A Killing of Innocents by Deborah Crombie

Title: A Killing of Innocents
Author: Deborah Crombie
Publication: William Morrow, hardcover, 2023
Genre: Mystery
Setting: Present-day London

Description: When Sasha Johnson, a young doctor just leaving a pub in Bloomsbury as Duncan Kincaid and Doug Cullen are meeting for a drink, is murdered nearby, the men are called to the scene quickly. Gemma James, Duncan’s wife, and Melody Talbot, her sergeant, now both working in a special unit tracking and identifying knife crime in Greater London, are consulted, and soon Gemma realizes she misses traditional investigations. Melody is still depressed about her breakup with musician Andy Monahan, and can’t help squabbling with Doug, who never approved of Andy. The dead woman is connected to Wesley Howard, the cheerful young man who works as a chef at Otto’s, a café in Notting Hill, and sometimes babysits for the Kincaid/James extended family. The search for Sasha’s killer takes the detectives to a hospital, a London nightclub, and the British Museum, while Duncan and Gemma squeeze in their younger son’s Nutcracker performance and try to maintain family life.

My Impression: I buy Deborah Crombie’s books (despite my overflowing shelves of unread books) because I know I will want to reread each one and this nineteenth in the series did not disappoint. I love how Duncan and Gemma’s relationship has evolved – in the first book, she was his sergeant and is now a Detective Inspector herself – and their family has also grown. This includes Kit from Kincaid’s first marriage, Toby from Gemma’s, and Charlotte, whose parents were murdered in Necessary as Blood and has now become part of the family, although not without challenges. Crombie creates appealing secondary characters as well, with their own complexities: Doug and Melody; Jasmine Sidana, the prickly Detective Inspector who resents Duncan; and Dr. Rashid Kaleem, the handsome pathologist on whom Duncan relies. Sidana shows signs of humanity in this book – not only does she display interest in Dr. Kaleem (they’d make a cute couple if she can get over herself) but in the most surprising part of the book she and Gemma go undercover at a nightclub and have fun together:

Sidana glanced at Gemma, then gave an awkward little twitch of her shoulder. “Speaking of single, you’re pretty good friends with Dr. Kaleem, right?”

“Rashid?” Gemma stared at her, perplexed. “We’ve worked together a good bit. He’s a great guy.”

“I would think he’d be quite a catch if he’s not already attached. Nice-looking, good job. Although the cutting-up-bodies bit might be a little off-putting.”

Gemma stared. “You’re asking if Rashid is single?”

“Is that a crime?”

Crombie even makes the reader care about Sidana, the Detective Inspector who wanted the job that went to Duncan and has been a difficult colleague for him. She has a backstory that is hinted at and may be revealed in the future (but I don't want to wait!).  However, Melody continues to be my favorite secondary character.  As a detective, she is a gifted researcher who made the mistake in a previous book of becoming romantically involved with a suspect. It worked out for a while but a bad breakup has made her miserable and unable to concentrate on work. Trying to juggle work and family is also causing Gemma stress, especially because Charlotte, now about four, is still traumatized from her parents’ death and needs attention. Someone suggests a nanny would alleviate some logistical challenges, which shocks Gemma, who did not grow up in that type of household, but seems practical when both parents work and have irregular hours. It might also allow Gemma to return to the investigative assignments that are her strength.

This is number eight of my 20 Books of Summer and my twentieth book for Carol’s Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge.  For earlier reviews, click here.

Source: Personal copy.  

By the way, I just took a Random House Reader’s Quiz and I must say it is quite accurate:

You have a:  Bookish Personality

You love to read and make it a priority every day. When it comes to genres, you’re much more likely to pick up a fiction read that will transport you and keep you on the edge of your seat. You read to be entertained, and as long as you can connect with characters and stories, you’re hooked! It doesn’t matter if the book is new or old.