Kissed a Sad Goodbye (Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels) [Paperback]

Deborah Crombie (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam (2001)
• ASIN: B002CLNCRS
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Deborah Crombie grew up near Dallas, Texas, but from a child always had the inexplicable feeling that she belonged in England. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, she made her first trip to Britain and felt she'd come home. She later lived in both Chester, England, and Edinburgh, Scotland, where she failed to make as good a use of being cold and poor as JK Rowling.

It was not until almost a decade later that, living once more in Texas and raising her small daughter, she had the idea for her first novel, a mystery set in Yorkshire. She had no credentials other than a desire to write and a severe case of homesickness for Britain. A Share in Death, published in 1993, was short-listed for both Agatha and Macavity awards for Best First Novel and was awarded the Macavity.

Crombie's fifth novel, Dreaming of the Bones, was a New York Times Notable Book in 1997, was named by the Independent Mystery Booksellers as one of the 100 Best Crime Novels of the Century, was an Edgar nominee for Best Novel, and won the Macavity award for Best Novel.

Subsequent novels have been published to critical acclaim and in a dozen languages. Crombie's fourteenth novel featuring Metropolitan Police detectives Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Inspector Gemma James, No Mark Upon Her, will be published by Harper Collins in February 2012.

The author still lives in Texas but spends several months out of the year in Britain, maintaining a precarious balance between the two, and occasionally confusing her cultural references.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very satisfying novel..., May 9, 2000

By 

Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Kissed a Sad Goodbye (Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels) (Hardcover)

I guess I'm lucky because this was my first Deborah Crombie novel, so I couldn't compare it to earlier "better" works as I read it. I enjoyed it so much, however, I checked out all the other Crombie novels from the library and read them. I can see a definite progession in her writing (not the story line between the two detectives but actual improvement in her ability to develop her characters.) She seems to write more and more satisfying novels as she goes along.

While I read "Kissed a Sad Goodbye" I pulled out one of my maps of London, and followed the trail. This may have helped me enjoy it. I like to follow maps while I read if the author is naming and describing places. I also may have enjoyed the book more because I was in the Docklands in last fall, and walked the tunnel under the Thames to Greenwich and through the little village itself. I had wanted to see the tunnel since I read P.D. James novel "Original Sin". Mudchute was also featured in "Playing for the Ashes" written by Elizabeth George, and I think the area was captured in the film "Career Girls" too.

Also, I am an inveterate tea drinker and fan, so I loved the description of the tea business.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just finished it, another winner in this series, October 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Kissed a Sad Goodbye (Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels) (Hardcover)

I've read all the books in this very enjoyable series, and this one's definitely the best so far. I'd recommend to anyone interested to read the books in chronological order. Crombie has developed the characters of her two detectives beautifully. The skill with which she weaves the plots of the mysteries together with the personal relationship growing between the two detetctives is exceptional. I'm impatient for the next entry.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific, as usual!, September 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Kissed a Sad Goodbye (Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels) (Hardcover)

Deborah Crombie has done it again. It's amazing that this Texan writes such "English" mystery novels. This time out, she fashions an intricate plot involving a present-day murder, and a World War II mystery. In addition, Duncan and Gemma are having personal problems, in the style of Elizabeth George. Thoroughly enjoyable!