I have now read all 18 books in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series by Deborah Crombie. I have waited until now to write a review because I wanted to cover the series as a whole and not each book separately. In sum, I have found the series delightful reading and wholeheartedly recommend it to readers with a few caveats.
For maximum enjoyment, readers should begin the series at book 1 and work their way through book 18. There is considerable character development throughout the series and readers will enhance their understanding of why characters react to situations in certain ways by knowing their back story. Ms. Crombie does provide some character background in each book for the reader who has jumped into the middle of the series, but a lot of nuance is lost without having read previous books. Also, Ms. Crombie likes to bring minor characters from previous books back into new stories, and it helps readers to have experienced those characters in their early incarnations so they can be placed in proper context within the new stories.
For me, what differentiates this series from other British police procedurals I have read is the attention Ms. Crombie gives to the personal lives of many of the characters. Readers who are looking for a “just the facts” murder mystery should probably turn elsewhere, although I believe that would be a shame. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the private lives of Duncan, Gemma, and various other characters in the book, and I found that this enhanced my understanding of how each character went about doing his or her job.
I would like to comment on criticisms of individual books by two readers. One reader described a book as “soapoperish” while another railed against the inclusion of family moments that involved changing “nappies” among other diversions from the mystery at hand. Yes, I was initially bothered by the author’s attention to private issues at the expense of moving the story along. However, as I read onward, I found that the focus on private matters made the characters real people with all of the concerns of real life—loves won and lost, balancing a healthy private life with achieving career goals, and keeping one’s head clear when challenged by managing job demands with those of the family. This is the first police procedural in which I found myself thinking about the characters long after finishing a story, and I think Ms. Crombie’s focus on private life made this happen.
I found all of the crime solving in each book believable and many of the books contained unexpected twists and surprises that will engage the most experienced mystery reader. In several books Ms. Crombie provides considerable historical background that is both interesting in its own right and which enhances the reader’s understanding of the present day mystery. Her knowledge of England and Scotland and her description of the countryside and various cultural activities (i.e., Scottish whiskey making, British rowing, life around the English canal system, etc.) helps enhance the stories about the crimes and the criminals. Plus, I think most readers will enjoy Ms. Crombie’s view of how much of British life revolves around the pub and the making and drinking of tea.
This is a wonderful series and I hope you will give it a try. I found each book hard to put down and caught myself reading for hours at a time. I can’t wait for Book 19!
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A Great Stand Alone Mystery
Have you read Deborah Crombie yet? This series follows the Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. These are great stand-alone novels but also will give you a new author that you can’t get enough of! This one is out now! Thanks to @tlcbooktours, @williammorrowbooks, and @deborah.crombie for this advanced review copy! .Synopsis: 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? .
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Top reviews from other countries
Miss R. A. Connor
Another case solved.
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great characters and a very pleasant change of scene
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