Death comes to Henley-on-Thames in the 14th installment of the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James mysteries by Deborah Crombie (Necessary as Blood). On his way back to London from Somerset, Duncan is forced to make a stop in Oxfordshire to investigate the peculiar murder of Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector Rebecca Meredith. Meredith, an Olympic rowing hopeful, was found on the banks of the Thames, in the backyard of the Henley Royal Regatta--with virtually no mark upon her. As Duncan and his team delve into the complicated background of Meredith's life, Gemma, back in London, follows a lead on several cases of unsolved violent crimes, all seemingly committed by the same perpetrator. The further Duncan and Gemma dig in their respective investigations, the closer they come to crossing paths and uncovering a dangerous killer.
Crombie's elaborately plotted storyline is substantial and satisfying, as she expertly portrays her many compelling characters balancing work with their home lives. Her engaging writing is splendidly detailed and hints at extensive and careful research of the world of competitive rowing at Henley, while her portrayal of U.K. police procedures is, as usual, spot on. Crombie is especially skilled at weaving a suspenseful tone through efficient yet elegantly worded descriptions of the various settings, drawing the reader into the story and creating the impression of a shared experience. While No Mark Upon Her can easily stand on its own, readers who appreciate the development of characters over time would do well to start with the first book in the series, A Share in Death. --Sarah Borders, librarian at Houston Public Library