This was my first time reading a Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James novel, but from what I know about the series, it's a bit of a departure. Whereas most of the Kincaid and James novels are set in London, this installment moves the action to the English countryside.

Kincaid and James, along with co-worker Doug, have been invited by fellow cop Melody Talbot to spend a long weekend at her parents' idyllic home in the Cotswolds. While there, they team up with a local detective named Booth to investigate the mysterious death of a celebrity chef. There is also a bit of relationship drama between Melody and her rock star boyfriend Andy.

In this book, I felt author Deborah Crombie did a great job of creating a sense of place and developing her characters. This is just speculation on my part, but it seems like she might be setting up a spin-off series, as a significant portion of the story was devoted to introducing us to the local characters. The mystery aspect was solid, and I was not expecting it to be resolved the way it was. If I have one complaint, it's that the first half of the book moves a bit slowly, but it gets much more engaging in the second half.

I would recommend this novel to fans of the series, as well as to anyone who likes police procedurals but also enjoys an English cozy mystery. While there's a bit too much sex and violence for this book to be considered a true cozy, it does have some elements of that genre.

Great read! Engaging characters with better than average mystery. Excellent addition to this series.

This is a great series with engaging characters and good descriptions of the family lives of the detectives, whether in London, or in this case, the Cotswalds. The mystery of the murders kept me guessing.

Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid, his wife, Detective Inspector Gemma James, and their three children have been invited for a relaxing weekend in the tranquil Cotswolds, They are staying with the parents of Gemma's sergeant Melody Talbot, who are having a charity luncheon prepared a local chef.
When an auto crash the night before injures Duncan and turns out not to be more complicated than anyone could imagine and is followed by another suspicious death, Duncan, Gemma, Melody & Doug all step in to help the local constabulary find out who is responsible.

Deborah Crombie is one of my top writers, I love this series and was thrilled to get an advanced copy. The mysteries are always solid, the family life is written with thoughtful compassion, and the settings make me want to go to the UK.
Bitter Feast is a wonderful edition to the series. It would be possible to read this as a standalone, but I don't recommend that. Read them all for the development of the main characters. You won't regret it.

Duncan and Gemma Kincaid and their children have been invited to spend a weekend in the Cotswolds with colleague Melody’s parents. Sounds relaxing, but then they find themselves involved in an automobile accident, and learn of several suspicious deaths. What happened to the woman who hit Duncan’s car, and who was the mystery man in the passenger seat? Who would want to deliberately run down a popular villager? And what about the financial irregularities with Lady Addie’s staff? Deborah Crombie is one of my favorite authors--she never disappoints. A Bitter Feast is recommended to anyone who enjoys well-plotted British police procedural. This novel can be read as a stand-alone; however, I suggest reading them in order for maximum enjoyment.

I enjoy the various cast of characters that Deborah Crombie uses in these James and Kincaid novels of which this book is #18. I haven't read them all, and I have read some out of order. But that's the nice thing about these novels-it does not necessarily matter. You're still going to get an interesting story. Book #18 has a different city than the city. The whole crew has gone out to stay for the weekend at Melody's wealthy parents' estate. So this novel is crime in the countryside. Perhaps because it wasn't the normal setting, but something about this story didn't click as well for me as the other ones did . Something about everyone coming and going at the estate just seemed so odd. I would say this isn't a must read in the series, but certainly not a waste of time if you do read it.

Kept me guessing right to the end. Deborah Crombie never disappoints. This was a bit of a change in so far as the setting, and what a perfect setting it is with rolling fields, sheep and border collies, quaint cottages, cozy pubs, good food and spirits and a few suspicious deaths. The story kicks off with Gemma, Duncan and family, Doug and Melody leaving London for a long weekend at Melody’s parents’ country home in the Cotswold. Melody’s mother, Lady Addie, is hosting a charity event luncheon. The event is also an opportunity to meet and get to know her daughter’s coworkers and friends. Lady Addy contracted Viv Holland, a talented London Michelin star chef to take charge of the food preparations. For the last dozen years though, Viv relinquished the adrenaline rush and climb to fame in the glitzy London restaurant scene to raise her daughter as a single mom. Now, she has re-established her professional career in a rural, idyllic Cotswold community. Yet, news of the luncheon reaches London, and a man from Viv’s past visits with the intention to lure her back into the London restaurant scene. This visit sets off a chain of events that soon turn deadly. Although Gemma, Duncan, Doug and Melody are not officially investigating the deaths, they soon find themselves personally drawn into the case. This is the 18th book in this series. Like me, other readers of this series can look forward to enjoying a solid mystery, a good story and something akin to a visit with old friends. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reading copy of this book.

Duncan, Gemma, Melody, and Doug are off to the Cotswolds for a relaxing weekend at Melody's parents' house. However, after Duncan's car is hit on his way down and the people in the other car both die, things become complicated. Duncan and Gemma have an opportunity to work informally on what turns out to be murder. The plot had just enough twists to keep it interesting and the characters were well-drawn. I appreciate seeing glimpses of the personal lives of the main characters and especially how their children are growing up. A good addition to a great mystery series.

I was surprised and happy to see a new Kincaid/James mystery. And a bit worried since these multi-volume series sometimes falter over time. But my worry was for naught, Author Crombie has put together a engaging mystery featuring the two Scotland Yard detectives and their family and friends set in the charming Cotswolds with some bonus food culture and restaurant business. It is a real page turner. I’m sad it’s over and have to wait for the next story.
It’s a perfect weekend read.

Like many others, I always look forward a new Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James adventure by Deborah Crombie. Spending time with familiar characters and expecting a well-plotted mystery is pretty much a guarantee with each new book in this well-established series.

A weekend in the Cotswolds with DS Melody Talbot's wealthy and influential sounds like a pleasant respite for the Kincaide/James family.

Of course, you know that isn't going to happen. A deadly car crash and some unexplained deaths keep the ball rolling in this latest addition.

Chef Viv Holland's opportunity to cater a luncheon for food bloggers and critics would allow her to display her talents and enhance her reputation, and Viv personally likes Melody Talbot's mother, who is hosting the luncheon.

However, Viv is also struggling with an unpleasant visit from her past and an unhappy eleven-year-old daughter. Additionally, the deaths of two people in the car accident, followed by more mysterious deaths have connections to Viv's pub.

As the connections to both the Talbot's home and Viv's pub continue to occur, Duncan and Gemma join with the local constabulary to find the guilty party and prevent more deaths.

I'm almost tempted to start with the first book and read the entire series again because the characters are so engaging. Not just Duncan and Gemma, but their children, friends, and minor characters. In fact, I'd love to see some of the minor characters again.

This is one of my favorite series not just for the characters, but also for the police procedural aspects.

Read in May. Blog review scheduled for Sept. 16, 2019.

NetGalley/ Harper Collins
Police Procedural. Oct. 8, 2018. Print length: 384 pages.

This is number 18 of a successful British mystery series, but I haven't read the previous seventeen. Despite that, the story held my attention and kept me involved throughout. I did realize somewhere in the first chapters that all these interesting characters had deep backstories I could only guess at. I kept on reading because the people, the murder mystery, even the evocatively described countryside kept me enthralled. Deborah Crombie is a talented story teller. I've put the entire series on my "to read" list.

I enjoyed this book from the very start! It was intriguing and heart pounding. I didn't feel like it lagged at all. It was a wonderful book reminiscent of Agatha Christie. I will definitely be going back and reading more of this author!

I was lucky enough to discover Deborah Crombie early into the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series. Now, reading each new title is like a visit with old friends!

This episode, Gemma and Duncan have been invited, along with the kiddies, for a weekend to the country home of Melody Talbot's parents. Of course, this crowd can't just have a relaxing weekend. Right off, Duncan is involved in a car crash that leaves him bruised and befuddled and the occupants of the other car, dead. However, they're not just unfortunate automobile fatalities, there's MURDER afoot!

Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this read! How Deborah Crombie manages to keep her characters and stories fresh is beyond me, but I hope she continues scribbling away! Publication Date 08 October 2019

As always, thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the read! #DeborahCrombie #Deborah.Crombie #ABitterFeast #NetGalley

Absolutely loved it! I was already crazy about this series and this newest book has taken policing/friendships to a whole new place. The setting for this book is far outside the normal London/London suburbs so the story had to follow. Very refreshing, and this might draw new people to this great policing series with its more casual treatment.

It has been too long between books for fans of Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James.

A weekend in the country for their family turns into a suspenseful, carefully plotted mystery with complex and engaging characters. The mystery of who killed a once acclaimed chef that at first looks like a tragic traffic accident, slowly develops to keep you guessing and gives the reader many suspects all with compelling motives.

Seeing the development of Duncan and Gemma’s relationship and the evolution of the family they have created has been rewarding to me as an avid reader of this series. Their professional growth along the way has been interesting as well.

The last book had very little interaction between Duncan and Gemma and in this book Duncan was a bit asea because of his concussion. I think these books are at their best when Duncan and Gemma are working closely together as a unit. They play off each other so well when they are trying to wade through the clues and evidence of crimes they are solving.

Whether you are new to this series or have read them all, this was a very satisfying journey into the world created by Deborah Crombie.


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC