A Finer End (Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James)

Too unbelievable and not on a par with Crombie's usually excellent writing. Crombie should have explained in an author's note why she veered so dramatically from her traditional detective stories into automatic writing / painting, and people suddenly hearing rapturous aural "visions" of Gregorian chants. I finished the book only because I'm reading through the entire Kincaid / James series and have very much enjoyed the thread of their character development. Not sure I would have finished this book otherwise. I'm glad I've read several other books by the author and know she is capable of weaving an engrossing story with relatable characters, or else this book would have been one and done.

Deborah Crombie has become one of my favorite writers. I can't wait for the paperbacks any longer. I have to have the hardbacks when they are first released. Having been to Glastonbury several times, I especially loved "A Finer End". I slipped back into the Abbey ruins and up on the Tor as I read and reread this book. She is one of the best authors out there. She knows the areas in which her books are set so well. Having visited many of the Villages and the areas she mentions, I see that she has an intimate knowledge of the English countryside and cities. I highly recommend all of her books.

While not strictly a historical mystery, this seventh outing for Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James has historical elements.When Kincaid, a Scotland Yard Detective Superintendant, is called by his cousin, Jack Montifort, to help discover who ran down Anglican priest Winifred Catesby and nearly killed her. Kincaid reluctantly agrees to talk to a few people and asks his former partner, the newly promoted Inspector James, to accompany him to Glastonbury. Once there, Montifort tells them that he has been in contact with an 800-year-old priest who wants him to do something, but he's not yet sure what. When another woman is killed, Kincaid moves into high gear.Crombie has once again written a beautifully rendered mystery. The plot is intricate, but not so intricate as to be incomprehensible. She is able to move the story along at a sprightly pace despite several characters, including the long-dead priest. This is a fascinating read both from a historical perspective, Crombie is adept at giving you history without making it the focal point, and from a mystery perspective, why would anyone want to run down an Anglican priest and kill a ceramicist?This book has it all - character development (once again Kincaid and James' relationship is changing), plot, mystery, procedural, and good old-fashioned great writing. Do not pass this series and this entry into the series

This is the seventh Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James outing in a series that is one of the best being written today.When Kincaid, a Scotland Yard Detective Superintendant, is called by his cousin, Jack Montifort, to help discover who ran down Anglican priest Winifred Catesby and nearly killed her. Kincaid reluctantly agrees to talk to a few people and asks his former partner, the newly promoted Inspector James, to accompany him to Glastonbury. Once there, Montifort tells them that he has been in contact with an 800-year-old priest who wants him to do something, but he's not yet sure what. When another woman is killed, Kincaid moves into high gear.Crombie has once again written a beautifully rendered mystery. The plot is intricate, but not so intricate as to be incomprehensible. She is able to move the story along at a sprightly pace despite several characters, including the long-dead priest. This is a fascinating read both from a historical perspective, Crombie is adept at giving you history without making it the focal point, and from a mystery perspective, why would anyone want to run down an Anglican priest and kill a ceramicist?This book has it all - character development (once again Kincaid and James' relationship is changing), plot, mystery, procedural, and good old-fashioned great writing. Do not pass this series and this entry into the series by.

I have been reading Crombie's series for some time now, and "A Finer End" is one of her best efforts. In this new mystery, Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid is summoned by his cousin, Jack Montfort, to provide help with a sensitive matter. Winnie Catesby, an Anglican priest and Jack's lover, has been hit by a car and left for dead. Was this an accident or a deliberate attempt at murder? Jack wants Duncan to look into the case and give his professional opinion. Gemma James, Duncan's lover and former partner, has been promoted to Inspector, a move that has caused a rift between Gemma and Duncan. Gemma comes with Duncan to Glastonbury, where Jack lives, to get away from the pressures of her new job for a few days. Glastonbury is a town that features the ruins of an ancient abbey. It is also a tourist attraction for New Agers who come to get in touch with the powerful spiritual forces that are reputed to be centered there. Crombie's book features a fascinating cast of characters, including Simon Fitzstephen, a Church scholar with dark secrets and Garnet Todd, an eccentric woman who is terrified of the forces of darkness that she believes are present in Glastonbury. Soon after Winnie's "accident," another resident of the town is murdered. Kincaid and James get embroiled in the passions of a place where feelings of fear and anger have been festering for many years. "A Finer End" is a psychological mystery that is also rich in history, spirituality and romance. The mystery is intriguing and satisfying, with enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the end. I recommend "A Finer End" for fans of atmospheric British police procedurals.

The magic of Glastonbury was more prevalent in this novel than the mystery. The story allowed the characters to develop, to move forward, and the mists of Avalon surrounded them. The mystery was intriguing, the characters were facinating, and the setting was incredible. You definitly don't know whodunnit, but that doesn't really matter as much as why and where. In what century, even. Beautiful story.