Mystery Series 101: Fact Sheet on Deborah Crombie's Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James mystery series

November 10, 9:13 AMMystery Series ExaminerCarol Thomas

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Deborah Crombie is a Texan who writes British police procedurals with such finesse that she has twice received the coveted Macavity Best Novel award. Of the thirteen titles in her Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James mystery series, Dreaming of the Bones won the 1998 Macavity award, and, more recently, Where Memories Lie received the 2009 award. This fact sheet, the first in a series that will feature basic information on mystery series authors, focuses on Crombie.

About Deborah Crombie

Crombie won her first Macavity award in 1998 for
Dreaming of the Bones.

Deborah Crombie was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up in the nearby suburb of Richardson. She graduated from Austin College, where she earned a degree in biology. Her early work experience was in advertising and newspapers. After a post-university trip to England, she took up residence there, living first in Edinburgh, Scotland, and then in Chester, England.

She later returned to Dallas to work in her family business. In 1993 she published her first  Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James novel,  A Share in Death.  Crombie now lives in McKinney, Texas, with her husband, Rick Wilson, two German shepherds and three cats. Further information about this author can be found on Crombie's website.

Overview of the Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James series

Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James are Scotland Yard detectives who work together to solve crimes. When Crombie first introduces them in her 1993 novel, A Share in Death, Duncan is a highly respected detective superintendent; Gemma is his newly assigned sergeant. Over time, Gemma, the single mother of young Toby, becomes a detective inspector.

Duncan and Gemma experience a number a changes in their personal lives that coincide with their crime solving efforts. They first become friends, then lovers. Duncan experiences the death of his ex-wife, Victoria, only to discover soon afterward that he is the father of Victoria's son, Kit. Gemma and Duncan then decide to marry and blend their households.

Titles in the Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James series

A Share in Death (No.1: 1993)
All Shall Be Well (No.2: 1994)
Leave the Grave Green (No.3: 1995)
Mourn Not Your Dead (No.4: 1996)
Dreaming of the Bones (No.5: 1997)
Kissed A Sad Goodbye (No.6: 1999)
A Finer End (No.7: 2001)
And Justice There Is None (No.8: 2002)
Now May You Weep (No.9: 2003)
In a Dark House (No.10: 2004)
Water Like a Stone (No.11: 2006)
Where Memories Lie (No.12: 2008)
Necessary as Blood (No.13: 2009)

Slideshow of Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James series titles

The slideshow that accompanies the article,"Deborah Crombie's Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James mystery series: Title summaries," provides a sequential look at the covers of each of the thirteen titles in this series. Annotations briefly describe the plot of each novel.

Deborah Crombie on YouTube

In the video below, filmed after she had published her 2008 work Where Memories Lie, Crombie discusses her series. She mentions both importance of the London setting and the development of her key characters, Duncan and Gemma.