Sunday 25 October 2015

The Sound of Broken Glass - Deborah Crombie

photo courtesty:goodreads.com
A fantastic read, an enjoyable experience.

I have come appreciate Crombie more each time I finish her books. Having read the previous two books that follow the same story and principal characters of Kincaid James and Gemma James, this one was an easy one to get into.

I couldn’t help but compare her book to Elizabeth George novels. Crombie is constantly compared to George maybe because they are both American writers who set their stories in England. However, this one indeed reminded me of George’s previous novel Traitor to Memory which employs a similar narrative technique.

Gist:

Gemma James is back at work while Duncan is still on leave holding the home front. It is work as usual when James is called in after a body is found in a hotel. The scene suggests kinky sex gone wrong and James together with her assistant get headfirst into the investigation. The dead pan is a punter who got into an altercation with a guitar player at a bar the previous night. Running alongwith the investigation is a parallel story of the same young band player. How is this band player connected to the dead man all? 

What works:
  • Great characterisation. The characters are so good that they pull you into the story right away.
  • There is  a simultaneous past and present narrative. The two flow superbly and after a point they blend into one narrative. Credit to author's story telling technique for getting it so well.
  • The twists are great and the action is placed very well.
  • Meanwhile the parallel narrative with Kincaid and Gemma’s personal life is laid out neatly. It doesn’t affect the main plot co exists without being overbearing.
What doesn’t:
  • Nothing really. It is a great book. Worth the time that goes into finishing it.
This really a great one from the Crombie pen. Highly recommended.