“No Mark Upon Her” by Deborah Crombie – A Web of Murders

Murder mysteries are a classic genre in literature, and possibly one of the most popular ones as it appeals to practically everyone out there. Solving mysteries is one of man’s favorite past-times it seems, and there are few mysteries more intriguing than murder. Unfortunately, I simply do not have the time to read all the murder mysteries I would like to, but No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie is one I truly enjoyed recently.

It starts with a K9 research team discovering a woman’s body in a river, at which point the case is dumped in the lap of Scotland Yard superintendent Duncan Kinkaid. As it turns out, the victim wasn't your average citizen; she was Rebecca Meredith, an Olympic contender on the verge of making a comeback, and needless to say, she had her share of admirers and enemies. The plot thickens even more when it is discovered that Rebecca also happens to be leading a double-life as a detective for the metropolitan police.

At the same time, an investigation headed by Inspector Gemma James, Duncan’s wife, uncovers a series of brutal crimes with many possible suspects to them. Another crime is added to that chain as a murder attempt is committed on the member who found Rebecca’s body.

I’ll stop here, but it suffices to say, the killer in this case is far from being an ordinary psycho, and what’s described above is only the beginning of an enthralling adventure.

For starters, I have to say that the story in this book is phenomenal, even though it isn't exactly anything new. However, the way in which events unfold and their chronology make you impatient to find out what is going to happen next, and most importantly, who is behind all of this and why. The decisions the characters make and the actions they commit always feel logical, even when they don’t seem like it at first; nothing feels out of place.

The language is relatively simple, and as you can guess, with so many plot elements the story moves at a relatively fast pace, although it does slow down in a few places. There really aren't that many layers of meaning to this book, no social criticisms or philosophies to discuss. While it is true that you could always find these elements in any book if you use your noggin hard enough, this one was made with pure entertainment in mind, and nothing else. 

All in all, this book allowed me to forget my real-world troubles, at least for a little while, and get lost in a universe where more exciting things are happening.To purchase it, simply click on the following link below.

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Deborah Crombie Personal site Deborah Crombie is an American author best known for coming up with the Duncan Kinkaid/ Gemma James mystery series. She was the recipient of the New York Times Best Book of the Year award for Dreaming of the Bones, and the Macavity Award in 1998 for the same book, and once again in 2009 for Necessary as Blood.