A Share in Death

By Deborah Crombie

A week's holiday in a luxurious Yorkshire time-share is just what Scotland Yard's Superintendent Duncan Kincaid needs. But the discovery of a body floating in the whirlpool bath ends Kincaid's vacation before it's begun. One of his new acquaintances at Followdale House is dead; another is a killer.

Despite a distinct lack of cooperation from the local constabulary, Kincaid's keen sense of duty won't allow him to ignore the heinous crime, impelling him to send for his enthusiastic young assistant, Sergeant Gemma James. But the stakes are raised dramatically when a second murder occurs, and Kincaid and James find themselves in a determined hunt for a fiendish felon who enjoys homicide a bit too much.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Release date: Dec 3, 2010
• ISBN: 9780330535045

Deborah Crombie

Deborah Crombie is a native Texan who has lived in both England and Scotland. She now lives in McKinney, Texas, sharing a house that is more than one hundred years old with her husband, two cats, and two German shepherds.

Reviews for A Share in Death

[Simon Hopkins · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Two dimensional characters and Americanised expressions became jarring, set against the quaint backdrop of rural Yorkshire. The author I believe is American.

[thegalaxygirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Straightforward, traditional British mystery (even if the author is American). Detective Duncan Kincaid is the main character, but there's enough other POVs to keep it from getting stale.

[bell7_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Superintendent Duncan Kincaid of Scotland Yard is on holiday, taking his cousin's timeshare for a week and leaving work behind. Or so he thinks, until one of the people he meets is found murdered. The bumbling local Chief Inspector thinks it's suicide, but Duncan knows it's not, and he's rather reluctantly drawn in to this mystery. Which of the guests or employees could have killed the man, and why?I was a little surprised by this police procedural in that it reads a lot like a cozy: small town setting, cast of characters and potential subject in the almost claustrophobic space of the timeshare, and not a lot of gory details. Barring a few details about police work and jurisdiction, I felt like there was more similarity between A Share in Death and, say, an Agatha Christie novel than Louise Penny. The story suffered a bit from being drawn out over a busy week and my having to start and stop every 10-20 pages in the beginning, but I was mostly interested. There were so many characters I had to write them down to keep them apart, and I was annoyed by the fact that just about every female gets charmed to some degree by Duncan. I did find the mystery itself solid, finding the solution both surprising and inevitable (I'd definitely pegged someone else as whodunit), so it's one I would recommend to the right reader.

[pharrm_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

On vacation in the Yorkshire Moors, Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid finds dead bodies.

[zumbanista · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Capably Written Start to a Long SeriesI went back to Book 1 in the Duncan Kincaid series after reading and enjoying Book 11. A Share in Death makes for pleasant reading with good writing, character development and a nod to Agatha Christie with all the suspects under one roof. I confess I didn't have a clue who the perpetrator was right up until the reveal, which was plausible though a bit far fetched. Much more character driven than a true police procedural and swinging a bit into cozy-ness and away from being gritty. I liked it.

[ficusfan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book of the series and the first book of Crombie's that I have read. This series was the choice of my RL Mystery Book Group, or I would never have picked it up.Overall it got better as it went along. Once the first murder happened the story took off. Prior to that it was very shallow, with standard little shots of set-up. Lets lay out character, place, and victims and try to guess who is going to be murdered, and who is the killer. There was no actual story with any depth, independent of waiting for murder and mayhem. The idea that these characters were actual people with any life off the page was non-existent. Many of the characters were shallow and forgettable. In fact it was one of those books that you can't keep them all straight, who is who, which are related, and what their claim to fame was. You also didn't really care about the loss of the murder victims from the story. Just not anyone for the reader to develop any emotional connections. The memorable characters were more likely to be cliches than to have any depth.The detecting was good, as was the interaction of Kincaid with the local police, and the remaining guests at the time share. Keeping James at a distance basically doing scut work was a disappointment. The whole idea of the series is that they are a team that works together.The mystery was very low key and not something I saw coming. The clues were there, but very subtle.I have one more of her books, that was recommended as the best of the series (Dreaming the Bones). I will read it, but after that I am probably done with Crombie. Just too many other really good books to read.

[cygnet81 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had heard good things about this series but I found this book to be pretty pedestrian.

[sdramsey-298717 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love it when perusing my library's audiobook section nets me the beginning of a new series. I thoroughly enjoyed this English mystery and immediately set about to get my hands on the next one. The characters are fresh and interesting and their relationship promises to develop in intriguing ways without getting in the way of the main plot. If you like police procedurals that offer more than just procedure I think you'll enjoy this one.

[ccayne_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another in my self-education of mystery writers. This is the first in the Kincaid/James series and mimics a classic locked room mystery. I did not figure out who the culprit was but I enjoyed the ride. The characters were great and the pacing was good. This is a good choice for those who don't like gritty mysteries but might want something a bit above a typical cozy.

[fmrox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Duncan Kincaid, Scotland yard investigator, goes on holiday and runs into murder. This is a very interesting way to start a series, away from the usual location what I assume will be London. I like the central character of Kincaid, but I like his partner Gemma James even better. I think she'll be fun to watch. This story line had so many characters, it was hard to keep up. The plot was intricate, very much like an Agatha Christie novel, I'm thinking Murder on the Orient Express. Plot was okay to kep me entertained, but I liked the characters a little better.

[bookswoman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm very late in coming to the fan club for Deborah Crombie and her Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James series.

As a first in the series this was a very good introduction. Duncan has needed a vacation and his cousin has a time-share that he can't use this year. He offers to let Duncan take his place in the Yorkshire moors at Followdale House.

Murder, of course, ensues. The assistant manager of the place is found dead but no one seems to have any idea why. Duncan had intended to remain an ordinary citizen, not a high-level policeman but that falls apart almost at once.

There is a host of suspects, the manager a sly and hard woman who loves to flit with all men but hated her assistant; one of the MacKenzie sisters Emma or Penny; Graham Frazer or his daughter Angela? Some other guest?

Duncan is hampered by the animosity of the local officer in charge but calls back to London to get some outside help from Gemma James.

With plenty of suspects and some roadblocks to his access to information Duncan is hard-pressed to solve this one before he strikes again.

[booklovers2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My 1st Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James of this series. Good Agatha Christi type murder mystery. Not too complicated with great cast of characters and well developed. A "who dunnit" easy listening/read. Will definitely recommend and I am interested enough to try another in the series.

[matke-261098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good first entry in the Dican Kincaid/Gemma Jones mystery series. Lightly amusing cozy with engaging characters. DS Kincaid takes a Well-earned vacation at a time share, courtesy of a cousin. When a suspicious death occurs, he’s reluctantly drawn into the investigation, much to the distaste of the local copper in charge. An intriguing mix of suspects, a second murder, and the chase is on. Worth reading for genre fans.

[csdaley-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A little bit more of a cozy than I thought it would be. I still enjoyed it but I am not a huge fan of the cozy mystery. If you are you might like it more.

[knittinkitties · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Very much an eh story. I'll continue with the series because other mystery lover friends of mine enjoy it but this wasn't the best of starts w me

[clue_4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James mystery series, originally published in 1993. It's an average beginning to a new series which now numbers 18. A murder takes place in an upscale country inn where Kincaid has gone for a break from his stressful life as a Detective Superintendent at Scotland Yard. Although he shouldn't get involved he does of course though the local law enforcement doesn't welcome his "interference". Well enough plotted but not an exciting read.

[meredy_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Six-word review: Bland whodunit misses Golden Age target.Extended review:Appearing to aspire to the formula of the great detective stories of an earlier age, the Kincaid-James series starter never gets very much beyond the humdrum.The writing is competent enough, and the puzzle and the red herrings are adequate. But it takes a very long time to get going, with way too much background on too many characters and way too much amicable hobnobbing among them without anybody saying "Holy cats, that means one of us is a murderer!"I can't say I'll never try the rest of the series, which does seem to have been well enough received to have a long run, but I'll probably read a lot of other things first.

[kmajort · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Reminds me of Midsomer Murders.....

[empressreece · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the characters and I think the series has promise. It was a little slow for me but Im going to try the 2nd book and see if its improved any.

[bknrd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I fell in love with Deborah Crombie many years ago when I was living in Texas. Gemma and Duncan are a fantastic crime fighting duo. The characters have developed well over the series and I just love coming back each time a new titles comes out. Crombie really has a feel for London. I began reading the series after a trip to London and it too me right back. . Then come to find out, Crombie lives in North Texas. Check this series out! You will love it.

[thelibraryhag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this first book in the series. Duncan Fitzgerald and Gemma James are a great pair. Fitzgerald is quiet and observant. Gemma is more gregarious but just as observant in her own way. This one is hard to class. It really isn't a cozy but it has some of the characteristics of one. Whatever type of mystery it is I have to admit that I was totally stumped by the mystery and that almost never happens to me. But all the clues were there, I just did not put it together. I am definitely reading the next one.

[lsh63 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sometimes when I receive a book through Bookmooch it looks so good that I start reading it immediately and before I know it, I've finished it. This book was one of those instances.This is my first time reading this author and this book is the first in the Gemma and Duncan series. Superintendent Duncan Kincaid is spending a week's vacation in a Yorkshire time share when two people are killed and another is in danger. He tries to help the local police solve the crime before anyone else is hurt, but is met with resistance at just about every turn.This book has a well written plot with good character development, although at one point it was a little difficult for me to keep track of all of them. I have to admit that for me, the ending came out of nowhere.I look forward to continuing with this series.

[cameling_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Superintendent Duncan Kincaid is all geared up to spend a week at a beautiful timeshare for a much needed holiday. With only a day into his holiday, the assistant manager of the timeshare is found floating in the jacuzzi, a plugged in electric heater found in the water with his body. Suicide seems too easy a verdict for his death, and Kincaid is certain the man was murdered. But he's on holiday and will need to surreptitiously poke around, if only because the local Inspector Nash clearly dislikes him.With no obvious motive and all timeshare residents with weak alibis, Kincaid is hard pressed to put together even a list of suspects. When another resident is found murdered at the tennis court, Kincaid pulls rank on the local constabulary and gets the backing of his superiors at Scotland Yard to allow him to have access to the investigation. With some of the residents harboring secrets, Kincaid pulls in Gemma's assistance with some background research, and tries to make some sense of the puzzle before someone else is murdered. As secrets and hidden agendas start to unravel, some residents raise Kincaid's suspicions, but it isn't until someone else is injured that he realizes there were red herrings in the case and has to race against time to prevent another murder taking place.This is a very promising first in series and I can't wait to see if the others are as captivating.

[tututhefirst_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a series I'm going to want to read every one of. A great british police procedural. In this first episode we meet Duncan Kincaid, of New Scotland yard, recently promoted to Superintendent detective. Kincaid is vacationing in Yorkshire when he becomes embroiled in a series of murders and attempted murders. Crombie gives us many suspects, good motivation, a well developed plot, a great sense of place, and doesn't give us enough to solve the mystery until quite near the end.We also meet, very slightly, Gemma James, Kincaid's detective sergeant who is still back in London holding down the fort while Kincaid tries to avoid the wrath of the local police force who resent NSY's nosing in.It's a great beginning story, and promises lots more. I've read another so I know they get even better. I can't wait to have another helping.

[drbubbles_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I chose it from the library because of the cover illustration, and because the shelf it was on was at eye-level; I only finished it because it suited the dullness of mind I felt that evening which demotivated me from doing anything interesting. A complete yawner. Two stars because it only passively sucks. Banal is a perfect descriptor for it.Saving the first victim there are no characters, just types completely lacking in individuality. The setting is even more stock than that. The fact that it's in England has absolutely no bearing on anything. It's quite loosely written, with a fair number of wholly irrelevant scenes (ones that had contributed nothing whatsoever to the story, that had nothing to do with anything, not even a red herring).

[diana.hauser · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A SHARE IN DEATH (DUNCAN KINCAID/GEMMA JAMES BOOK 1) by Deborah Crombie.This title is what I think of as a very ‘traditional style’ British mystery series. There are very descriptive, detailed characters; heavy on location and local culture and customs; and a character-driven plot. No car chases or action scenes, blood or gore. The crimes and murders are much more subtle and devious.Our two main characters are Detective Supt. Duncan Kincaid and Sgt. Gemma James. They look at a problem (or case) from different points of view and style. Very interesting.I stumbled upon this author and series by accident, really. Deborah Crombie’s work was recommended by author Louise Penny and I am glad I took her advice! I have already ordered Book 2 of the series.I recommend this title and this series.

[grundlecat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I recently upgraded to a hardcover version of this series because I have enjoyed it so much. Re-reading it after many years absence was a lot of fun. Tightly plotted mystery, well-done characters, excellent dialogue.

[katiekrug · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There was nothing very surprising or groundbreaking here, just a solid, enjoyable mystery introducing Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid, and his Sergeant, Gemma Jones. I believe the series now numbers around 13, and I look forward to reading more. One note: this was the first book I read on my new Kindle and was a perfect page-turner (button-pusher?) for the format.

[tgpistole · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had read several Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James books before this, the first in the series. I t was interesting to read the beginnings of this relationship and the story itself was well done.

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie is the first in her series featuring Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and DS Gemma James. A smartly written, fast paced, traditional mystery that made me think of Agatha Christie crossed with Elizabeth George. More modern than Christie, and without the angst of George.Having been offered a week at a luxurious time-share in Yorkshire, Duncan Kincaid is taking a well earned break but when fellow guests start being murdered, he can’t help but get involved. Pulling some strings to ease the feelings of the local police, and bringing his assistant into the case, Duncan begins to investigate both guests and staff. The interesting, slightly mismatched team of Duncan Kincaid and Gemma Jones sparks my interest. This relationship looks to be developed as the series continues and I am interested to find out where it is going.I thought this was a good start to this series. If you like your cozy mysteries with a slight edge, I would recommend you give this series a try.