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Cornish Crime - Rego & Poldhu #1
Dead Water
"Thrilling from start to finish! My heart was pounding!"
It’s Tamsyn Poldhu’s first day as a police constable in her home town of Penzance in Cornwall. She already knows that life can be cruel, but she has no idea how tough it’s going to be.
Detective Inspector Rob Rego has just transferred to the southwest from Greater Manchester Police, which makes him lucky 13 – the thirteenth police officer of colour in Cornwall.
When a body washes up on a remote Cornish beach, police initially assume that it’s a suicide by drowning, until they discover that the victim had been dead 12 hours before being dumped at sea.
Time to solve the crime is running out – and Tamsyn’s involvement in the case goes deeper than she could ever have imagined.
The first in a new series of contemporary crime thrillers.
It’s Tamsyn Poldhu’s first day as a police constable in her home town of Penzance in Cornwall. She already knows that life can be cruel, but she has no idea how tough it’s going to be.
Detective Inspector Rob Rego has just transferred to the southwest from Greater Manchester Police, which makes him lucky 13 – the thirteenth police officer of colour in Cornwall.
When a body washes up on a remote Cornish beach, police initially assume that it’s a suicide by drowning, until they discover that the victim had been dead 12 hours before being dumped at sea.
Time to solve the crime is running out – and Tamsyn’s involvement in the case goes deeper than she could ever have imagined.
The first in a new series of contemporary crime thrillers.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2024
611 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Berrick Ford
6 books17 followersBerrick Ford - home of contemporary crime/police procedural novels set in Cornwall, the rural southwest of the UK.
Check out FORENSIC FILE on the website for info on techniques used in the books:
* finger ridges
* digital dogs
and more.
Check out FORENSIC FILE on the website for info on techniques used in the books:
* finger ridges
* digital dogs
and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 16, 2025
Tasted like reheated fish and chips
Dry storytelling
First time authors usually let the plot unravel to fast. Slow down! Stir it slowly.
This case the story took to long to unravel. Bloated storytelling.
A 500 hundred page book that should have been 300. The pacing suffered.
Dry storytelling
First time authors usually let the plot unravel to fast. Slow down! Stir it slowly.
This case the story took to long to unravel. Bloated storytelling.
A 500 hundred page book that should have been 300. The pacing suffered.
October 3, 2024
Dead Water
I read book 2 as an ARC, enjoyed it so much, but felt I needed to know the characters better, purchased book 1. I was not disappointed!
This story had so many twists and turns I couldn't put it down. My heart broke for Tamsyn & I had to reach for my tissues, always a good sign that I was totally engrossed by the characters and the story.
I did have a giggle moment at the mention of Kylie Minogue, I'm an Aussie.
I'll gladly read lots more from this author.
I read book 2 as an ARC, enjoyed it so much, but felt I needed to know the characters better, purchased book 1. I was not disappointed!
This story had so many twists and turns I couldn't put it down. My heart broke for Tamsyn & I had to reach for my tissues, always a good sign that I was totally engrossed by the characters and the story.
I did have a giggle moment at the mention of Kylie Minogue, I'm an Aussie.
I'll gladly read lots more from this author.
October 13, 2024
Tamsyn is a new police recruit in Cornwall, and her boss is DCI Rego, a recent transfer from Manchester. When a body is found on the shore, Tamsyn's knowledge of the area is invaluable until a member of her family is suspected. The story builds to an exciting climax, and learning about the Cornish area of the UK was enlightening.
January 23, 2026
It’s DI Robert Rigo’s first day in his new posting to Devon & Cornwall Major Crime Investigation Team. By rights, he should have spent the day on familiarisation – getting to know his new patch and team. But they’re short-staffed, so his boss diverts him to Penzance to deal with a dead body that’s been washed up on the shore – a young woman. A suicide, probably – the cliffs are a favourite spot for jumpers. But when it turns out the woman had been dead for several hours before being dumped in the sea, Rigo has a murder on his hands. It’s Tamsyn Poldhu’s first day too – out of training and a real police officer at last. She should be doubled up with an experienced officer, but the same staff shortage makes this problematic, so Rigo takes her along with him. She’s useful to him – he’s from Manchester while she’s Cornish, born and bred, so she knows the places and the people. But this means that when suspicion begins to turn on the locals, many of them are her friends, or even relations…
This is the first in a police procedural series and as is often the case in firsts, we spend a good deal of time getting to know the main characters and the setting, which slows the pace. Berrick Ford is a writing duo, and their website tells us they both have police and security service backgrounds. This means the procedural element of the book comes over as entirely authentic, although I felt there was too much detail – again, a common occurrence in first novels, when the temptation seems to be to include everything an author knows on the subject.
Rigo is a rising man, working his way steadily through the ranks. He is black, which is not too unusual in his home city of Manchester, but he wonders if he’ll be seen as some sort of curiosity in the much more rural world he’s moving to. I was a little concerned this was all heading for yet another tedious story of racism, but happily not – the authors don’t make a big thing out of his race and they allow the people of Cornwall to behave decently towards him. What a relief! Rigo also seems to be a happily married man, although we don’t meet his family in this one – they’re still in Manchester until he gets his new life organised. He is competent, plays by the rules and is refreshingly angst-free. I liked him very much.
I liked Tamsyn even more though. Ford does a great job of showing the anxiety of any first day in any new job, never mind one where the first task is to deal with a drowned corpse! But we can see that, underneath this natural nervousness, Tamsyn is a confident young woman, enthusiastic about her new role, and ambitious – at this early stage in her career, not so much to be a high-flyer, as to do a good job and gain the respect of her colleagues and superior officers. Ford also shows how knowing the people of the area has both positive and negative aspects – it gives her inside information which is very useful in the investigation, but she hasn’t yet come to terms with how she’ll deal with it if she ever has to arrest a friend or neighbour in this small community. And she also has to face the fact that police officers can’t always behave like other young people – being at a party where people might be taking recreational drugs could endanger her career, for instance. But the reader is confident she’ll navigate all these tricky waters and become a good officer – and more importantly, so is Rigo. He’s way above her in the rankings, but he’s a good boss, willing to give a quiet word of advice if he thinks she needs it.
The plot is interesting, and keeps up a steady pace with several believable twists and turns – not the silly kind that make a nonsense of everything that went before, but the realistic sort where new information makes the detectives rethink their earlier theories. The ending gets a little too dramatic, perhaps, but remains just on the right side of the credibility line. What makes it work is the emotional aspect of Tamsyn realising that she’ll have to change her opinion of some of the people she’s known since childhood – some of them close to her and her family. That also adds to the tension at the end, when lives are in danger…
I enjoyed this pairing very much, and while I felt the level of procedural detail made this book too long for its content, I’m hopeful that later books might get a better balance. I’ll look forward to finding out!
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
This is the first in a police procedural series and as is often the case in firsts, we spend a good deal of time getting to know the main characters and the setting, which slows the pace. Berrick Ford is a writing duo, and their website tells us they both have police and security service backgrounds. This means the procedural element of the book comes over as entirely authentic, although I felt there was too much detail – again, a common occurrence in first novels, when the temptation seems to be to include everything an author knows on the subject.
Rigo is a rising man, working his way steadily through the ranks. He is black, which is not too unusual in his home city of Manchester, but he wonders if he’ll be seen as some sort of curiosity in the much more rural world he’s moving to. I was a little concerned this was all heading for yet another tedious story of racism, but happily not – the authors don’t make a big thing out of his race and they allow the people of Cornwall to behave decently towards him. What a relief! Rigo also seems to be a happily married man, although we don’t meet his family in this one – they’re still in Manchester until he gets his new life organised. He is competent, plays by the rules and is refreshingly angst-free. I liked him very much.
I liked Tamsyn even more though. Ford does a great job of showing the anxiety of any first day in any new job, never mind one where the first task is to deal with a drowned corpse! But we can see that, underneath this natural nervousness, Tamsyn is a confident young woman, enthusiastic about her new role, and ambitious – at this early stage in her career, not so much to be a high-flyer, as to do a good job and gain the respect of her colleagues and superior officers. Ford also shows how knowing the people of the area has both positive and negative aspects – it gives her inside information which is very useful in the investigation, but she hasn’t yet come to terms with how she’ll deal with it if she ever has to arrest a friend or neighbour in this small community. And she also has to face the fact that police officers can’t always behave like other young people – being at a party where people might be taking recreational drugs could endanger her career, for instance. But the reader is confident she’ll navigate all these tricky waters and become a good officer – and more importantly, so is Rigo. He’s way above her in the rankings, but he’s a good boss, willing to give a quiet word of advice if he thinks she needs it.
The plot is interesting, and keeps up a steady pace with several believable twists and turns – not the silly kind that make a nonsense of everything that went before, but the realistic sort where new information makes the detectives rethink their earlier theories. The ending gets a little too dramatic, perhaps, but remains just on the right side of the credibility line. What makes it work is the emotional aspect of Tamsyn realising that she’ll have to change her opinion of some of the people she’s known since childhood – some of them close to her and her family. That also adds to the tension at the end, when lives are in danger…
I enjoyed this pairing very much, and while I felt the level of procedural detail made this book too long for its content, I’m hopeful that later books might get a better balance. I’ll look forward to finding out!
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
August 13, 2024
If, like me, you enjoy watching English detective TV series (Vera, Midsomer Murders, Blue lights,…) then you should definitely try this book. Although I usually read romance stories, after reading the blurb, I was very intrigued by this story, that takes place in the beautiful region of Cornwall, Devon. I decided to give this story a try and I’m very glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to read the next story in this new, exciting crime thriller series.
(If you’re interesting but still unsure if it’s something for you, you can get the prequel ‘Dead start’ for free on the author’s website. This is a good introduction to the main characters and the writing style. Even if you’re sure you want to read this story, I recommend getting the prequel as well to read before this story. I read it too.)
The main characters in this new police series are Tamsyn Poldhu and Robert Rego. You get both POV’s in the story. Tamsyn is a young single woman (in her early twenties) who was born in Cornwall and still lives there. Although she comes from a fishing family, Tamsyn wants to be a police officer. In this story we follow her on her first day as a police officer and the day starts excitingly because a body of a unknown woman has been found.
Robert Rego is 33 years old, married and has two children. He’s just been promoted to Detective Inspector. He has worked in Manchester for the past few years, but the promotion will require him to move to Cornwall. His family remains in Manchester. Robert (Rob) is very happy with this new opportunity but also regrets having to leave his family behind. Like Tamsyn, it’s also Robert’s first day on the job when the female body is found on the beach. Due to circumstances Tamsyn and Robert end up together on their first day and that’s the beginning of an investigation that starts as a suicide but then turns into a murder investigation. Where Tamsyn and Robert each bring their own talents, experience and intelligence to the research. Where secrets of the small towns and ports come to light and lives are in danger. Can Robert solve his first big case in time? And will Tamsyn regret her decision to become a police officer? Only time will tell.
I really enjoyed this story. It took me a little time to get into the story but once it had my attention, I was hooked! I couldn’t stop reading, I wanted to know what would happen next. For me, the story had the perfect balance of everything. This is a crime story so the main theme is the police investigation but as a reader you also got to know the main characters Tamsyn and Rob. Their thoughts, emotions, ambitions and their love for their family. I loved that.
Tamsyn may have been young, but she had already experienced great sadness in her life and that made her very mature for her age. It was wonderful to see her enthusiasm for her new job. She was still a bit naïve in some ways, but she was also intelligent, calm in difficult situations and she learned things quickly. During the story it became clear that she had everything it takes to be a very good police officer.
Rob may be new as a Detective Inspector, but he did a great job. He knew how to make quick decisions, but also took the time to explain things to the members of his team. He was intelligent, confident and very good in his job. He was a really good boss.
The huge differences between Tamsyn and Rob made the story more interesting. It gave us different insights, such as what it was like for a young, beautiful woman to be a police officer, to start somewhere new, the pros and cons of starting somewhere where everyone knows you. And then you had the other side, someone with more experience on the work floor but in a new position, a man of colour, living and working in a unfamiliar region where people speak with a different accent. Both had their own worries, problems and successes.
It was great to see Cornwall through the eyes of Tamsyn as a local and through Rob’s eyes as someone who comes from a big city.
The writing was fluent, The crime was slowly uncovered, it was very exciting and remained a mystery until the end. The author did a great job of explaining how the police worked in England, the different names and many other things involving police work.
The second characters in the story were very interesting, you had Tamsyn’s grandparents (I loved them!). Tamsyn and Rob’s colleagues were great too, everyone worked hard to find the bad guys. Like in every job there was one colleague who wasn’t kind but the rest of the team was wonderful.
I really enjoyed this crime thriller story and I look forward to the next one.
(If you’re interesting but still unsure if it’s something for you, you can get the prequel ‘Dead start’ for free on the author’s website. This is a good introduction to the main characters and the writing style. Even if you’re sure you want to read this story, I recommend getting the prequel as well to read before this story. I read it too.)
The main characters in this new police series are Tamsyn Poldhu and Robert Rego. You get both POV’s in the story. Tamsyn is a young single woman (in her early twenties) who was born in Cornwall and still lives there. Although she comes from a fishing family, Tamsyn wants to be a police officer. In this story we follow her on her first day as a police officer and the day starts excitingly because a body of a unknown woman has been found.
Robert Rego is 33 years old, married and has two children. He’s just been promoted to Detective Inspector. He has worked in Manchester for the past few years, but the promotion will require him to move to Cornwall. His family remains in Manchester. Robert (Rob) is very happy with this new opportunity but also regrets having to leave his family behind. Like Tamsyn, it’s also Robert’s first day on the job when the female body is found on the beach. Due to circumstances Tamsyn and Robert end up together on their first day and that’s the beginning of an investigation that starts as a suicide but then turns into a murder investigation. Where Tamsyn and Robert each bring their own talents, experience and intelligence to the research. Where secrets of the small towns and ports come to light and lives are in danger. Can Robert solve his first big case in time? And will Tamsyn regret her decision to become a police officer? Only time will tell.
I really enjoyed this story. It took me a little time to get into the story but once it had my attention, I was hooked! I couldn’t stop reading, I wanted to know what would happen next. For me, the story had the perfect balance of everything. This is a crime story so the main theme is the police investigation but as a reader you also got to know the main characters Tamsyn and Rob. Their thoughts, emotions, ambitions and their love for their family. I loved that.
Tamsyn may have been young, but she had already experienced great sadness in her life and that made her very mature for her age. It was wonderful to see her enthusiasm for her new job. She was still a bit naïve in some ways, but she was also intelligent, calm in difficult situations and she learned things quickly. During the story it became clear that she had everything it takes to be a very good police officer.
Rob may be new as a Detective Inspector, but he did a great job. He knew how to make quick decisions, but also took the time to explain things to the members of his team. He was intelligent, confident and very good in his job. He was a really good boss.
The huge differences between Tamsyn and Rob made the story more interesting. It gave us different insights, such as what it was like for a young, beautiful woman to be a police officer, to start somewhere new, the pros and cons of starting somewhere where everyone knows you. And then you had the other side, someone with more experience on the work floor but in a new position, a man of colour, living and working in a unfamiliar region where people speak with a different accent. Both had their own worries, problems and successes.
It was great to see Cornwall through the eyes of Tamsyn as a local and through Rob’s eyes as someone who comes from a big city.
The writing was fluent, The crime was slowly uncovered, it was very exciting and remained a mystery until the end. The author did a great job of explaining how the police worked in England, the different names and many other things involving police work.
The second characters in the story were very interesting, you had Tamsyn’s grandparents (I loved them!). Tamsyn and Rob’s colleagues were great too, everyone worked hard to find the bad guys. Like in every job there was one colleague who wasn’t kind but the rest of the team was wonderful.
I really enjoyed this crime thriller story and I look forward to the next one.
September 1, 2024
I am familiar with one of the author's other books but this is a different genre and I was curious of the outcome of their collaboration. Well, I am very impressed with this one. As expected factual details incorporated in the story makes this book more than just a whodunnit. I felt like I know more about the ins and outs of Cornwall, the police force training and the fishermen's way of life.
This author never disappoints with the characters she creates. The protagonists and antagonists are well presented and I have to keep on guessing who really are the bad guys in this story. The book is well paced and although the events unfolding are sometimes slowed down with the overload of information, I persevered. I couldn't read fast enough to get to the final chapters and was rewarded with a satisfying, gripping finale which makes me want for more of Rego's and Poldhu's foray into the dark side of Cornwall.
I highly recommend this book. Four and a half stars from me.
This author never disappoints with the characters she creates. The protagonists and antagonists are well presented and I have to keep on guessing who really are the bad guys in this story. The book is well paced and although the events unfolding are sometimes slowed down with the overload of information, I persevered. I couldn't read fast enough to get to the final chapters and was rewarded with a satisfying, gripping finale which makes me want for more of Rego's and Poldhu's foray into the dark side of Cornwall.
I highly recommend this book. Four and a half stars from me.
December 10, 2024
Dead Water Hides Much Death
This story gets in you. It’s simple, at first. But it builds on substantial characters. Begins to develop, take on dimension and shape, incorporating characters as it grows. Like small towns do. And the reader folds in. You think about it going to sleep; it finds when you awaken. A good story, very well told! So now I have to buy the next in the series. Yes, I have to!!
This story gets in you. It’s simple, at first. But it builds on substantial characters. Begins to develop, take on dimension and shape, incorporating characters as it grows. Like small towns do. And the reader folds in. You think about it going to sleep; it finds when you awaken. A good story, very well told! So now I have to buy the next in the series. Yes, I have to!!
October 3, 2024
Berrick Ford's first crime novel and did a great job!
May 19, 2025
This was an amazing first book. It starts off fairly slowy, Tamsyn Poldhu is very young and starting her first day in her new life as a police officer, she's still in training and learning, and living with her aged grandparents in a fishing cottage in Penzance, very close to the beach and with her lovely little doggie Mo. Detective Inspector Robert Rego is from Manchester and has a new job down in Penzance too, he's leaving his wife and two young children behind during the week, he will be Tamsyn's boss, and a black DI, learning to fit in, in the county of Cornwall where he is 120miles away from the county police force and miles away to get to the areas where he needs to police and they are on the edge of the coast too, plus the winding roads! Everything is slower, for instance wanting more police officers immediately takes several hours to arrive.
Their worlds collide on their first day when a body has been found on the beach close to where Tamsyn's grandparents live and it appears later that she was murdered and not drowned. When they discover the identity of the young woman and the fact that she had no water in the lungs and her tongue had been cut out and she died of copious amounts of blood pouring down the back of her throat, then Rego knew this was going to be a long case to solve.
This just built up steadily all the way through, yes we have a huge amount of police procedures than in any other book I've read, but all that was fascinating, you get a real insight into today's modern policing methods and how people are caught and interviewed and charged. So I loved this book.
Except for the last fifth, when Tamsyn and her grandfather are picked up by the murderers of the young woman and one of them is someone very close to them, and the ending involves a fast police chase on a commandeered boat doing 35mph in rough sea with seasick Rego onboard trying to reach them in time. And Tamsyn trying to hold on to her life dives overboard from the boat the murderers are using to transport her overseas and takes the little doggie with her and loses her in the waves.
From this moment I don't think I stopped crying along with Tamsyn, it's amazing how the life of a loyal loving small dog just gets to you. But read on... I am off to hunt for any other books in this what I hope is a series and off to wipe away my tears.
Their worlds collide on their first day when a body has been found on the beach close to where Tamsyn's grandparents live and it appears later that she was murdered and not drowned. When they discover the identity of the young woman and the fact that she had no water in the lungs and her tongue had been cut out and she died of copious amounts of blood pouring down the back of her throat, then Rego knew this was going to be a long case to solve.
This just built up steadily all the way through, yes we have a huge amount of police procedures than in any other book I've read, but all that was fascinating, you get a real insight into today's modern policing methods and how people are caught and interviewed and charged. So I loved this book.
Except for the last fifth, when Tamsyn and her grandfather are picked up by the murderers of the young woman and one of them is someone very close to them, and the ending involves a fast police chase on a commandeered boat doing 35mph in rough sea with seasick Rego onboard trying to reach them in time. And Tamsyn trying to hold on to her life dives overboard from the boat the murderers are using to transport her overseas and takes the little doggie with her and loses her in the waves.
From this moment I don't think I stopped crying along with Tamsyn, it's amazing how the life of a loyal loving small dog just gets to you. But read on... I am off to hunt for any other books in this what I hope is a series and off to wipe away my tears.
November 28, 2024
Gripping
The setting, the characters, the plot, has been a dramatic storyline and I have not been able to put the book down
The setting, the characters, the plot, has been a dramatic storyline and I have not been able to put the book down
January 1, 2025
Great characters, brilliant local Cornish knowledge, excellent chemistry between police officers.
January 12, 2025
Excellent
Brilliant detective story absorbing easy to follow first read of this writer but be looking out for more of these stories
Brilliant detective story absorbing easy to follow first read of this writer but be looking out for more of these stories
December 2, 2025
I found this a mixed bag. On one level, it's a solid police procedural. The details of the sort of commands a Detective Inspector in charge of an investigation has to give and all the things they have to juggle, and the level of record keeping all officers are expected to follow, even trainees like one of the main characters, Tamsyn Poldhu, add to the verisimilitude. On the other hand, if this is modern policing, I found it difficult to believe that the bully from Tamsyn's school, who is now employed at the police station as a clerical worker, is allowed to use such language and show such disrespect to Tamsyn, in front of other officers.
Full marks for having a black DI who is rounded out with a family background rather than the dysfunctional DI so beloved of a lot of crime writers: Rob Rego has made a career move to the Devon and Cornwall police force, but due to not being able to uproot his family from Manchester, has to settle for a long-distance relationship, with some visits home that can't be guaranteed given the exigencies of police work. I did lose a bit of sympathy for him though for the rapid way he jumps to the default position of distrusting Tamsyn and her grandfather, when I thought she'd shown plenty of evidence of being a committed officer and not a member of an underworld gang. It was that really that held back my full enjoyment and puts me off the rest of the series, so it's a 3 star read.
Full marks for having a black DI who is rounded out with a family background rather than the dysfunctional DI so beloved of a lot of crime writers: Rob Rego has made a career move to the Devon and Cornwall police force, but due to not being able to uproot his family from Manchester, has to settle for a long-distance relationship, with some visits home that can't be guaranteed given the exigencies of police work. I did lose a bit of sympathy for him though for the rapid way he jumps to the default position of distrusting Tamsyn and her grandfather, when I thought she'd shown plenty of evidence of being a committed officer and not a member of an underworld gang. It was that really that held back my full enjoyment and puts me off the rest of the series, so it's a 3 star read.
October 25, 2025
I am new to the writing of Berrick Ford, which I discovered is actually a duo writing team. Their experience in real policing come across as quite obvious and they have produced a very authentic and realistic view of how cases are worked in real life. One thing that was very noticeable to me was how young the characters were. In makes perfect sense that Tamsyn is only twenty years old as she is a new recruit but when she worked a nightshift with a 32 year old partner who is described as the oldest officer in the entire squad, that seemed a little off to me. Also the other main character Rego is in his early 30's which seems a bit young for a DI. It is unique however in this genre. Connelly's Bosch, Rankin's Rebus, and Billingham's Thorne were all in their forties even at the start of those well known series. There is also an unsatisfactory conclusion as no arrests are made with one being the victim of gangland justice (off-screen) and one successfully fleeing from the country. That actually adds to the realism of this story, and describes how many real cases actually end.
Despite those minor glitches, Deep Water's plot into the drug smuggling industry is extremely well done and realistic. As a retired former worker within the criminal justice system, I enjoyed reading this novel and will seek out more from this exciting writing tandem.
Despite those minor glitches, Deep Water's plot into the drug smuggling industry is extremely well done and realistic. As a retired former worker within the criminal justice system, I enjoyed reading this novel and will seek out more from this exciting writing tandem.
September 5, 2024
I was instantly hooked on debut duo Berrick Ford’s gripping crime thriller,
DEAD WATER,
book one in the Cornish Crime - Rego & Poldhu series. Although there’s a lot of police procedural lingo to absorb, none of it is convoluted; the abbreviations used are easy to understand, and the best part was how much I learnt. Set in a county in the far southwest of England, the spectacular descriptive writing made me feel as if I were there, walking down the cobbled streets of picturesque fishing villages, visiting unspoilt coves, beaches, harbours and cliffs. Also, the weather patterns–winds, currents, and high and low tides caught my attention, a significant detail that DCI, Robert Rigo, who’s new to the region would have to familiarise himself with tout de suite.
I truly liked that Rigo’s colour wasn’t an issue with the locals; especially since he’d been transferred from a multicultural city where he’d left the family he misses behind. I couldn’t help but admire him. Experienced, even-tempered and dedicated, he’d soon find out that policing in a coastal town wasn’t comparable with what he was used to.
If Rigo has a good teacher, so does young student police officer Tamsyn Poldhu. Rigo and her colleagues will show her the ropes, she’ll help him become acquainted with the surroundings and on the way, he’ll pick up a word or three in the Cornish language. Day one on the job for Tamsyn and Rigo who’d only just been promoted is all go, and from there on in, there’s a race against time for those appointed to a case that escalates at a heart-pounding pace.
But how would all this personally affect Tamsyn? Well, all the townsfolk know each other’s business, or so she thought–all said and done, she’s lived in Penzance all her life. Yet a happening that looks cut and dry is quite the opposite, involving her in ways I could never have imagined. Bravo to the authors for the bomb of a plot twist.
Tamsyn’s naivety worried me, but she’d typically share her feelings with Rigo whom she learnt to think highly of. She’d always wanted to join the police force, more than once her observations being spot on, yet she’d still come to question her career choice. And Rigo, will he stay or leave, and more importantly, can the crime which domino effect shook me up, be solved?
Told from the third-person POV, the buildup of suspense in a well-developed plot alongside solid character depth gave me a bird’s eye view of events and an insight into Rigo and Tamsyn’s thoughts and emotions. Of course, baddies abound, but the story wouldn’t have been the same without one obnoxious co-worker. I adored Tamsyn’s grumpy granddad, her sweet grandma, and the dog! Ooh my, I have no words for such a wonderful mutt. If crime novels are your thing, don’t hesitate to one-click!
I truly liked that Rigo’s colour wasn’t an issue with the locals; especially since he’d been transferred from a multicultural city where he’d left the family he misses behind. I couldn’t help but admire him. Experienced, even-tempered and dedicated, he’d soon find out that policing in a coastal town wasn’t comparable with what he was used to.
If Rigo has a good teacher, so does young student police officer Tamsyn Poldhu. Rigo and her colleagues will show her the ropes, she’ll help him become acquainted with the surroundings and on the way, he’ll pick up a word or three in the Cornish language. Day one on the job for Tamsyn and Rigo who’d only just been promoted is all go, and from there on in, there’s a race against time for those appointed to a case that escalates at a heart-pounding pace.
But how would all this personally affect Tamsyn? Well, all the townsfolk know each other’s business, or so she thought–all said and done, she’s lived in Penzance all her life. Yet a happening that looks cut and dry is quite the opposite, involving her in ways I could never have imagined. Bravo to the authors for the bomb of a plot twist.
Tamsyn’s naivety worried me, but she’d typically share her feelings with Rigo whom she learnt to think highly of. She’d always wanted to join the police force, more than once her observations being spot on, yet she’d still come to question her career choice. And Rigo, will he stay or leave, and more importantly, can the crime which domino effect shook me up, be solved?
Told from the third-person POV, the buildup of suspense in a well-developed plot alongside solid character depth gave me a bird’s eye view of events and an insight into Rigo and Tamsyn’s thoughts and emotions. Of course, baddies abound, but the story wouldn’t have been the same without one obnoxious co-worker. I adored Tamsyn’s grumpy granddad, her sweet grandma, and the dog! Ooh my, I have no words for such a wonderful mutt. If crime novels are your thing, don’t hesitate to one-click!
February 23, 2025
In Newlyn, Cornwall, two officers begin their first day at the police station. Tamsyn Poldhu, a student police officer, is excited to start work while DI Robert Rego has transferred to further his career. Assigned to a case of suspected drowning, the two find themselves dragged into a dangerous world where Tamsyn's roots will have surprising ramifications.
What's to like about this book? Well, the characters, the setting, and the plot! The characters are well-formed and genuinely sympathetic. The relationship between all the officers feels very authentic. And, Tamsyn's homelife tugs at the heartstrings. The setting - Cornwall, need I say more? But yes, it's a beautiful country that won the sweepstakes as far as looks go. Then there's the plot that twists and turns. Not to give anything away, but I had to read the last part of the book as quickly as possible; it was that thrilling.
Anyone who enjoys a good police procedural will be spellbound by Dead Water. I absolutely recommend it.
What's to like about this book? Well, the characters, the setting, and the plot! The characters are well-formed and genuinely sympathetic. The relationship between all the officers feels very authentic. And, Tamsyn's homelife tugs at the heartstrings. The setting - Cornwall, need I say more? But yes, it's a beautiful country that won the sweepstakes as far as looks go. Then there's the plot that twists and turns. Not to give anything away, but I had to read the last part of the book as quickly as possible; it was that thrilling.
Anyone who enjoys a good police procedural will be spellbound by Dead Water. I absolutely recommend it.
October 26, 2024
I love good solid police procedurals especially from the UK. Not many have been set in Cornwall and I don't think I ever read one that follows a brand new recruit before so I was curious to expand my library.
I not only fell in love with the story but also the characters and the little bit of Cornwall I was introduced to. Not the idyllic vacation or place to buy a bit of property but the real Cornish people who fight for their livings and carry hundreds of years of their own traditions with them every day.
The story draws you in to each character, the plot is solid and the main character gives us a fresh eyed look at how murders are solved. I even learned a new phrase, but 'madder do it?'
I was stoked when I saw that it's a series and I am already looking forward to the next book.
I not only fell in love with the story but also the characters and the little bit of Cornwall I was introduced to. Not the idyllic vacation or place to buy a bit of property but the real Cornish people who fight for their livings and carry hundreds of years of their own traditions with them every day.
The story draws you in to each character, the plot is solid and the main character gives us a fresh eyed look at how murders are solved. I even learned a new phrase, but 'madder do it?'
I was stoked when I saw that it's a series and I am already looking forward to the next book.
October 31, 2024
5* A real page turner
What is immediately obvious about this engrossing murder mystery, is that the author clearly has an in-depth knowledge of police procedures, all resulting in a compelling read.
Both the main characters are experiencing first day nerves. Detective Inspector Robert Rego arrives in Cornwall after being transferred from Greater Manchester Police. And it's Tamsyn Poldhu's first day as a student police officer.
When a woman’s body is discovered on a beach, Rob's experience and Tamsyn's local knowledge changes an accidental death inquiry into a murder investigation.
So good that I read it in two days.
What is immediately obvious about this engrossing murder mystery, is that the author clearly has an in-depth knowledge of police procedures, all resulting in a compelling read.
Both the main characters are experiencing first day nerves. Detective Inspector Robert Rego arrives in Cornwall after being transferred from Greater Manchester Police. And it's Tamsyn Poldhu's first day as a student police officer.
When a woman’s body is discovered on a beach, Rob's experience and Tamsyn's local knowledge changes an accidental death inquiry into a murder investigation.
So good that I read it in two days.
January 9, 2026
Two new officers start at Penzance on the same day, one Detective Inspector Rego transferring from Manchester and one a probationary officer, Tasmyn Prudho. They are thrown together to attend the discovery of a body at an isolated bay and the lack of other officers.
This was potentially a good story, however, it took a twist that was such a cliche that I turned me off and I felt disappointed with the outcome. New officer comes under suspicion of being part of a major crime. Why can't new officers just be new officers doing their job? This kind of story disappoints me as I've seen it before and is predictable.
This was potentially a good story, however, it took a twist that was such a cliche that I turned me off and I felt disappointed with the outcome. New officer comes under suspicion of being part of a major crime. Why can't new officers just be new officers doing their job? This kind of story disappoints me as I've seen it before and is predictable.
December 29, 2025
This was a nice surprise fine to read. It actually brought back a lot of memories from my first days on the job.
The characters were great. They were strong from the outset and they developed nicely.
The setting was beautiful and so vivid I really now want to visit Cornwall and Penzance .
The story was great and floated easily. My only complaint would be the bogging down of technical aspects and explanations.
I’m really looking forward to the next one in the series
The characters were great. They were strong from the outset and they developed nicely.
The setting was beautiful and so vivid I really now want to visit Cornwall and Penzance .
The story was great and floated easily. My only complaint would be the bogging down of technical aspects and explanations.
I’m really looking forward to the next one in the series
September 8, 2024
She gets a job in Cornwall in the police with a new title and she is about to be pulled into a crime. A dead body washes up and at first they think it is an accident. They find the body was dead 12 hours before being dumped at sea. Can she solve it? How will it all go? See how it will go
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
June 8, 2025
Eye opener
An eye opener of the procedural side of policing, I found it quite enlightening.
The story itself was well constructed and is about murder and drug smuggling.
The two main characters, Rego and Poldhu are very likeable with their own softer vulnerabilities there to be seen.
A good worthwhile read. I read it in two days and couldn’t put it down.
An eye opener of the procedural side of policing, I found it quite enlightening.
The story itself was well constructed and is about murder and drug smuggling.
The two main characters, Rego and Poldhu are very likeable with their own softer vulnerabilities there to be seen.
A good worthwhile read. I read it in two days and couldn’t put it down.
November 8, 2025
This book was a great read. I enjoyed the details. The descriptions of individuals and locale adds a lot of realism
to a reader. You can almost get a feeling of being there as an observer.
I had a problem with some of the wording but they eventually fell into context as you read on.
It wasn’t until the last few chapters and was spelled out
who was the Antagonist. Cannot believe I didn’t figure it out sooner.
Berrick Ford is now on my list of Must Read.
to a reader. You can almost get a feeling of being there as an observer.
I had a problem with some of the wording but they eventually fell into context as you read on.
It wasn’t until the last few chapters and was spelled out
who was the Antagonist. Cannot believe I didn’t figure it out sooner.
Berrick Ford is now on my list of Must Read.
September 10, 2024
Berrick Ford did an incredible job writing this book. The character depth was perfect and I found myself wanting to keep reading to find out what happened next. I look forward to reading other books by Ford. I highly recommend this book to others!
October 5, 2024
Knew who the guilty person was just had to stick to my guns! Like the characters, they were different. Brits handle things differently so it was interesting. Twists and turns a few interactions with characters could have went differently.
October 18, 2024
Very much of an enjoyable read
Extremely good story line and easy to follow with unexpected twists. Main characters with their short falls & strengths, good description of a failing police force due to shortages & the impact of this.
Will look out for this author again
Extremely good story line and easy to follow with unexpected twists. Main characters with their short falls & strengths, good description of a failing police force due to shortages & the impact of this.
Will look out for this author again
May 2, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the Cornish location & the author’s inclusion of local folklore & sayings. The police procedural sections were well executed & it was a great start to the Rego series.
August 18, 2025
I enjoyed this book, sometimes too much, as I read to go to sleep and this book I found difficult to put down as I always wanted to know the next bit. A thoroughly engaging story with sufficient explanations of Police procedures to follow the plot without being overbearing in detail
September 11, 2025
Enjoyable
A well told story with a few unexpected twists. A good insight into the police service at the bottom end.
Educational reference maritime life and language in the Cornwall and Devon region.
A well told story with a few unexpected twists. A good insight into the police service at the bottom end.
Educational reference maritime life and language in the Cornwall and Devon region.
November 11, 2025
I don’t usually cry
This is a great story. The explanations of police procedures was a bit tedious at the beginning but otherwise I much enjoyed it with believable characters. Always a few tears mark a good read but doesn’t usually happen in a crime novel !
This is a great story. The explanations of police procedures was a bit tedious at the beginning but otherwise I much enjoyed it with believable characters. Always a few tears mark a good read but doesn’t usually happen in a crime novel !
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