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jamread2021's review
4.0
Enjoyable story. The relationships interest me as well as the mystery. The reader learns more about Duncan's family. I really like this series.
booksuperpower's review
4.0
Water Like Stone by Deborah Crombie is a 2007 William Morrow publication.
My first Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid installment of 2019! It has taken me three years to get this far in the series, as I am not much of a binge reader. But, barring some unforeseen circumstances, I will finish it this year!
I’m up to the eleventh chapter in the series, which finds Gemma and Duncan traveling to spend the Christmas holidays with Duncan’s parents. This will be Gemma’s first official visit and she is understandably nervous.
However, things get off to an unsettling start when Duncan’s sister, Juliet, discovers the body of a deceased baby while doing work on a renovation project. Duncan is just dying to get involved in the case, but of course, he must allow the local authorities to handle it.
To add more tension to the situation, Juliet is experiencing marital woes, which become very public and vocal making everyone uncomfortable, and more than a little concerned for Juliet.
This may be the most absorbing installment in the series so far. The family drama, however, was the most compelling part of the story. However, Crombie has several plot lines moving at once, which may or may not be interconnected. The story has a distinct element of dread which steadily increased, causing me genuine distress and concern for the characters. The conclusion was riveting and quite chilling.
Overall, it took me a good while to really get a good solid handle on this series. But, I think I’ve finally gotten into the groove and think it is starting to live up to my full expectations of it.
My first Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid installment of 2019! It has taken me three years to get this far in the series, as I am not much of a binge reader. But, barring some unforeseen circumstances, I will finish it this year!
I’m up to the eleventh chapter in the series, which finds Gemma and Duncan traveling to spend the Christmas holidays with Duncan’s parents. This will be Gemma’s first official visit and she is understandably nervous.
However, things get off to an unsettling start when Duncan’s sister, Juliet, discovers the body of a deceased baby while doing work on a renovation project. Duncan is just dying to get involved in the case, but of course, he must allow the local authorities to handle it.
To add more tension to the situation, Juliet is experiencing marital woes, which become very public and vocal making everyone uncomfortable, and more than a little concerned for Juliet.
This may be the most absorbing installment in the series so far. The family drama, however, was the most compelling part of the story. However, Crombie has several plot lines moving at once, which may or may not be interconnected. The story has a distinct element of dread which steadily increased, causing me genuine distress and concern for the characters. The conclusion was riveting and quite chilling.
Overall, it took me a good while to really get a good solid handle on this series. But, I think I’ve finally gotten into the groove and think it is starting to live up to my full expectations of it.
jayce's review against another edition
5.0
I read the first 4 in this series and then I couldn't get the next several. So I grabbed this one. Crombie's writing style is remarkably improved in the gap in a way that might not have been so obvious if I had read straight through. It might have happened gradually. This story is a bit darker but so much richer. I liked the beginning of this series but this one was so much better that I wouldn't have recognized it as by the same author if it didn't have the same characters. I have grown very fond of these characters and I hope we keep encountering the minor characters throughout the series.
liloud0626's review against another edition
4.0
This installment takes place in Cheshire on a visit to Duncan's family home. We learn about narrowboat life on the canals and other features of small town English life I would never even hear of otherwise. The two mysteries in this book are almost secondary to the various issues within Duncan and Gemma's extended family, but that's part of what makes this series so enjoyable.
4.5 stars rounded down
4.5 stars rounded down
kitchensinclare's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
skinnypenguin's review against another edition
4.0
Duncan and Jemma take the family to his parents for the holidays. Duncan's sister finds a dead baby walled up in a building she is renovating. They help the DCI try to figure out who it is and how it got there. Then a retired social worker is killed and they assist with that. Duncan's niece is having problems as her parents are having marital problems and their is problems with her dad and his business.
They try to find out if the two cases are linked and who the killer is.
Good character development, lots of interplay between all the characters, suspenseful.
They try to find out if the two cases are linked and who the killer is.
Good character development, lots of interplay between all the characters, suspenseful.
canadianbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This is the latest in the series featuring Scotland Yard's Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. When the pair go to Duncan's parents place over the Christmas vacation with their children, they immediately encounter mysteries. Duncan's sister Juliet finds a baby's corpse when she demolishes some plaster work on a building site she is working on. Juliet is also having marital issues and they are affecting her children, Sam and Lally. Lally is also still upset over the recent drowning of a high school classmate. Both Duncan and Gemma find themselves being drawn into the events taking place even as Gemma adjusts to her role as part of Duncan's larger family. Kit, Duncan's son also finds himself being drawn in as he connects with Lally and questions her relationship with her friend Leo. More secrets emerge, and the family discovers how little they really know about each other's lives. Lots of action, character development and issues.
stackwoodlibrary's review against another edition
3.0
Solid series, have picked this up again after some years away; good on TN READs
TX author, English cops?
This tale included an area and canal boat, both which interest me.
TX author, English cops?
This tale included an area and canal boat, both which interest me.
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