Fetch A Bitter Feast Fabricated By Deborah Crombie Accessible In Publication

a bit of a reading slump, I picked up the latest in Deborah Crombie's Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series, knowing I'd be served a topnotch read.
And boy, was it. I love food fiction paired with a good mystery that's what I write, after all and this one is worth a Michelin star! That's a plot point see what I did Duncan and Gemma and the kids are spending the weekend, with Melody and Doug, at Melody's parents' country place just outside a village with a pub serving unexpectedly good food.
A tragedy occurs on the way with implications for everyone gathered for the weekend as well as the pub's owners and staff, Wellpaced and compelling, with great characters and enough charm to entice me to take a trip to the Cotswolds and yet, there are dangers behind those lovely golden stone garden walls.
I'm a sucker for novels that give me emotional experiences and while I don't want to give anything away, this book gave me a doozy.
The wait for Crombie'sth mystery was well worth it, In A Bitter Feast, she takes Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James and their three children for a weekend in the idyllic countryside, Of course murder happens, and more than one, The several storylines are complex and interwoven in the expert way only Crombie can pull off, So are the multiple points of view, I was never confused about whose scene it was,

Gemma and Duncan's teen son Kit plays an important role, Chef Viv's history pops up at intervals to twine in her London past, We are immersed in the difficult lives of professional chefs, We see intimate relationships backfire in alarming ways, You can almost touch and smell the English Cotswalds, And it's all in the service of the story, Crombie unpeels the layers of the puzzle slowly and carefully,

Read this book, It was written by a master, and you'll happily lose sleep turning the pages, Theres a question that surfaces every so often for readers, What books would you want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island, As with most questions concerning favorite books, I fudge a little and give myself some license to expand the question, So, I choose the entire Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid mystery/crime series by author Deborah Crombie, Granted, there are a few other series that would be sitting with my supply of coconuts, but Gemma and Duncan will always be there, Every book in this series has been an immersive experience in exceptional characters, old and new, engrossing setting, and gripping story, Under the direction of Deborah Crombies masterful pen, the words flow into phrases, the phrases into sentences, and the sentences into pages of unforgettable journey with two of the best characters in crime fiction.
There is life in these stories that sweeps the reader into complete engagement, And, the latest entry in this series, A Bitter Feast, is one of the best books of one of the best series, Yet, having said that last statement, if I were to go back and read an earlier installment in the series, its probable that I would also deem it one of the best.
How great is that Always knowing that you will love a book and it will be a best read,

Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Detective Inspector Gemma James and their three children have been invited to the Cotswold estate of Melody Talbots parents.
Melody is Gemmas proved detective sergeant and has always been rather reticent to discuss her wealthy background, Melodys father being the publisher of a major London newspaper, and her mother being the money behind the paper.
So, the invitation to spend a weekend at Beck House in one of Englands most beautiful locations, the Costwolds, is a lovely getaway for Duncan and Gemma, and its a step forward for Melody in dealing with blending her two lives.
Doug Cullen, Duncans right hand man, is also in the guest party, They all arrive in different ways and at different times, and Duncans arrival turns out to be quite the perilous one that leads to a busmans holiday for Duncan and Gemma.


Melodys mother, Lady Adelaide, is hosting a charity luncheon for the community, catered by the local chef, Viv Holland, who is also the proprietor of the Lamb Pub.
Chef Viv has gained a loyal local following after returning from some years in London to her home area and making a concerted effort to

use local produce and goods in her dishes.
The luncheon could bring national attention to Vivs culinary skills, something she finally feels ready for, Author Deborah Crombie has created some of the most memorable new characters, those outside of the constant family of characters, in the different books, keeping the series fresh while satisfying readers need for the familiar, too.
Viv Holland is the latest in those memorable new characters, and A Bitter Feast is very much Vivs story, as her life past and present connects directly to the plots unfolding and resolution.


The problems, as must always arise, start with Duncans perilous journey to Beck House when he is involved in an auto crash with two fatalities, one of whom has a history with Chef Viv.
Duncan is quite shaken in the crash, but he still gets involved in the investigation into it, as does Gemma, An investigation into the accident becomes necessary mostly due to the discovery that one of the two fatalities, from the same car, was dead before the accident occurred.
That particular fatality has ties to Viv when she lived in London and involves information she would rather see stay in the past, But secrets from the past are a hard ghost to keep buried, and when the danger to others intensifies, Viv worries she hasnt outrun her past.


Told from multiple points of view, it is captivating to see how cleverly all the information comes together to answer all the questions and solve all the mysteries.
As I noted earlier, this story belongs to Viv, and it is with Crombies smooth transitions readers will travel back with Viv to her London days and what brought her back to the village of Lower Slaughters in Gloucestershire.
The inner workings of a highend restaurant and the food descriptions in the book are fascinating, The artistry and passion of a chefs work is evident, and the drive to achieve a Michelin star is an intense struggle, Insight into Gemmas and Duncans and the polices investigation, their process, of the crimes allows the reader to feel the suspense of getting closer to the killer.
The staff of Vivs pub and Vivs daughter provide additional information that connects to those murdered and the murderer,

Another multiplicity that the author deftly handles is that of a number of intriguing characters, Under Deborah Crombies direction, there is never any confusion nor difficulty in remembering the characters, as they are blended beautifully into the thrilling plot, We have Duncan and Gemma and their childrenKit, Toby, and Charlotteand, readers will enjoy an expanded part for Kit in this story, The characters from Vivs pub, which she coowns with Bea Abbott, and Vivs daughter all play important parts, Then there are Melodys parents and Melody, their staff, and the village residents helping to move the plot forward, with Melodys father making introductions between Duncan and the local police.
Its another firstrate cast that performs brilliantly, And, of course, nobody does setting any better than Deborah Crombie, Her books set in the different parts of London make the reader see, feel, and taste the place, She does no less for the Costwolds, bringing the beauty of this tranquil setting right into your heart,

The many fans of this series will heartily attest to the pleasure of reading from book one to this book,, and getting to know Gemma and Duncan and the other familiar characters.
But, here is the hidden gem to A Bitter Feast, It could be read as a standalone story, Again, theres nothing quite like reading the development of characters from one book to the next, but a reader who hasnt read the previousnovels could read this current book with immense satisfaction.
However readers come to A Bitter Feast, longtime fans or new readers, the result is an outstanding read, For me, A Bitter Feast was a delectable feast indeed,
Just excellent. An "outing" to the Cotswolds turns into a murder investigation, The character relationships amid scenes of professional chefs time tension aboundscharacters are always preparing to get ready for the next lunch or dinner service are done well and are very credible.


Crombie weaves together wonderful roles for not just Gemma and Kincaid but also Kit, and the entire "family" around a chef leading a successful restaurant.


Highly recommended to all mystery readers, especially those who like Agatha Christie and English cozies,

PS LOVED the map! Full review here: sitelink me/pajmft

Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid along with their three kids are invited to spend the weekend with Gemmas colleague Melanie Talbot and her parents at their weekend mansion The Beck House.
Situated in a quaint little Scottish village, its the perfect locale to spend the weekend with family! Melanies mother, Lady Adelaide Talbot has arranged a luncheon at her house, where the local chef Vivian Holland is said to cater for her guests including a number of food bloggers and journalists.
Addie has certainly meant to encourage Vivs talents and show her off to the world, but somehow disaster strikes in the form of a car accident involving a famous London based Chef and a local woman.


This leaves the entire village shattered and the detective couple are forced to lend their hands in the investigation with the local police DI Booth to avoid more body count.
But will it be too late for that

I totally enjoyed reading this book, In Spite of being a series, it totally worked as a standalone book as its very easy to catch up with Gemma and Kincaid and the other characters.
Although the book is categorized as a crime thriller, I found myself to be distracted by all the delicious, mouthwatering cuisine, good wine, and the tranquil landscape of Britains most beautiful and historic Cotswolds.
Author Deborah has made sure her readers doesnt miss a bit of joy teleporting themselves the gorgeous green meadows and golden cottages, sipping delicious wine and crunching exotic meals!

A Bitter Feast is a chunky book with every character and setting written to the slightest detail.
I loved the suspense behind every new character, creating a sense of doubt and mistrust as the story grows, I loved how the author manages to show the same cottage which is mesmerizing in the daylight to be sinister and haunting in the dark! Deborah plays skillfully with words hooking her readers offering food, wine and a mindful of gardening ideas for their own homes! HIghly recommended read of the year.
Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC, All opinions are solely mine and are no way biased, Another fabulous addition to one of my favorite longrunning series,

Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his wife Detective Inspector Gemma James recently received an invitation from DS Melody Talbot to her familys country home for a weekend getaway with the kids.
So why does murder, mayhem and black clouds seem to follow them everywhere Even on the grounds of these beautiful surroundings,

Duncan doesnt even make it to the estate before being broadsided on a deserted country road, Leavingcrash victims dead. Possibly, one who may have actually died prior to the crash itself! Hmmmm, . .
Once safely back at the Talbot's family home recuperating, Duncan and his wife Gemma take it upon themselves to assist the local police force in the investigation!

Ive been reading this complete series for years and will say this book can truly stand on its own.
Just the same I believe youll find it even more entertaining by starting at the beginning with book one, A Share In Death.
With so much development of the characters over the years, you would be missing out on so much! This series is worthy of a binge read!

Thank you to Edelweiss, William Morrow and Deborah Crombie for an ARC to read and review.

The latest in Deborah Crombies Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series, A Bitter Feast, is another dependable, good mystery, Ive now read five of the books interspersed along the timeline of the eighteenbook series and this one fit in well,

Theres never a dull passage because of the incredible intertwining of the mystery shes telling, Thats probably her best asset as a writer, She takes a new deck, shuffles it, and deals a great mystery every time,

Crombies next notable asset is how well she brings her characters to life, Whatever their imperfections, fears, or strengths, she gives them a reason to exist, They each bring something valuable to the story, Shes so true to their basic character that youll never see them act out of the essential person they are unless theres a good reason and that helps make her stories work so well.


She reminds you of their past whether youve read the previous books, For example, you see from where Kit has come and he grows, takes on new responsibilities, and matures, Hes a good kid and a real asset to the stories, Hes not perfect, but he takes what hes got and tries to make it better, a sure trait of a wellwritten protagonist,

As always, the setting this one in a Cotswolds village and London and the story we have cuisine and the life of a restaurateur in this one let the reader experience life in the UK and a career that may be vague.
There were a couple of turns needed to move the story that I thought came a bit too easy, Yet, I only looked at them as minor inconveniences to the reading, Im looking forward to the next, I really enjoy this series! I love all the characters and the descriptions of the settings, and the plots are always clever and developed in a way that does not become frantic or rushed as is the case with many mysteries.
She takes her time to develop the back stories of the people involved and makes it all the more interesting, In this book, Gemma, Duncan, and their family are visiting Gemma's coworker Melody Talbot's family on their country manor, A famous chef is involved in a fatal car accident with one of the local ladies, and it soon becomes obvious that there is murder involved.
It is not clear exactly what the chef was doing in the lady's car since they didn't know each other at all, Was one of them just in the wrong place at the wrong time And what was the chef's involvement with the local pub's excellent chef and her daughter There also happens to be lots of information about food and the work of a chef in this story, which adds to the enjoyment.
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