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've consistently enjoyed the Kincaid/James mysteries of Deborah Crombie. I feel as with each book her writing gets better, her characters and stories are deeper. Although I'm not a huge fan of children or domestic life, Crombie is very successful in painting a portrait of two working parents and their blended household without going overboard on details or excess sentimentality. This particular plot was very enjoyable to me as I've done a little rowing, but for someone who knows nothing about the sport, I still think they will find this to be an excellent mystery. Even though we only meet the victim for a chapter, Crombie does an excellent job of engaging the reader's curiosity and sympathy. I also salute her for avoiding the pitfalls of fellow American authors turned British mystery writers Martha Grimes and Elizabeth George, who take their research and fall so much in love with it, it overwhelms the rest of the story. Crombie nicely integrates her facts and understanding in service to the plot, which made for a thoroughly enjoyable read. Looking forward to reading her next book."
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Charty (4 out of 5 stars)