A Killing of Innocents - Deborah Crombie

Deborah Crombie writes one of my absolute favorite police procedural series - the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James novels. The nineteenth entry - A Killing of Innocents has just released.

Kincaid and James are both Scotland Yard detectives, albeit in different departments. Sasha, a young trainee doctor is stabbed as she walks across a square to meet a friend. As it's a knife crime, both of their teams are on the case. But as the case progresses, they realize there's much more to this case than a random stabbing...

Crombie always writes an intriguing, multi layered plot that isn't easy to figure out. It's great fun to try and solve the crimes along with the detectives. I truly appreciate how those crimes are solved in Crombie's books - with a team that uses modern day methods as well as the ' old fashioned' ways. Interviews, intuition, experience etc. Adding to the mystery are some enigmatic missives that appear as italicized chapters. How will they figure into the plot?

But the biggest draw for me are the characters. From one of my previous reviews of this series.  "... the most captivating of all, is the large group of characters that appear in each book, their lives changing and growing with every new entry.  They're so well drawn, they've become almost real, especially Duncan, Gemma and their children. I feel like I know them. Although others may complain that the domestic details of the characters detracts from a good mystery, I find it gives the story much more depth. I've become invested in their lives and want to see where Crombie takes them from here. Sitting down with the latest feels like catching up with old friends." This is what has me always eagerly awaiting the next book from Crombie.

And no surprise - I loved this latest! The crime is solved, but the door is open for the next book. Can't wait! See for yourself - read an excerpt of A Killing of Innocents.