olympic rowing contender, has gone missing. When a K9 team locates her body, it is clear her rowing accident was no accident. Pressure in brought to bear on Det. Super. Duncan Kincaid to solve the case quickly and quietly but things are not as simple as they appear.
On a personal level, one thing I enjoyed about this particular book is the setting; it’s one of the few areas of England I’ve been fortunate enough to visit and come to know. I’ve always appreciated Ms. Crombie’s vivid descriptions, but this was especially fun for me.
Although I am glad to move away from the angst-driven detective to those who have families and personal lives, there can be way too much of a good thing. The case and the mystery were very nearly drowned in details of Duncan Kincaid and his wife Gemma’s life. While that adds veracity to the characters and story, I found it overwhelming and distracting to the point where I was close to not finishing the book.
What saved it, for me, is that Ms. Crombie does write a very good police procedural. There is good tension and some very well-done plot twists. Sadly, I correctly identified the killer almost from the first appearance in the story.
Ms. Crombie is a wonderful writer. Unfortunately, “No Mark Upon Her” was, for me, far from her best book. I’d prefer to see her leave the kids and the dogs more in the background and focus on her fine ability to write a really good mystery.
NO MARK UPON HER (Pol Proc-Det. Super. Duncan Kincaid-England-Contemporary) – Okay
Crombie, Deborah – 14th in series
Wm. Morrow, 2012
Police Det. Chief Inspector Rebecca Meredith, also an Olympic rowing contender, has gone missing. When a K9 team locates her body, it is clear her rowing accident was no accident. Pressure in brought to bear on Det. Super. Duncan Kincaid to solve the case quickly and quietly but things are not as simple as they appear.
On a personal level, one thing I enjoyed about this particular book is the setting; it’s one of the few areas of England I’ve been fortunate enough to visit and come to know. I’ve always appreciated Ms. Crombie’s vivid descriptions, but this was especially fun for me.
Although I am glad to move away from the angst-driven detective to those who have families and personal lives, there can be way too much of a good thing. The case and the mystery were very nearly drowned in details of Duncan Kincaid and his wife Gemma’s life. While that adds veracity to the characters and story, I found it overwhelming and distracting to the point where I was close to not finishing the book.
What saved it, for me, is that Ms. Crombie does write a very good police procedural. There is good tension and some very well-done plot twists. Sadly, I correctly identified the killer almost from the first appearance in the story.
Ms. Crombie is a wonderful writer. Unfortunately, “No Mark Upon Her” was, for me, far from her best book. I’d prefer to see her leave the kids and the dogs more in the background and focus on her fine ability to write a really good mystery.
NO MARK UPON HER (Pol Proc-Det. Super. Duncan Kincaid-England-Contemporary) – Okay
Crombie, Deborah – 14th in series
Wm. Morrow, 2012
July 17, 2023
I’ll admit that I can’t be objective when it comes to rating books in this series, because I love it so much… that being said, I’m amazed by the fact that every new installment seems better than the last! Deborah Crombie deserves to be mentioned with the stalwarts of the mystery genre; she is a brilliant author. This novel dives into the extremely competitive world of rowing, providing a fascinating backdrop to another perfectly crafted mystery!
March 29, 2025
I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller with so many interesting and likable characters. And then there’s the ones you suspect of the foul play and murders.
So hard to put down and the narrator is one of my male faves: Gerard Doyle.
So hard to put down and the narrator is one of my male faves: Gerard Doyle.
July 7, 2016
Really excellent! I love Deborah Crombie's mysteries. She is one of three mystery writers whose series I have read and keep reading, the others being Louise Penny and Jacqueline Winspear. Crombie is American, with her setting and characters being very British; Louise Penny is Canadian; and Jacqueline Winspear is English living in America, with her books primarily set in England. For me, these writers strike the right balance of having engaging characters, intriguing plots, and interesting settings, without being overly dark and grim and gratuitously violent as some detective mysteries, or frivolous or silly as cozies can be. Is it just the British/Canadian ambiance I prefer? Perhaps. Of the three, I think Crombie is my favorite.
As in her other books, Crombie has highlighted a subject for her research which she builds the story around. Here it is competitive rowing, both women's and men's. The murder victim, Rebecca Meredith, is not only an Olympic level rower, but a high-ranking detective with the Met. Her drowning was no accident, but who would murder her? Her former, but still friendly, husband? Someone she crossed in an investigation? Another rower, damaged by war injuries, she had recently taken up with? Someone from her past with a need for vengeance? Someone high up whose crimes she could expose?
Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid of Scotland Yard is about to go on leave when he is called in to take the case. He begins to feel that his boss and other higher ranking officers want to tidy up the investigation quickly and are targeting one of the suspects to ensure the least scandal and difficulties for the police force. Kincaid thinks they are trying to railroad the wrong person for murder. He is shocked to find a string of related crimes pointing to someone of prominent standing in the force, and especially so when he realizes how close this person had come to harming his wife Gemma, a detective herself. Now it had become personal for Kincaid.
The story is wonderfully plotted, with old familiar characters as well as sympathetic new ones. I particularly like how Crombie shows us the domestic side of Duncan and Gemma, with their two boys from combined families, and now a three-year-old foster child they have taken in and hope to adopt, as well as two dogs and a cat. It is always a struggle for them to combine family life with their work, and Gemma, particularly, has qualms about neglecting the children while being devoted to her work. Crombie is also excellent at setting the scene - from the Thames River, to the rowing club, to the various cottage and apartment dwellings of her characters. I love the way she includes descriptions of interiors and laughed aloud when she described an upscale property investor's modern renovated apartment: Freddie Atterton's flat was enough to make anyone feel like hell. It was black on gray on spare, and not even the good lighting and the architectural details preserved by the renovation made much dent in livening the place up. Ha ha. In contrast Duncan and Gemma's house has a very homey, cozy feel, with her Clarice Cliff artisan teapot taking center stage.
I guessed the murderer when first introduced, with the slightest clue dropped, probably because I've come to recognize the author's style, but was carried along with the fast-moving plot as other crimes and suspects take the stage. Crombie cleverly weaves these together, as she slowly reveals the connecting threads. For me it is the most satisfying kind of mystery and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
As in her other books, Crombie has highlighted a subject for her research which she builds the story around. Here it is competitive rowing, both women's and men's. The murder victim, Rebecca Meredith, is not only an Olympic level rower, but a high-ranking detective with the Met. Her drowning was no accident, but who would murder her? Her former, but still friendly, husband? Someone she crossed in an investigation? Another rower, damaged by war injuries, she had recently taken up with? Someone from her past with a need for vengeance? Someone high up whose crimes she could expose?
Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid of Scotland Yard is about to go on leave when he is called in to take the case. He begins to feel that his boss and other higher ranking officers want to tidy up the investigation quickly and are targeting one of the suspects to ensure the least scandal and difficulties for the police force. Kincaid thinks they are trying to railroad the wrong person for murder. He is shocked to find a string of related crimes pointing to someone of prominent standing in the force, and especially so when he realizes how close this person had come to harming his wife Gemma, a detective herself. Now it had become personal for Kincaid.
The story is wonderfully plotted, with old familiar characters as well as sympathetic new ones. I particularly like how Crombie shows us the domestic side of Duncan and Gemma, with their two boys from combined families, and now a three-year-old foster child they have taken in and hope to adopt, as well as two dogs and a cat. It is always a struggle for them to combine family life with their work, and Gemma, particularly, has qualms about neglecting the children while being devoted to her work. Crombie is also excellent at setting the scene - from the Thames River, to the rowing club, to the various cottage and apartment dwellings of her characters. I love the way she includes descriptions of interiors and laughed aloud when she described an upscale property investor's modern renovated apartment: Freddie Atterton's flat was enough to make anyone feel like hell. It was black on gray on spare, and not even the good lighting and the architectural details preserved by the renovation made much dent in livening the place up. Ha ha. In contrast Duncan and Gemma's house has a very homey, cozy feel, with her Clarice Cliff artisan teapot taking center stage.
I guessed the murderer when first introduced, with the slightest clue dropped, probably because I've come to recognize the author's style, but was carried along with the fast-moving plot as other crimes and suspects take the stage. Crombie cleverly weaves these together, as she slowly reveals the connecting threads. For me it is the most satisfying kind of mystery and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
March 12, 2012
I was surprised to discover that Deborah Crombie, author of No Mark Upon Her, the 14th in her Duncan Kinkaid/Gemma James Scotland Yard detective series, lives in Texas. This is the first of her books I have read, I would have bet my bottom dollar that the author was as British as Queen Elizabeth and scones with clotted cream. I would have lost that bet.
How could any author who peppers her novel with such phrases as "taking the mickey" out of someone, which means to tease, and "dab hand in the kitchen", meaning someone who knows her way around the kitchen, not be British? I enjoy learning new words and phrases, and I got a lot of new vocabulary from this book. (Maybe they'll use some of the words in the next season of Downton Abbey.)
I do have to admit being a little lost in the beginning of this book. A female police detective is found dead after she goes out rowing one evening. Becca Meredith is secretly training for the upcoming Olympics, and it was unlikely that she accidentally drowned.
I know nothing about rowing, and it would helped immensely to have been somewhat familiar with the sport, as many of the characters, including police detectives, were. It also would have helped to have read some of the other books in the series, as there is a lot of backstory and relationships among characters that I didn't know about.
That being said, I'm glad I stuck with the book. There are a lot of characters here, and after awhile I was able to sort them all out and enjoy the author's ride. I like Duncan and Gemma and their patchwork family: Kit (Duncan's son), Toby (Gemma's son) and Charlotte (their foster child). They are newly married, and their efforts to work out the logistics of marriage, family, child care and work issues rang true to me.
Becca's death peels back some unsavory layers, like an onion. Her ex-husband had some shady financial dealings and would profit from her death via an insurance policy. Becca was secretly dating an Iraq war vet who worked on boats at the rowing club she belonged to. Was the women's crew coach upset because Becca could possibly take the spot of one of his rowers on the Olympic team? And what about the deputy police commissioner whom Becca accused of rape last year? Someone Becca arrested? The list of suspects is lengthy.
Duncan Kincaid is an ethical man, and he puts his all into finding out who murdered Becca. Although his wife Gemma is still on family leave, she and her colleague Melody uncover some evidence that help point Duncan's investigation in a dangerous direction.
With the plethora of suspects, the author successfully keeps the identity of the killer, as well as the motive under wraps until the end. I admire Crombie's skill as a mystery writer, as I dislike being able to guess the killer halfway through the story. She kept me interested in the mystery and the story of Duncan and Gemma and their lovely family.
My favorite character though was Kieran, the Iraq war vet and rescue searcher. He seemed like a lost soul, but his relationship with his dog, and with Tavie, another rescue searcher, was touching. It's obvious that the author had a special affinity for this quiet hero.
I will keep my eye out for more of Crombie's Kincaid/James series, especially when I'm in the mood for a little Brit lit mystery.
How could any author who peppers her novel with such phrases as "taking the mickey" out of someone, which means to tease, and "dab hand in the kitchen", meaning someone who knows her way around the kitchen, not be British? I enjoy learning new words and phrases, and I got a lot of new vocabulary from this book. (Maybe they'll use some of the words in the next season of Downton Abbey.)
I do have to admit being a little lost in the beginning of this book. A female police detective is found dead after she goes out rowing one evening. Becca Meredith is secretly training for the upcoming Olympics, and it was unlikely that she accidentally drowned.
I know nothing about rowing, and it would helped immensely to have been somewhat familiar with the sport, as many of the characters, including police detectives, were. It also would have helped to have read some of the other books in the series, as there is a lot of backstory and relationships among characters that I didn't know about.
That being said, I'm glad I stuck with the book. There are a lot of characters here, and after awhile I was able to sort them all out and enjoy the author's ride. I like Duncan and Gemma and their patchwork family: Kit (Duncan's son), Toby (Gemma's son) and Charlotte (their foster child). They are newly married, and their efforts to work out the logistics of marriage, family, child care and work issues rang true to me.
Becca's death peels back some unsavory layers, like an onion. Her ex-husband had some shady financial dealings and would profit from her death via an insurance policy. Becca was secretly dating an Iraq war vet who worked on boats at the rowing club she belonged to. Was the women's crew coach upset because Becca could possibly take the spot of one of his rowers on the Olympic team? And what about the deputy police commissioner whom Becca accused of rape last year? Someone Becca arrested? The list of suspects is lengthy.
Duncan Kincaid is an ethical man, and he puts his all into finding out who murdered Becca. Although his wife Gemma is still on family leave, she and her colleague Melody uncover some evidence that help point Duncan's investigation in a dangerous direction.
With the plethora of suspects, the author successfully keeps the identity of the killer, as well as the motive under wraps until the end. I admire Crombie's skill as a mystery writer, as I dislike being able to guess the killer halfway through the story. She kept me interested in the mystery and the story of Duncan and Gemma and their lovely family.
My favorite character though was Kieran, the Iraq war vet and rescue searcher. He seemed like a lost soul, but his relationship with his dog, and with Tavie, another rescue searcher, was touching. It's obvious that the author had a special affinity for this quiet hero.
I will keep my eye out for more of Crombie's Kincaid/James series, especially when I'm in the mood for a little Brit lit mystery.
December 4, 2011
Every time I read one of these books it is as though I am reunited with family...Gemma, Duncan, Kit, Toby and now sweet Charlotte.
It's English, there are lots of pubs and gardens and tea and there is a fascinating complex murder or two...to figure out.
I read everything that this author writes. Each book has been sheer bliss and joy for me. Gemma and Duncan have been in every book that I have read along with their ever evolving family.
Relationships, children, dogs ,cats, friends, colleagues...all of these are an integral part of each mystery. We learn more and more about their lives with each book. I love this part of each novel. There is always a trial or an event or a crisis that must be dealt with.
In the midst of what is happening within their families...there is always the event. The crime, the murder, the politics of this British...very British police force. The who did it part...the evil that these two detectives work with every day.
Duncan with his almost keen ability to solve each crime...and Gemma...they are consummate professionals.
Duncan is never satisfied with the obvious and digs and digs and digs until he is satisfied that he has the proper outcome.
It does not even matter to me what the crime is...the crime occurs...we have no idea who commits the crime or why...but it slowly and deliciously unfolds...the suspense and excitement build...and
finally it is all laid out before us...we see what has happened through their eyes.
This particular crime involves an elite rower...one of those thin small boats...who just happens to be on the police force, too. Emma Beckwith is recently divorced, has taken
a new lover, and is involved in a sticky situation with a fellow officer...she is secretive, sort of solitary and almost everyone she knows could have killed her...it's just too delicious for words!!!
Reading this book for me was like coming home...I have read all of the books in order and I love the changes and growth of each character. References in this book appeared to refer to characters in the book just before this one...this is a bit tricky and can be confusing if you are unfamiliar with this series but it's manageable.
Again... I love the books in order but that is just my preference.
I think that although this book is fine as a stand alone...it is far better to have read all of her other ones...even after this one...you are truly just missing out if you don't.
It's English, there are lots of pubs and gardens and tea and there is a fascinating complex murder or two...to figure out.
I read everything that this author writes. Each book has been sheer bliss and joy for me. Gemma and Duncan have been in every book that I have read along with their ever evolving family.
Relationships, children, dogs ,cats, friends, colleagues...all of these are an integral part of each mystery. We learn more and more about their lives with each book. I love this part of each novel. There is always a trial or an event or a crisis that must be dealt with.
In the midst of what is happening within their families...there is always the event. The crime, the murder, the politics of this British...very British police force. The who did it part...the evil that these two detectives work with every day.
Duncan with his almost keen ability to solve each crime...and Gemma...they are consummate professionals.
Duncan is never satisfied with the obvious and digs and digs and digs until he is satisfied that he has the proper outcome.
It does not even matter to me what the crime is...the crime occurs...we have no idea who commits the crime or why...but it slowly and deliciously unfolds...the suspense and excitement build...and
finally it is all laid out before us...we see what has happened through their eyes.
This particular crime involves an elite rower...one of those thin small boats...who just happens to be on the police force, too. Emma Beckwith is recently divorced, has taken
a new lover, and is involved in a sticky situation with a fellow officer...she is secretive, sort of solitary and almost everyone she knows could have killed her...it's just too delicious for words!!!
Reading this book for me was like coming home...I have read all of the books in order and I love the changes and growth of each character. References in this book appeared to refer to characters in the book just before this one...this is a bit tricky and can be confusing if you are unfamiliar with this series but it's manageable.
Again... I love the books in order but that is just my preference.
I think that although this book is fine as a stand alone...it is far better to have read all of her other ones...even after this one...you are truly just missing out if you don't.
March 19, 2012
Although this is the 14th in the Kincaid/James police procedural series by this author, I had not read any of the previous books. The author does a nice job of providing background on the series, as well as on setting her stories in Britain (in spite of being an American), with the married protagonists both having jobs in Scotland Yard.
Duncan Kincaid, a Detective Superintendent, and Detective Inspector Gemma James are married, and trying to juggle the responsibilities of their jobs with raising two young children (each had a son from a previous relationship) along with an adopted third child. Fortunately they have a good support system, and in between story times and quick dinners and birthday parties, they are both investigating the death of a young woman rower whose body washed up on the Thames. The woman, Becca Meredith, was not only a rower of Olympic caliber, but was a police detective with the Met herself. This calls for a lot of political finesse, and Kincaid chafes at the implications of a cover-up.
The police are aided in their efforts by a search-and-rescue team which includes highly trained dogs. The author spends almost as much time on the characterization of the loveable Finn (a lab) and Tosh (a German shephard) as on the human characters. Finn, in fact, could justifiably be named a major protagonist.
As the investigation heats up, the red herrings come hot and heavy, and the suspense picks up as well. The ending, concerning the side characters, was so charming I found myself hoping to see more of them as well as the detectives in future books.
Evaluation: Not having read any of the preceding books in the series won’t hurt you a bit, except in the sense of triggering feelings of obsessive/compulsive regret that you didn’t start at the beginning. The characters are charming, and while the mystery isn’t all that much of an enigma, it doesn’t really feel like the main point of the book. Rather, it seemed, we were there to spend more time with people we like.
Rating: 3.5/5
Duncan Kincaid, a Detective Superintendent, and Detective Inspector Gemma James are married, and trying to juggle the responsibilities of their jobs with raising two young children (each had a son from a previous relationship) along with an adopted third child. Fortunately they have a good support system, and in between story times and quick dinners and birthday parties, they are both investigating the death of a young woman rower whose body washed up on the Thames. The woman, Becca Meredith, was not only a rower of Olympic caliber, but was a police detective with the Met herself. This calls for a lot of political finesse, and Kincaid chafes at the implications of a cover-up.
The police are aided in their efforts by a search-and-rescue team which includes highly trained dogs. The author spends almost as much time on the characterization of the loveable Finn (a lab) and Tosh (a German shephard) as on the human characters. Finn, in fact, could justifiably be named a major protagonist.
As the investigation heats up, the red herrings come hot and heavy, and the suspense picks up as well. The ending, concerning the side characters, was so charming I found myself hoping to see more of them as well as the detectives in future books.
Evaluation: Not having read any of the preceding books in the series won’t hurt you a bit, except in the sense of triggering feelings of obsessive/compulsive regret that you didn’t start at the beginning. The characters are charming, and while the mystery isn’t all that much of an enigma, it doesn’t really feel like the main point of the book. Rather, it seemed, we were there to spend more time with people we like.
Rating: 3.5/5
May 21, 2017
The problem with the books in this series, is once I start, I cannot stop. Another excellent Gemma James / Duncan Kincaid. I was a bit doubtful at the beginning, since I'm not particularly keen on rowing, but I was soon completely taken in.
On to the next episode.
Just finished reading for the second time. I stopped the reading while I was away on holiday with a friend. As I listened to the audiobook, it wouldn't have been really friendly to keep on listening and ignore the company!
Again, such an interesting book, in spite of the fact that I know nothing about rowing or training dogs. Ms Crombie just manages to make it all fascinating, and I just love the Kincaid James family.
So on to the next episode.
On to the next episode.
Just finished reading for the second time. I stopped the reading while I was away on holiday with a friend. As I listened to the audiobook, it wouldn't have been really friendly to keep on listening and ignore the company!
Again, such an interesting book, in spite of the fact that I know nothing about rowing or training dogs. Ms Crombie just manages to make it all fascinating, and I just love the Kincaid James family.
So on to the next episode.
July 5, 2018
Rebecca Meredith, a policewoman training for an Olympic rowing position, becomes a murder victim. Duncan, about a week from his scheduled leave to take care of Charlotte, his and Gemma's new foster daughter, is assigned the case. The murderer's knowledge of rowing is important. When Duncan discovers Rebecca accused a senior police officer of rape, officially filing it as an anonymous person but with a DNA sample taken, suspicion turns to that person, but he is warned off, suggesting the ex-spouse as the more likely suspect. Duncan discovers Gemma was likely saved from being a victim because her mom was sitting for Toby one occasion. Gemma gets Melody, now assigned to a branch dealing with unsolved crimes against women, to seek other officers who may have been victims over a period of time. They clear the ex-spouse. Meanwhile Duncan and Doug continue to work on the case. Will all the pieces ever fit? Crombie's mysteries are carefully plotted, keeping the reader engaged. This installment shows she did a lot of research in the rowing field and used it to provide one of the best mysteries I've read in awhile. I listened to the audio version by Recorded Books. The narrator was excellent!
September 8, 2014
The story, the fourteenth in the series that Deborah Crombie has spun around Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Detective Inspector Gemma James, opens with a compelling piece of writing:
“Heart thumping, she moved across the cottage’s shadowy garden and through the gate that led out onto the Thames Path. Tendrils of mist were beginning to rise from the water. The river had a particular smell in the evenings, damp and alive and somehow primeval. The gunmetal surface of the water looked placid as a pond, but she knew that for an illusion. The current, swift here as the river made its way towards the roar of the weir below Hambleden Mill, was a treacherous trap for the unwary or the overconfident ….”
Rebecca Meredith worked the Metropolitan Police, and she had risen to the rank of Detective Chief Inspector, but she was ready to take a career break. Because her first love had been rowing; she was going to go back to that, and she was going to do everything she could to reach the Olympics. That was why she went out, alone, to train on the river in Henley on a dark afternoon in late October.
Rebecca didn’t come back. And when the Search & Rescue Team found her body it was clear that there had been foul play.
Duncan Kincaid had been on annual leave, after his and Gemma’s wedding, but he was sent in to lead the investigation. Because Scotland Yard wanted one of their own. A safe paid of hands.
Becca’s ex husband is the most obvious suspect. And he word of elite rowing is ferociously competitive. But Duncan learns from Becca’s colleagues that she had, in private, made serious allegations against a very senior police officer; and that she had been ready to make those allegations public.
He found himself being steered in a particular direction, but he resisted.
A well though out and well structured plot unfolds steadily as the police meet the team Becca worked with, the people at her rowing club, the people who might know more about the allegations she had been ready to make public. The characters were well drawn, and the possibilities were intriguing.
Duncan and Gemma used to work together, but as their relationship grew their professional lives separated. But Deborah Crombie has very cleverly continued to draw them both into the same cases. This time around Gemma had come into contact with the man who was the subject of Becca’s allegations. And her own experience left her in no doubt that the allegations were true. She was still on annual leave, but she had a friend and former colleague who might be in a position to help Duncan make his case.
Deborah Crombie follow Duncan’s and Gemma’s lives – not just their work – and a cast of family, friends and colleagues continues to be drawn into the story. That works well, everything fitted together beautifully, and I liked remembering just how people had been drawn in and just how Duncan and Gemma had reached this point in their lives.
I still think you could pick up this book and read happily of you hadn’t read the rest of the series; just enough is explained for everything to make sense. Though I suspect you’d want to go back and find out more from those earlier books after this finish this one.
I had a few small issues with this book. There was a little too much domesticity. There were moments when Duncan’s reactions seemed a little naïve for a man with his experience. But, overall, I liked it very much.
I’d call it a classic mystery, and a fine human story.
It was very readable, I loved reading about the rowing world and life on the river, and I am so impressed at how this series has, and continues to grow.
There was a wonderful point in the story, near the end, when it shifted. What might have been the ending was actually a turning point.
The real ending was nicely dramatic, and though the resolution was mundane it was utterly believable.
I see that book sixteen will be published later in the autumn, so I really must catch up with book fifteen ….
“Heart thumping, she moved across the cottage’s shadowy garden and through the gate that led out onto the Thames Path. Tendrils of mist were beginning to rise from the water. The river had a particular smell in the evenings, damp and alive and somehow primeval. The gunmetal surface of the water looked placid as a pond, but she knew that for an illusion. The current, swift here as the river made its way towards the roar of the weir below Hambleden Mill, was a treacherous trap for the unwary or the overconfident ….”
Rebecca Meredith worked the Metropolitan Police, and she had risen to the rank of Detective Chief Inspector, but she was ready to take a career break. Because her first love had been rowing; she was going to go back to that, and she was going to do everything she could to reach the Olympics. That was why she went out, alone, to train on the river in Henley on a dark afternoon in late October.
Rebecca didn’t come back. And when the Search & Rescue Team found her body it was clear that there had been foul play.
Duncan Kincaid had been on annual leave, after his and Gemma’s wedding, but he was sent in to lead the investigation. Because Scotland Yard wanted one of their own. A safe paid of hands.
Becca’s ex husband is the most obvious suspect. And he word of elite rowing is ferociously competitive. But Duncan learns from Becca’s colleagues that she had, in private, made serious allegations against a very senior police officer; and that she had been ready to make those allegations public.
He found himself being steered in a particular direction, but he resisted.
A well though out and well structured plot unfolds steadily as the police meet the team Becca worked with, the people at her rowing club, the people who might know more about the allegations she had been ready to make public. The characters were well drawn, and the possibilities were intriguing.
Duncan and Gemma used to work together, but as their relationship grew their professional lives separated. But Deborah Crombie has very cleverly continued to draw them both into the same cases. This time around Gemma had come into contact with the man who was the subject of Becca’s allegations. And her own experience left her in no doubt that the allegations were true. She was still on annual leave, but she had a friend and former colleague who might be in a position to help Duncan make his case.
Deborah Crombie follow Duncan’s and Gemma’s lives – not just their work – and a cast of family, friends and colleagues continues to be drawn into the story. That works well, everything fitted together beautifully, and I liked remembering just how people had been drawn in and just how Duncan and Gemma had reached this point in their lives.
I still think you could pick up this book and read happily of you hadn’t read the rest of the series; just enough is explained for everything to make sense. Though I suspect you’d want to go back and find out more from those earlier books after this finish this one.
I had a few small issues with this book. There was a little too much domesticity. There were moments when Duncan’s reactions seemed a little naïve for a man with his experience. But, overall, I liked it very much.
I’d call it a classic mystery, and a fine human story.
It was very readable, I loved reading about the rowing world and life on the river, and I am so impressed at how this series has, and continues to grow.
There was a wonderful point in the story, near the end, when it shifted. What might have been the ending was actually a turning point.
The real ending was nicely dramatic, and though the resolution was mundane it was utterly believable.
I see that book sixteen will be published later in the autumn, so I really must catch up with book fifteen ….
July 3, 2020
After reading Sounds of Broken Glass, I had to go back and try to catch up on the Crombie mysteries I've missed--even though it was just one. (Surely one day there will be world enough and time...) In this, Gemma Jones is on family leave after she and Duncan gained custody of a young girl from an earlier case, which I also seem not to have read. So it's Duncan who gets the case of the rower found tangled in weeds on the Thames--a suspicious death. And the fact that she was also on the police force means a thorough investigation. No plot details here but I'll say that it's a busy plot; Gemma doesn't stay on the sidelines and her research leads to the killer; multiple red herrings; layers of story; a good dog that doesn't get killed. Smart writing, intelligent characters and intriguing story lines, urgently paced. A thoughtful and dangerous tone. I especially enjoyed the quotations that head each chapter--they're either about rowing or search and rescue dogs. A good series, especially for fans of mysteries in which the personal and professional lives intertwine.
May 6, 2018
It appears at first an accidental death, the drowning of an award-winning rower who also happens to be a Met detective. But the suspicious details begin to add up as Duncan is called by his boss to investigate. The higher-ups are nervous since this particular woman was involved in a serious accusation against one of them. Duncan begins to find all sorts of interesting details involving past relationships, betrayals, and hidden crimes, and as always, his wife Gemma also becomes involved.
I enjoy these books so much, thanks to the wonderful characters depicted, their personalities, quirks and all, the way the author develops relationships and introduces new characters without making the reader feel overwhelmed. It's not necessary to read these in order, but it certainly is enjoyable to grow along with them all in their lives and careers.
I enjoy these books so much, thanks to the wonderful characters depicted, their personalities, quirks and all, the way the author develops relationships and introduces new characters without making the reader feel overwhelmed. It's not necessary to read these in order, but it certainly is enjoyable to grow along with them all in their lives and careers.
June 28, 2017
Wonderful! I love Deborah Crombie's plots! Even though I'm not interested in rowing or boat races, and even though this book took a bit of time in the beginning to build up my interest, I can only give it 5 stars because it is beautifully written and kept me guessing until a new name cropped up at about 80%. And with Duncan and Gemma's family thread intertwined, and the other now familiar characters appearing here and there, it is pure enjoyment.
2nd read: audiobook version, just wonderful! If I could give this 10 stars, I would! I now think this one is my favourite (but I know I've said that before for other books in this series lol!).
2nd read: audiobook version, just wonderful! If I could give this 10 stars, I would! I now think this one is my favourite (but I know I've said that before for other books in this series lol!).
February 7, 2017
A London Metropolitan Police officer is found dead in the Thames, the victim of a rowing accident. Or is she?
Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James are on the case. Which turns out to be one of the most convoluted and intricate plots I've read in a while.
Well written with interesting characters with read depth, "No Mark Upon Her" is the first Deborah Crombie novel I've read. It won't be the last. Kincaid and James are interesting characters, and the supporting characters are also interesting.
Highly recommended.
Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James are on the case. Which turns out to be one of the most convoluted and intricate plots I've read in a while.
Well written with interesting characters with read depth, "No Mark Upon Her" is the first Deborah Crombie novel I've read. It won't be the last. Kincaid and James are interesting characters, and the supporting characters are also interesting.
Highly recommended.
March 5, 2012
Before reading this book I have to say that I had no interest in rowing, rowing teams and clubs or shells, but I think that is one of Crombie's strengths. She can take a subject, create a mystery around it and make the whole thing come out to the readers satisfaction. Also appreciate the glimpses into Gemma and Kinkaids blended family, just love the addition of little Charlotte.
May 26, 2022
What a pleasure this book turned out to be! I grabbed it from a Little Free Library without ever having heard of the author, but having read it, I now plan to go back and start from the beginning of the series. I look forward to following the development of the recurring characters and their relationships from the beginning, but not having any prior familiarity with them did not impact my enjoyment of this book. Deborah Crombie gives enough backstory to make it easy to understand and care about the characters without overwhelming the main mystery, which is excellent. Like Elizabeth George, whose books I have been enjoying for many years, Crombie is an American who writes British mysteries extremely well. If I hadn't known from the author blurb that she was American, I wouldn't have questioned her British bona fides. A fortuitous discovery, indeed!
August 21, 2022
I've read several of the Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James books, enough to keep their ongoing plot straight and the recurring characters. This is such a good series, I should really go back and just read them in order, but I keep getting different ones on sale.
Anyway, this was one of the best that I've read in the series. Interestingly, Duncan is preparing to go on child leave to take his turn caring for Charlotte, their newly adopted daughter. But first, he must solve the murder of a fellow policewoman and Olympic-caliber rower. It becomes much more complicated the further he gets into the investigation.
I especially liked the information on rowing/skulling? and learning about the work of Search and Rescue teams. Both these bits added a lot to the story. Gemma's reactions to the adoption of their daughter also gives the reader a lot to think about. And the murder(s) mystery was also good as I count any story where I can't tell who did it a success.
Anyway, this was one of the best that I've read in the series. Interestingly, Duncan is preparing to go on child leave to take his turn caring for Charlotte, their newly adopted daughter. But first, he must solve the murder of a fellow policewoman and Olympic-caliber rower. It becomes much more complicated the further he gets into the investigation.
I especially liked the information on rowing/skulling? and learning about the work of Search and Rescue teams. Both these bits added a lot to the story. Gemma's reactions to the adoption of their daughter also gives the reader a lot to think about. And the murder(s) mystery was also good as I count any story where I can't tell who did it a success.
June 14, 2020
I hadn't read a Deborah Crombie in a long time, but I'll keep these books in mind. This was a good story, and even though it is the 14th in the series, I didn't feel lost. The background here is rowing, which is not of particular interest to me, but the book is not loaded with technical information, so it is still enjoyable. There is also a presence of rescue dogs, and I do like reading about them.
May 30, 2022
I’m finishing these books at such a clip that I forgot to mark this one as finished.
I found the rowing setting particularly interesting, almost as much as the one that introduced me to English narrowboats—the setting is likely to stay with me at least as long as the story.
I found the rowing setting particularly interesting, almost as much as the one that introduced me to English narrowboats—the setting is likely to stay with me at least as long as the story.
July 25, 2022
I love this series and I particularly enjoyed this book. The characters are feeling like old friends. The setting of the Thames and all the rowing detail was fascinating. Amazing the research Deborah Crombie must do when she write a novel. Very impressive!
July 10, 2020
A good mystery for a rainy day. Definitely would have helped if I would have read other ones in the series first.
October 26, 2021
An exciting story, slow to start but eventually got into it. This was my first book in the Kincaid series, but l was able to pick up the story lines of the main characters. Must look out for more in this series.
June 26, 2025
A police officer, who is also a rower, is murdered and Gemma and Duncan get involved in the case, which becomes more and more complicated.
4.5 stars.
4.5 stars.
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