Reviews

Mourn Not Your Dead by Deborah Crombie

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mojoshivers's review against another edition

5.0

The deeper I get into this series, the more I enjoy it. The mysteries are intriguing while not overly complicated. I’m never in danger of disbelief, that what I had just read stretches the bounds of legitimacy. This book was no different. When somebody kills a right bastard of a police inspector, the list of suspects isn’t very long. And as the book goes on, you realize where you’re being pointed. Then as the killer is revealed, it’s not even a surprise if you’ve been paying attention.

What is surprising is the burgeoning love affair between Kincaid and James. They make such a good pair as Inspector and Sergeant; it’s odd to think they could be in love as well. It’d be like Holmes dating Watson. It’s one thing to be dating one’s partner at an investigation agency, but it feels dangerous and against regulations to date one’s superior at Scotland Yard.

At any rate, it does make for a good slow-burning subplot. Four books in and I can tell this is going to be the slowest moving train when it comes to advancing the romance between them. That’s how it should be. The cases should come first and the personal stories second. The Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry did that very well, and I’m thinking this series as well will ride that formula to success.

judyward's review against another edition

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4.0

Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James are sent from London to the small village of Holmburg St. Mary to investigate the death of Alastair Gilbert. Gilbert is a Division Commander, a high ranking police official in London, and a horrible, horrible human being. Traveling between London and Holmburg St. Mary, Kincaid and James find motives, suspects, and red herrings in abundance. There's also suspected spousal abuse, police corruption, small objects that are mysteriously disappearing in the village, and an examination of the problems inherent in getting emotionally involved with a co-worker. A good read.