A review by cj_mo_2222
Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie
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.
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.