No Mark Upon Her (Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James, #14) by Deborah Crombie

Mar 17, 2013 Jan rated it 5 of 5 stars

A friend order this book for me from Amazon, and it was a lovely surprise.

First off, I was so amazed that a Texan could write, as if she were a Native, and so well about Leander and Henley. Well done Ms. Crombie. You are a smashing story teller. Two of my family members worked at Leander, so I am familiar with the club and also the local area, and of course Sonning on the Thames. The authors detailed description of Leander and the area is brilliant in itself. She transported me right back there...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Jan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This mystery abounds with complications and reversals. With a spooky opening, difficult politics within Scotland Yard, and a killer apparently intent on striking again, it is a relentless page-turner.

As ever with Crombie's work, even the secondary characters are lively and 3-D, the twists and their solutions feel natural (no "plot-pretzels" to make it work, as we sometimes see with other authors), and the thrilling ending kept me guessing all the way.

Kincaid and James, now married, continue th...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first chapter starts out strong. Becca Meredith takes out a shell for a training session of sculling. New to the sport, I became a quick study but the book provides enough detail to understand the sport and the importance of certain boats, clubs, and backdoor entries to the Olympics. The disappointing part of the first chapter is that Becca senses something ominous and dies. Just when I was starting to like her.

The next few chapters provide a lot of background story for the characters. For t...more The first chapter starts out strong. Becca Meredith takes out a shell for a training session of sculling. New to the sport, I became a quick study but the book provides enough detail to understand the sport and the importance of certain boats, clubs, and backdoor entries to the Olympics. The disappointing part of the first chapter is that Becca senses something ominous and dies. Just when I was starting to like her.

The next few chapters provide a lot of background story for the characters. For those who have been reading this series, it would be (and from indications from other reviews, is) endearing as the readers catch up on the secondary story of Gemma and Kincaid's domestic life with a blended family. To a new reader, this is extraneous in some ways and validating in others. Extraneous in that I don't know these characters and I don't care about them. On the other hand, validating in that there is an element of reality that I can't ignore. The lines between work and home are never clear and the truth of the matter is that when couples have children - blended family or nuclear from the same parents, there is a certain amount of juggling and negotiating to keep a comfortable life fit. I might have been irritated by the extraneous information and somewhat confused by the introduction of all the characters but I couldn't help but admire an author that acknowledges this integral part of a person/family. I can definitely relate.

As far as the mystery is concerned, the story is well crafted and includes a number of red herrings. Step by meticulous step, the detective work is provided that rules out some suspects and opens others for further examination. I did not guess the actual culprit nor did I guess the motivation for the murder. It's a well written murder mystery with a realistic asterisk of juggling responsibilities while giving the reader a crash course on a sport I knew nothing about. But my interest is piqued.

One small spoiler; although the dangling threads are all tied up very nicely, the ending indicates that the story of Gemma and Kincaid will continue. Next time with Gemma on point.(less)

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Feb 13, 2013 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Becca Meredith was an avid rower and a one-time Olympic hopeful. Some say she'd still have a shot today if she set her mind to it. It's something she'd been considering, but it would mean leaving her detective position with the Metropolitan Police Service. When her body is discovered floating in the river, just a short way from her boat, no one believes it's an accident. But who would want her dead? She and her ex husband seemed to be on good standing and there are no other obvious suspects. Dun...more Becca Meredith was an avid rower and a one-time Olympic hopeful. Some say she'd still have a shot today if she set her mind to it. It's something she'd been considering, but it would mean leaving her detective position with the Metropolitan Police Service. When her body is discovered floating in the river, just a short way from her boat, no one believes it's an accident. But who would want her dead? She and her ex husband seemed to be on good standing and there are no other obvious suspects. Duncan Kincaid is called in to investigate and as he delves deeper into the detective's life, he discovers she's been hiding things from those closest to her. Then a member of the search and rescue team that found her is attacked as well. Meanwhile, Gemma begins her own investigation -- one that may lead to the prime suspect in Becca's murder.

I had a harder time jumping into this series than I have with others of late. Which is not to say that it's a bad starting point, but that I was very conscious of the fact that I was missing a massive amount of backstory. Every detail pertaining to Charlotte, for example. Also, Gemma's and Duncan's histories with Doug and Melody (and Doug and Melody's relationship as well). That aside, I was impressed by the amount of focus on the characters in Crombie's latest. Sometimes in mysteries you find series that feature great plots and transparent characters or fabulous characters and thin plots, not so with Crombie judging by NO MARK UPON HER.

The story itself is very well built and I loved the pacing. It's a bit on the slow side but I honestly enjoy that when a book is as good as this one. The rowing aspect was interesting -- it's kind of akin to a foreign world for me. Rowing is not a sport that's common where I'm from or where I live (we're more likely to canoe back home and we're pretty landlocked now, sadly). It brought to mind Laura Lippman's Tess Monaghan series since Tess is also a rower. That was pretty much my introduction to the sport but Lippman doesn't go into quite the detail that Crombie does here.

I'm generally a fan of darker mysteries and thrillers, and I really like that Crombie's style, like Louise Penny (who's blurbed on the cover), is a little on the dark side. I think she's quite balanced in style, actually, bridging the gap between lighter cozies and truly darker series, thereby able to appeal to fans of both styles.

I'm a bit puzzled as to how I've managed to go this long without reading one of Crombie's books! As an avid mystery reader, my only guess is that I'd been apprehensive of tackling yet another series -- those mystery writers are long winded with their series! I kid, I rather enjoy getting to know a character that well. I've no doubt long time fans of Crombie's series are very attached to Gemma and Duncan. Fortunately, just as NO MARK UPON HER has hit shelves in paperback, the latest addition to the series is hitting shelves in hardcover: THE SOUND OF BROKEN GLASS will be released on Feb 19.(less)

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Nov 22, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

When a female former Olympic hopeful dies while sculling, the death is first thought an accident. Of course, it isn't. It's murder. So our Scotland Yard detective Duncan Kincaid has to figure out how and then why before he can finger the killer. And he has to deal with his boss's instructions that seem to hinder his investigation. Someone high up wants the sculler's ex-husband blamed, but Duncan's a straight arrow. He'll find out the truth regardless.

The story goes into too much of Duncan and hi...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Matt Schiariti rated it 5 of 5 stars

You would be hard pressed to find an author who can create such a tightly plotted and richly detailed mystery than Deb Crombie. No Mark Upon Her is another hit by this fantastic author showing that she's still got plenty of ideas left in her bag of tricks for Duncan, Gemma and company as well as the skills to pull them off.

Each one of her novels holds a different flavor. This time she combines her well thought out and well told police procedures along with K9 rescue teams and the cherished herit...more You would be hard pressed to find an author who can create such a tightly plotted and richly detailed mystery than Deb Crombie. No Mark Upon Her is another hit by this fantastic author showing that she's still got plenty of ideas left in her bag of tricks for Duncan, Gemma and company as well as the skills to pull them off.

Each one of her novels holds a different flavor. This time she combines her well thought out and well told police procedures along with K9 rescue teams and the cherished heritage of the sport of rowing. When Becca Meredith, a one time olympic hopeful rower and senior officer at the MET, is found drown in her boat on the banks of the Thames its up to Duncan to find out who the murdered is and why she was killed. What follows is a finely spun and intricately detailed mystery with many twists and turns, suspects and subplots.

Crombie is a MASTER at dropping clues every so often that make total sense in the end without giving away the culprit. No detail is insignificant in a Crombie novel.

Crombie is also a master of fleshing out and giving life to the supporting characters. From the victim to her ex husband to the K9 unit that perform the search and rescue, everyone has their back story and everyone is interesting and fun to read. The usual supporting cast are back as always from Doug Cullen who has his own life changing events going on during the telling as well as Melody Talbot who has found herself missing working for Gemma while she's been out on family leave.

Another staple of these novels is the juggling act that Duncan and Gemma have to perform in order to balance their hectic work schedules along with maintaining a semblance of normalcy with their unorthodox family. At the time this story is told, they're in custody of Charlotte, the little three year old they took under their care from the previous novel and Gemma is home on leave that is nearing its end while Duncan is still working. The case complicates matters because Duncan is fighting the case, his schedule and the higher ups at the yard to get it done quickly and quietly while knowing his life is due to change when he is set to take leave from work while Gemma goes back until Charlotte is old enough for pre school. It's the human element, the realism of this type of situation that adds the personal dynamic to all of Crombie's characters and novels. These characters are more than just their jobs. They have lives outside of work and nothing is simple for them (as it is for us all in real life) so there's a vast amount of empathy.

I really can't say enough good things about this novel or the series and author as a whole. Her plots, her characters, the way she changes the feel of each and every novel and researches to the point where she can make the reader understand any new subject her story revolves around...well, needless to say she's a favorite for a reason. When an author can write this many novels featuring the same core cast and make you want the next one as soon as you turn that last page, they've got you hooked.

If you're reading this and you haven't read any of this series before, I highly encourage you to start at the beginning (A Share in Death) and enjoy the ride. I envy people that haven't read the series yet because they're in for a treat! (less)

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Oct 28, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

No Mark upon Her marks the beginning of yet another new mystery series for me. I was unfamiliar with Deborah Crombie, but she has apparently written a whole shelf full of novels featuring two interesting detectives, Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. The newly-married couple are both police officers (Gemma is a Detective Inspector and Duncan is a Superintendent with Scotland Yard) and they are drawn into a case involving an Olympic hopeful, a disabled veteran, and a decades-old secret.

I admit that...more No Mark upon Her marks the beginning of yet another new mystery series for me. I was unfamiliar with Deborah Crombie, but she has apparently written a whole shelf full of novels featuring two interesting detectives, Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. The newly-married couple are both police officers (Gemma is a Detective Inspector and Duncan is a Superintendent with Scotland Yard) and they are drawn into a case involving an Olympic hopeful, a disabled veteran, and a decades-old secret.

I admit that I don’t know much about the sport of rowing, so there as a lot here that was new to me. Like any sport, it has its icons and legends, and the Leander Rowing Club certainly has a reputation. Rebecca Meredith was a member, a former college rowing standout who was considering a final run at the Olympics. She was also a high-ranking police detective, which makes the case a particularly sticky issue. To make matters worse, Meredith had been involved in a delicate personnel issue…and that may have led to her untimely death.

This is really a terrific mystery. Don’t worry if you don’t know anything about rowing — I don’t, and it didn’t hinder me in the least. It’s the story of any world-class athlete’s determination and dedication to their sport and the camaraderie that grows up between competitors. In rowing, there seems to be more mixing of male and female competitors than in some other sports, which only adds to the drama.

I think my favorite character was Kieran Connolly, a disabled veteran who lives in a boat shed, building and repairing boats for rowers and trying to recover from the damage that his time in combat has done. He’s part of the search and rescue team that is called out to try and find Meredith, and he may have a more intimate connection to her, as well. You can’t help but ache for him, with all he has had to overcome.

The interaction between Gemma and Duncan is fun to read. It has to be a difficult situation: high-pressure jobs, the recent marriage, the blended family, but they seem to be making it work. There is obviously a lot of love and respect between them.

What I love most is that this story didn’t go exactly the way I thought it would go. I’ve read a lot of mysteries and I like to think I’m pretty good at anticipating where an author is headed, so it’s always refreshing when they can surprise me. Crombie dangles a lot of possibilities and makes you wonder where the journey will take you. I think it will be fun to check out some of the other James/Kincaid novels.(less)

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Jul 14, 2012 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars

This latest addition to the Gemma & Duncan Kinkead police procedural series is terrific. Set in the rowing town of Henley, Scotland Yard is first called in to investigate the death of a metropolitan policewoman who was also a championship rower. As Duncan investigates, it rapidly becomes clear that the woman was murdered, in part with her own rowing oar. She had been in training for the Olympic singles trials and had also brought charges against a police commissioner for rape. As a result, s...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Suspense Magazine rated it 4 of 5 stars

How nice to step into the world of Gemma and Duncan again! The reader is entering not only the world of the Metropolitan Police of London, but also the world of English sculling. And, along with the police department, the milieu of search dogs and their handlers.
Everything is set in motion when Becca, a Metropolitan Police officer who had a chance at the Olympics in single shell fourteen years ago, decides to stage a comeback and make another try. Her previous attempt at the games was aborted un...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Judy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the 14th book in the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series and, in truth, I think that it adds to the enjoyment of the series to read them in order because the heart of the books is the evolving relationship between Duncan and Gemma. In this novel, Rebecca Meredith's body is found in the Thames River after she went rowing by herself one night. Rebecca is a complex woman with many admirers and, unfortunately, many enemies. She is currently a detective with the Metropolitian Police and was...more

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May 17, 2012 Literary Feline rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have read a number of enjoyable mysteries of late, but this one . . . Oh, how I love thee, Deborah Crombie! Where have you been all my life and why haven't I read anything by you before? No Mark Upon Her is the 14th book in the series, I believe, but my first one by the author. It didn't matter that I didn't know the history of the characters (although, I am infinitely curious now and must know all!). The author offers enough background story to give the reader a good feel for the characters a...more I have read a number of enjoyable mysteries of late, but this one . . . Oh, how I love thee, Deborah Crombie! Where have you been all my life and why haven't I read anything by you before? No Mark Upon Her is the 14th book in the series, I believe, but my first one by the author. It didn't matter that I didn't know the history of the characters (although, I am infinitely curious now and must know all!). The author offers enough background story to give the reader a good feel for the characters and their situations while at the same time not introducing irrelevant information.

What is the book about, you ask? A detective who is a skilled rower is found dead on the Thames. Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid is called back from vacation to investigate the matter. It's a particularly sensitive case, one in which people in high placed hope it will get resolved quickly, even if that means swept under the carpet. Duncan Kincaid, however, is not the kind of man to take the easy way out. He wants to find justice for the victim even if it means his job. His wife, a detective herself, helps on the sidelines while juggling the care of their three children.

Rowing isn't a particularly favorite sport of mine--I have nothing against it, mind you, just very little exposure to it--but I am not one to let something like that stand in my way of reading a book. I like learning about new things. That's part of what reading is all about, right?

I liked the way Crombie weaved the characters' personal stories in with the murder investigation. Seeing them at home, so to speak, made them all the more relatable. There was just enough of their personal life to give the reader a good idea of what kind of people the characters are and to understand their way of thinking.

I was quite taken with Duncan Kincaid. He is intelligent and open minded. He is also a good father. I especially liked how much he respects and loves his wife. Gemma James is just as strong a character as her husband, and I could appreciate her inner conflict--looking forward to getting back to work but at the same time not wanting to leave the children.

Two characters I wish I could get to know better but doubt I will see in future books are the K-9 rescue team, Keiran and Tavie and their dogs. Both seem like formidable people and it was impossible for me not to fall in love with a couple of rescue dogs. Keiran in particular won me over. He was a sad sort of character, dealing with a broken heart as well as quite a few health problems due to injuries incurred in war.

As for the investigation, the detectives did not have a lot to go on, and with pressures from above, they were faced with even more challenges. While I am not sure "sitting on the edge of my seat" is an apt description of the pacing of the book, I certainly had a hard time putting it down and couldn't wait to get back to it. The weekend everyone in the house was sick and I'd left the book at work was torture. I kept thinking of Becca and wondering what had happened to her.

No Mark Upon Her has it all: characters who get under your skin, an idyllic English setting, betrayal, ethical issues, family, suspense, and an itch to read more. Deborah Crombie has won me over with this one novel and is sure to become among my favorite mystery authors.(less)

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May 10, 2012 Kathleen Hagen added it · review of another edition

No Mark Upon Her, by Deborah Crombie, A. Narrated by Gerard Doyle, Produced by Harper Audio, downloaded from audible.com.

This is the 14th in the Duncan Kincaid Gemma James series. It’s the first one to be narrated by a male narrator. This to me has an interesting effect. Most of the earlier ones were narrated by Jenny Sterling, and I felt were particularly tuned in to Gemma James. This one, with Doyle narrating, seemed more tuned in, at least so far as the narration went, to Duncan. I thought th...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Wyma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-4-and-5-star

This is a series I'm moving through backward, which is quite rewarding. I know what happens to the main characters and now I get to find out why and how. Crombie creates attractive characters. They lead busy lives, are reflective, make mistakes, learn, grow, break up and come together. They are family.

The setting for the murder is rowing and in England, particularly at Leander, it is serious business. Rowing that is. Sculls are described in detail and made to seem desirable. Rowers are a tightly...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although this is the 14th in the Kincaid/James police procedural series by this author, I had not read any of the previous books. The author does a nice job of providing background on the series, as well as on setting her stories in Britain (in spite of being an American), with the married protagonists both having jobs in Scotland Yard.

Duncan Kincaid, a Detective Superintendent, and Detective Inspector Gemma James are married, and trying to juggle the responsibilities of their jobs with raising...more Although this is the 14th in the Kincaid/James police procedural series by this author, I had not read any of the previous books. The author does a nice job of providing background on the series, as well as on setting her stories in Britain (in spite of being an American), with the married protagonists both having jobs in Scotland Yard.

Duncan Kincaid, a Detective Superintendent, and Detective Inspector Gemma James are married, and trying to juggle the responsibilities of their jobs with raising two young children (each had a son from a previous relationship) along with an adopted third child. Fortunately they have a good support system, and in between story times and quick dinners and birthday parties, they are both investigating the death of a young woman rower whose body washed up on the Thames. The woman, Becca Meredith, was not only a rower of Olympic caliber, but was a police detective with the Met herself. This calls for a lot of political finesse, and Kincaid chafes at the implications of a cover-up.

The police are aided in their efforts by a search-and-rescue team which includes highly trained dogs. The author spends almost as much time on the characterization of the loveable Finn (a lab) and Tosh (a German shephard) as on the human characters. Finn, in fact, could justifiably be named a major protagonist.

As the investigation heats up, the red herrings come hot and heavy, and the suspense picks up as well. The ending, concerning the side characters, was so charming I found myself hoping to see more of them as well as the detectives in future books.

Evaluation: Not having read any of the preceding books in the series won’t hurt you a bit, except in the sense of triggering feelings of obsessive/compulsive regret that you didn’t start at the beginning. The characters are charming, and while the mystery isn’t all that much of an enigma, it doesn’t really feel like the main point of the book. Rather, it seemed, we were there to spend more time with people we like.

Rating: 3.5/5
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Mar 13, 2012 Mysterytribune rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-tribune-must-reads

Deborah Crombie is a familiar name among fans of police procedural novels. A native of Texas, she lived in England for several years and the Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James mystery series is a result of her British life experience. As a three-time Macavity Award winner and an Edgar Award nominee, her novels have got attention by New York Times and LA Time and one of her books "Dreaming of the Bones" was included by Independent Mystery Booksellers Association in the list of the 100 Best Crime Novels...more Deborah Crombie is a familiar name among fans of police procedural novels. A native of Texas, she lived in England for several years and the Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James mystery series is a result of her British life experience. As a three-time Macavity Award winner and an Edgar Award nominee, her novels have got attention by New York Times and LA Time and one of her books "Dreaming of the Bones" was included by Independent Mystery Booksellers Association in the list of the 100 Best Crime Novels of the Century. No Mark upon Her is her latest work and the 14th book in the Kincaid/James series.

A Brief Summary:

A K9 search-and-rescue team discovers the body an Olympics contender and high-ranking detective with Met in the river. At first, the case seems like an accident which can happen to any rower, however Scotland Yard superintendent Duncan Kincaid soon finds himself heading an investigation filled with surprises and complications.

The victim, Rebecca Meredith, was a talented but difficult woman with many admirers—and just as many enemies. The investigation team is confused with the political and ethical issues related to the victim's career life and the romantic encounters in her personal life: There is no shortage of suspects and the case can go to any direction.

When someone tries to kill the search-and-rescue team member who found Rebecca's body and apparently was also her ex-lover, the case becomes even more complex and, involving powerful interests with tentacles that reach deep into the heart of the Met itself.

Pressured to find answers quickly while protecting the Yard at all costs, Kincaid's career and reputation is on the line, so he joins forces with his wife to catch the killer before more innocent lives are lost—including their own.

Our Take:

Crombie's novels, including this one, enjoy very intricate and believable plots. Like many other modern police procedural novels, there is a secondary story which moves in parallel with the main case. The list of suspects keep the reader guessing, though with a bit of attention, the identity of the real killer can be predicted early in the story. The elaborate research behind the story covering the rowing and investigative processes has given the story much more depth and made the characters "real".

The common thread among several of the characters is the passion for rowing. Each chapter starts with a quote which echoes importance of race and winning among rowers and the distance they are willing to go. This provides a great platform for Crombie to tell her tale. Overall, this is a great read on many layers and we recommend it to all our readers.

More at http://www.mysterytribune.com or @mysterytribune(less)

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Mar 12, 2012 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was surprised to discover that Deborah Crombie, author of No Mark Upon Her, the 14th in her Duncan Kinkaid/Gemma James Scotland Yard detective series, lives in Texas. This is the first of her books I have read, I would have bet my bottom dollar that the author was as British as Queen Elizabeth and scones with clotted cream. I would have lost that bet.

How could any author who peppers her novel with such phrases as "taking the mickey" out of someone, which means to tease, and "dab hand in the ki...more I was surprised to discover that Deborah Crombie, author of No Mark Upon Her, the 14th in her Duncan Kinkaid/Gemma James Scotland Yard detective series, lives in Texas. This is the first of her books I have read, I would have bet my bottom dollar that the author was as British as Queen Elizabeth and scones with clotted cream. I would have lost that bet.

How could any author who peppers her novel with such phrases as "taking the mickey" out of someone, which means to tease, and "dab hand in the kitchen", meaning someone who knows her way around the kitchen, not be British? I enjoy learning new words and phrases, and I got a lot of new vocabulary from this book. (Maybe they'll use some of the words in the next season of Downton Abbey.)

I do have to admit being a little lost in the beginning of this book. A female police detective is found dead after she goes out rowing one evening. Becca Meredith is secretly training for the upcoming Olympics, and it was unlikely that she accidentally drowned.

I know nothing about rowing, and it would helped immensely to have been somewhat familiar with the sport, as many of the characters, including police detectives, were. It also would have helped to have read some of the other books in the series, as there is a lot of backstory and relationships among characters that I didn't know about.

That being said, I'm glad I stuck with the book. There are a lot of characters here, and after awhile I was able to sort them all out and enjoy the author's ride. I like Duncan and Gemma and their patchwork family: Kit (Duncan's son), Toby (Gemma's son) and Charlotte (their foster child). They are newly married, and their efforts to work out the logistics of marriage, family, child care and work issues rang true to me.

Becca's death peels back some unsavory layers, like an onion. Her ex-husband had some shady financial dealings and would profit from her death via an insurance policy. Becca was secretly dating an Iraq war vet who worked on boats at the rowing club she belonged to. Was the women's crew coach upset because Becca could possibly take the spot of one of his rowers on the Olympic team? And what about the deputy police commissioner whom Becca accused of rape last year? Someone Becca arrested? The list of suspects is lengthy.

Duncan Kincaid is an ethical man, and he puts his all into finding out who murdered Becca. Although his wife Gemma is still on family leave, she and her colleague Melody uncover some evidence that help point Duncan's investigation in a dangerous direction.

With the plethora of suspects, the author successfully keeps the identity of the killer, as well as the motive under wraps until the end. I admire Crombie's skill as a mystery writer, as I dislike being able to guess the killer halfway through the story. She kept me interested in the mystery and the story of Duncan and Gemma and their lovely family.

My favorite character though was Kieran, the Iraq war vet and rescue searcher. He seemed like a lost soul, but his relationship with his dog, and with Tavie, another rescue searcher, was touching. It's obvious that the author had a special affinity for this quiet hero.

I will keep my eye out for more of Crombie's Kincaid/James series, especially when I'm in the mood for a little Brit lit mystery.
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Mar 09, 2012 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Duncan Kincaid Superintendent at Scotland Yard and his now thrice married wife Detective Inspector Gemma James have sustained many changes lately personal as well as professional. Along with his son Kit and her son Toby they’ve recently taken a foster daughter Charlotte whom they hope soon to adopt, but she needs special care because of the circumstance of her becoming orphaned so Gemma and Duncan agree to each take family leave to care for her, Gemma’s is just about over and Duncan’s is just ab...more Duncan Kincaid Superintendent at Scotland Yard and his now thrice married wife Detective Inspector Gemma James have sustained many changes lately personal as well as professional. Along with his son Kit and her son Toby they’ve recently taken a foster daughter Charlotte whom they hope soon to adopt, but she needs special care because of the circumstance of her becoming orphaned so Gemma and Duncan agree to each take family leave to care for her, Gemma’s is just about over and Duncan’s is just about to start when Duncan receives a summons by his boss to look into a female detective’s suspicious death while rowing. It seems unknown to most Becca Meredith has been training for the Olympics when one evening she goes out on the Thames not to return alive. Although there are suspects aplenty this complex and much disturbing now murder case is taking a direction that Duncan is very uncomfortable with and could have grave consequences for the Police department and always finding solace in her thoughts, goes to Gemma. Soon Gemma and Duncan along with their assistants Melody and Doug are going at the case from two directions and hoping to meet in the middle with the suspect in hand and no further harm done but that seems an impossible task at the moment and the presumed guilty party seems out of their reach and even worse there’s a chance that they have it all wrong.

Deborah Crombie is a brilliant Brit-Lit writer who amazingly makes her home right here in the good old US of A however her extensive research across the pond is invaluable and that is obvious when you open the pages and imagine yourself in London, or Notting Hill or any of the other wonderful places this author has taken me to in her Kincaid/James series which this is the 14th installment. Her dialogue is Queen’s English all the way and her narrative with her vivid descriptions will have you wiping the imaginary rain off your face and trying to see through the fog on the Thames as she spins her tale of murder, mystery and mayhem. Her characters, if you’ve read them from the beginning have evolved from single cops working as partners to partners in life, love and home and you as readers have the exclusive front row seating to have watched them mature first into the couple and finally the family they’ve become and the series has matured right with them with personal and professional concerns finding face right along side the serious crime fighting this duo does.
If this is your first taste of Deborah Crombie and her Kincaid/James series that’s fine it does well alone, but my suggestion is to go back to the beginning and find out how they got where they are now and who they’ve become along the way. If you like British crime fiction you’ll find this a little less bloody than most and more tasteful because of it.
If you’re looking for that perfect gift for that someone special on your list treat them to a murder.
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Mar 08, 2012 LJ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary_post_1945, england, female_author, mystery, police_procedural

First Sentence: A glance at the sky made her swear aloud.
Police Det. Chief Inspector Rebecca Meredith, also an Olympic rowing contender, has gone missing. When a K9 team locates her body, it is clear her rowing accident was no accident. Pressure in brought to bear on Det. Super. Duncan Kincaid to solve the case quickly and quietly but things are not as simple as they appear.
On a personal level, one thing I enjoyed about this particular book is the setting; it’s one of the few areas of England...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Luanne Ollivier rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I knew Deborah Crombie's name and was aware that she wrote a British based detective series, but she was an author I hadn't experienced - until I raced my way through her latest book - No Mark Upon Her. And I'm kicking myself - I truly wish I had picked her up earlier - I really, really enjoyed this book. It's the 14th book to feature her recurring characters Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, both who work for Scotland Yard.

I did feel slightly lost in the first few opening chapters as there are ma...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Michele Weiner rated it 3 of 5 stars

Spoiler alert This is a plot summary for my own information. Don't read it if you don't want to know how it ends.

Although this is supposed to be part of the Gemma series, it actually features her husband, Duncan Kincaid as the lead detective. The mystery revolves around the goings on at a very exclusive rowing club, Leander. The victim, Becca, her ex-husband and her current boyfriend are all rowers, a sport that is apparently pretty big in England, where being an Oxford Blue ensures a successful...more Spoiler alert This is a plot summary for my own information. Don't read it if you don't want to know how it ends.

Although this is supposed to be part of the Gemma series, it actually features her husband, Duncan Kincaid as the lead detective. The mystery revolves around the goings on at a very exclusive rowing club, Leander. The victim, Becca, her ex-husband and her current boyfriend are all rowers, a sport that is apparently pretty big in England, where being an Oxford Blue ensures a successful life. When Becca is murdered, her husband is immediately suspected, but Kincaid is not convinced. He discovers that Becca had been raped by a high police official, and had said nothing about it in order to protect her career as a detective. Kincaid sets his sights on the official, and with the help of Gemma and assistant Melody, uncovers a trail of policewomen who have reported rapes by unknown persons. DNA exists in five cases, and he needs just enough evidence to get a court order to test the police official. Before he can do that, the man kills his wife and himself and sets his home on fire. But wait a minute. If Angus the police honcho killed Becca, and then himself, who attacked Kieran the rescue team member and Becca's squeeze? Turns out that Becca's best friend, also a rower and a policewoman, had also been raped by Angus, became pregnant by him. Becca found out, and asked her to accuse him publicly. When she refused, Becca threatened to reveal that her husband Ross had poisoned Blue boat member, taken his place, and lost the big race for Oxford. Ross was hanging around his friend her former husband in order to find out what the police knew. He tried to kill Kieran with a fire bomb, but Kierans' rescue dog recognized his scent and pointed him out. Ross was killing everyone who could threaten his reputation and reveal that his youngest child was a product of rape.

Good discussion of politics of trying to protect the reputation of the police while solving a crime. Kincaid's wife is rewarded, the dead rapist is not publicly identified.(less)

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Feb 08, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, murder-mystery, supense-thriller-fiction

Looking for a great Scotland Yard mystery that will keep you guessing just who did it til the very end and keep you turning pages faster and faster until you finally know who did it? Then look no further. In her latest book, No Mark Upon Her, Deborah Crombie takes her readers in depth into a rowing missing persons crime initially which will later prove that a murder has taken place. One by one the pieces of the puzzle seem to fit seamlessly together until you realize that not all pieces that fit...more Looking for a great Scotland Yard mystery that will keep you guessing just who did it til the very end and keep you turning pages faster and faster until you finally know who did it? Then look no further. In her latest book, No Mark Upon Her, Deborah Crombie takes her readers in depth into a rowing missing persons crime initially which will later prove that a murder has taken place. One by one the pieces of the puzzle seem to fit seamlessly together until you realize that not all pieces that fit together form the perfect picture and you have it all wrong.

I thought I had this one down pat until about 7/8ths of the way through the book and realized that I had been going on a wild goose chase and not everything was adding up the way it should have been. I guess in my opinion that's what makes for an excellent murder mystery is if the author can keep the identity hidden til the very end. Masterfully done and this is my first book review for Deborah Crombie but definitely will not be my last. Love her characters, dialogue and her writing style. A perfect blend in my opinion and well rated at 5 out of 5 stars. I received this book compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review.

Book Synopsis:

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.(less)

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Dec 18, 2011 Pamela rated it 5 of 5 stars

In Deborah Crombie’s 14th outing, Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid of Scotland Yard's Murder Investigation Team is called to a scene when it is determined that the dead woman is a senior member of the Metropolitan Police department’s West London's Major Crimes unit and an accomplished rower and aspiring Olympiad. It soon becomes evident that Becca Meredith had been killed. But why? And how?

Crombie takes her time in spinning this story. If you are looking for a fast-pace story, look elsew...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Gloria Feit rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the opening pages of Deborah Crombie’s 14th novel, DCI Rebecca [“Becca”] Meredith, an Olympic contender and a senior officer in West London’s Major Crimes unit, is found dead in the waters of the Thames near her home in the town of Henley, 35 miles from London. The events that follow take place, amazingly, over a period of about a week. I say ’amazingly’ because so much happens, in a terrifically plotted novel. The case falls to Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid, of Scotland Yard’s Murd...more In the opening pages of Deborah Crombie’s 14th novel, DCI Rebecca [“Becca”] Meredith, an Olympic contender and a senior officer in West London’s Major Crimes unit, is found dead in the waters of the Thames near her home in the town of Henley, 35 miles from London. The events that follow take place, amazingly, over a period of about a week. I say ’amazingly’ because so much happens, in a terrifically plotted novel. The case falls to Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid, of Scotland Yard’s Murder Investigation Team, with some aspects of it falling to his bride, Gemma James, DI with the Notting Hill Police.

The book is filled with wonderfully drawn characters, including not only both the protagonists but also Kincaid’s partner, Sgt. Doug Cullen, about to become a first-time homeowner and nervous at the prospect; Gemma’s colleague, Melody Talbot; Becca’s ex-husband, Freddy; Kiernan Connolly and Tavie Larssen, members of the SAR [Search and Rescue], or K-9, team as well as its four-legged members, Finn, a Labrador retriever and Tosh, a German shepherd, every bit a part of the plot as are their human partners.

The common thread among several of the characters is a love of – in fact, a passion for – rowing or, to be more specific, sculling, a very specific skill employing the use of sleek racing shells, apparently a world of its own. Just how much so is made very clear through the author’s use of quotes, preceding the start of most chapters, from various publications on the subject, as well as Ms. Crombie’s own prose in the early pages, describing the victim shortly before she is killed: “she sat backwards on a sliver of carbon fiber narrower than her body, inches above the water, and that only her skill and determination kept her fragile craft from the river’s dark grasp.”

The James/Kincaid family dynamic of ‘his’ [Kit], ‘hers’ [Toby - - their respective 14-year-old sons], and ‘theirs’ [Charlotte, the mixed-race 3-year-old foster child they are planning to formally adopt], is a constantly active one that makes the protags’ personal lives every bit as engaging as their professional ones.

The author comments “Things were always so much more complicated than they appeared on the surface,” and employs mini-cliffhangers throughout, maximizing the suspense, as well as some shocking revelations, producing several OMG moments. But I’ll leave those discoveries to the readers of this highly-recommended novel.
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Jul 12, 2012 Mary Gilligan-Nolan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I hope Ms. Crombie is writing a new book (I think she is), because, this is the last in the Kincaid/James series and I was sad to come to the end. The books just got better as the series progressed, fresh stories and plots and a great continuity of the personal lives of the main characters. I loved also how some characters were introduced in earlier books and also continued through the thread of the series. Duncan and Gemmas family has grown again and Gemma is finishing a stint of parental leave...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Victoria rated it 4 of 5 stars

In No Mark Upon Her, Crombie explores the worlds of competitive rowing and canine search and rescue. I love Crombie's writing and she just keeps getting better, so I plunged in even though these subjects didn't float my boat, so to speak. It wasn't long before I was hooked. The mystery is compelling and wraps up with some nice twists. The book continues the arc of Gemma and Duncan's personal life, after they take in three-year old Charlotte, who was orphaned in Crombie's previous book, Necessary...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars

No Mark Upon Her is a clever mystery, with enough plot twists to keep the mystery until the very end. The victim, Rebecca Meredith, is a complex character with several skeletons in her closet. From an ex-husband to a war veteran suffering from PTSD to an entire rowing club of competitive rivals, the detectives have to search for a killer from a wide variety of angles. Add in the fact that Rebecca Meredith is now a dead police detective and the list of suspects seems nearly endless.

No Mark Upon H...more No Mark Upon Her is a clever mystery, with enough plot twists to keep the mystery until the very end. The victim, Rebecca Meredith, is a complex character with several skeletons in her closet. From an ex-husband to a war veteran suffering from PTSD to an entire rowing club of competitive rivals, the detectives have to search for a killer from a wide variety of angles. Add in the fact that Rebecca Meredith is now a dead police detective and the list of suspects seems nearly endless.

No Mark Upon Her is the 14th book in a long-running crime detective series by Deborah Crombie. However, if you are new to the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James crime series, this might not be the best novel in the series for jumping into the storyline. No Mark Upon Her begins with a wedding that is overshadowed by racism but, to an uninitiated reader, it is not entirely clear why all of this is happening. Attempts are made to provide new readers with a cursory backstory, but the domestic issues surrounding the lead detectives remain a bit perplexing throughout the novel. The thin backstory can be forgiven since this is the 14th book in the series, however. Author Deborah Crombie is a master at building complex characters, so by the time Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James arrive on the scene in the 14th book, their lives should understandably be complicated.

No Mark Upon Her is an engrossing crime novel, but it shines because of the impeccable details throughout. Author Deborah Crombie fully immerses the reader into the aggressively beautiful world of competitive rowing. The training and care of search and rescue dogs are also an important part of this novel. And for readers who love all things British, this novel is the perfect book for curling up with a cup of Earl Grey tea on a rainy afternoon.

Interestingly, although this novel is decidedly British, author Deborah Crombie is actually an American who was born in Texas! She has lived in England and Scotland, however she currently lives near Dallas, Texas. This bit of information is rather surprising, given that No Mark Upon Her was filled with many cups of tea, British slang and a murder on the Thames. Crombie does an excellent job placing the reader right in the heart of rainy England.

Disclosure: I received this book complimentary from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review however the opinions in this review are solely my own. (less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Terri Lynn rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, mystery-suspense-thrillers

It's hard to say why but this book just didn't resonate with me. I found it hard to care about the story and the murdered Olympic hopeful. Also, the family situation with Gemma's family, her and Duncan's home life, and with his cousin Jack and Jack's wife Winnie sort of grated on my nerves. Gemma is now married to Duncan but had to go through 3 weddings to satisfy everyone which was stupid beyond belief. Apparently they must take in every stray cat, dog or kid they encounter. The newest is 2 yea...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: All mystery lovers

Every time I read one of these books it is as though I am reunited with family...Gemma, Duncan, Kit, Toby and now sweet Charlotte.

It's English, there are lots of pubs and gardens and tea and there is a fascinating complex murder or two...to figure out.

I read everything that this author writes. Each book has been sheer bliss and joy for me. Gemma and Duncan have been in every book that I have read along with their ever evolving family.

Relationships, children, dogs ,cats, friends, colleagues......more Every time I read one of these books it is as though I am reunited with family...Gemma, Duncan, Kit, Toby and now sweet Charlotte.

It's English, there are lots of pubs and gardens and tea and there is a fascinating complex murder or two...to figure out.

I read everything that this author writes. Each book has been sheer bliss and joy for me. Gemma and Duncan have been in every book that I have read along with their ever evolving family.

Relationships, children, dogs ,cats, friends, colleagues...all of these are an integral part of each mystery. We learn more and more about their lives with each book. I love this part of each novel. There is always a trial or an event or a crisis that must be dealt with.

In the midst of what is happening within their families...there is always the event. The crime, the murder, the politics of this British...very British police force. The who did it part...the evil that these two detectives work with every day.

Duncan with his almost keen ability to solve each crime...and Gemma...they are consummate professionals.
Duncan is never satisfied with the obvious and digs and digs and digs until he is satisfied that he has the proper outcome.

It does not even matter to me what the crime is...the crime occurs...we have no idea who commits the crime or why...but it slowly and deliciously unfolds...the suspense and excitement build...and
finally it is all laid out before us...we see what has happened through their eyes.

This particular crime involves an elite rower...one of those thin small boats...who just happens to be on the police force, too. Emma Beckwith is recently divorced, has taken
a new lover, and is involved in a sticky situation with a fellow officer...she is secretive, sort of solitary and almost everyone she knows could have killed her...it's just too delicious for words!!!

Reading this book for me was like coming home...I have read all of the books in order and I love the changes and growth of each character. References in this book appeared to refer to characters in the book just before this one...this is a bit tricky and can be confusing if you are unfamiliar with this series but it's manageable.

Again... I love the books in order but that is just my preference.

I think that although this book is fine as a stand alone...it is far better to have read all of her other ones...even after this one...you are truly just missing out if you don't.(less)

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Feb 25, 2012 Shirley Schwartz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-5-star-reads

I have now remembered why it seems so long between Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James books. Ms. Crombie takes great care in crafting the best novel possible and that takes some time. Yes, these books are mystery novels, but they really are so much more than that. The characterizations are excellently done, the plot is always intricate and the mystery is always complex. This results in a small masterpiece every time and with each new book in this wonderful series. This one delves into the world of c...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Marsha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

I liked this mystery by Deborah Crombie a lot, not only because I like Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James and their relationship, but because this one was exceptionally well plotted and it involved an interesting story of rowers on the Thames. Coincidentally, the London Olympics opened just after I finished the book and I got to watch the rowing events, showing me just how the murder victim was aligned in the boat and how she could have been trapped and drowned.

Gemma is just at the end of her family...more

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No Mark Upon Her (Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James #14)

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