I've read several of the Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James books, enough to keep their ongoing plot straight and the recurring characters. This is such a good series, I should really go back and just read them in order, but I keep getting different ones on sale.
Anyway, this was one of the best that I've read in the series. Interestingly, Duncan is preparing to go on child leave to take his turn caring for Charlotte, their newly adopted daughter. But first, he must solve the murder of a fellow policewoman and Olympic-caliber rower. It becomes much more complicated the further he gets into the investigation.
I especially liked the information on rowing/skulling? and learning about the work of Search and Rescue teams. Both these bits added a lot to the story. Gemma's reactions to the adoption of their daughter also gives the reader a lot to think about. And the murder(s) mystery was also good as I count any story where I can't tell who did it a success. ( )

Oktober in dem beschaulichen Städtchen Henley-on-Thames in der Nähe von London. Das Boot der Polizistin und Ruderin Rebecca Meredith wird ans Ufer der Themse gespült. Kurz darauf findet der Hundeführer Kieran Connolly Rebeccas Leiche unterhalb eines Wehrs. Der Rechtsmediziner Rashid Kaleem kommt zu dem Schluss, dass Rebecca in Folge eines Unfalls ertrunken ist. Doch dann wird Connolly Opfer eines Brandanschlags, den er nur knapp überlebt. Hatte er Beweise dafür, dass Rebeccas Tod kein Unfall war, und sollte nun zum Schweigen gebracht werden?

Superintendent Duncan Kincaid und seine Frau Inspector Gemma James sind gerade erst aus dem Urlaub zurückgekehrt, da beauftragt Chief Superintendent Childs Duncan mit der Ermittlung in beiden Fällen. Gemma ist noch in Elternzeit, aber sie verfolgt interessiert die Arbeit ihrer Untergebenen Constable Melody Talbot: Melody hat in Gemmas Abwesenheit eine Stelle bei einer Einheit der Londoner Polizei angetreten, die auf Sexualverbrechen spezialisiert ist. Schon bald wird deutlich, dass es einen Zusammenhang zwischen Melodys Nachforschungen zu Vergewaltigungen und Duncans Fällen gibt. Gemeinsam kommen Gemma und Duncan einem Korruptionsfall auf die Spur, der immer größere Ausmaße annimmt und in die höchsten Ränge der Londoner Polizei führt.

In No Mark Upon Her, Duncan and Gemma are newly married (3 times), and are now fostering 3-year old Charlotte (READ Necessary As Blood). Gemma's family leave is about to end, and Duncan's to begin when he is asked to investigate the murder of an outstanding rower and detective.

When he reports to his superior, he is given mixed signals which makes him more determined to find killer, and get justice. Gemma and Melody assist, of course.

Lots of red herrings make the series exciting but it is the personal sides of the story that make this series compelling and moving. Not just Duncan's and Gemma's personal lives.They take the lives (and deaths) of the victims, their families and friends seriously, pay close attention and exercise care when questioning people.They want to fully understand what made each victim tick, how they thought, what their habits were, what enemies they had and much more.

Excellent read.

NO MARK UPON HER is Book #14 in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James mystery series by Deborah Crombie.
A mysterious and unexpected murder of a rower in the Thames, Becca Meredith is also a Met detective.
I thought this was quite a well-written, tense, well-plotted mystery and an excellent addition to the series. The characters were all complex and interesting and I never saw the ending that was coming - not ‘till the last second.
The location was very interesting and I gained a few insights into the very competitive (and combative) rowing community along the Thames River. Kieran and Tavie, members of the local search and rescue and First Responder group, along with their dogs, were very appealing. Gemma, Duncan, Melody and Doug all lent their respective expertise that led to the success of the murder investigation.
I become very engaged with the location, the sense of place, in each of these books - the Isle of Dogs, Crystal Palace, the tea trade, the Scottish Highlands, canals and canal boats, regattas and rowing, the Thames River Valley. The chapter headings, the maps, the historical notes - all set the tone of the book. The characters are complex. The plots very tense. The books are mysteries, crime dramas, police procedurals, character studies.
A highly recommended series. ( )

A great read. I am glad to have discovered her and will be definitely reading more of her.

Great writing style, too plot setting. For a detailed review please click on the link below:

http://onerightword.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/no-mark-upon-her-deborah-crombie.html ( )