Where Memories Lie - Deborah Crombie

The reappearance of an exquisite brooch stolen years before from refugees fleeing Nazi Germany reawakens memories of long buried sorrows. It is also linked to murders carried out in the London of the fifties and the present day.

Deborah Crombie’s Kincaid and James novels, of which this is the twelfth, are one of the best kept secrets in British crime writing. They contain all the elements likely to please the discerning reader; starting with a well conceived plot that sets out and resolves an intriguing mystery tying up all the loose ends in the process.

That would be satisfying enough in itself, but what lifts American born Crombie out of the ordinary is the way she uses the landscape of London as more than just a backdrop and her skilful characterization. Unlike the majority of series characters Kincaid and James do not return to their default setting with each fresh novel, allowing their creator to say quietly convincing things about how relationships develop over time.

This assured facility is extended to more minor characters, creating an enhanced sense of believability and allowing Crombie to examine issues such as prejudice, friendship and twisted family loyalties.

If you are looking for a writer who combines the best elements of traditional British crime writing with a modern take on human relationships then Deborah Crombie is very much your cup of tea.