Death's Shadow

Cavendish & Walker #13

by Sally Rigby

Theories that Thrill... Realities that Kill... A Ticking ClockWhen an esteemed criminology professor is found lifeless at an international conference, it’s up to DCI Whitney Walker and forensic psychologist Dr Georgina Cavendish to unravel the mystery. The professor had unveiled “Death’s Shadow”—a ground-breaking but unsettling theory that could redefine the understanding of serial killers. The theory captivated yet unnerved scholars, leaving a lingering air of dread within the conference halls. When another delegate meets a gruesome end, it becomes horrifyingly clear that the conference has become a hunting ground. Is Death’s Shadow serving as a blueprint for a real-life killer, or has the professor’s intellectual arrogance unwittingly unleashed a monster? Time is running out. As the conference draws to a close, Cavendish & Walker must decode a mind warped by twisted logic. Lives hang in the balance—can they crack the case before Death’s Shadow strikes again?

Genres: Crime, Audiobook, Suspense, Procedural

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2024

About the author

Sally Rigby was born in Northampton, in the UK. She has always had the travel bug, and after living in both Manchester and London, eventually moved overseas. From 2001 she has lived with her family in New Zealand, which she considers to be the most beautiful place in the world. During this time she also lived for five years in Australia. Sally has always loved crime fiction books, films and TV programmes, and has a particular fascination with the psychology of serial killers.

Reviews

[Shelley Amazon ca reviews as Purrrplehaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! My favorite so far!

A delegate at a conference about the 'Death Shadow' theory is found dead, and Cavendish & Walker are on the case!

Cavendish is soon to be married but jumps into the case, never the less. As it should be.

We follow along with the story as more delegates fall by the wayside even though the delegates are confined to the site and there is security.

Fast-paced and concise, the reader is brought into the mix to guess who-done-it. Because, obviously, it HAS to be someone AT the conference.🤔..

I can hardly wait for the next installment in the series!

I flew through this ARC copy of the book, and I am thrilled to be able to give you my honest review.!

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another tremendous tale in this super series, and when I looked back I was shocked to see the last one I read was back in July 2022 so it's been a long old wait !! In the interim the author's been no slouch, as she started her third series (another one I highly recommend) so I'd no idea it had been so long !! It didn't feel like it, since this is book 13 and it is easier to recall who's who with greater ease after a break.
This was once again an advanced read courtesy of the author, which is very kind of her.....plus I never miss a release, either !! I was pretty disappointed when it ended where it did as "we" all had a special occasion to attend so I hope in book 14 we get to actually do so......hint, hint....
It was super to hear Whitney's no-nonsense approach to her work and one remark she made to an interviewee made me laugh aloud when he told her something she needed to know was 'complicated'. Right away she snapped back with, "Well, uncomplicate it" !! Perfect.
It was an interesting tale, though I was intrigued to learn more about the Death's Shadow theory itself. I wish she'd gone into it a little deeper, although for the story's purpose it wasn't required.
I learned in this book too that a family liaison officer rocks up after a murder as a matter of routine. It sounded like the victim's family get little choice. I hadn't realised this.
I just hope book 14 is out sooner for us as I'm itching to follow on from the ending in this one !!

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who has been reading the Cavendish and Walker novels since 2019 (as have I) will know that Sally Rigby has a dark fascination for serial killers. A bit macabre perhaps? Perhaps not, she does put her knowledge to exceptionally good use in this series of crime thrillers and never more so than in this thirteenth installment.
George, who is already well known in the academic world finds herself closer than ever to a murdering serial killer who is preying upon other academics. And her wedding's only days away!
Whitney's also got more than the hunt for a murderer to worry about. Her mother's had a fall and doesn't know where she is any longer.
The combination of a devious plot with empathetic characterisation is what makes these novels so good.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adventure packed story to keep you reading. It's full of action
and has all the twists and turns included to the end of the book, with good characters...Highly recommend

Good

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Rigby hit the jackpot once again with Death's Shadow. I've been loving her Cavendish & Walker series ever since the first book and I own every single one.

In this book, we see a little more of the world of Forensic Psychologist Georgina (George) Cavendish. The murders are taking place in her world of University intellectualism. This time, George is calling DCI Whitney Walker to inform her of a murder, rather than the other way around.

George is also preparing for her soon-to-happen wedding along with speaking at and attending an international criminology conference. George, herself, is likely on the spectrum because she's not socially smooth. She is dealing with helping Whitney and team to solve what grows into three murders before the murderer is found.

There's also the side story of Whitney's mom running into problems with her dementia and Whitney working at organizing everyone to meet with her mom and hoping that mum know who they are. There's her brother Rob, her daughter Tiffany, and her Granddaughter Ava. The last time Whitney saw her mum, she didn't even know who Whitney was.

Dr. Georgina Cavendish comes from a very wealthy educated family and is marrying Ross, who is a successful artist. She has all the various usual wedding problems to work out with seating and dress fittings and who to invite that any other bride and groom have to deal with. She has the added concern that her family's a bit insular and Ross's family is big, warm, and expressive.

Whitney is full of empathy and tends to notice when anyone in her team is off kilter. Young Ellie is not her usual self. Whitney calls her into the privacy of her office and finds that Ellie's boyfriend had dumped her. At the end of the book Whitney suggests Ellie take a vacation. Ellie mentions that she'd like to visit Cornwall where Matt (an old member of the team) is now living. Could this be the start of something New?

My suspicions jumped from one character to another until it was solved at the end. George speculates that perhaps the background of this murderer fits Hargrove's Death's Shadow theory. Whitney doesn't even want to think about it. I think she's had enough of academia.

It ends with the day of George's Wedding. We don't get out of the bridal room with this one so not sure if we'll learn more about it in the next book, or we'll just need to tell our own stories in our heads to fill in that part of Dr. Georgina Cavendish's life.

[Kelly Thain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just want to preface this by saying I never write reviews for anything but I’ve had a constant nagging feeling - I should also preface this by saying I listened to the audio version.

I really liked the story, it lives up to the previous plots of the other 12 books that I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed. It’s filled with turns that you just don’t see coming.

I, however, feel like most people would not pick up book 13 without reading the other 12 first, as I did back in 2018. I started from number one and worked my way up.

This leads me to my segue, Sally Rigby has written 12 other books in this series and it’s getting to the point where you could turn it into a drinking game…

Take a shot when…

Whitney says how she needs a coffee fix

When Claire’s clothing choice is explained - not what she’s wearing but the fact that it’s always eccentric.

When Whitney explains her mum has dementia in a long winded way

When Whitney explains that her brother is brain damaged because of an attack when he was younger

When the word easy chair is mentioned - why is it always an easy chair, why can’t it be just a chair?

When the word vouch is mentioned

When Whitney says she didn’t go to uni but she desperately wants her daughter to

The list, honestly, goes on and on…

I feel like the plot could be extended if Sally didn’t insist on explaining every little thing that’s been established in the rest of the 12 books.

This is also a personal comment - because this is to focus on the narrators voice rather than the story - I’m from
Warwickshire, this is very much set in that area because they’re near the Rugby area, Whitney’s voice would not be as Brummy as it is, she would sound more like George but a slightly more common version of her accent. BUT to caveat this the narrator is absolute brilliant and I’ve listened to all of the Cavendish and Walker series because of her.

I’m sorry this is more of a personal take rather than a rundown of the plot but I did feel like I needed to get this off my chest. By this point in the series, I feel as though it’s unnecessary to explain these things over and over, it’s really starting to dull the story down.

[JPT · Rating 3 out of 5]

*
*
*
Audiobook
Story: C, Narration: A

Not a review, just some thoughts for personal reference.

A long wait for this book with little payoff. This is one of my favorite series, but this may have been my least favorite books to date. The central mystery should have been riveting, but I found it both dull and preposterous. Three dead people at a conference and it seemed like Whitney and George were working it largely alone. I love Whitney's team, but they were like cardboard background characters, for the most part. And Whitney's bosses seemed totally disinterested except for a brief conversation.

We did get scenes with Whitney's family, and lots about George's wedding plans. Again, I'd normally enjoy those parts but they seemed kind of perfunctory and at the expense of the main storyline.

Claire the ME had some scenes and a lot was made over her quirky dress sense. (George even chastised Whitney for being mean about it.) Whitney wondered what Claire would wear to the wedding and then the author decided not to "show" any of the actual wedding. And something is clearly wrong with Claire but that was left hanging, too.

(There was also a reference to the spinoff series, but I haven't read any of those books yet.)

This book gave off paint by numbers vibes, like the author had a commitment with the publisher but was running late and slapped this together using a checkoff list. Really, how do you make serial killers boring?! I'm not calling it quits, but am really hoping for something better next time.

Luckily, the narrator delivered her usual good performance.

[Brenda Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

George and Whitney back together again. There are so many things going on with George but mainly it about her wedding that about a week away. George is attending a convention with other professional professors that their studies are on how the brain of a serial killer works, is there a fault in their brain, or how this way of thinking come about. George probably knows more about serial killers than everyone here because of her work with Whitney and police. She has helped catch them. Professor Hargrove has his theory that the brain in each one has these shadows that can control how a person can act and do without having to really mind about it.
Lots of people there don't agree with him or his theory. The day of the conference in the early part of the time after lunch, professor Hargrove is found dead in his room. There are no signs of how he died so they are stating he had heart failure. This is kept very quiet and George is handling everything until Whitney arrivals. Whitney request the Claire does the autopsy because she is the best. Whitney and George rule out different kind things to die but Claire found that the body has been injected with a large dose of insulin enough to almost instantly kill a person. Then there is another killing and its been the same way with insulin again. Now the mad hunt for the killer has begin! Who would have this amount of insulin?? Who wants these professors dead?? Is it about Hargrove's theory??

[Mrs B E Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful, fast paced, gripping - with a twist at the end you won’t be expecting.

The last case done and dusted, DCI Whitney Walker is excited about being a bridesmaid at the imminent wedding of her friend Dr Georgina Cavendish, a forensic psychologist at Lenchester University, and her sculptor fiancé, Ross.

Then, a sudden death of a renown professor at the Conference Centre appears to be suspicious and Whitney I
enlists the help of George, who has been asked to take the place of the dead professor.

Very soon another death, in similar circumstances, raises suspicions and Whitney, George and the team suspect they may have a serial killer on their heir hands.

To make matters worse, Whitney receives a call from the residential home in which her mother resides, asking her to come in urgently.

As though all this is already difficult enough, yet another speaker from the conference is found dead,

Will Whitney and George find the perpetrator before any more lives are lost, what is so urgent that Whitney has been summoned to the care home, and will George and Ross’ wedding go ahead without further incident?

Well, there was so much going on that I could not put the book down. Highly recommended,

[Randi Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems like it’s been awhile since I have read a Cavendish and Walker story and it’s good to be back with them. As George is preparing to marry Ross, the team is called to a murder at a criminology conference George is attending. The deceased is the author of a controversial theory on serial killers. Soon, despite the best police work, the are more murders. Will Whitney and team solve the case before there are more murders? Will George go through with the wedding? These questions kept me reading to the twisty end. Sally Rigby writes British police procedurals with wonderful characters and interesting plots. The team works as a family, sometimes joking, sometimes bickering, but always there for each other. The books can be read as standalones in that the cases don’t carry over, but you will miss out on the development of the relationship between Whitney and George. I recommend at least reading the beginning ones to understand who the characters are. I have read them all and I love them. Sally Rigby is one of my favorite authors.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I can't help but like these books, but the thing that makes me like this series less than her other two, is way too light touch on the characters personal lives, especially Cavendish. I understand Cavendish's character and I think she uses lack of information (other than a few sentences here and there) to convey what her character is like and I find it annoying. Even Whitney's personal life is oddly sporadic and it's more about her daughter or her mother or her brother, than her throughout the series. I get that these books are mysteries, even procedural, but the characters are what keeps me coming back. An almost event is exactly what I'm talking about.

As far as the murder mystery goes, I love how the characters, including Whitney's team all work together in the story to find the villain. And there are always twists in these books that keep you reading.

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 5 out of 5]

DCI Whitney Walker and forensic psychologist Dr Georgina Cavendish are back on another case. I have loved these two characters since the start of the series. We see a lot of Whitney’s and Georgina’s background stories, outside of the case as the series progresses. We learn a little more each time, so I feel I know them. I love police procedural books. I really like Georgina’s role as a forensic psychology consultant. She sees things about people that others don’t notice. In this book a criminology professor was found murdered at a convention in which they were going to present research information about understanding serial killers. Then another murder at the convention. Whitney and George have to track all this down quickly before someone else dies. It was very exciting. I am looking forward to the next book. I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.

[HornFan2]

The Cavendish and Walker series is my favorite series, do wish Birdie was part of Whitney's crew, that Sally Rigby writes and discovered while watching Sea Patrol. That the Australian actress Lisa McClune, would make a great Whitney Walker character wise, if it ever was made into a TV Show and especially since it's written for British TV.

'Death's Shadow', was a great addition to the series, Georgina getting married and Whitney's mom is getting worse with dementia, they add some stress to the story, then mix in a criminology conference, add a introverted attendee with a sinister plan, mix in a few red herring's, suspense, action, police procedural, and beautiful fictional Lenchester to life.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death’s Shadow, the thirteenth book in the Cavendish and Walker series, is a fast-paced mystery thriller. When a supposed heart-attack turns out to be murder at an international criminology conference, DCI Whitney Walker and her friend, forensic psychologist Georgina Cavendish are called in to try to solve this case. Unfortunately, the murderer is not finished with the delegates. This wonderful suspense thriller delivers with an interesting premise, captivating characters, and unexpected twists. Another great police procedural from Sally Rigby. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death’s Shadow by Sally Rigby is book 13 in the series featuring DCI Whitney Walker and Dr Georgina Cavendish (known as George to her friends). George is a forensic psychologist and assists the police when required. A death takes place at a conference George is attending. It is one of the delegates, a speaker with a different view on serial killers, which is attracting a lot of attention. Then it is discovered to be murder. I have missed Whitney and George as it has been a little while since the last book. There is such a mixture of personalities in the book. Sally has the ability of creating such fascinating and different characters. These characters add so much to a book. Whitney is very outgoing, and George is much more reserved and abrupt. Have loved watching them develop during the series. A great read and series.

[Rosie Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read a Cavendish and Walker book, I always feel like somehow I'm catching up with old friends and it seems like an eternity since we caught up last.

A delegate is found dead at an international criminology conference, and it's down to George and Whitney to solve the mystery. The dead professor had been espousing a new and somewhat controversial theory, is his theory the reason the killer targeted him? The body count starts to climb and the team is under pressure to solve the mystery. Add in George organising her impending nuptials and you know you're in for a great read

Sally Rigby never fails to deliver and Death's Shadow is no exception.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

When an esteemed criminology professor is found lifeless at an international conference, it's up to DCI Whitney Walker and forensic psychologist Dr. Georgina Cavendish to unravel the mystery. The professor had unveiled Death's Shadow—a ground-breaking but unsettling theory that could redefine the understanding of serial killers. Several other attendees did not agree with this and some made it known. When another delegate is found lifeless in the same manner, they really do wonder what is going on. Enjoyed the book and it kept me on the edge of my seat wondering who or why these people were killed.

[Chris Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Sally Rigby gives her readers a story full of interesting characters with real life to them woven into a dark story of murder. I've read this series from the start so it's great to be back with these characters to see how their lives are going. We have Whitney worried for her mothers deteriorating health as well as George's imminent wedding adding to this story of murder amongst academics. The author writes with a simple easy to read style that helps the story to fly by. As always from Sally Rigby, excellent.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thoroughly enjoyable Whitney and George adventure.
Hypothesising what drives the mind of serial killers is a dangerous pursuit and as the bodies mount up Whitney and George have their hands full. Trying to find a most elusive multiple murderer whilst on a tight timeline as George’s wedding day draws closer just adds more stress into the mix. However Whitney and George deftly navigate the many surprising twists in this tale which certainly put my “amateur sleuthing” to the test. All in all, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[B H SLACK · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyable book, Whitney and her friend George pit their wits against a killer who seems intent on destroying anyone who is involved with a controversial theory on serial killers. The victims are attending a conference where the theory will be put forward by the professor whose proposal it is and there are supporters and critics, but why are they being murdered? Meanwhile Whitney has family issues to contend with and George is struggling to finalise her wedding arrangements.
I like this series and the way it ties in to other series by this author.

[Sentinelle23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️💙Very good volume!

DCI Whitney Walker was waiting with great impatience for her friend George at the seamstress who had prepared the wedding dress.

Georgina arrived late with bad news for Whitney...

^^^^^^^^^^

One of my favorite volumes of the entire series !

I loved this story, always with a personal event in the life of one of the two main characters in the series (Whitney and Georgina) as a backdrop.

Too bad the series is over.

I recommend this volume in particular, as well as the entire series!
Thank you to the author for this good reading time.

[Christyg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great murder mystery for Whitney and George to solve. There's been a bit of time since the last book, so we're close to George's wedding. I really enjoy the events going on in the characters lives as well as the crime solving. The case in this one has some interesting suspects and a satisfying conclusion. The ending had some great hints at books to come and I'm really looking forward to those. I received an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandy Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read. This series is riviting and this book is the best one yet. Just when I thought I had it figured out....nope, a twist I really didn't expect. As always I couldn't wait for this adventure to come out. If you haven't read any of the previous books, don't worry. Each can be read as a stand alone. Warning though....once you read one you wouldn't be satisfied till you start reading another one.

[Patricia Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

George and Whitney have together again. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve connected with them.
George’s wedding is fastly approaching. While attending a conference there is a suspicious death. She calls in Walker and the race is on.
Can they figure out who the killer is before the wedding?
There are some personal things going on and I hope that some of them were hints of future books.
I always enjoy this series and this one did not disappoint.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great entry in an enjoyable series. DCI Whitney Walker and Dr. Georgina Cavendish try to figure out who is killing people at an international criminology conference. As always I enjoyed the process of finding out who the killer was. I also really enjoy the characters and their relationships with each other. Great dialogue. I would recommend this book if you like English police procedural mysteries. I do think it best if the series is read in order

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book in the series. I like the personal aspects to the story’s as well as the cases. I thought the interview with the killer was a bit rushed it ended abruptly and I didn’t feel we got a full explanation as to why they did it. I didn’t see the murder. Early on which is always good. Listened on audible and something happened with the narrator towards the end, it was someone else and the accents and pitch was off.

[Carol Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whitney and Georgina are back with another exciting case, this time a criminology professor has been killed.
Digging into the professor's life, Georgina can at least get reasonably close as she is a forensic physiologist and works at the college, but will it be enough?
This series is one of Rigby's best and long may they reign.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has lots of twists
A scientist dies at a conference where George is about to lecture and DCI Whitney joins her to solve the case, when another two are murdered.
George is trying to organise her wedding at the same time as trying to find the serial killer.
The Death Shadow went above my head and found confusing otherwise it would have been a 5*

[Julian Tremayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good to see the return of this series and another excellent story. Rigby draws George Cavendish into this story by its setting in a conference in which she is involved. For those who haven't read this series, best to start with no. 1 and work your way through!
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced, interesting read, that I found I did not want to put down! Great, multi-faceted characters. Suspenseful and thrilling. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last. Fantastic addition to the series!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.