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mayflowergirl74's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve either really liked or loved every one of the Duncan and Gemma books! Deborah Crombie knows how to write good mystery while keeping the romance between Duncan and Gemma fresh, as well as bringing in new supporting characters with their own back stories and possible romances. This was a particularly significant milestone for Duncan and Gemma, along with a mystery that kept me guessing. I feel lucky to have such a big catalog to keep binging on!
marlisenicole's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bookwoman1967's review against another edition
3.0
I am a little bit addicted to this series and how parts of London or places in England are almost characters themselves. The actual characters are a real strength of the writer as well.
alidottie's review against another edition
4.0
I liked that Crombie tackled a very gritty and tough subject without taking us too deeply into the seediness and ugliness that accompany it.
melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Really good. Gemma and Duncan get involved with a child whose mother has "disappeared," followed some months later by her father's murder. Their personal lives, as well as the personal lives of their seconds, come into focus a little more - and it's both sad and wonderful in so many ways.
therealkathryn's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars
I enjoyed revisiting the characters but elements of the murders weren't credible. Would a newly single father take a risk that his daughter would be left an orphan? The mother's actions weren't entire believable either. It almost felt like the author wanted to add to the Kincaid/James family and needed to find a way to get another kid in. Still, the historical and contemporary elements woven into the East London setting were interesting and the familiar characters were engaging as always.
I enjoyed revisiting the characters but elements of the murders weren't credible. Would a newly single father take a risk that his daughter would be left an orphan? The mother's actions weren't entire believable either. It almost felt like the author wanted to add to the Kincaid/James family and needed to find a way to get another kid in. Still, the historical and contemporary elements woven into the East London setting were interesting and the familiar characters were engaging as always.
smallness's review against another edition
4.0
I probably wouldn't have bought this book if it hadn't been for a Barnes and Noble gift certificate I had laying around . . . while her books will always hold a place in my heart, especially the first few, the last two or three have been not as good, and I was starting to wonder if she was going to wind this series down. I'm happy, though, that this one turned out to be much better than I had expected - despite some of the cliches that turned up, I still really enjoy how natural the whole book feels, how the female lead still occasionally figures out the twists before the male lead does, and how it makes me want to visit London. So, good book.
kit_moonstar's review against another edition
5.0
I think this might be my favorite book out of this series. Everything about it worked for me. This one was also Gemma centric, and everything plotwise really worked together well. There’s a lot going on in the book, but it all ties back to Gemma which helps. Besides Duncan’s murder case and Gemma’s concern about the murdered man’s daughter, there’s Gemma’s mom dealing with cancer and the fact that her family is being very demanding about her and Duncan’s upcoming wedding. Some of the tension from those plot threads were present in the earlier books, and in a lot of ways this feels like a columniation of a everything since Duncan and Gemma started seeing one another romantically. If this ended up being the last book in the series, it would have been an extremely satisfying one. However, there are another six books in the series to date, so now I suppose the question is will those six add to what has been built so far, or it is a series that goes on a little too long. But I’ve really enjoyed reading these so far, and this book has been a good capstone for the series. Five out of five stars.
git_r_read's review
5.0
NECESSARY AS BLOOD reminded me how much I love this series. I don't know why I have waited so long to get back to this series. I will make up for lost time now.
Intricately woven storylines of murder, family illness, wedding prep woes. I like that real life intrudes on the investigations of the murder and disappearance of a couple whose child is left to a possible life in the maw of social services.
Gemma's family wants her and Duncan to have a traditional wedding, she's feeling the stress of everyone having input. Add in the blended family and not wanting to upset anyone with her choices plus the spiraling investigation and she's ready for a breakdown.
Dark and brooding with touches of light. Perfect English suspense.
Intricately woven storylines of murder, family illness, wedding prep woes. I like that real life intrudes on the investigations of the murder and disappearance of a couple whose child is left to a possible life in the maw of social services.
Gemma's family wants her and Duncan to have a traditional wedding, she's feeling the stress of everyone having input. Add in the blended family and not wanting to upset anyone with her choices plus the spiraling investigation and she's ready for a breakdown.
Dark and brooding with touches of light. Perfect English suspense.