To Dwell in Darkness

Early in bestseller Crombie's exciting 16th Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James mystery, a white phosphorous grenade%E2%80%94initially mistaken for a harmless smoke bomb%E2%80%94fatally hits a street protester at London's St. Pancras International railway station. Others in the station crowd suffer injury, including some of Duncan and Gemma's police colleagues. The search for the victim's identity leads to the mysterious Ryan Marsh, an ex-cop gone underground for reasons that are never made clear. As usual, Crombie thoroughly immerses the reader in the crime solving, as well as the home lives of those trying to solve the crime, including friends, children, dogs, and a litter of stray kittens. As the protest at St. Pancras was against the destruction of London's architectural heritage, the city's tube and train stations, as well as various other landmarks, figure prominently in the story. Best of all, the eerily open ending sets the stage for the next installment. Author tour. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary Agency. (Sept.)