Necessary as Blood

For those that haven’t read her, Deborah Crombie writes mysteries featuring a pair of London police detectives, Duncan Kincaid and Gemma Jones. “Necessary As Blood” is the thirteenth in the series, and is set exclusively in the Whitechapel and Spitalfields districts of London. I’d describe her books as a cross between a police procedural and a high quality soap opera. In the course of the previous volumes, Crombie has established a large supporting cast of fellow detectives, parents, friends, and children, most of whom appear in this latest episode. With other authors (Martha Grimes and Sue Grafton come to mind) I often rail against this practice because the characters make an appearance with no advancement in the plot. Crombie show more is one of the few who actually manages to weave these characters into the lives of Kincaid and Jones in such a way that you aren’t left asking yourself the question, “Why did she put THAT in?” However, if one were to begin reading Crombie’s latest without starting at the beginning, I think you would be missing some of the fun. The domestic issues that are dealt with in “Necessary As Blood” have their roots in previous books, though they’re explained adequately for the new reader.

The mystery itself, involving disappearance of a female artist and, months later, the murder of her husband, is above average, with numerous red herrings tossed out as the investigation proceeds. As always, Crombie’s sense of place is outstanding, with atmosphere evocative enough to make me envision my second favorite city, warts and all. show less

When Naz Malik fails to show up for an appointment and the babysitter reports he's been out longer than expected, Tim Cavendish worries about him. Naz's wife Sandra disappeared a few months before, leaving her beloved daughter and husband. Tim calls Gemma. When Naz's body is found in a nearby park, the local officer turns the case over to Scotland Yard. Duncan is in charge of the investigation. With suspects ranging from Sandra's family to members of a private, but shady club headed by one of Sandra's friends, Duncan and his partner have their hands full. Gemma and her partner help unofficially. Gemma's main interest is in keeping Naz and Sandra's daughter Charlotte out of the hands of Sandra's family. Another story line involves the show more pressure of Gemma's family for Duncan and Gemma to officially "tie the knot." This is an excellent installment in a long-running series. It held my interest from start to finish. I listened to the audio narrated by Jenny Sterlin. show less

First Line: The streets were greasy with moisture.

I don't know of another mystery series that I read in which the characters' personal lives are every bit as important to me as the investigation. By this, the thirteenth book, I feel like an old family friend as I read about Scotland Yard's Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his Detective Inspector Gemma James who works out of the Notting Hill station in London. Everyone in their families wants Duncan and Gemma married as quickly as possible, but Gemma doesn't seem to be as keen. Then something happens that puts all thoughts of marriage out of her mind.

Two months previously, a talented textile artist named Sandra Gilles left her three-year-old daughter with a friend at a flower show more stall in an open market. She said she'd be back in a few minutes. She never returned. Now her husband, Naz Malik, is missing. When his body is found, Gemma is concerned not only with finding out what happened to Sandra and Naz, but in ensuring that their daughter is taken care of properly. Seeing her name on reports of the crime, Duncan Kincaid and his partner, Doug Cullen, decide to join in the investigation.

For those who care more for the story than the characters and the characters' lives, I would imagine that this book would be a disappointment. For me, it was a feast. The actual investigation was convoluted enough that I didn't guess what had happened, and I enjoyed the background history of London's East End that was skillfully woven into the story. Marriage plans, sick parents, and two of the most realistically drawn children in fiction all added to an extremely pleasurable read.

I read a lot of mystery series. I don't think there's any way in the world that I can ever finish them all. Normally it's a sign of how much I enjoy a series by how "caught up" I am. Crombie has written thirteen books in this series, and this is a review of number thirteen. The only negative thing about this Cathy-esque mark of respect is that now I have to wait for the next book to be published.

Guess I'm going to have to make a dent in some of those other series, eh? Duncan, Gemma-- HURRY UP! show less

When a long-time friend doesn't show up for an appointment, Dr. Tim Cavendish calls his former tenant, Detective Inspector Gemma James. Naz Malik's wife, Sandra, had disappeared several months earlier, and now Naz is missing. As Gemma learns more about the circumstances, she too becomes concerned, particularly about the welfare of Naz and Sandra's 2-year-old daughter, Charlotte. Then Naz's body is discovered and the local police request assistance from Scotland Yard. Gemma's domestic partner, Superintendent Duncan Kincaid, takes the case. The detectives can't afford to ignore any potential suspects, from Naz's legal clients with ties to the Bangladeshi community, to Sandra's patrons and colleagues in the art world or her estranged show more relatives in an East End council estate.

I lived in the London area for several years between college and graduate school, and this series more than any other brings it vividly to life for me. I feel like I'm back in familiar surroundings. It helps that Duncan and Gemma are such interesting and likeable characters and the mysteries are always well-plotted, but the strong sense of place is what keeps drawing me back to this series. Most new readers will want to start the series from the beginning since Duncan and Gemma's personal lives are a central feature of the series. show less

This reading was very gripping. A woman (wife and mother of a little girl) went missing and nobody knows where she has gone. A couple of monthe later the husband went away and never returned. The little girl is staying with the anxiously nanny who is calling the husband's closest friend who is a friend of Gemma and Duncan and so the investigation is starting. Since a lot of rich and important persons are involved, the investigation can't be conducted straightforward. Therefore is Ducan's team working on an officially bases whereas Gemma and Melody are more going undercover. Gemma's reason to solve the crime is based on the girl's welfare which should go to live with her grandmother who is involved into drug traffic. During the show more investigation another major crime was discovered. Young girls, still children, from Asia were married to English men, were abused and sometimes murdered.
It was a breathtaking reading and let me guessing until the very last page who are the evil ones and how all parts are linked to each other. show less

Entertaining and a quick read. It is the sort of police story that I usually don't like: one where the bad actor does not even appear until over 90% of the book has been read. Nevertheless, Ms. Crombie's characters are quite believeable and when she springs something violent, you aren't expecting it; and she then allows the effect of the violence to play out fully in very believeable terms.

Necessary as Blood is the next installment of Deborah Crombie’s murder mystery series featuring the characters Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid. Ms. Crombie’s lyrical writing style and character development make this book flow like hearing a story from an old friend. When you sit down to read this book it’s easy to fall into a page turning trance and the next thing you know you’re halfway through the book.
This series of books are set in modern day London, the main characters are detectives, Gemma in Notting Hill and Duncan with Scotland Yard. We join them living together planning a wedding. During this time, Naz Malik a friend of a friend is found dead only months after his wife Sandra Gilles turns up missing. Gemma takes it upon show more herself to make sure Naz and Sandra’s daughter, Charlotte, is put with a family who loves her and won’t exploit her situation or hurt her. The idea of anguish over child exploitation is a main theme throughout this book. So the reader not only travels through the police investigation into the murder and disappearance but also through the drama of keeping Charlotte safe.
This is the first book written by Ms. Crombie that I have read, but it certainly won’t be the last! She expertly weaves the story in such a way that when the reader learns who the culprit truly is it sheds new light on seemingly inconsequential bits of the plot line. I love stories that have hidden little gems that don’t really become clear until the end!!
Ms. Crombie also seems to have a very lyrical writing style. The best example I can give is when she describes the coroner’s office on page 125-126:
“Books covered the shelves, made towers on the floor, and overflowed the surface of the desk, where a computer monitor looked as if it were fighting for its life. File boxes were interspersed with the books, and the only visible spot on the wall was cover with an intricate bit of graffiti art. There were no chairs other than the one behind the desk.”
Although Ms. Crombie was born and raised in Texas, she has spent much time in England. This intimate knowledge of the English culture beautifully informs her work. The use of English colloquialisms adds to the setting of this book in an indispensible way.
This book will keep you guessing until the end! If you’re a lover of murder mysteries then definitely be to pick up Necessary as Blood. show less