A Bitter Feast - (Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels) Large Print by Deborah Crombie (Paperback)

About the Book

Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his wife, Detective Inspector Gemma James, have been invited for a relaxing weekend in the tranquil Cotswolds, one of Britain's most beautiful and historic regions, famous for its rolling hills, sheep-strewn green meadows, golden cottages, and timeless villages that retain the spirit of old England. Duncan, Gemma, and their children are guests at Beck House, the country estate belonging to the family of Melody Talbot, Gemma's trusted detective sergeant. No ordinary farmers, the Talbots are wealthy and prominent with ties to Britain's most powerful and influential. A centerpiece of this glorious fall getaway is a posh charity luncheon catered by up-and-coming chef Viv Holland. After more than a decade in London, Viv has returned to her native Glouscestershire, making a name for herself with her innovative, mouthwatering use of the local bounty. Attended by several dozen of the area's well-to-do, as well as national food bloggers and restaurant critics, the event could make Viv a star. But a tragic car accident followed by a series of mysterious deaths could ruin her ascent. Each piece of information that surfaces makes it clear that the killer had a connection with Viv's pub-and perhaps with Beck House itself. Does the truth lie in the past? Or is it more immediate, woven into the tangled relationships and bitter resentments swirling among the staff at Beck House and at Viv's pub? Or is it even more personal, entwined with secrets hidden by Viv, her business partner Bea Abbot, and Viv's eleven-year-old daughter Grace? Further revelations rock the Talbots' estate and pull Duncan and Gemma and their colleagues into the investigation. With so much at stake both personally and professionally, especially for Melody Talbot, finding the killer becomes one of the team's most crucial cases.

Book Synopsis

"Crombie's characters are rich, emotionally textured, fully human. They are the remarkable creations of a remarkable writer."--Louise Penny

"Nobody writes the modern English mystery the way Deborah Crombie does--and A Bitter Feast is the latest in a series that is gripping, enthralling, and just plain the best." -- Charles Todd, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Ascot and A Cruel Deception

New York Times bestselling author Deborah Crombie returns with a mesmerizing entry in her "excellent" (Miami Herald) series, in which Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James are pulled into a dangerous web of secrets, lies, and murder that simmers beneath the surface of a tranquil Cotswolds village.

Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his wife, Detective Inspector Gemma James, have been invited for a relaxing weekend in the Cotswolds, one of Britain's most enchanting regions, famous for its rolling hills, golden cottages, and picturesque villages.

Duncan, Gemma, and their children are guests at Beck House, the family estate of Melody Talbot, Gemma's detective sergeant. The Talbot family is wealthy, prominent, and powerful--Melody's father is the publisher of one of London's largest and most influential newspapers. The centerpiece of this glorious fall getaway is a posh charity harvest luncheon catered by up-and-coming chef Viv Holland. After fifteen years in London's cut-throat food scene, Viv has returned to the Gloucestershire valleys of her childhood and quickly made a name for herself with her innovative meals based on traditional cuisine but using fresh local ingredients. Attended by the local well-to-do as well as national press food bloggers and restaurant critics, the event could make Viv a star.

But a tragic car accident and a series of mysterious deaths rock the estate and pull Duncan and Gemma into the investigation. It soon becomes clear that the killer has a connection with Viv's pub--or, perhaps, with Beck House itself.

Does the truth lie in the past? Or is it closer to home, tied up in the tangled relationships and bitter resentments between the staff at Beck House and Viv's new pub? Or is it more personal, entwined with secrets hidden by Viv and those closest to her?

Review Quotes

"We can always count on her for fabulous plots...But what puts Deborah Crombie among the greats is her sure hand in raising her characters off the page." -- Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author

"Nobody writes the modern English mystery the way Deborah Crombie does--and A Bitter Feast is the latest in a series that is gripping, enthralling, and just plain the best." -- Charles Todd, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Ascot and A Cruel Deception

"A Bitter Feast is a rich banquet for mystery lovers. Three cheers for the chef, Deborah Crombie!"
-- Alan Bradley, New York Times bestselling author

"Deborah Crombie continues to push the envelope, writing books that are new, different and better and better. Richly layered, character-driven, and with an evocative sense of place, A Bitter Feast truly transcends the genre." -- Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Royal Spyness series and the international bestseller The Tuscan Child

"It's another stellar installment in the British mystery series that's as much about characters as it is about crime." -- Parade

"This character-driven series just continues to get better." -- Booklist (starred review)

"To say that A Bitter Feast is a page-turner would be an understatement. Plan a full weekend of tea and scones because this one is not to be put down." -- New York Journal of Books

"Crombie keeps this series on its toes with her smooth procedural techniques and engagingly eccentric characters." -- New York Times Book Review

"A Bitter Feast is a tour de force by Deborah Crombie." -- CriminalElement.com

"Crombie fans and cozy aficionados will be well pleased." -- Publishers Weekly