::READERS REVIEWS::

Poetry, Rupert Brooke and Murder - Fabulous! - First Sentence: The post slid through the letter box, cascading onto the tile floor of the entry hall with a sound like the wind rustling through bamboo.

Twelve years ago, Duncan Kincaid's wife walked away from their marriage. Receiving a call, asking for his help was not something he expected. Victoria Kincaid McClellan, mother of Kit, and abandoned by her current husband, has a position with the English Faculty and is writing a biography on 20th Century poet Lydia Ashby who had, supposedly, died by suicide.

In doing her research, Vic begins to wonder whether the suicide from overdose of heart medication, might have been murder and asks Duncan's help in talking with the local police. When Victoria dies by the same means, Duncan, with Gemma's help, is committed to finding the answers.

After a compelling, evocative opening, I flew through this book in one sitting.

The personalities of all the characters, living and dead are so vivid and interesting. Duncan and Gemma have a relationship that is slowly developing and the reappearance of Duncan's ex-wife and her son add a new dimension. With the events of this story, their lives and relationship are forever changed, thus providing a greater sense of reality to the characters.

Crombie's writing has such a wonderful style. It is emotional, intelligent and thought provoking. I felt the inclusion of Lydia's letters, as well as the excerpts from Rupert Brooke, added dimension and pathos to the story. At the same time it is a well-plotted mystery with exceptionally good twists.

It seems strange to say, but I am always more impressed by Ms. Crombie's books then I expect to be. I am delighted I still have many books of hers yet to read.

DREAMING OF THE BONES (Pol Proc-Super. Duncan Kincaid/Sgt. Gemma James-England-Cont) - Ex
Crombie, Deborah - 4th in series
Avon Mystery, Copyright 1997, US Paperback - ISBN: 9780061150401

Great story - I have read a few of this author's books and have enjoyed them thoroughly. The characters are well defined and this story takes them into new territory not only in their work but in their relationship. This book kept me up late as I read to the end.

A New Phase for Duncan and Gemma - 5th in Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series. Duncan's ex-wife calls and asks him for his help in figuring out whether a poet actually killed herself or if it was murder. At first, Duncan disagrees, but when Vic is killed herself, he finds himself trying to figure out both crimes while trying to help Vic's son grieve.

A bit uncredible. - After reading Leave the Grave Green as an audiobook and enjoying it thoroughly, I was tempted to read more Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James mysteries. I picked out Dreaming of the Bones. While Deborah Crombie is a skillful writer, and there were many things in the story I enjoyed, there were a number of plot elements that I found uncredible that detracted from this sequel. I did not find a credible motive for the main murder nor the accidental murder years earlier that started the chain of deceit. It just didn't work for me that the whole group of kids would have hidden a foolish crime or an accident the way they did. To have a successful mystery you have to have a believable premise that delivers at the end, and this one didn't.

A powerful tale of love and loss - Reading this book was an emotionally draining experience-the kind that always comes after reading a thrilling literary novel. Many of the characters in this book feel loss in one sense or another, but it's the way Crombie conveys this that make the book so potent. With magnificent characters and startling plot twists, this elaborate whodunit keeps you guessing up until the end. Even though I was disappointed by the identity of the killer, the book was still worth it. Superintendent Duncan Kincaid gets an unexpected call from his ex-wife, who is writing a biography of ill-fated poet. Asked to look into the poet's suicide, Duncan finds some inconsistencies but the police refuse to reopen the case. Suddenly his ex-wife is murdered; poisoned just like the poet. Now Duncan and his partner and lover, Sergeant Gemma James, must find out who murdered the poet in order to expose his ex-wife's killer.

slow start, great finish - during the first third of this book I found myself not liking it as much as the previous novels in the series. Why? Well there just wasn't that much Kinkaid/James in this Kinkaid/James mystery! I'm glad I stuck with it though because it ended up being very good and quite frankly one of Crombie's darker books.

Things are going as normal for Duncan and Gemma..they're both comfortable with their relationship, doing their normal workday routines as coppers in Scotland Yard when Duncan gets a call from the last person he ever suspected, his ex wife, Victoria.

Vic is a professor of literature at the University and has been working on a biography of a local poet from the 60s, the problem with that is that she's become rather obsessed. Lydia was a local moderate success in the 60s and had a history of attempted suicides until finally, it was a successful attempt. As Vic does more research she finds herself more and more uneasy with the case being deemed a suicide. Vic thinks Lydia was murdered and she asks for Duncan's help.

Much to Gemma's consternation, Duncan decides to help in what limited way he can by calling in some favors and soon he finds himself more and more intrigued by the case. What's more, Vic doesn't seem to be the cold viper that Duncan remembers walking out on him without a word years ago, much to Gemma's chagrin.

As I said at the beginning, the first third of the novel is primarily about Vic. Vic doing research for the book which leads her into the circle of old friends Lydia kept from University until she died. The mystery was set up nicely but I found myself missing the abundance of Duncan and Gemma that Crombie usually gives us in these novels. Not that the beginning of the book is bad, I just wanted more D and K. Crombie throws a gear into the works though that entrenches Duncan and Gemma even further into a case neither of them had any interest in (for obvious reasons) and exposes a history of darkness, secrets and seemingly unattainable redemption.

As usual, Crombie evolves the relationship with Duncan and Gemma at a nice pace with some very interesting developments that are sure to keep the series fresh and new. Well, new to me anyway being that I'm late to the party ;)

So, if you find yourself feeling the beginning is a little slow or not as engrossing as the rest of the novels because of the seeming lack of Kinkaid and James, you'd do well to stick with it! As the mystery reveals itself the book only gets better and better.