Title: And Justice There Is None
Author: Deborah Crombie
First published August 27, 2002
416 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780553579307 (ISBN10: 0553579304)
Rating: 4.1
Overview
Deborah Crombie’s compelling mystery novel, And Justice There Is None, continues the suspenseful adventures of Scotland Yard’s Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James. This time, Gemma is promoted to inspector and tasked with solving a brutal homicide in fashionable Notting Hill.
The victim, Dawn Arrowood, was pregnant and married to a wealthy antiques dealer, Karl Arrowood. As Gemma investigates, she discovers that Karl is the prime suspect with a powerful motive for killing his unfaithful wife.
However, when another victim is found, Duncan realizes that this murder is too similar to an unsolved case. As they delve deeper into the investigation, they uncover a vendetta of history and hatred that spans decades, leading them through the city’s antiques markets and pushing them to their limits.
With their partnership and lives on the line, Gemma and Duncan must navigate a treacherous path to bring the killer to justice in this gripping tale of intrigue and retribution.
About the Author
Meet Deborah Crombie, the creative mind behind the exciting adventures of Scotland Yard’s Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Detective Inspector Gemma James. With 17 novels already published, fans are eagerly anticipating the 18th Kincaid/James installment, A BITTER FEAST, set for release by William Morrow in October 2019.
When not writing, Crombie calls McKinney, Texas home, where she shares her life with her husband and four furry companions – two German Shepherd Dogs and two cats. She is a frequent traveler to Britain, where she conducts her research and draws inspiration for her captivating stories.
Editoral Review
Deborah Crombie’s And Justice There Is None is a riveting murder mystery set in contemporary London that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page. Crombie is an American author and former journalist who has made a name for herself writing crime fiction novels set in the UK.
And Justice There Is None is the eighth book in her popular Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series. The novel is a classic police procedural, complete with red herrings, plot twists, and a high-stakes investigation that asks serious questions about class, power, and corruption.
The story follows Kincaid, a Scotland Yard detective, as he investigates the murder of a prominent barrister, whose personal and professional life seems to have been marred by secrets and lies. As Kincaid delves deeper into the victim’s past, he uncovers a web of deceit that involves some of London’s most powerful and influential citizens.
As the investigation heats up, Kincaid finds himself facing a hostile and potentially dangerous environment that challenges his own moral compass and forces him to question his loyalties and motivations. Crombie’s prose is strong and assured, and she has a gift for evoking a sense of place that makes London come alive on the page.
Her characters are complex and nuanced, and she is particularly adept at capturing the inner lives of her female characters. Gemma James, Kincaid’s partner in both work and life, is a standout character who is struggling to balance the demands of her job as a detective inspector with the challenges of raising a young child on her own.
The two main characters’ relationship is one of the strengths of the novel, and Crombie does an excellent job of showing how they navigate the tricky terrain of a workplace romance while trying to solve a complex murder case. One of the most interesting themes of the novel is how it explores the intersection of class, power, and corruption.
The victim is a member of the upper echelons of society, and the investigation takes Kincaid into the world of the British legal system, where he uncovers a network of privilege and influence that is both fascinating and terrifying. Crombie is adept at showing how the justice system can be co-opted by the wealthy and the powerful, and she asks important questions about who is really in control when it comes to administering justice.
One potential weakness of the novel is that it can be slow-moving at times. The plot is layered and intricate, and sometimes the descriptions and character development can get in the way of the action.
However, this is a minor quibble, as the novel more than makes up for it with its strong character work and attention to detail. Overall, And Justice There Is None is a smart and engrossing thriller that will appeal to fans of crime fiction and police procedurals.
Crombie is a talented writer who knows how to build tension and create complex characters who feel like real people. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and newcomers will have no trouble jumping in and enjoying the ride.
Highly recommended. 4.5/5.
