Garden of Lamentations by Crombie, Deborah;

Short description:

After a cliffhanger ending in the New York Times bestseller, To Dwell in Darkness, Gemma James races the clock to save the life of a young child, while Scotland Yard detective Duncan Kincaid is faced with the ultimate challenge: find the traitor in his ranks.

Long description:

Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James are drawn into separate investigations that hold disturbing-and deadly-complications for their own lives in this powerful mystery in the bestselling series.

On a beautiful morning in mid-May, the body of a young woman is found in one of Notting Hill's private gardens. To passersby, the pretty girl in the white dress looks as if she's sleeping. But Reagan Keating has been murdered, and the lead detective, DI Kerry Boatman, turns to Gemma James for help. She and Gemma worked together on a previous investigation, and Gemma has a personal connection to the case: Reagan was the nanny of a child who attends the same dance studio as Toby, Gemma and Kincaid's son.

Gemma soon discovers that Reagan's death is the second tragedy in this exclusive London park; a few months before, a young boy died in a tragic accident. But when still another of the garden residents meets a violent end, it becomes clear that there are more sinister forces at play. Boatman and Gemma must stop the killer before another innocent life is taken.

While his wife is consumed with her new case, Kincaid finds himself plagued by disturbing questions about several previous-and seemingly unrelated-cases involving members of the force. If his suspicions are correct and the crimes are linked, are his family and friends in mortal danger as well? Kincaid's hunch turns to certainty when a Metropolitan Police officer close to him is brutally attacked. There's a traitor in the ranks, and now Kincaid wonders if he can trust anyone.

As Gemma begins to see a solution to her case, she realizes she holds a child's fate in her hands. Can she do the right thing? And can Kincaid rely on his friends, both inside and outside the Scotland Yard force, to stand beside him as he faces the deadliest challenge of his career?

Praise for Deborah Crombie: "The strength of this series is in its characterizations, particularly those of James and Kincaid, as they balance the demanding work that they love and their family life. Another winner in a series that goes from one high point to another." - Booklist (starred review)

"Densely plotted and with a balanced interplay between the domestic sphere and the intrigue of police internal affairs. Contemporary and propulsive." - Kirkus Reviews

"Through several points of view, this multifaceted novel provides a sobering cautionary tale about the exploitation of idealism and the abuse of power." - Publishers Weekly

"The novel's title suggests sorrow, deep and debilitating, the kind of grief that chokes. It also alludes to Gethsemane and all that garden implies - betrayal, sacrifice and forgiveness. It's all here." - Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Garden of Lamentations moves at a brisk pace with acute attention to the details of both cases [...] a strong addition to an excellent series." - SouthFlorida.com

"'Garden of Lamentations' is a strong addition to an excellent series." - Miami Herald

"This is one of the best crime mystery novels of the season." - Washington Book Review

"[Crombie's] Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James characters are rich, emotionally textured, fully human. They are the remarkable creations of a remarkable writer." - Louise Penny