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Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James #4
Mourn Not Your Dead
When a high-ranking police officer is brutally murdered, Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James are drawn into a case that not only challenges their investigative skills but forces them to examine their ethics and their relationship with each other. On an evening in mid-November, Alastair Gilbert, a Commander in the London Metropolitan Police, is found dead in the kitchen of his suburban Surrey home by his wife, Claire, and seventeen-year-old stepdaughter, Lucy. Gilbert was bludgeoned to death, and there was no sign of forced entry. Someone must have taken Gilbert by surprise - or the killer was someone he trusted. Kincaid was once Gilbert's student at the police academy, and he fears his personal antipathy toward the dead man may lessen his objectivity in the case. Even more distracting is the state of his relationship with Gemma - strained and tense ever since their intimate encounter a few days earlier. Both Duncan and Gemma must try to put their feelings for each other and their memories of Alastair Gilbert aside as they discover that Gilbert did not always play by the rules that he publicly espoused, particularly when the rules might have hindered his rise to power.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 1, 1996
512 people are currently reading
1537 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Crombie
53 books2,522 followersDeborah Crombie is the author of 17 novels featuring Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Detective Inspector Gemma James. The 18th Kincaid/James novel, A BITTER FEAST, will be released by William Morrow in October, 2019.
Crombie lives in McKinney, Texas with her husband, two German Shepherd Dogs, and two cats. She travels to Britain frequently to research her books.
Crombie lives in McKinney, Texas with her husband, two German Shepherd Dogs, and two cats. She travels to Britain frequently to research her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 518 reviews
September 27, 2017
Mourn Not Your Dead by Deborah Crombie is a 2010 by Scribner publication. (Originally released in 1996)
This fourth book in the series begins with Gemma’s freak out over the personal developments between herself and Duncan. But, before they can get to the heart of this surprising situation, they are called to the scene of a murder, in which one of their own is the victim.
As the investigation progresses, Gemma reads too much into everything Duncan says or does, impeding their professionalism. If that weren’t prickly enough, it seems the victim’s personal life and behavior amongst his close neighbors had not endeared him to anyone, which leads to an unusually high number of suspects.
This series gets all sorts of critical kudos and readers are intensely loyal to it. I have read a few installments here and there over the years, but kept thinking I was missing out on some key character developments which made the series so special.
So, I decided to begin with book one and work my way through the entire series, in order. Well, that was the plan, anyway. As I have confessed many times before, I am not an organized reader. That is most evident with my attempt to gather the books from this series and read them chronologically. It’s been slow going, and will probably take me a while at the rate I am going. LOL!
The whole time I was reading this book, I thought I had read book three. As it turns out, I have managed to skip the third chapter, which explains why the beginning of this book took me by immense surprise. I WAS missing something… the entire third book! UGH! To compound that, the further along I read, the more familiar the plot became. I finally decided I must have read this book at some point, long before there was a Goodreads site to help me keep track of my books. (What would I do without GR?)
Despite those hurdles, I still enjoyed the writing, the plot developments, and the emerging emotional dynamics between the characters, which were a little dry up to this point, in my opinion.
This installment was a very atmospheric mystery, with just the right mix of personal character dramas, and crime solving. For me, the first two books in the series were a little wobbly, but by this point, I can see where the foundation is beginning to solidify, giving the series a solid base to build on, which has me all the more determined to achieve my goal and read every book- hopefully in order from now on- in the series, until I get caught up.
This is an excellent British procedural and is beginning to live up it’s elevated reputation. I’m going to circle back and read book three- so stay tuned!
4 stars
This fourth book in the series begins with Gemma’s freak out over the personal developments between herself and Duncan. But, before they can get to the heart of this surprising situation, they are called to the scene of a murder, in which one of their own is the victim.
As the investigation progresses, Gemma reads too much into everything Duncan says or does, impeding their professionalism. If that weren’t prickly enough, it seems the victim’s personal life and behavior amongst his close neighbors had not endeared him to anyone, which leads to an unusually high number of suspects.
This series gets all sorts of critical kudos and readers are intensely loyal to it. I have read a few installments here and there over the years, but kept thinking I was missing out on some key character developments which made the series so special.
So, I decided to begin with book one and work my way through the entire series, in order. Well, that was the plan, anyway. As I have confessed many times before, I am not an organized reader. That is most evident with my attempt to gather the books from this series and read them chronologically. It’s been slow going, and will probably take me a while at the rate I am going. LOL!
The whole time I was reading this book, I thought I had read book three. As it turns out, I have managed to skip the third chapter, which explains why the beginning of this book took me by immense surprise. I WAS missing something… the entire third book! UGH! To compound that, the further along I read, the more familiar the plot became. I finally decided I must have read this book at some point, long before there was a Goodreads site to help me keep track of my books. (What would I do without GR?)
Despite those hurdles, I still enjoyed the writing, the plot developments, and the emerging emotional dynamics between the characters, which were a little dry up to this point, in my opinion.
This installment was a very atmospheric mystery, with just the right mix of personal character dramas, and crime solving. For me, the first two books in the series were a little wobbly, but by this point, I can see where the foundation is beginning to solidify, giving the series a solid base to build on, which has me all the more determined to achieve my goal and read every book- hopefully in order from now on- in the series, until I get caught up.
This is an excellent British procedural and is beginning to live up it’s elevated reputation. I’m going to circle back and read book three- so stay tuned!
4 stars
July 5, 2017
3,5 stars
In the 4th book, Mourn Not Your Dead, Sergeant Gemma James and Superintendent Duncan Kincaid are asked to help with the investigation of the murder of a high ranking police officer, Alastair Gilbert, at his home in Holmbury St Mary, who is disliked intensely by everyone in the village.
The life in the tiny village is very well depicted and the characters are so well-drawn..from the widow, Claire Gilbert and her daughter, Lucy to the locals - the local doctor, vicar, the pub keeper and his kleptomaniac son and even the local and likeable psychic. Of course, the outcome of the investigation was a total surprise.
In between travelling from London to the village, Kincaid and Gemma are trying to come to terms with the development in their relationship, which moved in a new direction when the two slept together at the end of the last book, Leave the Grave Green.
An enjoyable mystery filled with suspense and loads of twists and turns and many unexpected surprises.
In the 4th book, Mourn Not Your Dead, Sergeant Gemma James and Superintendent Duncan Kincaid are asked to help with the investigation of the murder of a high ranking police officer, Alastair Gilbert, at his home in Holmbury St Mary, who is disliked intensely by everyone in the village.
The life in the tiny village is very well depicted and the characters are so well-drawn..from the widow, Claire Gilbert and her daughter, Lucy to the locals - the local doctor, vicar, the pub keeper and his kleptomaniac son and even the local and likeable psychic. Of course, the outcome of the investigation was a total surprise.
In between travelling from London to the village, Kincaid and Gemma are trying to come to terms with the development in their relationship, which moved in a new direction when the two slept together at the end of the last book, Leave the Grave Green.
An enjoyable mystery filled with suspense and loads of twists and turns and many unexpected surprises.
December 29, 2023
4/5
Oh. Oh. Oh gosh. Alright, so… this one took me even longer to finish, and thank gosh I managed to finish it before the new year started, cause… idk, it feels good to finish and start books? LMAO.
Now as for a lil summary along with some of the things I liked aaand the ones I didn’t.
Alistair Gilbert was found dead by his wife Claire Gilbert and her daughter Lucy. He was inside his kitchen and he had been murdered with a hammer. Now it is up to Gemma James & Duncan Kincaid to find out what happened…
The plot was kinda fast-paced, or at least I found it that way myself. I really really enjoyed the way new police officers characters were introduced and how they hung out with our 2 main protagonists; each one had their charm and were very intriguing. Also they made me want to cut their heads off sometimes because of… them being a pain in the butt for not allowing certain… “thing” to happen.
Apart from that, the other side characters who you could say were the suspects, witnesses, alibis or whatever were absolutely remarkable as well. I admired and truly fell in love with all of them, their backstories, their place in the story, everything.
This was quite a complex case, ngl! So many twists, so many sub-plots to the main plot, which don’t get me wrong, didn’t make the case any more or less confusing or mind-breaking than it already was. I swear I was making like 300 theories per hour and still wasn’t even able to justify all of them. However, at the end… I unfortunately managed to come up with a theory and that might be the reason why I didn’t give the book 4.5 or 5 LOL.
As for things I didn’t like, I guess there were some chapters that just went slow but I’m pretty sure that’s common for this type of genre and can’t really expect much. But that’s pretty much it, because going back to things I liked such as the character interactions and the plot, I don’t really have nothing to complain about.
I’d totally recommend it, but I feel stupid now.
Oh. Oh. Oh gosh. Alright, so… this one took me even longer to finish, and thank gosh I managed to finish it before the new year started, cause… idk, it feels good to finish and start books? LMAO.
Now as for a lil summary along with some of the things I liked aaand the ones I didn’t.
Alistair Gilbert was found dead by his wife Claire Gilbert and her daughter Lucy. He was inside his kitchen and he had been murdered with a hammer. Now it is up to Gemma James & Duncan Kincaid to find out what happened…
The plot was kinda fast-paced, or at least I found it that way myself. I really really enjoyed the way new police officers characters were introduced and how they hung out with our 2 main protagonists; each one had their charm and were very intriguing. Also they made me want to cut their heads off sometimes because of… them being a pain in the butt for not allowing certain… “thing” to happen.
Apart from that, the other side characters who you could say were the suspects, witnesses, alibis or whatever were absolutely remarkable as well. I admired and truly fell in love with all of them, their backstories, their place in the story, everything.
This was quite a complex case, ngl! So many twists, so many sub-plots to the main plot, which don’t get me wrong, didn’t make the case any more or less confusing or mind-breaking than it already was. I swear I was making like 300 theories per hour and still wasn’t even able to justify all of them. However, at the end… I unfortunately managed to come up with a theory and that might be the reason why I didn’t give the book 4.5 or 5 LOL.
As for things I didn’t like, I guess there were some chapters that just went slow but I’m pretty sure that’s common for this type of genre and can’t really expect much. But that’s pretty much it, because going back to things I liked such as the character interactions and the plot, I don’t really have nothing to complain about.
I’d totally recommend it, but I feel stupid now.
January 2, 2026
3.5 My first read in 2026!
This is an early book in the Kincaid/James British mystery series of which I have read several and enjoyed them all. This may not be the best but is still interesting and has you wondering who dunnit'.
A high ranking police officer is found severely beaten to death in the kitchen of his home with no clues to be found. He was a very unpopular man, not only with the police but also with everyone who met him and he made the life of his wife and step-daughter difficult to say the least.
We meet some interesting and unusual characters, all of whom are possible suspects and Kincaid and James are stumped. I thought I knew who might be the killer but I was wrong. Lots going on in this book and it is a good entry in this long-running series.
This is an early book in the Kincaid/James British mystery series of which I have read several and enjoyed them all. This may not be the best but is still interesting and has you wondering who dunnit'.
A high ranking police officer is found severely beaten to death in the kitchen of his home with no clues to be found. He was a very unpopular man, not only with the police but also with everyone who met him and he made the life of his wife and step-daughter difficult to say the least.
We meet some interesting and unusual characters, all of whom are possible suspects and Kincaid and James are stumped. I thought I knew who might be the killer but I was wrong. Lots going on in this book and it is a good entry in this long-running series.
December 30, 2017
This was just an excellent mystery in my opinion, now a favorite series of mine, although I am little late to the party! The developing relationship between Duncan and Gemma is well done and I enjoy how they work together, as well as off duty. So looking forward to the next book!
May 5, 2021
THESE PEOPLE.
Let's recap, shall we? In the first book, Duncan is on the prowl for the ladies and of course is attracted to the married and most unavailable of the gender. Second book, Duncan decides he has the hots for his SUBORDINATE Gemma and proceeds to ingratiate himself into her life without really considering how many boundaries he was totally disregarding. Third book, Duncan sleeps with a possible suspect and two days later, gets Gemma in bed. Fourth book, Duncan is shocked, SHOCKED, that Gemma is feeling as this was a really bad idea since she could get sacked for sleeping her way to the top and Scotland Yard doesn't really care if you are meant for each other. Then - and this is the part that just floored me - Gemma pours her heart out to Duncan and agrees to try out a relationship and he basically says, sure let's go to bed!
I am shaking my head at his .... maleness about all of this. As if it is perfectly acceptable to sleep with the person you also order around and then be surprised that that person is (very reasonably) scared for her job as a result. I wanted him to pour his heart out to her and show up as much as she did in that final scene because Gemma earned it. But nope.
The mystery part - meh. It was kind of obvious from the beginning who was responsible and the whole angle with the crooked Met cop was weird and kind of like a third arm. But, I'm also beginning to understand that Deborah Crombie is taking a page from P.D. James in describing every meal that her characters eat which is actually delightful as I get to hear a gorgeous male British accent tell me about to-mah-toe and baz-il. I couldn't put the damn thing down but that was mostly because I was curious how Gemma and Duncan were going to navigate - or ignore - their predicament.
Let's recap, shall we? In the first book, Duncan is on the prowl for the ladies and of course is attracted to the married and most unavailable of the gender. Second book, Duncan decides he has the hots for his SUBORDINATE Gemma and proceeds to ingratiate himself into her life without really considering how many boundaries he was totally disregarding. Third book, Duncan sleeps with a possible suspect and two days later, gets Gemma in bed. Fourth book, Duncan is shocked, SHOCKED, that Gemma is feeling as this was a really bad idea since she could get sacked for sleeping her way to the top and Scotland Yard doesn't really care if you are meant for each other. Then - and this is the part that just floored me - Gemma pours her heart out to Duncan and agrees to try out a relationship and he basically says, sure let's go to bed!
I am shaking my head at his .... maleness about all of this. As if it is perfectly acceptable to sleep with the person you also order around and then be surprised that that person is (very reasonably) scared for her job as a result. I wanted him to pour his heart out to her and show up as much as she did in that final scene because Gemma earned it. But nope.
The mystery part - meh. It was kind of obvious from the beginning who was responsible and the whole angle with the crooked Met cop was weird and kind of like a third arm. But, I'm also beginning to understand that Deborah Crombie is taking a page from P.D. James in describing every meal that her characters eat which is actually delightful as I get to hear a gorgeous male British accent tell me about to-mah-toe and baz-il. I couldn't put the damn thing down but that was mostly because I was curious how Gemma and Duncan were going to navigate - or ignore - their predicament.
March 4, 2009
MOURN NOT YOUR DEAD (Pol Proc-Kincaid/James-England-Cont) – G+
Crombie, Deborah – 4th in series
Avon Mystery, 1996, US Paperback – ISBN: 0060789573
First Sentence: His office seemed to shrink as he paced.
Division Commander Alastair Glbert has been murdered in his own kitchen. Superintendents Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James have been called to investigate. It appears the death may be linked to a number of small burglaries which have occurred.
However, the as they investigate, they find Gilbert was not a popular man. Complicating the investigation is Gemma’s discomfort with the personal relationship growing between her and Kincaid.
It’s nice to find a police procedural that is a traditional mystery. The characters are realistic; not over-the top or angst ridden. The relationship developing between Kincaid and Gemma is well handled with her concerns being understandable.
Crombie knows how to plot a story. I thought I knew where the story was going. I was delighted to be wrong. That’s always a treat.
Crombie is a delight to read. Her sense of place is visual; her dialogue realistic and her humor wry. I’m on to the 5th book.
Crombie, Deborah – 4th in series
Avon Mystery, 1996, US Paperback – ISBN: 0060789573
First Sentence: His office seemed to shrink as he paced.
Division Commander Alastair Glbert has been murdered in his own kitchen. Superintendents Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James have been called to investigate. It appears the death may be linked to a number of small burglaries which have occurred.
However, the as they investigate, they find Gilbert was not a popular man. Complicating the investigation is Gemma’s discomfort with the personal relationship growing between her and Kincaid.
It’s nice to find a police procedural that is a traditional mystery. The characters are realistic; not over-the top or angst ridden. The relationship developing between Kincaid and Gemma is well handled with her concerns being understandable.
Crombie knows how to plot a story. I thought I knew where the story was going. I was delighted to be wrong. That’s always a treat.
Crombie is a delight to read. Her sense of place is visual; her dialogue realistic and her humor wry. I’m on to the 5th book.
December 7, 2016
A senior police commander is found dead in his home kitchen by his wife and daughter. He has been murdered. Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James are called in to investigate along with the local police force. Even though the crime was discovered right away in the book, the beginning was slow for me. The pace picked up in the last two thirds of the book.
As the investigation gained steam, it was found that the victim was not well liked so there were many suspects. Gemma and Duncan are developing romantic feelings towards each other. Gemma wants to hang on to her career so a good portion of the book along with the crime finds Gemma and Duncan treading very cautiously in their relationship. It was a good read and I plan to continue with the series.
As the investigation gained steam, it was found that the victim was not well liked so there were many suspects. Gemma and Duncan are developing romantic feelings towards each other. Gemma wants to hang on to her career so a good portion of the book along with the crime finds Gemma and Duncan treading very cautiously in their relationship. It was a good read and I plan to continue with the series.
June 10, 2020
Despite the fact that I have a love/hate relationship with serieseses, I am always on the hunt for excellence. I do love having something to fall back on, the familiarity of revisiting characters and experiencing their developments, with great story lines, is fantastic, but on the other hand there is
the time commitment and unfortunately familiarity can breed contempt at times.
I am so glad I didn't give up on this series.
I had initially started it based on Louise Penny's recommendation when she was asked who her favourite authors are. At the time I was about 7 books into her Three Pines series and was loving them. (I had major issues with book 9 which totally stonewalled me from continuing, but that's another story.)
Anyway, she had mentioned Deborah Crombie, and little wonder. Set in the UK, the mysteries are set in little villages and are very character driven, very much like Penny's mostly excellent series.
I had rated A Share in Death a conservative three stars. It was OK, a little uneven where the pacing was concerned, but I did like the characters she created, and her writing was very good. I knew that the series improved over time, so I was looking forward to continuing, and the books are reasonably short.
Shortly after, I read All Shall Be Well and came out of that one with an enthusiastic five stars :)
This book had it all: an enticing mystery, excellent characters, and great narrative & dialogue. I was very excited!
Then, book three, Leave the Grave Green. A disappointing two stars. Damn.
Although the good writing was still there, I found the novel dragged quite a bit to the point where I was finding it dull. I was unsure whether I would continue. So many other books on my to-read list, you see, and I ain't getting any younger. But I never forgot about it. A couple of weeks ago I started skimming over reviews of the series and convinced myself to keep with it. To be more specific, it was Julie's reviews that made this an easy decision, like this one:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So: Mourn Not Your Dead.
I'm rating this one an enthusiastic 4 stars. It had everything I like. Again, very strong characters, some wise insight, a good mystery, and some good development with the relationship between Kincaid and James.
The great thing I found about this book is something that is common with the first three: upon starting it, there was a way in which my mind and body totally relaxed as the story began. There aren't a whole lot of authors who have that immediate effect on me, so this is pretty huge.
Given the amount of reading time available to me over the past week, I still managed to get through it rather quickly. Interesting characters is everything for me and there were plenty in this one. Particularly Madeline Wade, and I hope we see more of her in the future. As I said earlier, this novel had a very strong Three Pines vibe to it, in the best of ways. If I could find one knock against it, I wish she would have added a bit more physical descriptions to some of her characters. A few I could picture vividly, particularly Madeline and young Geoff, but I had a hard time remembering the physical aspects of some of the other characters.
I'm sure all were described at one point, but it would have been nice to have some gentle mentions as reminders, which she certainly did with Madeline.
Now, this could also totally be a mental deficiency on my part.
Bottom line, this was quite good, and I'm looking forward to continuing!
the time commitment and unfortunately familiarity can breed contempt at times.
I am so glad I didn't give up on this series.
I had initially started it based on Louise Penny's recommendation when she was asked who her favourite authors are. At the time I was about 7 books into her Three Pines series and was loving them. (I had major issues with book 9 which totally stonewalled me from continuing, but that's another story.)
Anyway, she had mentioned Deborah Crombie, and little wonder. Set in the UK, the mysteries are set in little villages and are very character driven, very much like Penny's mostly excellent series.
I had rated A Share in Death a conservative three stars. It was OK, a little uneven where the pacing was concerned, but I did like the characters she created, and her writing was very good. I knew that the series improved over time, so I was looking forward to continuing, and the books are reasonably short.
Shortly after, I read All Shall Be Well and came out of that one with an enthusiastic five stars :)
This book had it all: an enticing mystery, excellent characters, and great narrative & dialogue. I was very excited!
Then, book three, Leave the Grave Green. A disappointing two stars. Damn.
Although the good writing was still there, I found the novel dragged quite a bit to the point where I was finding it dull. I was unsure whether I would continue. So many other books on my to-read list, you see, and I ain't getting any younger. But I never forgot about it. A couple of weeks ago I started skimming over reviews of the series and convinced myself to keep with it. To be more specific, it was Julie's reviews that made this an easy decision, like this one:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So: Mourn Not Your Dead.
I'm rating this one an enthusiastic 4 stars. It had everything I like. Again, very strong characters, some wise insight, a good mystery, and some good development with the relationship between Kincaid and James.
The great thing I found about this book is something that is common with the first three: upon starting it, there was a way in which my mind and body totally relaxed as the story began. There aren't a whole lot of authors who have that immediate effect on me, so this is pretty huge.
Given the amount of reading time available to me over the past week, I still managed to get through it rather quickly. Interesting characters is everything for me and there were plenty in this one. Particularly Madeline Wade, and I hope we see more of her in the future. As I said earlier, this novel had a very strong Three Pines vibe to it, in the best of ways. If I could find one knock against it, I wish she would have added a bit more physical descriptions to some of her characters. A few I could picture vividly, particularly Madeline and young Geoff, but I had a hard time remembering the physical aspects of some of the other characters.
I'm sure all were described at one point, but it would have been nice to have some gentle mentions as reminders, which she certainly did with Madeline.
Now, this could also totally be a mental deficiency on my part.
Bottom line, this was quite good, and I'm looking forward to continuing!
June 8, 2017
Another good installment of this series. I enjoyed it.
September 5, 2014
This is the fifth book by Deborah Crombie I have read. The mysteries have been well and interestingly plotted, peopled with wonderfully drawn, original characters. But that is not to say they are simply good mysteries. They are something more. Each of them, it seems to me, uses the genre to explore central themes.
"Mourn Not Your Dead" is really a book about feminism. It visits so many of the issues and problems which surround the modern woman: spouse abuse, job discrimination, abandonment, single parenting, financial insolvency in widowhood, and encultured social inequality. Successfully weaving all these ideas into one story and making it seem easy, is testament to the architecture of the book and the strength and reason of its female characters.
Deborah Crombie writes characters that are so engaging, that solving the mystery becomes secondary to our enjoyment.
"Mourn Not Your Dead" is really a book about feminism. It visits so many of the issues and problems which surround the modern woman: spouse abuse, job discrimination, abandonment, single parenting, financial insolvency in widowhood, and encultured social inequality. Successfully weaving all these ideas into one story and making it seem easy, is testament to the architecture of the book and the strength and reason of its female characters.
Deborah Crombie writes characters that are so engaging, that solving the mystery becomes secondary to our enjoyment.
December 16, 2012
This is a well written mystery but it did not work as well for me as the others that I have read in this series. There are many layers to this mystery that get bit tangled for me. The ending didn't feel smooth to me either,it actually felt a bit abrupt. And I feel a bit confused, did I miss out some how on who killed Jackie?
December 28, 2018
The division commander, Alastair Gilbert lies dead in his kitchen with his head bashed in, blood everywhere.....a pristine white floor splattered & smeared with scarlet blood, some of it still running in rivulets. Who did it? His wife Claire Gilbert? Daughter Lucy? Or someone else.....and what does Lewis the dog know? LOL 🙉
An enjoyable installment in the series but way too much drama regarding Kincaid & Gemma’s personal relationship which leads to a predictable outcome 🙄
3.5 ⭐️
June 9, 2017
I had to read this immediately following the previous book, because there was a cliffhanger regarding Duncan and Gemma's relationship.....I had to find out what was going to happen. As much as I like this series.....and it's one of my favorites.....I was annoyed with Gemma through most of the book. She was acting like a spoiled, moody teenager, feeling sorry for herself. It took a couple of tragedies and a few corpses to snap her out of it. But it was still a really good story, and I love the characters!
March 20, 2020
Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James #4: The second book in a row, where I have unknowingly picked up a mid-series read! This one turned out to be a competent, but formulaic Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James mystery set in a Surrey village, where they investigate the murder of a senior policeman at his family home. 5 out of 12.
July 10, 2013
Duncan and Gemma are sent to the country to investigate the murder of a superior police officer. There are lots of suspects since no one in the village seemed to like the victim. Duncan and Gemma are also trying to figure out what to do with their attraction to one another.
June 2, 2020
3.5 stars, but I'm rounding down to three because I knew who the murderer was right from the start.
This is a solid and unexceptionable police procedural. The little village where the investigation happens is charming, with a solid cast of suspects. Plus, the murder victim is a real (believable and well-constructed) d-bag, which I always enjoy, as it tends to make things harder to investigate, and complicates the narrative. There were also enough twists and turns to hold my interest even if I did know who did it. (Also, as an unexpected bonus, there's some very good food description - I was hungry more than once after listening, and I'm going to have to make roast beef and yorkshire pudding sooner rather than later.)
Duncan and Gemma aren't my favourite detectives - I think they play a little fast a lose with hunches and assumptions, especially when it comes to a person's character. There were a few times when they dismissed something, just because they felt it couldn't have happened. Which... does not seem like good police work. But otherwise, they're serviceable investigators for us to follow, and I think the conflict between them served mostly to move the story along, rather than as a distraction.
If you like British police procedural cozy mysteries, you'll probably find this satisfying. I listened to audiobook, and it made a commute more pleasant.
This is a solid and unexceptionable police procedural. The little village where the investigation happens is charming, with a solid cast of suspects. Plus, the murder victim is a real (believable and well-constructed) d-bag, which I always enjoy, as it tends to make things harder to investigate, and complicates the narrative. There were also enough twists and turns to hold my interest even if I did know who did it. (Also, as an unexpected bonus, there's some very good food description - I was hungry more than once after listening, and I'm going to have to make roast beef and yorkshire pudding sooner rather than later.)
Duncan and Gemma aren't my favourite detectives - I think they play a little fast a lose with hunches and assumptions, especially when it comes to a person's character. There were a few times when they dismissed something, just because they felt it couldn't have happened. Which... does not seem like good police work. But otherwise, they're serviceable investigators for us to follow, and I think the conflict between them served mostly to move the story along, rather than as a distraction.
If you like British police procedural cozy mysteries, you'll probably find this satisfying. I listened to audiobook, and it made a commute more pleasant.
January 18, 2024
Our main characters are investigating the death of a senior police officer in this one, as well as trying to figure out their personal relationship.
Great story and characters.
Great story and characters.
November 23, 2025
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this installment well enough, but one specific element bothered me right from the beginning — and once it became clear that it was an integral part of the story, it dampened my overall experience. That being said, I’m still invested in this series and continue to really enjoy both Duncan and Gemma as their partnership develops. The mystery around the murder of an abrasive and widely disliked police commander is solidly constructed, with Crombie doing what she does best: digging into hidden loyalties, buried tensions, and the ripple effects of a small community’s secrets. Not my favorite of the series so far, but still a worthwhile read.
I enjoyed this installment well enough, but one specific element bothered me right from the beginning — and once it became clear that it was an integral part of the story, it dampened my overall experience. That being said, I’m still invested in this series and continue to really enjoy both Duncan and Gemma as their partnership develops. The mystery around the murder of an abrasive and widely disliked police commander is solidly constructed, with Crombie doing what she does best: digging into hidden loyalties, buried tensions, and the ripple effects of a small community’s secrets. Not my favorite of the series so far, but still a worthwhile read.
September 10, 2012
This was not exactly my favorite of the Duncan/Gemma stories so far largely because of the way the relationship between Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Duncan Kincaid and his sergeant Gemma James was portrayed.
In the last book, Duncan, who had been divorced by his wife before the series began, had slept with, for no apparent reason, on of the suspect in a murder then turned around and for no apparent reason slept with his sergeant, single mom Gemma who had been abandoned by her toddler son Toby's dad once the child was born.
After the sex, Gemma had fled and this book began. She had asked for and received leave and then hid from Duncan until a prominent Commander of the London Metropolitan Police is murdered in his own home and Duncan and Gemma must solve the crime with the local police in the suburb where he lived with the wife Claire who he was abusing and his step daughter Lucy who hated his guts. In fact, no one in the town liked him at all.
Gemma is worried about her career. Sleeping with her guv' nor could mean trouble. She misunderstands and thinks she was just a one night stand for him and wants to go back to where they were before that but isn't sure they can. Duncan is shocked when she tells him it meant nothing and is to be forgotten. The two of them are horribly awkward in the book the entire time and it changes the whole flavor of the series.
The characters are interesting in this book- Brian the pub owner whose kleptomaniac son was sexually and emotionally abused before his mother ran off and left them, Madeleine the new Ager, Will who is a sweet cop with a way with people and is full of kindness (his dad had murdered his mother who had Alzheimer's when he found he had cancer then turned the gun on himself), Claire who had lost her beloved husband and became the dead guy's trophy wife, and more. Actually I kind of wanted to visit the village myself.
Good story and fortunately Duncan and Gemma come to an understanding.
In the last book, Duncan, who had been divorced by his wife before the series began, had slept with, for no apparent reason, on of the suspect in a murder then turned around and for no apparent reason slept with his sergeant, single mom Gemma who had been abandoned by her toddler son Toby's dad once the child was born.
After the sex, Gemma had fled and this book began. She had asked for and received leave and then hid from Duncan until a prominent Commander of the London Metropolitan Police is murdered in his own home and Duncan and Gemma must solve the crime with the local police in the suburb where he lived with the wife Claire who he was abusing and his step daughter Lucy who hated his guts. In fact, no one in the town liked him at all.
Gemma is worried about her career. Sleeping with her guv' nor could mean trouble. She misunderstands and thinks she was just a one night stand for him and wants to go back to where they were before that but isn't sure they can. Duncan is shocked when she tells him it meant nothing and is to be forgotten. The two of them are horribly awkward in the book the entire time and it changes the whole flavor of the series.
The characters are interesting in this book- Brian the pub owner whose kleptomaniac son was sexually and emotionally abused before his mother ran off and left them, Madeleine the new Ager, Will who is a sweet cop with a way with people and is full of kindness (his dad had murdered his mother who had Alzheimer's when he found he had cancer then turned the gun on himself), Claire who had lost her beloved husband and became the dead guy's trophy wife, and more. Actually I kind of wanted to visit the village myself.
Good story and fortunately Duncan and Gemma come to an understanding.
February 1, 2019
3 stars.
I have to admit I was more interested in the progress of Duncan and Gemma's relationship than on the case, especially since the victim was so unpopular with everyone. Would have liked to get a resolution on Gemma's friend though.
I have to admit I was more interested in the progress of Duncan and Gemma's relationship than on the case, especially since the victim was so unpopular with everyone. Would have liked to get a resolution on Gemma's friend though.
May 14, 2024
This series continues as more of a character study than a police procedural, and I'm really happy with Michael Deehy's narration and the voices he gives the characters. Very worthwhile.
October 23, 2019
Since the last installment in this series didn't entirely work for me, I went into this book with a little bit of apprehension. I ended liking it quite a bit.
James and Kincaid are called out from Scotland Yard to a very small English village because a high-ranking police commander has been murdered at his home there. Initially, I had wondered if this was going to be a bittersweet tale of a mentor lost, etc... One figures out pretty quickly, though, that the late Alastair Gilbert, was not entirely lamented by very many people. In fact, it soon appears that he was a rigidly unpleasant boss, a neighborhood crank and no great shakes as a husband/stepfather.
The tone of this book made me keep reading because I enjoyed seeing James and Kincaid find their way among the assortment of village characters, from the likable and perceptive constable to the various shopkeepers and Gilbert's rather mysterious wife and stepdaughter. In addition, the two leads are constantly off-kilter and trying to navigate their own professional and personal relationships with each other, a side of the story that is told much better in this novel than in the one immediately preceding.
The mystery in this book is interesting, and the solution not entirely as I initially suspected, and I enjoyed seeing the characters James and Kincaid both developed with more depth. I will definitely keep reading.
James and Kincaid are called out from Scotland Yard to a very small English village because a high-ranking police commander has been murdered at his home there. Initially, I had wondered if this was going to be a bittersweet tale of a mentor lost, etc... One figures out pretty quickly, though, that the late Alastair Gilbert, was not entirely lamented by very many people. In fact, it soon appears that he was a rigidly unpleasant boss, a neighborhood crank and no great shakes as a husband/stepfather.
The tone of this book made me keep reading because I enjoyed seeing James and Kincaid find their way among the assortment of village characters, from the likable and perceptive constable to the various shopkeepers and Gilbert's rather mysterious wife and stepdaughter. In addition, the two leads are constantly off-kilter and trying to navigate their own professional and personal relationships with each other, a side of the story that is told much better in this novel than in the one immediately preceding.
The mystery in this book is interesting, and the solution not entirely as I initially suspected, and I enjoyed seeing the characters James and Kincaid both developed with more depth. I will definitely keep reading.
February 15, 2021
3.5 stars
This installment has nice levels of complexity and some nuance, as I’ve come to expect from this author. But she disregards some expectations of the genre, resulting in less-than-satisfying resolutions.
Though I had an idea who the perpetrator was, I thought that wouldn’t be the answer because it would be a disappointing one.
I was left surprised by the author’s choices, and wondering what the law says about such cases and whether in this kind of case American and English law differ—thoughts that distract from the story rather than suggest it’s thought-provoking. I’m just trying to make sense of it.
Then there’s an enormous plot element left dangling and unrecognized at the end.
Despite these significant issues, this is mostly satisfying reading in a favorite series. Despite the disappointments, knocking it down to a 3 doesn’t reflect my overall enjoyment of the book.
Now, if the next in the series has similar issues, my enjoyment of the series will be dragged down and I expect the stars would follow.
This installment has nice levels of complexity and some nuance, as I’ve come to expect from this author. But she disregards some expectations of the genre, resulting in less-than-satisfying resolutions.
Though I had an idea who the perpetrator was, I thought that wouldn’t be the answer because it would be a disappointing one.
I was left surprised by the author’s choices, and wondering what the law says about such cases and whether in this kind of case American and English law differ—thoughts that distract from the story rather than suggest it’s thought-provoking. I’m just trying to make sense of it.
Then there’s an enormous plot element left dangling and unrecognized at the end.
Despite these significant issues, this is mostly satisfying reading in a favorite series. Despite the disappointments, knocking it down to a 3 doesn’t reflect my overall enjoyment of the book.
Now, if the next in the series has similar issues, my enjoyment of the series will be dragged down and I expect the stars would follow.
Read
October 7, 2022I’ve enjoyed the first three books in this series, hence my decision to read the fourth one. But this was almost slower than a Louise Penny book, and I had to draw deep on the reservoir of reading stamina to get to the back cover. It wasn’t even particularly original in its solution.
Someone beat Alastair Gilbert to death. Big deal, you say? Well, yeah, it was. Gilbert was a supervisor at Scotland Yard, and the cops get singularly focused when one of theirs dies violently.
As Kincaid and James dig in, they find all kinds of reasons why Gilbert should die. Before this ends, a beat cop and close friend of Gemma’s will die while walking home from her night shift. Her murder may be connected to that of Gilbert.
Someone beat Alastair Gilbert to death. Big deal, you say? Well, yeah, it was. Gilbert was a supervisor at Scotland Yard, and the cops get singularly focused when one of theirs dies violently.
As Kincaid and James dig in, they find all kinds of reasons why Gilbert should die. Before this ends, a beat cop and close friend of Gemma’s will die while walking home from her night shift. Her murder may be connected to that of Gilbert.
March 5, 2018
I'm enjoying this series immensely. Here Kincaid and James are investigating a murder of a high ranking police officer killed in his home. In addition to the normal course of the investigation, they also must deal with internal police matters. Each of them is also attracted to others in the story as well as each other. Lots of personal tension as the story unfolds.
I'll keep reading this series.
I'll keep reading this series.
March 6, 2018
This series is just so good ! In Mourn Not Your Dead, Duncan and Gemma are called in to help find who murdered Alastair Gilbert, a captain with the London Metropolitan Police, in the kitchen of his home in suburban Surry. Turns out the captain has few friends, but quite a few people who are not fond of him. Meanwhile, Gemma is keeping her distance from Duncan...will they ever return t their previous relationship! Fun read!
October 10, 2021
One of the police commanders has been killed in his home, and Gemma and Duncan are sent to investigate.
Good storyline, though the angst between Gemma and Duncan was a bit annoying. Best get used to it since their relationship has taken a turn.
Good storyline, though the angst between Gemma and Duncan was a bit annoying. Best get used to it since their relationship has taken a turn.
November 5, 2023
I love this series and how I feel so “English” every time I read about Duncan and Gemma! I also love that the author lives in my hometown of McKinney, TX.
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