A Bitter Feast

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

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 fall weekend in the Cotswolds, one of Britain’s most enchanting regions, famous for its rolling hills and golden cottages 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 most influential newspapers; her mother socially connected through charity work.

The centerpiece of this glorious 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 youth and quickly made a name for herself with her innovative farm-to-table meals based on traditional cuisine. Attended by the local well-to-do as well as national press, food bloggers and restaurant critics, the event could catapult Viv to stardom.

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—and, perhaps, with Beck House itself.

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