A share in death

Detective Inspector Duncan Kincaid is finally taking a holiday from his stress-filled job at Scotland Yard. He plans to relax, walk on the moors, and do some sightseeing, but this is a crime novel, after all, and vacations never go according to plan in crime novels. On Kincaid's second day at the time-share condo he's rented in the north of England, the assistant manager is found electrocuted in the whirlpool. Then a guest is bludgeoned to death on the tennis court. Kincaid is sure the killer is one of the guests at the condo, but he's puzzled by the lack of motive, the dissimilarity between the two victims, and the different methods the murderer used. It takes the near-death of another guest before Kincaid realizes he's been looking in all the wrong places for all the wrong reasons. But his quick thinking and fast action expose the ruthless murderer and uncover the surprising motive. This is a thoroughly entertaining mystery with a cleverly conceived and well-executed plot; there are also some nice humorous touches, and, best of all, Kincaid is a likable, intelligent, and perceptive chap. ~--Emily Melton

This polished mystery seems more the work of a seasoned genre master than the first novel it is. Det. Supt. Duncan Kincaid, spending his vacation from Scotland Yard at a Yorkshire time-share along with several other guests, finds his holiday anything but relaxing. Immediately after he arrives at the elegant estate, he overhears a heated argument between the snobbish caretaker and her sarcastic assistant manager. Late that evening, the assistant is electrocuted in the Jacuzzi. To the consternation of Yorkshire police, Kincaid assumes an active role in the investigation, which becomes more urgent after two more deaths. Meanwhile, Sgt. Gemma James, a pragmatic single mother charmed by Kincaid's unpretentious demeanor and bachelor status, digs for additional clues in London. Crombie, a Texan, has written a convincingly British whodunit, limning Kincaid and James with the ease and authority of one who has already completed several installments in a series. Readers will surely welcome follow-up appearances. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

This talented American debuts with an energetic ``British'' mystery. When New Scotland Yard detective Duncan Kincaid finally takes a well-deserved vacation at a Yorkshire time-share resort, he becomes involved in the murder of an employee there. He enlists the aid of his London partner, Sergeant Gemma James, and the two gather enough material to weed through the resident/suspect young politician, spinster sister, adulterous lovers, etc. Great continuity, clever plotting, and hidden agendas all contribute to a successful novel. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The morning after Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid arrives at Followdale House in northern England, he finds assistant manager Sebastian Wade's electrocuted corpse in the time-share's pool. Suicide, insists dim, boorish local Chief Inspector Nash, but Duncan interrupts his holiday to investigate his fellow guests: political hopeful Patrick Rennie and his well-connected wife Marta; endearing spinster sisters Penelope and Emma MacKenzie; ex-army twit Edward Lyle and his long-suffering wife Janet; and attractive scientist Hannah Alcock, who has her own hidden agenda at Followdale. There'll be more murderous attacks, some neat mystification, and a modestly effective solution, though Anglophilic first-novelist Crombie, a Texan, piles on the Yorkshire charm a little thick. Quietly competent, in the manner of the early Martha Grimes.

This talented American debuts with an energetic ``British'' mystery. When New Scotland Yard detective Duncan Kincaid finally takes a well-deserved vacation at a Yorkshire time-share resort, he becomes involved in the murder of an employee there. He enlists the aid of his London partner, Sergeant Gemma James, and the two gather enough material to weed through the resident/suspect young politician, spinster sister, adulterous lovers, etc. Great continuity, clever plotting, and hidden agendas all contribute to a successful novel. Copyright 1993 Cahners Business Information.

This polished mystery seems more the work of a seasoned genre master than the first novel it is. Det. Supt. Duncan Kincaid, spending his vacation from Scotland Yard at a Yorkshire time-share along with several other guests, finds his holiday anything but relaxing. Immediately after he arrives at the elegant estate, he overhears a heated argument between the snobbish caretaker and her sarcastic assistant manager. Late that evening, the assistant is electrocuted in the Jacuzzi. To the consternation of Yorkshire police, Kincaid assumes an active role in the investigation, which becomes more urgent after two more deaths. Meanwhile, Sgt. Gemma James, a pragmatic single mother charmed by Kincaid's unpretentious demeanor and bachelor status, digs for additional clues in London. Crombie, a Texan, has written a convincingly British whodunit, limning Kincaid and James with the ease and authority of one who has already completed several installments in a series. Readers will surely welcome follow-up appearances. (Feb.) Copyright 1992 Cahners Business Information.