"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?
