Where Memories Lie (2008)

I realize that I've been reading a lot of romance novels lately, so that's what's on my mind, but even if I hadn't, it would have been hard not to notice that *this* is how you write a love story.

First, the mystery -- first class, as is typical with Deborah Crombie. Solid characters, solid story, and an ending that actually took me by surprise. I'm afraid that anything else I say will be a spoiler, so I'll just leave the mystery part at that.

As to the love story, or stories, I should say, since it seemed to actually track the cradle to grave cycle of relationships by using four different couples to show it. At the core, of course, was Kincaid and James. Not until the very end did it become clear what was happening in their relationship, but I found the ending to be beautiful and touching in a way that I hadn't expected. Then there was the storyline with Gemma's parents, the very tentative relationship (that may or may not have a future) between Doug Cullen and Melody Talbot, and then the relationship that is core to the mystery itself, that of Gemma's friend Erika Rosenthal and her husband, the story of which largely takes place in 1952.

All in all, a rich and engaging book with many layers throughout, that makes me want to go back to the beginning of the series and read it straight through. ( )

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Deborah Crombie has used this device before -- the modern-day crime with roots in the past, specifically World War II -- but this may be her richest story yet in that vein. Gemma James's elderly friend Erika Rosenthal, long ago a refugee from Nazi Germany, enlists Gemma's help when a piece of jewelry stolen long ago shows up in an auction catalog. At first an unofficial inquiry, the investigation turns official and involves both Gemma and her husband Duncan as people connected with the case begin turning up dead. Frequent flashbacks give an added dimension to the case and to the character of Erika. On the personal side, Gemma, Duncan, Kit and Toby (and the animals) are just settling in to life together when Gemma's mother becomes gravely ill, prompting first conflict and then some resolution to various family matters. An amusing touch was the introduction of two Family liaison Officers from Kate Charles's recent books (Charles is acknowledged as a "brainstorming buddy" by Crombie). ( )

When Erika Rosenthal learns that a valuable brooch that once belonged to her has been entered in an auction at a London firm, she turns to friend and neighbor Gemma James for help. Gemma makes an unofficial inquiry on Erika's behalf. When one of the auction house employees dies suddenly, requiring Scotland Yard to investigate, Gemma talks her domestic partner, Duncan Kincaid, into requesting the case. Duncan, Gemma, and their current working partners work together to solve a crime with roots in Germany's Holocaust.

Although this is one of my favorite series, this book seemed a little flat to me. Maybe it was the fact that I read it right after reading a non-fiction book about the Holocaust, and fiction can't compare to the reality of what happened during those years. I had trouble identifying with Gemma, who took personal leave to spend time with her seriously ill and hospitalized mother and then spent most of that time working on Duncan's case. I've been through serious illnesses and hospitalizations with both of my parents, and I spent as much time as possible at the hospital with them, particularly at the beginning of the hospitalization when they were undergoing tests and we were waiting for word from doctors about the prognosis and course of treatment.

I think this book would work as a stand-alone. However, most readers will want to read the books in this series in sequence, since the main characters' personal lives are as important as the crimes they investigate. ( )

This book is in a series, however I read it without benefit of reading any of the other books. I thought it was easy to read and follow without knowing anything else about the characters. When Erika discovers a family heirloom up for sale at an auction house, she immediately relieves the horror of fleeing from the Nazis. During that flight the heirloom was taken from her. Erika turns to her friend, Detective Gemma James to uncover any information that she can and discover if a Nazi is hidden among them.

I did not expect to like this book. However I found the characters well developed, the writing style impeccable and the plot line entertaining. Overall, I thought this was a great novel, one any true crime/history buff would enjoy. ( )