For a book written by a Texan, A Share in Death invokes the British sensibility quite accurately. This is the first of a series featuring Detective Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James of New Scotland Yard. Kincaid is in desperate need of a vacation, and, when his cousin and his wife can't get away for a vacation they had planned, Kincaid ends up going in their stead, to a time-share in Yorkshire that he couldn't have afforded by himself. While he's there, he attempts to lie low and doesn't tell anyone that he's a detective. However, his cover is blown when a murder takes place.
The victim is the assistant manager who had just been having issues with the manager of the time-share. Kincaid is forced to reveal who he really is and start looking into the murder. The suspects include an upcoming politician and his wife, two likable spinsters, an ex-army chap and his unhappy spouse and a sexy scientist who are all members of the time-share. The local policeman in charge of the murder is a dim fellow who only serves to get in the way, and Kincaid is forced to contact New Scotland Yard and have them take over the case. When one of the spinsters is also found dead, the tension escalates.
Fans of Agatha Christie will love this book because it has an old-world feel, like Christie's novels. A group of people is gathered at one place, all with very different backgrounds and each representing a certain type. Like Christie, Crombie does a bit of social critiquing, pointing out backward attitudes that people continue to hold and, like the Queen of Crime herself, writes a great whodunit.
Deborah Crombie is a native Texan who has lived in the UK with her Scottish husband, Peter Crombie. She was not academically inclined as a girl and ended up dropping out of high school before going back and getting a Bachelor's degree in Biology. She worked in advertising, newspapers, and the family business before trying her hand at writing, at which she was an immediate success. Her novels have been nominated for many awards, and two of them have won the Macavity Award for Best Novel. She currently lives in Texas with her second husband.
"I just love Deborah Crombie mysteries. If you like your mysteries on the classic side, then you'll love this series. The plot keeps you guessing, the characters are lovable, and the length is just right. I found myself visiting Deborah's web page after reading her books (unusual for me), and she just seems like the sort of person you'd want to be friends with."
—
Kate (4 out of 5 stars)