Full disclosure: I am a avid reader of Jungle Red Writers, a blog that Deb Crombie and six other crime fiction writers co author. Thanks to this blog, I have been reading about the creation of Crombie's 19th volume of her Kincaid and James series from idea to publication.

From cover to end papers this novel is a delight. Crombie has the splendid talent that produces vivid settings, atmospheric plot and characters, so real the reader longs to step in and invite them to tea.
By book 19, Duncan and Gemma's blended family, complete with beloved pets, are as important to the plot as the crimes and resolutions. The setting is Bloomsbury, a section of London famous for it's literary connections, filled with prestigious institutions, and as ever home to the sparkling career-driven crowd. Into this upscale setting, a knife wielding killer appears. What at first appears to be random spins into challenging crimes that test the skills of Duncan, Gemma, and their partners, Doug and Melody. Doug and Melody take center stage here. The complexity of the mystery is mirrored in their often knotty relationship. No spoilers here, just a slam bang ending that leaves a reader meditating on excellence and wishing for more of Crombie's London.

I have long been a fan of Deborah Crombie’s meticulous and beautifully plotted police novels set in contemporary London. Her series characters, Gemma James and Duncan Comrie, are married cops who vary in rank through the series but who both move steadily up the chain of command. In this 19th outing, Duncan is working in the field as a Detective Inspector and Gemma is stuck in a frustrating desk job. They make their home in Notting Hill, their large, busy, and happy family providing a sidebar to the main plot.

Crombie’s series installments pivot between Gemma and Duncan’s investigations, and this novel is mostly Duncan’s. He catches the murder of a young doctor, Sasha, who was stabbed while walking through a park near her hospital. There are no witnesses (other than a five year old) and seemingly, no motive either. When one of Sasha’s co-workers is killed in a similar fashion, Duncan turns to Gemma, who is presently heading up a knife crimes unit.

The second victim was an especially unpleasant and vindictive nurse, and other than mutual dislike, the connection between the two victims seems tenuous. As the police unravel the lives of the victims, the dead woman (a doctor in training, what we would probably call an intern or resident) seems universally liked, and the nurse, the opposite. The work of Duncan and his team is careful yet interesting, and Crombie has assembled, through now 19 books, a varied crew around Duncan. Because of Gemma’s present assignment, she’s also involved, even going undercover in one enjoyable scene.

The new characters that struck a chord with me were Sasha’s flatmate, a young potter and sculptor named Tully, and Sasha’s brother, who only brings complications to the table. He is, as a British friend of my mother’s used to say, a bad hat, so on top of the grief Sasha’s parents go through, they are also forced to worry about their son, who has disappeared. Crombie has a way of creating characters that assume an almost tangible reality in your mind and as I read, I could almost “see” Tully.

I could not put this one down. Sometimes Crombie can elaborate a theme, but in this novel, the plot seems to be the thing, along with Crombie’s often exquisite prose and sharply rendered characters. If there’s a theme, it’s probably revenge, but mostly it’s a complex look at a complicated set of crimes. What a wonderful return for this beloved series.

This was an excellent installment to the series, a solid mystery with many twists and suspects. i enjoyed learning more about our characters lives.
Many thanks to William Morrow and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the 19th volume in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James, and they just keep getting better. The mystery, as always is complex and riveting. This installment also focuses on the relationship between Duncan and Gemma and their children as they struggle to balance careers and a loving family life.

This 19th in the series opens on the murder of a junior doctor close to the pub where Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his sergeant, Doug Cullen, are enjoying a pint.

Another death follows, and they eventually find links to a traveler from Kinshasa. As always, Crombie combines an intricate police procedural with intriguing developments in the lives of all her characters.

Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Doug Cullen are called to the scene of a fatal stabbing. They’re shocked to realize the victim is a young woman they had just seen in the pub where they were eating. Duncan’s wife, Gemma James, is frustrated that instead of being out in the field, she’s on a task force tracking knife crime in the Greater London area. She and her partner DS Melody Talbot are both bored with the administrative work and are happy for the chance to help on the case. Things are further complicated when Duncan and Gemma realize that their good friends were friends of the victim and her family. When another stabbing occurs, it will take the whole expanded team to solve this complicated crime.

This book is part of a long-running series, but the author does a great job of summarizing important background information about the main characters. This is helpful to those new to the series, as well as returning readers who need a refresher. The case is interesting, and I like that Duncan, Doug, Gemma, Melody, and Duncan’s new second-in-command, DI Jasmine Sidana, all contribute to solving the case. However, the team seems so fragmented, with each person working with someone else but never all working together and sharing information. Part of this is scheduling issues with team members balancing family and job, but a lot is because of tensions between Melody and Doug, whose friendship is strained because of events in a prior book. Melody’s drama with her ex-boyfriend also slowed the pace of this book and added to the awkwardness between Melody and Doug, negatively affecting the investigation. Without the usual camaraderie between the main characters, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as others in the series.

I like that DI Sidana started showing more personality in this book. She is an intelligent detective but sometimes lacks people skills. However, she shows a lighter side when she and Gemma go undercover at a club to get information on a possible suspect. These scenes are my favorite of the whole book. The case is eventually resolved, but there some things regarding the main characters are left up in the air. I prefer to have things more settled at the end of a book, but I’ve been following this series for a long time and am interested in seeing what’s in store for everyone in future installments.

~ Christine

If you have read prior books in this series, you know that Deborah Crombie is the queen of the police procedural. Her writing is impeccable and her novels are consistently smart. Stylistically, she tends to open her novels from the perspective of many people (police and civilians) with information which may or may not be relevant to solving the crime at hand — a technique that she uses throughout the book. It is then up to the reader to determine whether the vignette is a legitimate clue or a red herring. A Killing of Innocents is no exception. The novel begins with the murder of a female medical resident who is stabbed in a public park. Is she simply a random statistic in the increasing number of deaths by stabbing or is this something more personal? And, if the latter, why? The motive becomes clear far quicker than the perpetrator, but that doesn’t affect the reader’s interest in seeing the story through. I’m looking forward to the next installment. If you have not read any of the novels in this series before, you can easily read and enjoy the books out of order. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy of this book.

Excellent mystery added to the series featuring Gemma and Duncan, consistent with Crombie’s other books in the series. When Sasha Johnson is found dead from a stab wound, Duncan realizes he just saw her waiting for someone in the pub. As Duncan and Doug begin the investigation, Gemma and Melody become involved peripherally. Gemma is not investigating but on a desk job she is not happy with, as she and Duncan juggle 5eir family responsibilities. There are many characters, many red herrings, and this series is as engrossing as the first installment. Highly recommend the entire series, from start to this current book. Thanks to NetGalley for he ARC.

I have missed Gemma and Duncan and Melody and Doug. In "A Killing of Innocents" Deborah Crombie does an excellent job of reacquainting us with them. At the center of the book is a police investigation into murder and the story of that investigation is well told and suspenseful. Supporting characters to this investigation are the conversations among the characters, their inner thoughts and conversations, their day to day lives including getting children to dance classes, visits with friends, fixing meals, showing love and affection, playing with the dogs--all those things that impact and surround the work we do. I am hopeful that the next chapter in the series will come quickly--I really want to know what happens with Doug!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGakkey for giving me an opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this police procedural mystery set in London, England.

The story was well written and there were lots of red herrings. I really liked the characters because they came across as real people to me.

Highly recommended for fans of mysteries set in modern London.

Thanks to William Morrow & Co. and Net Galley for an ARC of this book. Deborah Crombie’s Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series is one of my all time favorites! The writing is spot on and the stories never get old or boring. Considering that this is the 19th book in the series that is amazing. The crimes are always fresh and interesting with lots of twists and turns thrown in. It all begins with a junior doctor being stabbed to death. More murders occur and there are plenty of suspects. As always we learn more about the entire team investigating the death as well as Gemma and Duncan and their family. The character development is always there and I look forward to many more adventures to come.

Reviews posted to Goodreads, Amazon and several bookish Facebook pages.

This is book 19 in the Gemma and Duncan series. I started with A Bitter Feast and was able to jump in this far without getting lost. A Killing of Innocents starts with a young trainee doctor being murdered and Duncan being on the case, with Gemma assisting. Great police procedural mystery based in the UK, with a solid mystery and a realistic view into working parent life along the way. Would recommend for those that like police procedurals and atmospheric settings.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the gifted copy.

Another excellent entry in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series. A young woman has been stabbed in Bloomsbury. It appears to be a random stabbing in a crowded square. Appearances can be deceiving, The team digs into the victim’s life and relations to discover the murderer before more stabbings occur.

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!

Ms. Crombie has given us yet another grand performance of her skills as a writer. She takes great care, apparent when you read her books, to lay the story out and watch it unfold before your eyes. A Master with words that keeps you coming back for more. A Killing of Innocents is a great read.

Thank you to Deborah Crombie, William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC e-book. Although this is book #19 in this series I had read this book as a stand alone. I would not recommend that. This series is definitely one that needs to be read in order. There are many characters and the background stories are important. That said I was able to get through the book fine but did have a difficult time keeping up with who was who and their background. Despite me having a rough time keeping up the story line was very exciting and the mystery an plot kept me engaged throughout the story. I'm excited to go back and read though the rest of the books and be able to gain insight onto the characters.

“A Killing of Innocents,” by Deborah Crombie, William Morrow, 368 pages, Feb. 7, 2023.

London Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Doug Cullen are in a pub on a rainy November evening. Kincaid sees a woman and assumes by her clothes that she is a doctor.

Sasha Johnson, a trainee doctor, leaves the pub and hurries through the evening crowd in the historic Russell Square. Out of the darkness, someone jostles her. A moment later, Sasha stumbles, then collapses. She has been fatally stabbed.

Kincaid and Cullen are called to the scene. Kincaid immediately calls in his wife, Detective Gemma James, who has recently been assigned to a task force on knife crimes which are on the rise. Along with her partner, Detective Sergeant Melody Talbot, Gemma aids the investigation.

But Sasha Johnson doesn’t fit the profile of the task force’s typical knife crime victim. Single, successful, career-driven, she has no history of abusive relationships or any connection to illegal drugs or gangs. Tully Gibbs, a potter, was her flatmate. Sasha was to meet Tully’s brother, Jonathan, at the pub, but he didn’t show. Sasha’s brother, Tyler, works for Jonathan.

This is book 19 in the series. Deborah Crombie’s books are richly layered and character-driven. I like how the main characters and their family have changed over the books. This also has a complex plot with enough twists to keep readers engaged. This is one of my favorite series.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

The long-running Duncan Kincaid /Gemma James series is often characterized as a cozy series. I think this is wrong and does a disservice to those who only want to read cozies, or those who avoid cozies like a burnt chocolate chip cookie.
The cozy label is totally understandable as applied to Duncan/Gemma inviting private life. Their world is full of love, warmth and sometimes total mayhem with their young family. Their friends and co-workers add another dimension to their enviable life.
Then come the murders. Which aren’t cozy. The means of the murders, the victims, the motive and sometimes even the settings are dark and disturbing. Not slasher dark, but just dark.
The choice of victims is usually surprising, seemingly not a high risk at all. In A Killing of Innocents a young trainee doctor is stabbed to death amidst a London commuter crowd on a chilly rainy night. At first this seems like a random, senseless murder of a lovely young woman, but Duncan and his squad soon find out differently.
For domestic reason Kincaid’s wife has just switched to a task job investigating stabbings. Mostly a job leaving Gemma and her sergeant, Melody Talbot stuck at their desks, so Kincaid is relieved to be able to call his wife for their assistance. It’s a rare occasion they are able to work together anymore; a waste of resource as they were a terrific team.
Ms. Crombie’s books are compelling for many reasons; the intricacies of the overall plotting, the warmth of the characters, or tiny details such as the private moment between the medical examiner and his patient.
The mini-cliffhangers at the end of each chapter and the switch to another POV were aggravating and unnecessary. Readers are going to continue without the teaser.
There are a few 'Oh well, I got that one wrong' moments. I am always happy to still be surprised by this long-running series. Freshness is hard to maintain, but Crombie succeeds admirably with A Killing of Innocents, . actually in all of her books. Number 20 in the series is is eagerly awaited.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow & Company for an Advanced Readers Copy.
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Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid, DI Jasmine Sidana, and DS Doug Cullen are on the trail of an unidentified assailant who stabbed twenty-eight-year-old Sasha Johnson, a talented and dedicated trainee doctor. Kincaid and his team interview Sasha's family, colleagues, and friends. Even after following up all of the available leads, the investigators are unable to identify the person who took her life. When the murderer strikes again, the investigators are at a loss. Who had the motive, means, and opportunity to commit these crimes?

"A Killing of Innocents," by Deborah Crombie, is a hard-hitting portrayal of the work of busy homicide detectives who work long hours on high-profile cases, while trying to keep members of the public calm and the media at bay. Duncan and his officers do their best to empathize with distraught relatives who want quick results, and attempt to balance their responsibilities at home with their time-consuming jobs. DI Gemma James, Duncan's wife—who has a boring assignment that makes her long to be back in the field—is eager to help Duncan with this challenging case.

The author juggles her large cast of colorful characters skillfully, and readers will enjoy the lively interplay between Kincaid and his subordinates. Crombie's dialogue, prose, and plot are involving, and the mystery is baffling, thanks to italicized flashbacks presented out of context and a glut of red herrings. When we finally discover whodunit and why, the solution requires a substantial suspension of disbelief. Still, this is a engrossing novel that fans of Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James will not want to miss.

I am so excited to see a new book in this series by Deborah Crombie. Killing of Innocents fulfilled my wish and lived up to my expectations. I couldn't put it down and I didn't even guess who the murderer was. I hope that Crombie will continue soon with another story about these wonderful detectives.