No Mark Upon Her

Another engaging police procedural from Deborah Crombie! In No Mark upon Her we are invited into three specialized worlds: police work in modern Britain, competitive rowing, and canine search and rescue work. Each one is peopled by characters who feel genuinely real and whom recreational readers

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can care about immediately.
This is the first time that we see DCI Gemma James and superintendent Duncan Kincaid officially married (in three ceremonies no less!), and their relationship and their mixed family are at the center of the novel. Just before Duncan is prepared to start a stint of house-husbanding, he is on the scene of the drowning of an Olympic level sculler, also a police officer. Evidence of murder quickly ensues followed by an attack on one of the search and rescue volunteers. Gemma's sergeant, who has been working on a special project with rape victims, is drawn into the picture - and it's an ugly picture suggesting cover-ups among the higher ranks.
Crombie pulls the reader along so fast that only one determined not to have a good time will balk. I hope that she is hard at work on the next volume right this very minute. I can hardly wait!

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As with all of Crombie's stories in this series, I learned something new. This one features rowers, the regattas, and that special sport we all see once in awhile but don't really understand.

Crombie delves into the sport and manages to give us a ripping mystery, keep the romance between Duncan and

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Gemma alive, and advance the series all in one enjoyable read.

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Interesting for a murder mystery. It keeps you guessing until the end. The characters are likable. It was the first book I read in the Duncan Kincaid /Gemma james series (even if this was book 14) and I had no problem getting into the backstory. Quick read, and entertaining.

I knew Deborah Crombie's name and was aware that she wrote a British based detective series, but she was an author I hadn't experienced - until I raced my way through her latest book - No Mark Upon Her. And I'm kicking myself - I truly wish I had picked her up earlier - I really, really enjoyed

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this book. It's the 14th book to feature her recurring characters Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, both who work for Scotland Yard.

I did feel slightly lost in the first few opening chapters as there are many characters in this established series, all with their own stories. It took a bit to keep them all straight, but I was soon on top of who was who.

Rebecca Meredith, a Met detective and talented sculler has taken to practicing on off hours when there aren't many others about. Someone is though - and that someone takes her life. As Kincaid looks into the case, he finds that Rebecca was a dedicated copper, but had made some enemies along the way. Gemma is looking into some cold cases and as she digs further, those past cases may be relevant to Kincaid's case. And those higher up would seem to prefer Duncan and Gemma keep their investigations low key and protect the reputation of the Met.

Crombie's plotting was intricate and believable. The secondary plot is seamlessly woven in. The list of suspects kept me guessing. Crombie's exploration of the elitist rowing world, search and rescue and PTSD added much to an already multi layered tale. But what will have me adding this author to my must read list are the characters. They're all quite 'real'. Although others may complain that the domestic details of the characters may detract from a good mystery, I found that they gave the story much more depth and made the characters 'real'. I became invested in their lives and want to see where Crombie takes them from here.

No Mark Upon Her was a satisfying read on so many levels - one I would definitely recommend. Fans of Louise Penny and Susan Hill would enjoy this series.

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I have read several of Deborah Crombie's books and they all have been terrific. The police work used to discover the murderer is done well without having somebody become the 'hero' and working alone like in some books. Crombie combines the police work with the family dymnamics and it works well.

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Both Duncan and Gemma, finally married in three separate ceremonies, are struggling to do their jobs and also raise a family which now includes a three year old Charlotte (from a previous book which I haven't read yet, but will). Gemma has just finished several months of leave and now it is Duncan's turn, but two days before he is to begin his 'paternity' leave, he is assigned a high profile case of a police woman who drowns while out on her scull training for the Olympic trials. Will Duncan finish in time? Is the information that Gemma uncovers going to help Duncan? It all wraps up neatly in the end and I'm looking forward to the next book where either Duncan will be on leave or just ending it.

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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

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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.

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I've waited eagerly for this newest book by Deborah Crombie. It was worth the wait. As always, Crombie did her homework. In addition to the fine mystery she introduces the reader to the highly competitive sport of rowing in British universities and on the River Thames.
The many layers of the

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investigation of a murder reveals many complex layers of ethical and political issues in Scotland Yard and the divisions throughout the force. Many lives have been affected and the newly formed and growing family of Duncan and Gemma is threatened.
The sometimes difficult job of both adults in a family having stressful and at times demanding jobs is realistically dealt with as they treat each other with respect and consideration.
The character development is excellent, proving once again that crime fiction can be well written. The ending is unexpected but artfully crafted.
This is one of Crombie's best. I highly recommend it. My only suggestion, write faster Deborah, we want more!

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This is a very enjoyable English murder mystery. The setting on the Thames river explores the sport of competitive English rowing. This is the first book of the series that I had read, which gives the reader a bit of challenge to pick up on the characters and know who everyone is. Writers of novels

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in a series must make a compromise between boring regular readers who know the characters versus confusing new readers who have joined mid-series. Crombie makes a good compromise, which only left me a slight bit overwhelmed when a few too many characters were introducing very quickly near the beginning. As a reader of many different mystery series, I've seen many writers who can be boring while they recap the introduction of characters that regular readers already know. On the other had it wasn't like some series, where you need to take notes to figure out the cast of characters when you try to begin mid-series.

I've added Deborah Crombie's prior novels in the series to my wishlist to look for when visiting used book stores. Her characters are very real and life-like.

Crombie's story is similar in style to the Bill Slider murder mysteries by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, who is one of my favorite authors.

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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

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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.

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This was my first Deborah Crombie book. I was enjoying it so much, I finished it in less than 24 hours. Now I have to go back and start her books from the beginning. I am really looking forward to them.

Duncan Kincaid Superintendent at Scotland Yard and his now thrice married wife Detective Inspector Gemma James have sustained many changes lately personal as well as professional. Along with his son Kit and her son Toby they’ve recently taken a foster daughter Charlotte whom they hope soon to

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adopt, but she needs special care because of the circumstance of her becoming orphaned so Gemma and Duncan agree to each take family leave to care for her, Gemma’s is just about over and Duncan’s is just about to start when Duncan receives a summons by his boss to look into a female detective’s suspicious death while rowing. It seems unknown to most Becca Meredith has been training for the Olympics when one evening she goes out on the Thames not to return alive. Although there are suspects aplenty this complex and much disturbing now murder case is taking a direction that Duncan is very uncomfortable with and could have grave consequences for the Police department and always finding solace in her thoughts, goes to Gemma. Soon Gemma and Duncan along with their assistants Melody and Doug are going at the case from two directions and hoping to meet in the middle with the suspect in hand and no further harm done but that seems an impossible task at the moment and the presumed guilty party seems out of their reach and even worse there’s a chance that they have it all wrong.

Deborah Crombie is a brilliant Brit-Lit writer who amazingly makes her home right here in the good old US of A however her extensive research across the pond is invaluable and that is obvious when you open the pages and imagine yourself in London, or Notting Hill or any of the other wonderful places this author has taken me to in her Kincaid/James series which this is the 14th installment. Her dialogue is Queen’s English all the way and her narrative with her vivid descriptions will have you wiping the imaginary rain off your face and trying to see through the fog on the Thames as she spins her tale of murder, mystery and mayhem. Her characters, if you’ve read them from the beginning have evolved from single cops working as partners to partners in life, love and home and you as readers have the exclusive front row seating to have watched them mature first into the couple and finally the family they’ve become and the series has matured right with them with personal and professional concerns finding face right along side the serious crime fighting this duo does.
If this is your first taste of Deborah Crombie and her Kincaid/James series that’s fine it does well alone, but my suggestion is to go back to the beginning and find out how they got where they are now and who they’ve become along the way. If you like British crime fiction you’ll find this a little less bloody than most and more tasteful because of it.
If you’re looking for that perfect gift for that someone special on your list treat them to a murder.

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Crombie writes mysteries featuring British detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, who by this point in the series are married and accumulating children. In this book, a policewoman who rows competitively is murdered. Crombie's books are well done but not particularly taxing; however, in none of

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the previous ones could I identify the murderer within two paragraphs of the character being introduced (it could not have been any more obvious). There is a rape-cold-case subplot which is interesting enough to keep me reading, but between the blatant reveal of the murderer barely a third of the way in and the constant foreshadowing that a wonderful dog would be hurt (which he is, but not fatally), I found reading this a little irritating. Which is a shame.

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This book, like all of Deborah Crombie's books, was a joy to read. She does such good research and pays such attention to detail that I can hardly wait for her to come out with another one. I love the characters and learning about their history as well as the mystery itself. Deborah Crombie is in

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an elite group of authors that go the extra mile to make their books a cut above the normal. I hope she continues to write this series for many, many years to come.

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I do not come to Deborah Crombie’s No Mark upon Her as an experienced reader of her Kincaid/James mystery series. That lack of background allows me to point out that No Mark upon Her works very well as a standalone mystery – so well, in fact, that I am now thinking about starting the series

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from the beginning. Crombie’s character development and side plots are that good. Crombie fans, too, are probably already fairly familiar with her background, but I was intrigued to learn that, like Elizabeth George, Crombie is an American (from the Dallas area) who sets her novels in and around London. And, as with George, had I not been told that she is American, I would have assumed that she is British.

Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Detective Inspector Gemma James have more in common than the paychecks they earn from Scotland Yard. They are also a married couple trying to balance the Yard’s insatiable demand on their lives with the personal time they need to nurture their marriage and their two young children. The family is, in fact, on holiday when Duncan is asked to help determine whether the death of Rebecca Meredith, another high-ranking Scotland Yard detective, is perhaps more than the accidental drowning it first appears to be. That Meredith was an Olympic-caliber rower intimately familiar with the section of the Thames from which her body was pulled, makes it difficult to take her drowning at face value.

As his investigation progresses, Kincaid will discover that Rebecca Meredith probably had as many enemies as she had friends. Unfortunately, some of those enemies work for Scotland Yard, and Kincaid begins to suspect that his superiors are more concerned about protecting each other and the image of the Yard than they are about tracking down the young woman’s killer. Then, when his wife’s investigation into a separate series of crimes begins to overlap with his own, Kincaid is shocked by the number of suspects, some of them in position to end his career with Scotland Yard, he must work through.

No Mark upon Her takes the reader deep into the world of competitive rowing, particularly as it involves those young men so completely invested in the annual race between Cambridge and Oxford. Most American readers will, I think, be surprised at the lifetime’s worth of prestige accrued by the small group of men who earn the right to participate in that yearly event. Win or lose, just having participated in the race can positively influence a man’s success for the rest of his life. Few readers of No Mark upon Her will ever again see this competition as the college lark they may have previously perceived it to be.

Crombie’s in-depth exploration of the everyday demands on, and concerns of, her main characters makes them real. These are not one-dimensional cops and robbers; they must deal with all of the complications of life that the rest of us face. It is easy to see why this series has already extended to fourteen books and is still going strong.

Rated at: 4.0

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If you like smart mysteries, if you like English mysteries, if you like police procedurals, if you like a book with great characters..I have a book for you!

Ok, I will warn you that yes, this is part of a series, the latest in a 14 book series. And yes,while this one can totally stand alone, you

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will be tempted to go back and read some more in the series. Partly because one of the attractions of this book is the now husband and wife duo of Detective Inspector Gemma James and Superintendent Duncan Kincaid. They have a long history leading up to this point, with their blended family of one son on his part, one son on her part and a newly fostered daughter from another case and their story will interest you. While the author does a great job of giving us the abridged history, they are so likable that the reader can not help but want to learn more about how they got to this point. And there are a number of fascinating minor characters who pop up in their personal lives that we would like to know more about and which do, no doubt, make appearances in those other books.
But enough pinning...because there is a very good book right here to explore.

The setting in Henley on the Thames and the major role that rowing plays in this book is a big plus in my book. Many of the high schools around here having very competitive rowing teams (that have competed in Henley) and I have watched them practice on the back bays since I was a kid..and it is a beautiful thing to watch. But to see the love/hate relationship the competitors have with the sport is fascinating too. It may be beautiful watching from the shore as the sculls seem to glide along, the perfect synchronization of the rowers, but from their seat it is a grueling, almost too painful, undertaking.
Then we have perhaps my two favorite characters, two rescue dogs name Tosh, a German Shepherd and Finn, a black Lab. Smart, handsome, brave, obedient dogs..wow, I am in love. Woof!

Ms. Crombie has given us a very good, very smart, very well paced plot all set against a background of prestigious rowing clubs and old prep school friendships. Just when you think you may have things figured out, Gemma's investigation opens a whole new avenue, a whole new cast of suspects, and the possibility that a high level police cover up may be afoot. A cover-up with serious consequences to her and her husband's career if they continue, as of course they must, to seek justice for the murdered victim. Lots of red herrings, lot of twists and turns until the very last page..and then all the thread very nicely tied up so we can happily await the next installment.

And as a small aside, let me just say that I loved the drawn map, along with illustrations, that make up the endpages. It was so charming that I spent way to much time studying it.

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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

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into Gemma and Kinkaids blended family, just love the addition of little Charlotte.

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I have now remembered why it seems so long between Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James books. Ms. Crombie takes great care in crafting the best novel possible and that takes some time. Yes, these books are mystery novels, but they really are so much more than that. The characterizations are excellently

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done, the plot is always intricate and the mystery is always complex. This results in a small masterpiece every time and with each new book in this wonderful series. This one delves into the world of championship rowing, and many interesting tidbits come out about this competitive sport. And I truly like Duncan Kincaid. He's a smart, intelligent copper who is not afraid to show his human side to his nearest and dearest. And Gemma is a treasure. Gemma and Duncan are now married and they are trying to maintain their high pressure jobs while trying to raise a truly blended family. All the challenges in this monumental undertaking are covered in this book. Both are trying to find the proof to convict a truly reprehensible and evil man, and both put everything on the line to do so, which in turn puts them in danger again and again. The secondary characters in this book are extremely appealing. There is first the ex-husband of the murdered rower, there are the male and female members of the search and rescue team that found the body of the victim, and there is Chief Superintendent Childs, Duncan's superior officer. Ms. Crombie is a wonderful writer, and these books are truly classics in the British police procedural genre.

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This is one of my favorite series and No Mark Upon Her is every bit as deloightful as I had hoped. I have yet to be disappointed in any of the Deborah Crombie novels. I love following the personal lives of Duncan and Gemma, and find their stories to be a perfect counter-point to the police

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procedural which Ms. Crombie does so well. I was a bit hesitant about this one as I know nothing about rowing. No matter. This aspect of the novel was written with enough info to be exceptionally interesting, but never so much as to lose me. Highly recommended.

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Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid have finally married each other, for the third time. They have family issues, as well as a very delicate case, with complications at the highest level of the police.

An enduringly good series.

Received for Review
Challenge: 2012 Mystery/Thriller Challenge
Overall Rating 4.25
Story Rating 4.50
Character Rating 4.00

First thought when finished: I really like Deborah Crombie's writing and didn't feel lost once even though this is the first book I have read by her.

What I Loved: Deborah Crombie

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was excellent at making a series book easy enough to read as a stand alone. I imagine that fans of the series will pick up on some of the character things more than I did. However, it was the mystery itself that pulled me in. I was never quite sure who did it or what relationships (the suspects) were not quite what they seemed. This to me is an excellent mark of a good thriller.

What I Liked: I really liked the setting with the pubs, English countryside, and fun sayings. I was really taken away by the way Deborah captured the small nuances that made you feel like you were transported over the pond.

Final Thought: While I really wish I would have read a few more in the series before this one, I never felt lost. I would highly recommend this book to mystery/thriller fans.

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Looking for a great Scotland Yard mystery that will keep you guessing just who did it til the very end and keep you turning pages faster and faster until you finally know who did it? Then look no further. In her latest book, No Mark Upon Her, Deborah Crombie takes her readers in depth into a rowing

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missing persons crime initially which will later prove that a murder has taken place. One by one the pieces of the puzzle seem to fit seamlessly together until you realize that not all pieces that fit together form the perfect picture and you have it all wrong.

I thought I had this one down pat until about 7/8ths of the way through the book and realized that I had been going on a wild goose chase and not everything was adding up the way it should have been. I guess in my opinion that's what makes for an excellent murder mystery is if the author can keep the identity hidden til the very end. Masterfully done and this is my first book review for Deborah Crombie but definitely will not be my last. Love her characters, dialogue and her writing style. A perfect blend in my opinion and well rated at 5 out of 5 stars. I received this book compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review.

Book Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Deborah Crombie makes her mark with this absorbing, finely hued tale of suspense—a deeply atmospheric and twisting mystery full of deadly secrets, salacious lies, and unexpected betrayals involving the mysterious drowning of a Met detective—an accomplished rower—on the Thames.

When a K9 search-and-rescue team discovers a woman's body tangled up with debris in the river, Scotland Yard superintendent Duncan Kincaid finds himself heading an investigation fraught with complications. The victim, Rebecca Meredith, was a talented but difficult woman with many admirers—and just as many enemies. An Olympic contender on the verge of a controversial comeback, she was also a high-ranking detective with the Met—a fact that raises a host of political and ethical issues in an already sensitive case.

To further complicate the situation, a separate investigation, led by Detective Inspector Gemma James, Kincaid's wife, soon reveals a disturbing—and possibly related—series of crimes, widening the field of suspects. But when someone tries to kill the search-and-rescue team member who found Rebecca's body, the case becomes even more complex and dangerous, involving powerful interests with tentacles that reach deep into the heart of the Met itself.

Surrounded by enemies with friendly faces, pressured to find answers quickly while protecting the Yard at all costs, his career and reputation on the line, Kincaid must race to catch the killer before more innocent lives are lost—including his own.

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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

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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.

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DCI Rebecca Meredith, 12 year veteran in the London Met Police, is contemplating taking a leave from the force to pursue her passion for rowing not just as an off duty activity but for potential Olympic qualification. If she does take this leave, she will also leave unfinished business at the Met;

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a fact that leaves her very angry and undecided. She does not want to be just fobbed off with no justice done. The way Crombie set up her frame of mind almost gave me goosebumps at the suspense. I was hooked immediately wondering what it was all about.

We last see "Becca" at days end, taking out her boat. The next time we see her,a search and rescue team has just found her dead body in the river. And so the fun begins! Is it just an unfortunate accident or could it be homicide?

Detective Superintendant, Duncan Kincaid, is called in on the case. He is just about to take paternity leave in a few days so that his wife, Gemma, can come back to work at the Met. But still, this case intrigues him as Becca is an elite rower, an Olympic contender as well as a senior officer in the Met. The press will have a field day as the case is sure to attract a lot of attention. When the investigation turns up some nasty skeletons in the Met's closet, Kincaid is told by his boss that it would be "convenient" that the ex-husband is the murderer. He certainly has a credible motive.

This doesn't sit well with Kincaide as he is an honorable and ethical man, not one to take the easy way out. He wants to see justice done no matter the fallout. I loved the way Crombie imbued Kincaid with so many admirable and strong characteristics.

Even though Gemma is on family leave, she is helping a Met co-worker sift through information on another matter that may have ties to Duncan's case. This was one of the most exciting plot lines for me. I couldn't wait to see how it all panned out.

Although No Mark Upon Her is the 14th in the series, it can easily stand-alone. There are enough inferences in the story for the reader to have a feel for the history of Duncan's and Gemma's relationship. I loved the whole package, the perfectly paced plotting, the way Crombie filled in bits and pieces of the characters' lives to give the reader a complete picture of their pasts as well as their personalitys. All the red herrings made this an exceptionally satisfying read and Crombie neatly ties up all the ends. Even the most peripheral characters were fascinating and had their own stories. I'd liken Crombie's writing to that of P.D. James or Elizabeth George; all master storytellers that really know how to captivate their audience. 4.5****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided byMacMillan /LT in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Rebecca ‘Becca’ Meredith is a high-ranking detective with the Met in London. She is also an Olympic caliber rower who has decided to follow her dreams for a gold medal. So when her body is discovered in the Thames by two canine search and rescue teams, it is hard to imagine who would have

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wanted to do her harm. When one of the canine teams – Kieran Connolly and his black lab, Finn – come under attack, the mystery deepens. Duncan Kincaid is assigned the case and he immediately finds himself embroiled in much more than a murder investigation. Although Becca’s ex-husband, Freddie, appears to be the most obvious suspect, the evidence begins to suggest that the real killer may be closer to the investigation than originally thought.

Deborah Crombie has crafted an intriguing and twisty suspense-thriller set in England. Filled with interesting characters, including canine handler Tavie and her German Shepherd, Tosh, as well as Kincaid’s feisty wife, Gemma, the novel is well paced and offers a mystery which keeps the reader guessing until the end. Crombie lives in Texas, but she deftly weaves a believable story set firmly in London and its surrounding countryside.

Although it is the mystery of Becca’s death which drives the narrative, Crombie complicates the story with underlying secrets and the prestigious world of rowing clubs and posh schools.

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller, and not just because it involved search and rescue dogs and their handlers. Crombie writes well with a good command of her story and a knack for maintaining the mystery up until the last pages. The novel is absorbing and suspenseful – the perfect book to read on a wintery day.

Readers should know that Crombie has written thirteen previous books in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series, although it is not necessary to have read the first books to appreciate this one which stood alone just fine for me. That said, I think I may need to go back and catch up on Crombie’s earlier works.

No Mark Upon Her is highly recommended for readers who enjoy thrillers, mysteries, or anything with an English flavor.

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