A Share in Death (Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels)
Avon - Avon
Release date: 2003-08-26
Mass Market Paperback
Author: Deborah Crombie
American Mystery & Suspense Fiction, Fiction, Fiction - Mystery/ Detective, Mystery/Suspense, Fiction / Contemporary Women, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General, Mystery & Detective - General
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A Share in Death (Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels)
Date undefinedMeet Superintendent Duncan Kincaid of Scotland Yard. He's a pleasant man, hard-working, good at his job, and divorced. He's been gifted with a week at a posh timeshare in Yorkshire and he's looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation. Before he's been there long, however, a body turns up in the whirlpool. Under the circumstances, it's hard to remain uninvolved.
Meet Sgt. Gemma James. She's Kincaid's enthusiastic, attractive young assistant. She's also divorced and raising a young son on her own, and she will be called in to help investigate.
A SHARE IN DEATH is the first installment in Deborah Crombie's "Kincaid and James" mystery series. I made the mistake of reading one of the later books in the series before I got to this one. As with most such series, the ongoing lives of the key characters are part of the charm, so start with this one if you haven't already read any of the others. It's a good first outing for Ms. Crombie and holds much promise of things to come. She has taken the old English country house murder format, updated it by setting it in a modern timeshare, and created an interesting story. There are plenty of quirky characters, including some likely suspects and some potential victims.
A SHARE IN DEATH is an entertaining mystery and a fine first effort. Anybody who enjoys English mysteries should find this one satisfying (even though Ms. Crombie is actually a Texan). Give it a try, and save space on your shelf for more adventures featuring Duncan and Gemma.
A Share in Death (Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels)
Date undefinedA SHARE IN DEATH (Police Proc-Kincaid & James-England-Cont) - VG
Crombie, Deborah - 1st in series
Avon Books, 1993, US Paperback - ISBN: 9780061150401
First Sentence: Duncan Kincaid's holiday began well.
Newly promoted DI Duncan Kincaid has accepted use of his cousin's timeshare. He didn't expect it to be a working holiday. However, when a body is found in the pool and the local DS claims it is suicide, Kincaid knows he can't ignore it. With DS Gemma James help from headquarters, it's up to Duncan to find the killer.
I don't know how I missed this delighted traditional mystery. Happily, it is a police investigator, rather than an amateur sleuth, but the other classic elements are there; a multitude of seemingly unrelated suspects in an old manor house, now timeshare apartments and cottages, and no apparent motive. The characters are well developed and provide interesting subplots. I really liked the way the investigation was done by both protagonists and the descriptions of the environs. I've only read one other book in this series, but you can bet I'm going to read them all. Delightful!
A Share in Death (Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels)
Date undefinedNeed a vacation? Dream of spending a week in your own villa? Deborah Crombie serves up a tasty retreat with, "A Share in Death." Supt. Duncan Kincaid wants a rest with no worries. But reality isn't the standard of dreams. His borrowed time-share brings nothing but murder which he sought to escape.
A pass on the part of the local police has Duncan taking up the cudgel and requesting help from his Sargent, Glenna James to find a killer as obstructive as a "closed room." A second murder seems senseless, but then the police are never in-tune with the mind of a killer.
This complex offering introduces mystery fans to an English drawing room mystery through a police procedural by an American who manages to convey the British tone of drama and suspense.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Taxes, Stumbling Blocks & Pitfalls for Authors 2007."
