review copy provided by Harper Collins
Description from Goodreads:
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.
My take:
I haven't read any of the other Kincaid/James novels by Crombie, but happily, this book can stand on its own. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery/thriller set in England. There are many things that I really loved about this book. The descriptions just pulled me into the story. I was fascinated with the world of rowing described so well by Crombie. I'm not very familiar with this sport, but it was very interesting to read about. I think my favorite part besides the actual storyline, was the vivid description of how the search and rescue teams worked with the dogs and their amazing sense of smell. I have a new perspective when my dog is sniffing around the yard now.
I loved that I was never sure exactly who in the story could be believed or trusted and who was concealing things. I did not figure out the villain and that is a big change for me. I was happily surprised at the reveal. I thought the misdirection in the story was well done. I was captivated by the descriptions of the London, the surrounding areas, the pubs, the locals, everything. This was such an enjoyable book! I'm sure I missed out on some of the characters' history and didn't get some of the references from previous books, but I didn't feel lost at all. I love it when I can pick up a book in the middle of a series and still feel that I get it. I will have to read some more of Crombie's books. I would highly recommend No Mark Upon Her.
