Reviews

Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie

heathersbike's review against another edition

Go to review page

This was definitely the best so far. Wow.

mojoshivers's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

By far this was the most serialized installment in the series. Concluding the Special Branch mystery that has been featured in the background of the last several books, this provided the much-needed answers as to who was corrupt at the Met, what the corruption entailed, and who the nefarious mastermind was. Also, I have to say the tying of all the loose threads concerning this storyline was handled deftly. I very much felt the conclusion made sense and all parties involved played relevant roles that befit the character.

As for the other mystery, which for once got relegated to the B plot, it was good as well. I’m only sorry that Gemma got saddled with it and was therefore exempted from the much more interesting corruption plot. It also felt out of character for Duncan to leave his wife in the dark for so long. For much of the book it felt out of character for Duncan not to go straight to her with every development. I understand why it was done, to keep up the two mysteries a book format but it didn’t feel as integrated seamlessly as it could have been.

Here’s hoping the next book sees the couple back on track in terms of presenting a united front and being the definition of an equal partnership.

bru922's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Another excellent installment in the Kincaid/James story! I love these characters and Ms. Crombie's an excellent story teller! I love police procedurals - especially the British ones and Ms. Crombie never disappoints!

house_full_of_books's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

myrdyr's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

3.85/5 stars. Not my favourite in the series, but I still enjoyed it.

ellarymt's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

eawsmom's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

The newest entry in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series finds Gemma drawn into a murder investigation by a friend. A young woman is found dead in an enclosed garden in London; the garden is only accessible through a locked door or through the houses of those who live around it. Gemma's friend MacKenzie calls her to help at the beginning of the case because the victim is a model for MacKenzie's company; thanks to her husband's connections, Gemma is seconded to the case even though it is in a different jurisdiction.

While Gemma is trying to sort through the details of the case and determine what happened to the young woman, Duncan has his own set of problems to face. By chance, he discovers that his former boss, Denis Childs, has returned to London after a lengthy absence. After a clandestine meeting with Duncan, Childs is set upon and left for dead. Duncan makes connections between this attack and the apparent suicide of an undercover officer and begins to realize that all is far from well within the Met. Duncan's unease over the apparent corruption results in him distancing himself from Gemma in hopes of keeping her and the children safe.

Both cases are brought to a satisfactory conclusion, and Duncan and Gemma look to be on the way to a well-deserved reconciliation. (My hope is that future books will be devoid of conspiracy theories and Gemma and Duncan can simply concentrate on solving murders as they have done in the past.) This book can be read out of order, as the author does a good job of filling in details which a new reader might missed. However, as with most any books featuring ongoing characters, it will be enjoyed the most when taken in order.

cj_mo_2222's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

The death of a young person is always a tragedy, but it’s even worse when it’s murder. Reagan Keating was working as a nanny for a divorced mom and her son when her body is discovered in a private garden in Notting Hill. The lead detective DI Kerry Boatman asks Gemma James for help with the case since she has a slight connection to the family. While Gemma is busy trying to solve the case before a killer strikes again, she doesn’t have time to deal with the fact that her husband, Duncan Kincaid, has been acting very distant. What she doesn’t know is he is trying to protect her. Duncan has become aware of corruption at the top levels of New Scotland Yard and he soon figures out that what he knows could cost him or his family their lives.

The Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series gets better with each book. The plots of each new book remain fresh and unique. Garden of Lamentations is a book that will equally satisfy readers familiar with the series and those who haven’t since it reads like a standalone novel, even though it’s part of a long-running series. The author does a great job of including just the right amount of time focused on Gemma and Duncan’s work as detectives as well as their personal lives. Gemma and Duncan must balance their careers with their responsibilities caring for their three children. Sometimes the couple works on cases in which their investigations overlap, but this time they are working on two completely separate cases.

As Duncan discreetly investigates the possibility of internal corruption, the need for secrecy puts a strain on his relationship with Gemma. However, this gives the reader a chance to see both Duncan and Gemma working independently, which highlights each detective’s strengths as investigators. I love each character and was equally invested in both cases. Duncan’s covert detecting and the danger involved gives the book much of its suspense, while Gemma’s murder investigation gives the reader a close-up look at great detective work. Each case has a few twists that will keep you eager to turn the page to find out what happens next, but sorry to see the book end. Fans of this series as well as readers who enjoy authors Faye Kellerman and Laura Lippman’s Tess Monaghan series will want to read Crombie’s newest novel.

This review was originally written for Smitten by Books blog and review site. (4.5 stars) The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

suzannedix's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I just love Duncan and Gemma and this series is still one I look forward to.

al27caro's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

love the characters in this series