‘Kissed a Sad Goodbye’ by Deborah Crombie was a really good book but also a slightly frustrating book. By intertwining a historical story into the current crime story it was frustrating, as the reader, to not understand what was going on. I knew, because I occasionally employ common sense that the two stories would meet up somewhere, but that didn’t make it less frustrating to try and remember what was happening in each separate storyline during the breakaways. The other thing I struggled with has absolutely nothing to do with the author or the story. It totally had to do with me. So I’m going to go off topic for a second and not even talk about ‘this’ book but books in general. Anyone who knows me, like in real flesh and blood life, knows that I am a reader. At times a voracious reader. So when the opportunity arises I am given a lot, a LOT, of books. And I keep them. And read them. And occasionally remember to write reviews on them. ‘Kissed a Sad Goodbye’ is one that was given to me. And it’s part of an ongoing series. Yes, it is a series that each book can and does stand alone. But when you jump in to book 6 with an ongoing cast you don’t get all the nuances of the character relationships. You sorta have to piece them together with the tidbits of refresher information that is given out. And that, while struggling, is through no one’s fault but my own. Had I been smart I’d have checked the library for the first 5 books. But nope, jumped in both feet. And liked it anyway.I don’t know a lot about British law enforcement having been fortunate enough to never have been in contact with any. So I did some assuming here and there and pretended I knew what it all meant. Apparently a higher level detective (Kincaid) and his lower ranked partner (James) work together and have a small fling going on the side. Kincaid has a son, maybe, he never knew about and is working on building a relationship with him while having to still deal with cases and real life that interferes. Whereas James also has a child and wants to learn to play the piano. Oh yeah, and they have a murder to solve. Of a young, beautiful, successful woman. As the case plays out the flashbacks, once I remembered which family was which and whose name belonged with which family, begin to tell the story of why this young lady was murdered. Of course I figured it out after all the usual suspects are pulled in and out and eventually cleared. I was actually almost, not entirely but almost, surprised by the outcome.Deborah Crombie impressed me with her writing style. She impressed me that I actually remained guessing at the suspect almost to the end. I enjoyed this book. Luckily I own this book so I can re-read it when I choose. Though I probably should check the library for the five in the series prior to it so the relationships make more sense. And maybe I’ll learn why James wants to learn piano so badly in the beginning and why it has to be such a secret. That mystery I never did figure out!
In her previous novel, "Dreaming of the Bones" Deborah Crombie explored a new structure intertwining two story lines--past and present. And IMO she was not particularly successful in that first attempt.In "Kissed A Sad Goodbye" she uses the same technique but with much better effect. The modern murder mystery was plotted with the precision and attention to characterization and setting that have become a hallmark of her books, while the back story forms such a poignant and historically significant tale that it could be successfully rendered as a stand alone novel. She slips flawlessly between the two.The only exceptions were the chapter quotations in which historical arcania of Dog Island were cited. These were extraneous and IMO served neither to advance the plot or enrich the setting. But as I have come to expect with her books, an underlying value is explored as well, here, for me, it was about fatherhood and how formative a force it can be in a child's life. With her final chapter, a very satisfying string of vignettes resolves all the disparate conflicts and brings most of the actors some modicum of peace and justice. The arc of Gemma and Duncan's personal lives has not been neglected either with Duncan facing the challenges of fatherhood and Gemma, self-discovery and temptation. But pursuing their story lines means moving on to the next book in the series, which has undeniably always been a strong incentive for this reader.
What do You think about Kissed A Sad Goodbye (2001)?
BOTTOM LINE: #6 Duncan and Gemma, Isle of Dogs, London, Surrey; cosy police procedural. The death of a beautiful young executive in 1999 and her family’s history during WW2 in Surrey and the East End and The Isle of Dogs, gets interwoven with Duncan and Gemma’s relationship, the rebuilding of London, friendship and power, lust and love, into a densely plotted mystery. The pacing is so very good that despite an initial confusion (difficult to keep all the times and people straight at first) I was pulled along into the center of a convoluted history that entwines two families: a slum boy-made-good, and his wealthy friend, who as children were relocated to the country and spend the war years together. They became first friends, then best friends, finally enemies, and their past catches up with them, with dire results for those they love. The ending is a touch too quiet for my entire liking, but the story has great power and charm. I find Duncan and Gemma’s relationship to be the most interesting bit, and wish Crombie wouldn’t tease the reader so! And the first third of the book is incredibly confusing, there’s so many people and plot threads almost hurled at you all at once. I figured them all out, but it took patience. Luckily it was worth it - her writing is so compelling that I simply had to continue.
—Abbey
After reading so many of these books, I feel as if I know London well. She is an incredible writer who manages to flesh out her settings and characters that you believe you actually know the places and people. In this 6th book of the series, Duncan has invited his son Kit for the weekend and got tickets to a tennis match, and they are in thwe car when Duncan's cell phone rings and he has been called to the scene of a dead body. Kit is disappointed, especially because he has just been told that Duncan is his biological father. Duncan calls on his friend Major to take Kit and he drives to the crime scene. A young woman's body has been found by someone walking in the park. She is identified as Annabelle Hammond, head of a family-owned tea company. I'm sure there is no higher calling in England then dealing in tea, as everyone in England drinks gallons a day. When Duncan and Gemma begin questioning people who knew her, they find she was headstrong and manipulative. Suspects include her upper-class fiance, the handsome street musician, her sister's vengeful ex-husband, and even her own father. They do realize that the case has long roots that reach far back into the past. Crombie does an excellent job of shifting between the blitz bombing of London and present day London. I highly recommend this series.
—Bonnie
Kissed A Sad GoodbyeBy Deborah CrombieNarrated By Jenny SterlinI listened to the audible book and read on the Kindle.The book tells two stories that come together in the murder of beautiful Annabelle Hammond. On the kindle version the flashbacks to WWII England are italicized. In the audible version it is confusing to when the story jumps back and forth in time. I also was not expecting the rape of a child in the story, or I would not have been playing it in the car with children passengers. The busker that Gemma had spoken briefly to in other books, becomes a main character in this story.On the personal side - Duncan struggles with being a father to Kit – who doesn’t know their relationship He also doesn’t know what to do when Ian McClelian, who is legally Kit’s father, shows back up to claim the boy he abandoned. Kit’s disturbed Grandmother has been making threats to gain custody of Kit. Something that Ian and Duncan agree is not in Kit’s best interests.
—Kimberly
