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    To Dwell in Darkness: A Novel
    To Dwell in Darkness: A Novel
    To Dwell in Darkness: A Novel
    Audiobook10 hours

    To Dwell in Darkness: A Novel

    Written by Deborah Crombie

    Narrated by Gerard Doyle

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateSep 23, 2014
    ISBN9780062308795
    Author

    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.

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    Reviews for To Dwell in Darkness

    4/5

    189 ratings20 reviews

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    • 4/5
      When an incendiary device goes off at St. Pancras Station, killing one and injuring several, detective superintendent Duncan Kincaid is on the case. By coincidence, the detective sergeant who reports to his wife Gemma James is present at the scene and helps evacuate the station before the first responders arrive. It appears the device used white phosphorous, which can seriously injure anyone in the vicinity. The body of the carrier was pretty much consumed in the fire, making it difficult to identify.Kincaid and his team soon identify a rag-tag group of environmental protesters who had meant to set off a smoke bomb, but somehow set off the white-phosphorous device, which was more deadly. How and why did the switch occur? A secondary plot involves Gemma’s case – involving a murdered 12-year-old. Gemma is certain she knows who committed the crime, but needs evidence, which is in short supply. Kincaid and Gemma’s family life remains complex – and added to the mix are a stray cat and her four kittens , which find their way into the Kincaid household. Another issue is Kincaid's job situation. He retains his job title, but has definitely been demoted. And his old boss isn't around to give him the "why." This is a long-time favorite series, with great characters and complex plots. To Dwell in Darkness is no exception. I found the lack of resolution on Kincaid's job a tad annoying. Not the best in the series, but still an engaging read.
    • 4/5
      While going to St. Pancras train station to watch Andy's group perform, Melody witnesses a protester engulfed in flames by a smoke bomb that somehow contained a harmful poison. Her police instincts kick in, and she rushes toward the victim and begins to clear the station. Andy's manager Tam was injured by the flames. Melody was aided by a mysterious man who suddenly disappeared. She felt sure he was a policeman. Duncan, recently reassigned to the station nearest St. Pancras, comes to the scene with his new team to investigate. Until widespread terrorist activities are ruled out, MI5 is involved the investigation. The deceased's identity must be determined. At first, they suspect group member Ryan who was supposed to detonate the bomb is the deceased man, but when Paul Cole a younger member is reported missing, the investigation shifts focus. Gemma and Melody have their own investigation into a man employed by an electronics store they feel certain killed a teenage girl. Will they be able to find enough evidence for a conviction? I identified the person responsible early in the investigation. Things are not "neatly wrapped up" in this installment. Some threads will be continued in the next installment, but others we may never know the outcome. I feel Crombie is borrowing elements from Louise Penny's novels in "demoting" and "transferring" her characters. This is not enjoyable. I listened to the audio version and enjoyed this.
    • 4/5
      TO DWELL IN DARKNESS is Book #16 of Deborah Crombie’s Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James mystery series.I happened upon this series after reading a recommendation by the author Louise Penny. The series does not disappoint.In Book #16, Melody is at St Pancras Station and witnesses a deadly bombing.This might be the major case, but Duncan is worried about and questioning his sudden transfer to Holborn Station. Gemma is also transferred along with Doug Cullen and Melody Talbot.The many ‘back stories’ are somewhat explained, but we are left more mystified than ever. The maps, the historical notes on the St. Pancras area are excellent. But I am wanting a bit more closure to the many unexplained mystery threads.
    • 3/5
      The publisher hype suggests that this book is in the style of Louise Penny. I can see the resemblence. The author has adopted the more insipid elements of Louise Penny's style.

      Other than that the book has promise, but I won't be reading anything else by this author. Fortunately I got the book from my local library.

      I've read my last Penny novel.

      3-
    • 4/5
      I accidentally discovered Crombie's Duncan Kincaid/Gemma Jones series a couple years ago and have been dipping in and out of it in no particular order. To Dwell in Darkness is #16 in the series and finds Duncan and Gemma settling into life as a married couple looking after a blended family. If their homelife is somewhat idyllic, it's the police work that always manages to keep me engrossed. This time, there are two cases - one for Duncan which involves a bombing in the St. Pancras rail station, and one for Gemma involving the murder of a 13 year old girl. Duncan's case takes front stage here, and it's a good one. Some new characters are introduced, and some some old favorites make appearances. The plotting is decent, and the ending somewhat unexpected, but leaving open a huge hole to fill in the next entry in the series. I do hope, though, that Crombie will give Gemma equal footing in future entries in the series. Her work, this time, felt very superficial. All in all, a good read for mystery lovers.
    • 4/5
      I've jumped around in the series and kinda wish that I had followed in order since the relationship between Duncan and Gemma is always evolving and now they are married. There is also some long running stories that are referenced but naturally not told so it makes me curious as to know more about the references i.e. Charlotte their foster child - there is a story as to how/why they are fostering/adopting her, but the cause happened in the previous(?) book.

      Really enjoy and love this series.

      The ending of this was so grand - the who dunit was shocking and the last sentence after the discovery of a "suicide" of the man who they had been searching for is obvious the set up for the next book/story.
    • 5/5
      To Dwell in Darkness by Deborah Crombie is the very highly recommended sixteenth novel in the ongoing police procedural series featuring Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James.

      Superintendent Duncan Kincaid has been transferred to the London borough of Camden, what seems to be, in reality, a demotion. He is missing his old team and trying to get used to his new detective inspector, Jasmine Sidana, when there is a deadly bombing at historic St. Pancras Railway Station. It appears that one member of a group of preservation activists who were there protesting may have immolated himself with a white phosphorous grenade. The shocked protestors claim it was supposed to be a harmless smoke bomb. Two friends of the family are also injured in the attack.

      While Duncan works this case, Gemma is solving a case of her own. And then there is the mother cat and four kittens that their sons rescue from the garden shed. It is another busy police procedural set amidst a hectic family life. Not only is Duncan on the case, but many characters from previous novels in the series are back as well as some new characters.

      My previous review of The Sound of Broken Glass shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-sound-of-broken-glass.html may also give more background information on thefamily and characters.

      This is another winner from Crombie. The investigation is followed closely, step by step. Since this is certainly an ongoing series there are loose ends that will be tied up in the future, as, I imagine, more loose ends will appear. Certainly Crombie provides enough basic information that you can read this as a stand-alone novel, but you will certainly want to consider reading more in the series.

      Personal aside: Although it seems inconsequential, I was slightly annoyed that Gemma and Melody were always nibbling sandwiches or sipping tea and never seriously eating and drinking in the last novel. I literally laughed aloud when Gemma mentioned that she and Melody had drunk pots of tea in one chapter. Probably my rambling thoughts about it had nothing to do with this being included, but it pleased me enormously.

      Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of HarperCollins for review purposes.

    • 4/5
      A protester detonates a phosphorous grenade at an outdoor concert, and the friends of the suspected "bomber" (whose remains are beyond identification) can't believe him capable of such a thing. A mystery revolves around the bomber's identity and motive, whether he killed himself or was killed, whether he was the intended victim, and who knew about it.This is my first introduction to Deborah Crombie, and this book is the 16th in the "Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James" series. I wasn't sure whether I could easily jump this far into a series, or if I might feel a little lost.Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James have a growing family and manage different forces. Kincaid, formerly of Scotland Yard HQ, has recently been promoted and has a new team working under him, but he isn't above looking to former co-workers for help when needed. Gemma has her own murder case to solve, but this novel mostly involves her as a wife and mother, and you don't see much of her work life.The story is told in third-person with a host of characters. Other than Duncan and Gemma, there is Melody, Andy, Doug, Tam, Duncan's new DI Jasmine Sidana, and more detectives, and then a host of other characters playing witnesses or otherwise involved with the cases. Sometimes when the point-of-view would shift, it would take a few seconds for me to orient myself and figure out who this character was and how they related to the other characters. I think this is a side-effect of being unfamiliar with this series. For someone who has been reading Deborah Crombie and is familiar with this particular series, I think it would have come much more naturally.One of the drawbacks to jumping so far into a series is that there isn't going to be a whole lot of character development-- it's already been done in past novels. And another drawback is that there are little allusions to past occurrences and quirks and things from past novels that leave you feeling that you are sort of missing out on a private joke. My final word: That all being said, I really enjoyed the author's writing style, which was very easy to read and engaging. The story was suspenseful at moments, and a little sentimental at times, but always well done. I can see why the author is so popular! She paints a good mystery with a colorful palette of characters, and I can imagine it’d be fun to follow the lives of these recurring characters over the years, from book to book. Even though I haven’t read the first 15 books in the series, I want to find out what happens with the characters from here, and will be keeping an eye out for the next in the series!
    • 3/5
      Detective Sergeant Melody Talbot was there at London’s Pancras train station enjoying her friend’s concert. She’d seen a small group organized of protestors off to the side. Then, she heard a ‘whoosh’ and people screaming. When she turns back to where the protestors had been, she witnesses a person on fire and several other casualties. With her training, she goes to work – first calling Emergency Services Control, and then trying to clear and contain the area. It wasn’t a bomb, but some type of incendiary device containing white phosphorous.Duncan Kincaid heads up the investigation. He’d recently been transferred from Scotland Yard headquarters to the London borough of Camden. He has questions about the transfer, but hasn’t been able to get answers. All of the protestors seem to be keeping some dark secrets. Kincaid is not only trying to obtain the identification of the person who died, but is also trying to find one of the group that is now missing. Everyone thinks it may be one in the same, but then a young woman comes forward and tells him that her boyfriend is also missing. Separately, Detective Inspector Gemma James is pulled into an investigation of an abduction and murder of a twelve year old girl.Dwell in Darkness is the newest (#16) in the police procedural series of Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. This is the first I’ve read of the series. I thought they could all be read as stand-alones, but it seems that may have changed with the last couple of books. So this story does not end as completely as I would have hoped. I did enjoy the main characters of Kincaid and Gemma. They are very personable and likeable. Their investigative actions were believable for the most part. I thought the small sideline into their children finding and wanting to keep kittens was charming. Rating: 3 out of 5.
    • 5/5
      Crombie delivers another great British mystery.
    • 4/5
      To Dwell in Darkness is book number 16 in Deborah Crombie’s Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series. It may be a bit difficult to believe that these fictional detectives have been around for that long already, but it is that very longevity that makes the series so appealing to longtime readers. Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and his wife Gemma James live complicated personal lives centered on the logistics of making their blended family work, and things seldom stand still for them on the home front. This time around, Duncan is dealing with his recent transfer from Scotland Yard headquarters in London to a new job in the borough of Camden. To all appearances, the transfer is a demotion in both status and responsibility, but because his old boss at the Yard is avoiding him, Duncan has never been given a proper explanation for the change. If that were not bad enough, Duncan misses his old team in London, and is finding it difficult to warm up to the team recently assigned to him in Camden. And unfortunately, the new team largely feels the same about Duncan.But, when a bomb explodes in St. Pancras Station during the afternoon rush hour, Duncan and the new team, be they ready or be they not, must get to work. Luckily for Duncan, Gemma’s trusted friend and colleague, Melody Talbot witnesses the explosion and ensuing panic and becomes an integral part of the investigation. This opens the door for Duncan to run two separate investigatory teams simultaneously (one official and one not), and he jumps at the opportunity even though this will leave him open to much second-guessing by his Camden staff. Gemma, in the meantime, is managing an unrelated London investigation of her own that haunts her terribly. She feels certain that she has identified the brutal killer of a little girl, but she does not have the evidence necessary to prove her case. The killer seems to have thought of everything, but Gemma is relentless in her pursuit of the man. As soon as Duncan, Gemma, and Melody learn that some of the victims are close friends of theirs, the investigation becomes personal – and, at the same time, more difficult. Not only are they charged with finding the group behind the bombing, they have to help their friends deal with its aftermath. Was this the work of a terrorist group, and will the group strike again, or is it simply an innocent protest gone bad? And what if it is a bit of both?Crombie has another winner in To Dwell in Darkness. She significantly progresses the Kincaid/James family dynamic and, for that matter, the personal lives of all of her main characters in ways that are sure to please longtime fans of the series. And, in what I hope does not later prove to be a misstep, the author builds the novel to a rousing climax that ends with a dramatic cliffhanger leading directly to her next book. It is the direction that the cliffhanger seems to be taking the next book that makes me a bit uneasy - but knowing Crombie, she will prove me wrong for having doubting her.
    • 4/5
      Another solid story by Ms. Crombie. She is able to keep the reader up-to-date on recurring characters, yet offers insight into new characters. The reader isn't bored with minute details, receiving the kind of detail that allows the scenes to play out colorfully in their imaginations.Gerald Doyle does an excellent job reading Ms. Crombie's books. I rate his performance at 4 stars, too (although I never combine the reader's rating with the book's rating).
    • 4/5
      I enjoy Deborah Crombie's mysteries tremendously. From my American Anglophile perspective, she does a remarkable job of creating a British police procedural.
    • 3/5
      At some point,while reading this latest KincaidJames series book, I thought it was going to be a transition book, taking the two married detectives into a different place. But no, the book leaves questions unanswered, some from the previous book.I like the characters, I have read this series from the beginning. I like the way the author has introduced readers to different parts of London. At this point I think some changes might be interesting for these characters, maybe that is what will happen in the next book. It almost seems the mystery and murder is second place in this book. It is not as complex as The Sound of Broken Glass.
    • 4/5
      Long-time fans of Deborah Crombie's wonderful series might find To Dwell in Darkness a bit of a mixed blessing. In the "good" column is no longer having to wait for the next book and to be rejoined with the best married police officers in all of crime fiction. In the "not-so-good" column is a lack of the richness and depth of story that fans have come to expect.Most of the rushed quality to this book is due to its time frame. This is the most thriller-like of all Crombie's books, with the action taking place in just four days. A lot has to happen in a short period of time, and that means that all those secondary characters who add so much to the series are scarcely seen or even mentioned. I missed them, as I'm sure other readers will. Another thing that will drive some readers absolutely wild is that Duncan's situation-- which was a cliffhanger in the last book The Sound of Broken Glass-- is not cleared up by the end of this book. Yes, To Dwell in Darkness ends in yet another-- rather chilling-- cliffhanger, but unlike some readers who prefer that everything be resolved at the end of each book, I do not mind a dangling plot line. I tend to like story arcs that develop over the course of a few books, and I trust Crombie to deliver the goods. (It also doesn't hurt that I was present at an author signing in which Crombie said that she's going to deal with Duncan's situation in the next book.)While Duncan is dealing with the explosion at St. Pancras, Gemma has her own case to solve, but even though her investigation does provide Duncan with the inspiration to solve his own, there's so little of it that Gemma almost feels like filler, and that didn't set well with me at all. However, her case does prove that it's often the attention to even the smallest of details that can go on to solve murders.Yes, I've been grumbling just a bit, but there is a lot to like in this book. I enjoyed seeing Duncan out of his comfort zone. He's used to being liked at work, and he's not in his new position. His second-in-command, Detective Inspector Jasmine Sidana, seems to have little use for him at all, and Duncan has to learn how to deal with that. Cat lovers in particular will rejoice when Duncan and Gemma's two sons rescue a mother cat and her kittens and insist on bringing them home. Speaking of those two sons, as the series progresses, I am more and more impressed with the oldest. Kit is growing up and proving that he can think on his feet and take appropriate action when something doesn't feel right. Crombie is known for weaving a bit of history into her books, and in her latest she shares her knowledge of London train stations. She had me so fascinated that I was looking up the London station from which our train will be leaving for Inverness next year.I always look forward to Deborah Crombie's next book, and I'm all for any author trying something different, but I have to be honest and admit that I'm hoping that she's got the thriller out of her system and will return to the richness of her earlier books. To Dwell in Darkness is a good book. It's just not her best.
    • 5/5
      Oh my Deborah Crombie! This book you've written is something else! I love this series, and I absolutely love Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James (Kincaid) and I always love the mysteries they are trying to solve. I was thrilled to hear from Deborah herself that the BBC is thinking about making a television series based on her books. I hope that they do - the main reason being that it will expose more people to Duncan and Gemma, both in their personal as well as in their professional lives. For those who don't know, both Gemma and Duncan are in the CID in London. They work in different stations, but there are lots of times where their open cases are connected in some way. That's not really the case in this book, but each is working on a case. Duncan has been newly transferred to another station, and is trying to break in with a new team. A horrific incident occurs at a nearby train station (St. Pancras station) and Duncan is tasked with finding out who caused the explosion and to determine why it happened. He calls on his team as well as Doug Cullen from his past team and Melody Talbot who works with his wife Gemma to help him solve this particularly gruesome crime. As usual Ms.Crombie has us wrapped up in her tale and furiously turning pages to find out what happens next. And also as usual, we get particularly intimate glimpses into the personal lives of her characters. It is the latter that makes these books so special. But shame on you Deborah for leaving us all hanging at the end of this book! Now you had better get writing and quickly so we all can find out just what is going to happen to Duncan and Gemma.
    • 4/5
      London detectives and spouses Duncan Kincaid and Emma James each are working on difficult murder cases. Kincaid is in charge of investigating a case in which an anti-development activist set off a lethal white phosphorus incendiary grenade, instead of the innocuous smoke bomb he meant to release. The protestor was incinerated, and several bystanders were injured, including Kincaid’s friend Tam and Kincaid's wife’s partner, Melody Talbot, who was on the scene at the St. Pancras train station for a concert by her boyfriend Andy.Kincaid has recently been transferred from Scotland Yard to Holborn station, so he has a new team to get to know in addition to figuring out what happened at St. Pancras. But he finds himself once again relying on Doug Cullen, his brilliant former detective sergeant from the Yard, who is recovering from a badly broken ankle, and has time to help. Melody also surreptitiously works on the case; she feels personally invested because of having witnessed it. At the same time, she assists Gemma in finding evidence to indict a very canny rapist/murderer.One of my favorite things about the Duncan Kincaid detective series is the juxtaposition of warped evil people and the crimes they commit, with Duncan’s diverse, messy, warm, loving network of family and friends. So many detectives have personal lives that are dark in some way, featuring struggles with painful pasts, relationships gone bad, and/or addiction. Detective Superintendent Kincaid and his wife Detective Inspector Gemma James are not without worries, but they are more of the sort shared by everyone - the security of your job, the safety of your kids, or whether or not the kids should be allowed to keep stray kittens.Evaluation: I think this series is excellent (this is the sixteenth installment). This newest book is best savored if you start back at least a few books, although it isn’t really necessary.
    • 5/5
      4.5/5 I only 'discovered' Deborah Crombie a bit ago, but I instantly knew the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series was one I would be following. The latest (#16), To Dwell in Darkness, has just released. Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid has recently been transferred from Scotland Yard to a London borough. When a bombing in a local train station results in a horrifying death, the case falls to Duncan and his new team. Gemma is also an Inspector with the CID and it is Melody, one of her Detective Sergeants, who is on the scene when the attack occurs. But things are not as straight forward as they might first appear. Duncan isn't sure about his new team and ends up taking Melody, Gemma and a former sergeant into his confidence as he runs his own investigation parallel to the official one. Gemma, too, is dealing with a nasty case, but it is not given as much time as Duncan's. Crombie's cases are intriguing. The factual evidence is there for us to start putting the clues and pieces along with the team. The interviews, the interrogations, the intuition and the characterizations - the personal aspect, is what makes the investigation really interesting. But, the most captivating of all, is the large group of characters that appear in each book, their lives changing and growing with every new entry. They're an eclectic bunch, but I have become fond of them all. They're so well drawn, they've become almost real, especially Duncan, Gemma and their children. I feel like I know them. Although others may complain that the domestic details of the characters detracts from a good mystery, I find it gives the story much more depth. I've become invested in their lives and want to see where Crombie takes them from here. Sitting down with the latest feels like catching up with old friends. I found the historical headers referring to St. Pancras at the beginning of each chapter interesting. The case is wrapped up by the final pages, but there are some threads left dangling that have only whet my appetite for the next book in this wonderful series.
    • 5/5
      Finally, the newest Deborah Crombie is here, and it's every bit as good as the earlier ones in the Duncan Kincaid/Jemma James series. Crombie, like Louise Penny and Elizabeth George, has developed a tightly paced, historically enlightening, and personally edifying collection of stories set in modern day London. I was thrilled when TLC blog tour announced that To Dwell in Darkness was being made available for reviewers. Although I had read about half of the earlier installmets years ago, I did not have time to read the 8 I had missed along the way. So, I was able to review this one almost like I'd never read any of the previous episodes. I found this one works just as well as a stand-alone. Crombie gives us enough back fill to flesh out characters who may be new to the reader, but doesn't feel the need to rehash every sentence of older segments. This one centers around the rehabilitration of the area around historic St. Pancras station and gives us a broad brush of traffic, housing and other cross cultural issues as well as present day environmental debates, explosives, and out of control crowds.Crombie is especially talented at keeping several story lines going at the same time. We have the bombing, we have an upcoming custody battle concerning Duncan's son, we have developing friction in the personnel structure of Scotland Yard and the local police departments. Duncan and Jemma are still adjusting to married life, their blended family, and the concerns of parenting a teen-ager. Crombie is beginning to show us more of new characters that have recently appeared in the series: Melody and Doug. Their motivations and personalities are increasing my interest and certainly have me already looking for the next book. This one is a definite addition to the series.
    • 4/5
      There is just something so incredibly comforting about slipping into a return visit to a much beloved series. All the kinks have been worked out, relationships established, just the right mixture of personal information and a new case to be solved. Wonderful characters in Crombie's books, families brought together in unusual and often poignant ways and yet it all works so well, so smoothly. Comforting, but never boring.Love the history she includes in her stories, in this one it is St. Pancras, the rejuvenating of this World War I Victorian Station and Hotel. A group of young people who start out as dilettantes, but ending up biting off more than they can choose. Now the hard part, waiting another year or so for a return visit.ARC from publisher.