(Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James #19)

On a rainy November evening, trainee doctor Sasha Johnson hurries through the evening crowd in London's historic Russell Square. Out of the darkness, someone jostles her as they brush past. A moment later, Sasha stumbles, then collapses. When Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his sergeant, Doug Cullen, are called to the scene, they discover that she's been stabbed.

Kincaid immediately calls in his detective wife, Gemma James, who has recently been assigned to a task force on knife crimes which are on the rise. Along with her partner, detective sergeant Melody Talbot, Gemma aids the investigation. But Sasha Johnson doesn’t fit the profile of the task force’s typical knife crime victim. Single, successful, and career-driven, she has no history of abusive relationships or any connection to gangs. Sasha had her secrets, though, and some of them lead the detectives uncomfortably close to home.

As the team unravels the victim's tangled connections, another murder raises the stakes. Kincaid, Gemma, and their colleagues must put even friendships on the line to find the killer stalking the dark streets of Bloomsbury.

Praise for A KILLING OF INNOCENTS

"My most recent crime read was A Killing of Innocents by Deborah Crombie. New to the series but got pulled in immediately by the interesting plot and engaging range of recurring characters." -- Ann Cleeves, New York Times bestselling author

"Situated in the rich, historic Bloomsbury district of London, A Killing of Innocents is a superbly plotted work of suspense that immerses the reader in the intriguing world of Scotland Yard. But Crombie also gifts us something equally compelling: a very modern portrait of richly intertwined and diverse characters navigating the competing demands of work, family and romance. There is such humanity in all of Crombie's creations, particularly the lead married detectives Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid, making this stand-alone book and its background series such a noteworthy and satisfying addition to the genre of psychological suspense." -- Natalie Jenner, international bestselling author

"Skillfully plotted... perfectly balances the investigative action with the characters' true to life personal problems... Crombie provides plausible suspects and motives amid entertaining interplay, including some friction, among the members of the squad. This entry can be read as a standalone, but it will give special pleasure to fans who have grown fond of the couple over the years." -- Publishers Weekly

"Crombie is as skilled as Louise Penny or J.D. Robb in developing characters while entwining personal lives with riveting police investigations. With four years since A Bitter Feast, the previous book in the series, the author's fans will be eager to catch up with her characters." -- Library Journal (starred review)

"Crombie, as usual, presents a fascinating puzzle, loaded with twists and a grand dose of London atmosphere...This is a worthy excursion into the lives of a popular sleuthing duo." -- Booklist

"Crombie excels at weaving together a cohesive story out of disparate circumstances and characters. The thread that ties the book together is the visceral horror that deliberate violence can be and is visited on innocents. A Killing of Innocents is rooted in the relationship between Duncan and Emma; how their careers impact their family life and friendships. It's absorbing, nuanced, and true to the personalities of two people we've come to regard as almost family." -- CriminalElement.com