In a Dark House

The Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Mystery Series, Book 10

By: Deborah Crombie

Narrated by: Michael Deehy

Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Superintendent Duncan Kincaid is called to investigate the shocking death of a woman found burned beyond recognition in a Victorian warehouse in south London. When his lover and partner, Gemma James, is asked to trace a friend's missing roommate, she and Duncan discover that their cases have several disturbing links.

Set against a backdrop of Dickensian Southwark, repository of old secrets, the case plunges Duncan and Gemma into the dark recesses of human relationships. Two women are missing, a little girl is abducted, and no one is really what they seem. The detectives must discover the truth, as innocent lives hang in the balance.

Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award.

©2009 Deborah Crombie (P)2018 Blackstone Publishing

One of the best!

This novel is one of Deborah Crombie’s best!! I highly recommend it for the writing and excellent interwoven story!

Ms. Crombie continues to entertain us!

I cannot wait to continue reading the James/Kincaid series as Ms. Crombie continues to develop their relationship while exploring the murder mysteries they investigate and solve!

Entertaining and interesting setting

Set in the Charles Dickens section of London. It was Interesting and entertaining detective story.

Excellent suspenseful detective book

As we continue through the Duncan Kincaid books we are impressed with the detail and well written books. the reader is impressive too

Most excellent!!!

This is my second favourite book in this series after the previous book. The story kept me at the edge of my seat! There was little comic relief and it's a dark tale, but dark in a fascinating, satisfying way.

Michael Deehy again does a grand job of his narration!!!

Great story with plenty of “Twists”

Although, I’d like more Gemma and Kincaid interaction, this was a great story with lots of plot “Twists”, I love Michael Deehy narrating, the characters just all make sense. Where as when someone else is narrating, I just don’t get the same picture or feel the characters, they sound similar to each other and sound nothing like what I have in my head. Anyway, it was a good fit to the puzzle.

Good story

The story is engaging, but it is rather slow to unfold. I drifted off a bit with some scenes.

Too many different plot lines at once

There were so many different plot lines going simultaneously and so many characters that I kept losing track of who was related to what. Then in the final 2 chapters there was a flurry of activity to tie them together and resolve everything at the same time. I took off a star for that. Additionally, the further I go with this series the less I think of Duncan and Gemma on many levels. I honestly think that as parents they rate a fail. Everytime they face a conflict between something important with the children and their jobs, they pick the job. Even though its clear that the job could be done without them for a few hours or a day, they pick the job. Duncan could not even delegate to one of the two competent partners for a few hours to attend his son's custody hearing. For shame, Kincaid. Additionally, I don't know how many times one or the other thought or mentioned being late for or missing something with the kids then stopped at the pub anyway. I pretty much agreed with the custody judge that neither Kincaid or the grandparents were a fit home for Kit as neither was willing or able to meet his emotional needs and counting on Gemma to be there when he couldn't was no solution as Gemma can't even bring herself to commit to the relationship with Duncan. Gemma, too, has never picked her son over the job, breaking promise after promise to Toby and seeming content to see him raised by various friends, family, sitters and childcare programs. The books would probably work better for me if they were a childless couple solving crimes. At least I might like them more. It's kind of sad how many times a series starts out great but really begins going down hill after book 3 until I give up in disgust.

One of Crombie's finest

Several troubled families, the fire and police departments, some despicable criminals, and many other distinctly memorable characters make this an interesting audiobook. I don't think it's necessary to enjoy Crombie's books in their exact chronological order, but characters can be central to one book then weave in and out of subsequent ones. Michael Deehy's narration is perfection.

Good book

Excellent book! I’m excited to read more! The narrator did a very good job with the voices!