From the TBR Pile: Blog Tour: Review of A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie

Author: Deborah Crombie

Publisher: William Morrow

Date of publication: October 2019

Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his wife, Detective Inspector Gemma James, have been invited for a relaxing weekend in the Cotswolds, one of Britain’s most enchanting regions, famous for its rolling hills, golden cottages, and picturesque villages.

Duncan, Gemma, and their children are guests at Beck House, the family estate of Melody Talbot, Gemma’s detective sergeant. The Talbot family is wealthy, prominent, and powerful—Melody’s father is the publisher of one of London’s largest and most influential newspapers. The centerpiece of this glorious fall getaway is a posh charity harvest luncheon catered by up-and-coming chef Viv Holland. After fifteen years in London’s cut-throat food scene, Viv has returned to the Gloucestershire valleys of her childhood and quickly made a name for herself with her innovative meals based on traditional cuisine but using fresh local ingredients. Attended by the local well-to-do as well as national press food bloggers and restaurant critics, the event could make Viv a star.

But a tragic car accident and a series of mysterious deaths rock the estate and pull Duncan and Gemma into the investigation. It soon becomes clear that the killer has a connection with Viv’s pub—or, perhaps, with Beck House itself.

Does the truth lie in the past? Or is it closer to home, tied up in the tangled relationships and bitter resentments between the staff at Beck House and Viv’s new pub? Or is it more personal, entwined with secrets hidden by Viv and those closest to her?

A Bitter Feast is the 18th book in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series. It's only the second one that I have read. Taken as a police procedural, I did really enjoy the mystery. There were a number of suspects, so it was hard to figure out who the culprit was. Through flashbacks, we learn a little about the victim and why he was in town. I also enjoyed the working dynamic between Gemma and Duncan.

Since, I have only read the first book in the series, I did feel like I was missing out on a lot of relationship back story. In the first book, Gemma and Duncan are only partners and not even romantically involved. There were also a lot of references to earlier cases of which I didn't understand the context. However, I didn't find any of this took away from my enjoyment of the mystery. In fact, I want to go back and read the earlier books to see how Duncan and Gemma got to this point in their relationships and careers.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Deborah Crombie

Deborah Crombie is a New York Times bestselling author and a native Texan who has lived in both England and Scotland. She now lives in McKinney, Texas, sharing a house that is more than one hundred years old with her husband, three cats, and two German shepherds.

Find out more about Deborah at website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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