The Sound of Broken Glass (Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James, #15) in Ask Rhys Bowen, Deborah Crombie, and Charles Todd!

Jan 10, 2015 Martha Francescato rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Every time Deborah Crombie publishes a new book in The Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels I go back to A Share in Death and read all the ones that come before the new one. In this way, it all feels as one whole novel with each book a chapter. It makes a lot of sense and it makes me appreciate the whole even more.

I have finally finished reading the 15th novel, The Sound of Broken Glass, just in time. I can start reading the next book in this series, To Dwell In Darkness, right away, as I have alre Every time Deborah Crombie publishes a new book in The Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels I go back to A Share in Death and read all the ones that come before the new one. In this way, it all feels as one whole novel with each book a chapter. It makes a lot of sense and it makes me appreciate the whole even more.

I have finally finished reading the 15th novel, The Sound of Broken Glass, just in time. I can start reading the next book in this series, To Dwell In Darkness, right away, as I have already got it!! I wish I had written this review earlier, but my health problems don't allow for wishes to become reality when I'd like them to.

What catches my attention about The Sound of Broken Glass every time I read it is precisely what the title points to. There are two instances of it - the environs where a lot of the action takes place, Crystal Palace, and the way the building itself became an icon at the time and was then destroyed. Within this neighborhood,also Crystal Palace, we hear the sound of glass shattering at a pivotal point in the novel, and it has to do with Nadine, one of the intriguing characters in this novel. Both instances are related to the end of something - an era; a friendship.

And there is another sound, the haunting music of Andy Monahan's guitar. I could hear it, and immediately thought how wonderful it would be to have a CD of his songs. They went viral in the Internet, so why can't we have them? The guitar takes a life of its own and becomes another intoxicating character.

As with the other books in this series, we get several glimpses of Gemma and Duncan's life at home with their three children. Their antics and the problems they cause, together with the joy they bring, help in making the main characters more well rounded, and also more "human" - the way it should be, and what we find in other successful mysteries too. It would be also very boring and "unrealistic" to have only the bare bones of the sleuthing.

As I reach the end, I immediately visualize Robert Frost's poem "fire and ice" - as I always do when I am at that point. How could I not do it, when the scene reflects the poem so much?

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

And now, after having been held captive in Deborah Crombie's world for a long time, and loving it, I will start To Dwell In Darkness, which I shall have to read with artificial light, as I don't want to be "in the darkness"... ...more

Like · see review

Feb 19, 2014 Carol rated it really liked it

It seems like years since I've read this series. It was good to get reacquainted again with Gemma and Kincaid and family. Loved the book and loved the blossoming romance with Melody. Deborah Crombie knows well how to keep the pages turning; I couldn't put it down! I have Deborah to thank for an earlier novel that described a set of dishes Kincaid bought for Gemma done by Clarice Cliff. I was curious about her and looked her up and fell in love with Cliff's art - not the art deco style but with h ...more

Like · see review

Dec 25, 2013 Deborah rated it liked it · review of another edition

The latest entry in the Duncan Kincaid/Jemma James series. Though predictable, the backstory on the murder was kept the interest up, as did the politics of the police department. An enjoyable series with very likable characters.

Like · see review

May 15, 2014 Jeanie rated it really liked it

Shelves: mysteries

Fantastic! As always...cannot wait for the next one, especially to find out where Kincaid will end up. I don't want to spoil this story too much for you. But if you are a fan of Gemma & Kincaid, you won't be disappointed. ...more

Like · see review