Rating: Very Good
Source: Purchased (Audible)
Description: A week's holiday in a luxurious Yorkshire time-share is just what Scotland Yard's Superintendent Duncan Kincaid needs. But the discovery of a body floating in the whirlpool bath ends Kincaid's vacation before it's begun. One of his new acquaintances at Followdale House is dead; another is a killer. Despite a distinct lack of cooperation from the local constabulary, Kincaid's keen sense of duty won't allow him to ignore the heinous crime, impelling him to send for his enthusiastic young assistant, Sergeant Gemma James. But the stakes are raised dramatically when a second murder occurs, and Kincaid and James find themselves in a determined hunt for a fiendish felon who enjoys homicide a bit too much.
Genre: Mystery
Why I Picked This Book: This series has long been a favorite and I've been wanting to restart at the beginning for quite some time.
My Impression: This was technically a reread for me but since it's been more than 15 years since I've read it I don't think it counts! This is a favorite series of mine and I've been wanting to revisit the early days of Duncan and Gemma for quite some time. I'm so glad that I finally did! The latest books in this series have been pretty sizable with lots of character development and all kinds of twists and turn. This first book in the series was a bit more simple. We get a look at Duncan and Gemma's inner thoughts and daily lives but it's hardly the focus. As well, the mystery, while beautifully done is a bit more streamlined as well. It was a thoroughly entertaining listen with lots of possible suspects and motives. I loved this modern take on a house party murder and really enjoyed looking over Duncan's shoulder as he found himself in the middle of a murder investigation. Gemma's side investigations were also entertaining and I could understand her frustration with not knowing exactly what she was looking for as she looked into different suspects.
This was a series that completely lived up to my expectations and my memory and I'm so glad I took the time to listen to the first book in this long running series. I listened to the audio version of this story and while narrator, Michael Deehy, did a great job I didn't feel like this is a book you simply must listen to. It's a solid entertaining mystery either read or listened to and I'm looking forward to continuing with my reread of the series.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Definitely! I'd like to continue from the beginning but I will also be looking for any new books from Crombie.
Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy mysteries than Crombie is a must read.
I would struggle with this kind of thing because of the lack of realism aspects! A visiting detective like that would be interviewed as a witness but the local detectives would be doing the case. I mentally wouldn't be able to get past that!
ReplyDeleteI love this series and I think it's good on audio or, of course, read in print. Now I'll give you something to cheer for - this last Monday, Deb Crombie shared on Jungle Red Writers (the blog that she and other female mystery writers do together) that she just finished the 18th book in the series. It will be called A BITTER FEAST and it will be out in October of this year. I say WAHOO!! It's been a while. I might think a reread of the series myself. I think I have most of them on audio.
ReplyDeleteAs you probably know, Katherine, this is one of my favorite series and one of my favorite authors. And I was about to echo Kay and mention a new book is coming, but she beat me to the punch...lol. Really looking forward to the new book!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I have read this author but this sounds like something I would like. Glad you enjoyed it this time around.
ReplyDeleteWhoa that's a lot of years between re-reads. Awesome it stood up to the years!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds awesome!! I'm adding it to my TBR right now!
ReplyDeleteListening to an audio version of a murder must give you a different experience than reading it on paper. I'll have to try that. I've listened to cozy murders where Agatha Raisin made me LOL.
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