This was not exactly my favorite of the Duncan/Gemma stories so far largely because of the way the relationship between Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Duncan Kincaid and his sergeant Gemma James was portrayed.In the last book, Duncan, who had been divorced by his wife before the series began, had slept with, for no apparent reason, on of the suspect in a murder then turned around and for no apparent reason slept with his sergeant, single mom Gemma who had been abandoned by her toddler son Toby's dad once the child was born. After the sex, Gemma had fled and this book began. She had asked for and received leave and then hid from Duncan until a prominent Commander of the London Metropolitan Police is murdered in his own home and Duncan and Gemma must solve the crime with the local police in the suburb where he lived with the wife Claire who he was abusing and his step daughter Lucy who hated his guts. In fact, no one in the town liked him at all. Gemma is worried about her career. Sleeping with her guv' nor could mean trouble. She misunderstands and thinks she was just a one night stand for him and wants to go back to where they were before that but isn't sure they can. Duncan is shocked when she tells him it meant nothing and is to be forgotten. The two of them are horribly awkward in the book the entire time and it changes the whole flavor of the series. The characters are interesting in this book- Brian the pub owner whose kleptomaniac son was sexually and emotionally abused before his mother ran off and left them, Madeleine the new Ager, Will who is a sweet cop with a way with people and is full of kindness (his dad had murdered his mother who had Alzheimer's when he found he had cancer then turned the gun on himself), Claire who had lost her beloved husband and became the dead guy's trophy wife, and more. Actually I kind of wanted to visit the village myself. Good story and fortunately Duncan and Gemma come to an understanding.
This was my second Kincaid/Jones mystery fourth in the series), and I admit a good part of my interest was to see what would happen between the two of them after their relationship changed in Leave the Grave Green. In truth, perhaps because I wasn't an established fan of the series, the relationship and its hurdles served mainly as a distraction to me, as well as to the two of them. It was an almost classic situation of oh-for-heaven's-sake-just-talk-to-each-other, with Gemma pretending so hard that everything was normal that she made it far more abnormal, and Kincaid alternating between clueless wounded bafflement and brisk professionalism. The murder in question, though, was interesting. Kincaid and James are called in on the case of a brutal murder – the twist being that the victim is a Commander of the London Metropolitan Police. Obviously the murder of a cop is always going to galvanize the force – but this story sheds a little light on a motivation other than the obvious. Apart from "someone killed one of us and getting the killer is our top priority", there is in this case another level of security and urgency about the situation: the deeper Kincaid and James have to look into this case, the more tarnished the victim's image is going to become – he was not a nice person, to put it mildly. His wife and step-daughter, who discovered the body, are implicated, of course, and so are several of the neighbors, and so for that matter are various colleagues and underlings who loathed him. The usual complement of affairs and quirks are uncovered, and it soon becomes clear that most of the neighborhood is united in protecting … someone. Or something. tThe book in specific and the series in general don't hold me. I own several which I've picked up here and there as the opportunity presented itself, and I'll probably read them one day.
What do You think about Mourn Not Your Dead (2005)?
BOTTOM LINE: #4 DI Duncan Kincaid, DS Gemma James, suburban Surrey, UK; cosy police proceduraL. When a police Commander is found murdered in his ritzy home, Duncan and Gemma find many motives, numerous layers of guilt and grief, and a great deal of caring, as they come to understand the dynamics of living in a small village. Crombie’s strong plotting and fine sense of proportion makes for a mystery that’s first class, all the way. Highly recommended.The plot and characters seem classic initially, but the superficialities are soon stripped away to a rich depth of feeling and sensibility. Superb mixture of police procedure and interpersonal interweavings, very carefully balanced. Kind, but not too sweet, it takes a subtly wry look at many mystery conventions, particularly co-workers as lovers. While similar in format, Crombie's work is less well known than Elizabeth George’s and is, IMO, far superior.
—Abbey
A very unlikeable District Commander has been found murdered in his kitchen. His wife and stepdaughter are reeling after finding the body. Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James are sent from Scotland Yard to investigate this unusual occurrence in a picturesque little village. Was the murderer a burglar caught in the act or was the motive revenge? Both are plausible explanations which lead the investigators down several paths. Mourn not your Dead is filled with interesting characters in a charming location. The murderer? Didn't guess it due to Ms. Crombie's careful plotting. It's a 3.5 for me and a recommendation for the Kincaid/James series. I haven't read the books in order and still enjoy the mystery each time, but new readers who wish to see the relationships develop should start with A Share in Death.
—Lynn
I read this as a lighter break from another book I was reading--which perhaps says I didn't give it my full attention. I like the story line of the main characters--which has been developed in the first three of the series and continues in this, the fourth. But it seems to me that the mystery here is a bit weaker. IN particular, there are some red herrings--I think they are red herrings--that are strewn before us but never shown for what they are. It's as though they were forgotten. But I didn't forget them--and it seemed a bit sloppy to me. Still, I'm on to the fifth.
—Julie
