To Dwell in Darkness

 

To Dwell in Darkness by Deborah Crombie

Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Series #16

2014 William Morrow

Finished on October 28, 2022

Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

In the tradition of Elizabeth George, Louise Penny, and P. D. James, "New York Times" bestselling author Deborah Crombie delivers a powerful tale of intrigue, betrayal, and lies that will plunge married London detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James into the unspeakable darkness that lies at the heart of murder.

Recently transferred to the London borough of Camden from Scotland Yard headquarters, Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his new murder investigation team are called to a deadly bombing at historic St. Pancras Station. By fortunate coincidence, Melody Talbot, Gemma s trusted colleague, witnesses the explosion. The victim was taking part in an organized protest, yet the other group members swear the young man only meant to set off a smoke bomb. As Kincaid begins to gather the facts, he finds every piece of the puzzle yields an unexpected pattern, including the disappearance of a mysterious bystander.

The bombing isn't the only mystery troubling Kincaid. He's still questioning the reasons behind his transfer, and when his former boss who's been avoiding him is attacked, those suspicions deepen. With the help of his former sergeant, Doug Cullen, Melody Talbot, and Gemma, Kincaid begins to untangle the truth. But what he discovers will leave him questioning his belief in the job that has shaped his life and his values and remind him just how vulnerable his precious family is.

Deborah Crombie continues to entertain with her well-plotted Kincaid/Duncan mystery series! As with Louise Penny's books, I enjoy reading about the regular cast of characters, and their on-going relationships, almost as much as the mysteries themselves. To Dwell in Darkness kept me guessing and reading long after I should have turned out the light. I had to chuckle when I read the following, as I've always wondered the same:

Ellis nodded and Jasmine went to the kitchen, returning with a glass of tap water. Kincaid wondered, not for the first time, why a glass of water was considered a remedy for shock or grief. But Ellis drank it obediently, like a child told to take medicine, and set the almost empty glass on the end table.

I was left with many questions about Kincaid's new position in Holborn, which I hope will be answered in the next installment. Crombie's cliff-hangers are beginning to feel like those of Louise Penny's. Thankfully, I have the next book ready to read and don't have to wait a year or more for its release!