Thursday, August 6, 2009

Necessary as Blood-Deborah Crombie

Necessary as Blood
Deborah Crombie
Morrow, Oct 6 2009, $24.99
ISBN: 9780061287534

Scotland Yard detectives Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid are getting married shortly. However just getting to the altar has stressed out both as peers and family list their demands that seem to grow every day

Someone murders solicitor Naz Malik, who had been a suspect in his wife textile collage artist Sandra Gilles’s disappearance. The autopsy revealed that the victim, who died from suffocation, had an animal tranquilizer in his blood, which made him an easy target for his killer. When Gemma’s mother becomes ill, she struggles to balance her homicide investigation, her wedding plans and h4er mom’s needs while she fears Malik’s daughter will end up with Sandra's insalubrious family.

The latest James-Kincaid British police procedural is an interesting entry as the romance for the first time supersedes the investigation. Both Gemma and Duncan consider running off to Gretna Green as nothing seems to go right with their wedding plans and the demands grow. The homicide is a welcome relief until her mom becomes ill. NECESSARY AS BLOOD is a fine fresh entry, but with the romance being prime, diehard investigative fans will find the smooching spin too sugary for their taste.

Harriet Klausner

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