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Cornwall Murder Mystery #2
The Hidden Graves of St Ives
Her eyes flutter open, but it’s dark, and she can only make out shadows. She winces as tight cords dig into the soft skin of her arms, immobilising her. Where am I? The last thing she can remember is Molly, pleading with her to come back inside. Her whole body hurts. Then she hears it. Soft breathing nearby. She’s not alone...
As the sun sets into the sea over the pretty Cornish town of St Ives, a young woman, Freya Kempston, hasn’t returned home after a day out in the mall at St Austell. Panicking, her husband begs Detective Lauren Pengelly and her team to find her. Has Freya run out on her stable, loving marriage, or has something more sinister taken place?
Grainy security footage from the mall provides the first break in the case – capturing Freya talking intently with a well-known local mechanic on the day she disappeared. But when cornered, the mechanic denies even knowing her. It's a puzzle that Lauren and her new partner, Detective Matt Price , can't ignore. They scrutinise the video, hunting for missed clues…
Just as Lauren and Matt begin to untangle the man’s alibi, another woman vanishes after a late shift at the local supermarket. And then a third goes missing while at a nightclub in town. A shiver runs down Lauren’s spine when she realises they’re up against a serial predator, and he’s one step ahead of the police.
Digging deeper into the lives of the missing women, Lauren stumbles upon a series of concealed messages and covert meetings – a hidden life none of their families knew about. The three women were connected, bound by secrets that could hold the key to where they’re being held. The revelation sends Lauren and Matt on a heart-pounding race against time, knowing that with every ticking second there’s less chance of finding them alive…
A totally unputdownable mystery from the bestselling author of the Cavendish and Walker series. Guaranteed to have you racing to the end! This book is perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel McLean and J M Dalgliesh.
As the sun sets into the sea over the pretty Cornish town of St Ives, a young woman, Freya Kempston, hasn’t returned home after a day out in the mall at St Austell. Panicking, her husband begs Detective Lauren Pengelly and her team to find her. Has Freya run out on her stable, loving marriage, or has something more sinister taken place?
Grainy security footage from the mall provides the first break in the case – capturing Freya talking intently with a well-known local mechanic on the day she disappeared. But when cornered, the mechanic denies even knowing her. It's a puzzle that Lauren and her new partner, Detective Matt Price , can't ignore. They scrutinise the video, hunting for missed clues…
Just as Lauren and Matt begin to untangle the man’s alibi, another woman vanishes after a late shift at the local supermarket. And then a third goes missing while at a nightclub in town. A shiver runs down Lauren’s spine when she realises they’re up against a serial predator, and he’s one step ahead of the police.
Digging deeper into the lives of the missing women, Lauren stumbles upon a series of concealed messages and covert meetings – a hidden life none of their families knew about. The three women were connected, bound by secrets that could hold the key to where they’re being held. The revelation sends Lauren and Matt on a heart-pounding race against time, knowing that with every ticking second there’s less chance of finding them alive…
A totally unputdownable mystery from the bestselling author of the Cavendish and Walker series. Guaranteed to have you racing to the end! This book is perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel McLean and J M Dalgliesh.
7 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 19, 2024
1310 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
About the author
Sally Rigby
44 books489 followersSally 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
January 10, 2024
When first one woman, then a second, and days later a third, went missing, all within a week, DI Lauren Pengelly and her 2IC DS Matt Price of the Penzance police station, knew the clock was ticking and the race was on. Discovering very little in the way of anything linking the three women, the team dug deeply into their lives and that of their families. A tenuous link was found and although it was significant, it still didn't take them as far as they wanted to go. Frustration mounted within the team until one of them discovered a definite tie - was it the answer? Did they have a serial abductor on their hands?
The Hidden Graves of St Ives is the 2nd in the Cornwall Murder Mystery series by Sally Rigby and I enjoyed it very much. Lauren was concerned because one of her dogs, Tia, had to have emergency surgery, and felt torn between her worry over Tia and the case. But she handled both well. Matt is a great calming influence, and a well written character. I'm looking forward to #3 in the series when it comes out. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
The Hidden Graves of St Ives is the 2nd in the Cornwall Murder Mystery series by Sally Rigby and I enjoyed it very much. Lauren was concerned because one of her dogs, Tia, had to have emergency surgery, and felt torn between her worry over Tia and the case. But she handled both well. Matt is a great calming influence, and a well written character. I'm looking forward to #3 in the series when it comes out. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2023
The Hidden Graves of St. Ives is a Cornwall Murder Mystery. Detective Inspector Lauren Pengelly is the main character, She is the head detective at the Penzance police department. Sergeant Matt Price is her second in command along with Jemma and Clem who are both detective constables, There are other policeman that make up their department.
Anthony Kempston, Jenna's neighbor, comes to the station telling them that his wife, Freya did not come home from shopping, Later, another man, Rory Hughes also comes to the station and tells them that his wife, Yvonne is missing. She never come home from work. A third man comes in and tells them that his partner, Hannah Gifford is missing. She never came home from working at a supermarket. Over a week there are three woman missing. The three woman are not happy in their marriages as their husbands don't like going out to pubs. They all like to go out for drinks with friends, They all live in the town of St. Ives.
The police are concerned that their might be a serial killer. They go to the areas that they were at before they disappeared. They also look into the three woman's background.
There is one thing that all of them have in common and is Fergus Deakins, an othopath who treats two of the woman for their bad back and one for her knees. After visiting him both Lauren and Matt felt that something was not right with him. They come up with a plan to try to catch him using Jemma as a decoy, When on the stakeout the suspense builds up and leaves the reader on the edge.
This is where the story takes off in finding what happened to the women. I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the surprising ending.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.
Anthony Kempston, Jenna's neighbor, comes to the station telling them that his wife, Freya did not come home from shopping, Later, another man, Rory Hughes also comes to the station and tells them that his wife, Yvonne is missing. She never come home from work. A third man comes in and tells them that his partner, Hannah Gifford is missing. She never came home from working at a supermarket. Over a week there are three woman missing. The three woman are not happy in their marriages as their husbands don't like going out to pubs. They all like to go out for drinks with friends, They all live in the town of St. Ives.
The police are concerned that their might be a serial killer. They go to the areas that they were at before they disappeared. They also look into the three woman's background.
There is one thing that all of them have in common and is Fergus Deakins, an othopath who treats two of the woman for their bad back and one for her knees. After visiting him both Lauren and Matt felt that something was not right with him. They come up with a plan to try to catch him using Jemma as a decoy, When on the stakeout the suspense builds up and leaves the reader on the edge.
This is where the story takes off in finding what happened to the women. I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the surprising ending.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.
January 7, 2024
3 women go missing from the town of St. Ives. Detectives Lauren Pengelly and Matt Price investigate the missing women’s disappearance and search for the missing link. They all seem to have been having affairs. Could a serial killer be targeting these women?
Thanks NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC that will be released January 19, 2024!
Thanks NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC that will be released January 19, 2024!
February 19, 2025
'Hidden Graves Of Saint Ives ' is the second book in Sally Rigby's Cornwall Mystery series. I picked it up because the first book, 'The Lost Girls Of Penzance' entertained me on a long drive and I was hoping the second book would do the same.
It turned out to be a strange reading experience. On the plus side, the story was entertaining, the plot hooked my curiosity making me eager for each new chapter, the characters were engaging and the dialogue worked. On the downside, the descriptions of facial expressions and charcters’ emotional reactions were clichéd and repetitive. Spotting how many times the phrase ‘A wave of emotion washed through ADD CHARACTER NAME” occurred in the text would have made a great drinking game. The descriptions of places and how the team got from one location to another were detailed but bland – more on the lines of stage directions than atmospheric prose.
To me, this read like the script of a TV episode turned into a novel by adding clumsy boileplage phrases to the dialogue.
It’s a mark of how good the story was that, despite the sometimes eye-rollingly poor quality of the prose, I had no desire to set the book aside.
I’ll even be listening to the next book in the series. 'Murder At Land's End'.
It turned out to be a strange reading experience. On the plus side, the story was entertaining, the plot hooked my curiosity making me eager for each new chapter, the characters were engaging and the dialogue worked. On the downside, the descriptions of facial expressions and charcters’ emotional reactions were clichéd and repetitive. Spotting how many times the phrase ‘A wave of emotion washed through ADD CHARACTER NAME” occurred in the text would have made a great drinking game. The descriptions of places and how the team got from one location to another were detailed but bland – more on the lines of stage directions than atmospheric prose.
To me, this read like the script of a TV episode turned into a novel by adding clumsy boileplage phrases to the dialogue.
It’s a mark of how good the story was that, despite the sometimes eye-rollingly poor quality of the prose, I had no desire to set the book aside.
I’ll even be listening to the next book in the series. 'Murder At Land's End'.
December 8, 2023
Very enjoyable if somewhat safe police procedural.
Set in the sleepy town of Penzance and featuring DI Lauren Pengelly and her team, when 3 women go missing in quick succession with no apparent connection, Lauren and her team have to dig deep into the women’s personal lives to try and catch their suspect.
I enjoyed this one, it wasn’t anything groundbreaking, it did feel a little like police procedural by numbers but a mostly likeable cast of characters and a nice short page count, along with a well plotted story made this a light(despite the heavy subject matter) and easy to read story. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Set in the sleepy town of Penzance and featuring DI Lauren Pengelly and her team, when 3 women go missing in quick succession with no apparent connection, Lauren and her team have to dig deep into the women’s personal lives to try and catch their suspect.
I enjoyed this one, it wasn’t anything groundbreaking, it did feel a little like police procedural by numbers but a mostly likeable cast of characters and a nice short page count, along with a well plotted story made this a light(despite the heavy subject matter) and easy to read story. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
January 7, 2024
Wowza!
Another great book in the new St. Ives series!
This one was a roller coaster ride! Women are disappearing without a clue, and the cops are stumped.
Following along in the investigation is just as frustrating for the reader as it is for the cops.!
I LOVED the unexpected ending!! 😳 and as always, I will be waiting, as patiently as possible 🙃, for #3....
I received an ARC of this book from the author, and I am giving you my honest review.
Another great book in the new St. Ives series!
This one was a roller coaster ride! Women are disappearing without a clue, and the cops are stumped.
Following along in the investigation is just as frustrating for the reader as it is for the cops.!
I LOVED the unexpected ending!! 😳 and as always, I will be waiting, as patiently as possible 🙃, for #3....
I received an ARC of this book from the author, and I am giving you my honest review.
April 19, 2024
I'm enjoying this series set in Cornwall. It's not quite a cozy mystery but it's not graphic so it's a nice break from heavier thrillers. I liked how Detective Pengelly's personality continues to develop here with her dogs at home, and even more so how her relationship with the rest of the police force team has deepened. The mystery itself was good. The answer seemed obvious early on, but I enjoyed watching the detectives figure it out as the story went on women continued to go missing. It was compelling and the town's dynamics were interesting as the small-town setting started to play into the mystery. I'm looking forward to book 3 in this series.
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 20, 2024
A mystery that centres on 3 missing women. Full of twists and turns. Although number 2 in a series this can be read as a standalone. The main characters were complicated and their history was gradually revealed. They were well written and i was invested in them I look forward to the next one. The story otself was a bit of slow burn for me but then action and the final act was totally worth the wait . Work had clearly gone in to create accurate description of police procedures etc. I really enjoyed this. The slow was totally justified. Id recommend this tobanyone who likes a slow burn mystery.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author.
January 22, 2024
Three and a half stars.
This is the second book in a series, I haven't read the first one but this was easy to read as a standalone.
DI Lauren Pengelly and DS Matt Price lead a small team of detectives in St Ives, Cornwall. When one of the team asks if she can make some enquiries for a neighbour whose wife didn't come home from a trip to the shops, Lauren gives the go-ahead, there's nothing much going on. But shortly thereafter another woman goes missing, there are no obvious connections between them, but the second disappearance makes finding the first woman all the more urgent. Then a third woman goes missing. Could there be a serial killer in St Ives?
This was an interesting mystery. I thought the similarity between the women was quite obvious, but I didn't spot the link. Lauren was quite a prickly character and in contrast Matt was a bit too perfect - always the voice of reason. Also some of the decisions made during the undercover operation were questionable.
Overall I enjoyed the story and would definitely read more in the series.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Available on Kindle Unlimited.
Bumped for release.
This is the second book in a series, I haven't read the first one but this was easy to read as a standalone.
DI Lauren Pengelly and DS Matt Price lead a small team of detectives in St Ives, Cornwall. When one of the team asks if she can make some enquiries for a neighbour whose wife didn't come home from a trip to the shops, Lauren gives the go-ahead, there's nothing much going on. But shortly thereafter another woman goes missing, there are no obvious connections between them, but the second disappearance makes finding the first woman all the more urgent. Then a third woman goes missing. Could there be a serial killer in St Ives?
This was an interesting mystery. I thought the similarity between the women was quite obvious, but I didn't spot the link. Lauren was quite a prickly character and in contrast Matt was a bit too perfect - always the voice of reason. Also some of the decisions made during the undercover operation were questionable.
Overall I enjoyed the story and would definitely read more in the series.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Available on Kindle Unlimited.
Bumped for release.
July 30, 2024
Excellent story, good narrator. I love the Sally Rigby books, I might have given this 5 stars but I dislike the main character so much, I just couldn’t.
January 5, 2024
Well-written book with a good plot, and I love the characters! That is the book reviewed in one sentence, but there is so much more to it. I love to read about the tension within the team and how Matt is operating between the boss and the team. It is also adorable how important the dog is in the book. Can't wait for the next book in this wonderful series!
January 23, 2024
LOVED this story but I'm a little irritated, however.......the synopsis has the women sounding like they're being kept someplace secret together. But what is written there is ONLY written there and not in the actual book. So the whole way through I waited for this encounter that never occurred ! Most peculiar....I am not sure if maybe that's cos' I was given an ARC version and it appears in the final proper published copy or what ?
Anyhow, this aside, it was super to meet this newest team in Sally's stable of great characters once more and to catch up with what's going on with them all. I see there's a third book incoming too, soon, so that's a treat. I still think my favourite of her series is the one with Sebastian but only by a very small margin as she writes some terrific characters.
There's a real jaw-on-the-floor shocker at the end of this one as well !! Made me gasp !
It is interesting this set of stories are set in real places as I'm pretty sure her Lenchester set are in a fictional place as I am sure I tried googling it in the past...
I loved how Lauren opened her questioning to the suspect near the end and got him fired up. That was rather delicious for me.
I would suggest you read the first in this series before this one as little odds 'n' sods referred to in this story happened in that one. Plus it makes sense, really, I always think, to read a series by date of issue. That's why they're in numerical order in the first place !!
Any mistakes I spotted I'll pass onto the author directly-the least I can do to reciprocate her gifting me such another terrific few days of great entertainment.
Anyhow, this aside, it was super to meet this newest team in Sally's stable of great characters once more and to catch up with what's going on with them all. I see there's a third book incoming too, soon, so that's a treat. I still think my favourite of her series is the one with Sebastian but only by a very small margin as she writes some terrific characters.
There's a real jaw-on-the-floor shocker at the end of this one as well !! Made me gasp !
It is interesting this set of stories are set in real places as I'm pretty sure her Lenchester set are in a fictional place as I am sure I tried googling it in the past...
I loved how Lauren opened her questioning to the suspect near the end and got him fired up. That was rather delicious for me.
I would suggest you read the first in this series before this one as little odds 'n' sods referred to in this story happened in that one. Plus it makes sense, really, I always think, to read a series by date of issue. That's why they're in numerical order in the first place !!
Any mistakes I spotted I'll pass onto the author directly-the least I can do to reciprocate her gifting me such another terrific few days of great entertainment.
December 5, 2023
When I pick up a new book by Sally Rigby everything else is abandoned. I think I held my breath almost constantly for the last ten chapters apart from an occasional frantic gulp of air. Day became night and still I read on.
I gave this novel five stars. Does it really deserve five stars? Is it really that good? Yes, and then some.
I love the chalk and cheese approach to running an investigation that Lauren and Matt have. I can't help thinking how opposites attract...
Sally Rigby has taken the sedate charm of life in Cornwall and thrown it off the highest cliff. She has allowed darkness to seep into the rugged countryside culminating in a profoundly chilling and never to be forgotten denouement.
I gave this novel five stars. Does it really deserve five stars? Is it really that good? Yes, and then some.
I love the chalk and cheese approach to running an investigation that Lauren and Matt have. I can't help thinking how opposites attract...
Sally Rigby has taken the sedate charm of life in Cornwall and thrown it off the highest cliff. She has allowed darkness to seep into the rugged countryside culminating in a profoundly chilling and never to be forgotten denouement.
December 8, 2023
The book started out really slow but progressively got more speed. I found myself not able to stop myself from turning the next page. The author did an amazing job of creating the atmosphere and expressing the suspense in the book.
Though I wanted the details of Cornish. It lacked the details to build the world in the book. I wasn't able to picture the town or the scenery easily. I was left wondering about several details in this area.
But, I did enjoy this book and the ending was gruesome and well executed. Would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thriller, mystery , suspense books.
Though I wanted the details of Cornish. It lacked the details to build the world in the book. I wasn't able to picture the town or the scenery easily. I was left wondering about several details in this area.
But, I did enjoy this book and the ending was gruesome and well executed. Would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thriller, mystery , suspense books.
February 23, 2024
★★★☆☆
After the captivating start of the Cornwall murder series, my expectations for "The Hidden Graves of St. Ives" were understandably high. While the first installment was a delightful discovery among Hoopla's November Bonus reads, enchanting with its British setting and a dynamic duo in Lauren and Matt, the sequel introduces a mix of anticipation and slight disappointment.
The narrative continues to benefit from its Cornwall backdrop, enriching the tale with local charm and intriguing crimes. However, this sequel grapples with the notorious second-book syndrome, notably in the character development department. Lauren's portrayal leaned heavily into the clichéd "tough female cop" trope, showcasing her as overly stern and distant—a move that inadvertently dimmed her previously seen professional brilliance. This choice left her character feeling somewhat underconfident and less engaging, contrasting sharply with the ensemble's otherwise promising expansion and dynamics.
On a positive note, the avoidance of the overused "will they, won't they" romance trope preserved the professional integrity of Lauren and Matt's partnership, focusing instead on their collective strengths in solving crimes. The addition of new team members hints at potential depth in future stories, suggesting a richly populated world still ripe for exploration.
The book's central mystery, though intriguing, was somewhat undercut by its title, which preemptively unveiled much of the suspense. This, coupled with a predictably morbid case, somewhat lowered the stakes and diluted the drama.
Despite these criticisms, my outlook remains optimistic. The series has established a solid foundation, with Cornwall and St. Ives providing a picturesque setting for the team's investigative endeavors. As I look forward to the third book, I'm eager to see how Rigby expands this universe and further develops her characters, hoping for a return to the engaging storytelling that marked the series' beginning.
After the captivating start of the Cornwall murder series, my expectations for "The Hidden Graves of St. Ives" were understandably high. While the first installment was a delightful discovery among Hoopla's November Bonus reads, enchanting with its British setting and a dynamic duo in Lauren and Matt, the sequel introduces a mix of anticipation and slight disappointment.
The narrative continues to benefit from its Cornwall backdrop, enriching the tale with local charm and intriguing crimes. However, this sequel grapples with the notorious second-book syndrome, notably in the character development department. Lauren's portrayal leaned heavily into the clichéd "tough female cop" trope, showcasing her as overly stern and distant—a move that inadvertently dimmed her previously seen professional brilliance. This choice left her character feeling somewhat underconfident and less engaging, contrasting sharply with the ensemble's otherwise promising expansion and dynamics.
On a positive note, the avoidance of the overused "will they, won't they" romance trope preserved the professional integrity of Lauren and Matt's partnership, focusing instead on their collective strengths in solving crimes. The addition of new team members hints at potential depth in future stories, suggesting a richly populated world still ripe for exploration.
The book's central mystery, though intriguing, was somewhat undercut by its title, which preemptively unveiled much of the suspense. This, coupled with a predictably morbid case, somewhat lowered the stakes and diluted the drama.
Despite these criticisms, my outlook remains optimistic. The series has established a solid foundation, with Cornwall and St. Ives providing a picturesque setting for the team's investigative endeavors. As I look forward to the third book, I'm eager to see how Rigby expands this universe and further develops her characters, hoping for a return to the engaging storytelling that marked the series' beginning.
January 3, 2024
I found the story to build slowly with one missing woman, than to having three missing. In this Cornish town would have liked a little more details of the setting.
Detective Lauren had a good method of bringing her team together.
Overall a good flowing plot which lead to finding out what happened
Releases Jan 19..'24
Detective Lauren had a good method of bringing her team together.
Overall a good flowing plot which lead to finding out what happened
Releases Jan 19..'24
May 17, 2024
A quick and easy murder mystery to listen to with a really good narrator.
The characters grew on me in this instalment, but starting out, I think I heard the name of the sick dog more often than the name of the murder victim, which kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
It eventually worked out though and I really wouldn't mind listening to more of this series.
The characters grew on me in this instalment, but starting out, I think I heard the name of the sick dog more often than the name of the murder victim, which kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
It eventually worked out though and I really wouldn't mind listening to more of this series.
March 17, 2024
This is a good police procedural series and this is a good addition that kept me guessing. I was glad to catch up with the characters and travel to the atmospheric setting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 6, 2025
Another brilliant read reading it passed midnight has again another book that kept me gripped from the very beginning, now onto book three
April 20, 2025
Amazing. easy reading but the end made me feel physically sick. I think I've found a new favourite author.
March 23, 2024
Detective Lauren Pengelly has really come up against evil beyond belief in this story. Women are disappearing without a trace but while she realises she is facing a serial killer she is unable to find any link between the victims. This read like a real whodunnit and I loved trying to work out why these particular women had been targetted. I wasn't successful and the identity of the murderer came as quite a shock. The pace of the last few chapters had me holding my breath, wondering if they would get there in time to rescue the latest potential victim.. This book is part of a series but could be read as a standalone.
Thanks to Netgalley and. the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and. the publisher for an ARC of this book.
September 4, 2025
4.5 Stars
Read cover to cover in one sitting. Enjoyed everything about the story: the characters, their relationships, the procedures, and the tidbits of Lauren's personal life. I could visualize this on PBS.
I definitely will be continuing the series voluntarily as well as happily.
Well done, thoroughly envisioned, smart police procedural without swearing and/or graphic horror descriptions.
Recommend for readers from late teens on.
Stretching Shorty September (books less than 250 pages) by 5 (254 pages).
#shortyseptember
#Tangible Reads
#Toomanyheathers
#fiberartsyreads
Read cover to cover in one sitting. Enjoyed everything about the story: the characters, their relationships, the procedures, and the tidbits of Lauren's personal life. I could visualize this on PBS.
I definitely will be continuing the series voluntarily as well as happily.
Well done, thoroughly envisioned, smart police procedural without swearing and/or graphic horror descriptions.
Recommend for readers from late teens on.
Stretching Shorty September (books less than 250 pages) by 5 (254 pages).
#shortyseptember
#Tangible Reads
#Toomanyheathers
#fiberartsyreads
December 29, 2023
Thankyou NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read The Hidden Graves of St.I ves. I am a big fan of Sally Rigby and have read most of them.
The Hidden Graves of St. Ives is a Cornwall Murder Mystery. It is a police procedural novel, set in Penzance and features Detective Inspector Lauren Pengelly.
The plot is about the disappearance of three missing women. On investigation, it comes to light that these women, live in the town of St. Ives and are unhappy in their respective marriages.
The police are concerned about the possibility of a serial killer. They look into their backgrounds and find a common factor.
What I liked – The investigative approach of DI Lauren Pengelly and her team is very clear. I found the plot very tight and flowing. I also loved how Lauren’s character developed. It was exciting to follow Lauren and the team as they worked through the case.
What I did not like - I would have like to know more about Penzance.
It was gripping and I was unable to put down the book. The pace is good and the characters are exciting.
This is the second in the Cornwall Murder Mystery Series and I look forward to more of them.
The Hidden Graves of St. Ives is a Cornwall Murder Mystery. It is a police procedural novel, set in Penzance and features Detective Inspector Lauren Pengelly.
The plot is about the disappearance of three missing women. On investigation, it comes to light that these women, live in the town of St. Ives and are unhappy in their respective marriages.
The police are concerned about the possibility of a serial killer. They look into their backgrounds and find a common factor.
What I liked – The investigative approach of DI Lauren Pengelly and her team is very clear. I found the plot very tight and flowing. I also loved how Lauren’s character developed. It was exciting to follow Lauren and the team as they worked through the case.
What I did not like - I would have like to know more about Penzance.
It was gripping and I was unable to put down the book. The pace is good and the characters are exciting.
This is the second in the Cornwall Murder Mystery Series and I look forward to more of them.
December 15, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read "The Hidden Graves of St. Ives" in exchange for my honest review.
This is the second book in the Cornwall Murder series, even if the reader missed the first book in the series they are able to follow it and enjoy the plot. They will certainly be wanting to read the first book and any future books in the series.
The story starts with someone ranting about lies, deceit, betrayal and broken promises. The story takes places in St. Ives, Cornwall. DI Lauren Pengelly and her team of DS Matt Price and DC's Billy, Tamsin, Jenna and Clem work for the Penzance CID. Lauren is called the Ice Queen by her team - behind her back. She doesn't let them in to her personal life and she's very much strictly business. She can be very hostile, stern and closed off to her team. Her DS tries to soften her approach to the team.
Jenna mentions that he neighbour Freya Kempston is missing. She was last seen at the mall. She was seen on CCTV talking to a mechanic - who becomes a suspect. The next day Mr. Hughes arrives at the station to report that his wife Yvonne didn't come home the previous night from her job at the supermarket. The team wonders whether the two women knew each other or are the disappearances linked in some way. A few days later Brendon Evans reports that his partner Hannah Gifford is missing. She went to a nightclub with friends and didn't come home. All the husbands/partners are suspicious because none have solid alibis but the team soon realizes that there is something much more sinister going on here. There are many red herrings dropped in as to who might be the culprit but they don't pan out until they finally realize what connects the 3 women to each other. They learn that another woman had been previously reported missing along with the man she was seeing. One of the team goes undercover exposing themselves to great danger before all the pieces fall into place.
This story goes along at a great pace and the reader will want to keep turning the pages to see what will happen next. It's incredibly well-written with exciting characters. The descriptions of Cornwall bring it to life for the reader. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
This is the second book in the Cornwall Murder series, even if the reader missed the first book in the series they are able to follow it and enjoy the plot. They will certainly be wanting to read the first book and any future books in the series.
The story starts with someone ranting about lies, deceit, betrayal and broken promises. The story takes places in St. Ives, Cornwall. DI Lauren Pengelly and her team of DS Matt Price and DC's Billy, Tamsin, Jenna and Clem work for the Penzance CID. Lauren is called the Ice Queen by her team - behind her back. She doesn't let them in to her personal life and she's very much strictly business. She can be very hostile, stern and closed off to her team. Her DS tries to soften her approach to the team.
Jenna mentions that he neighbour Freya Kempston is missing. She was last seen at the mall. She was seen on CCTV talking to a mechanic - who becomes a suspect. The next day Mr. Hughes arrives at the station to report that his wife Yvonne didn't come home the previous night from her job at the supermarket. The team wonders whether the two women knew each other or are the disappearances linked in some way. A few days later Brendon Evans reports that his partner Hannah Gifford is missing. She went to a nightclub with friends and didn't come home. All the husbands/partners are suspicious because none have solid alibis but the team soon realizes that there is something much more sinister going on here. There are many red herrings dropped in as to who might be the culprit but they don't pan out until they finally realize what connects the 3 women to each other. They learn that another woman had been previously reported missing along with the man she was seeing. One of the team goes undercover exposing themselves to great danger before all the pieces fall into place.
This story goes along at a great pace and the reader will want to keep turning the pages to see what will happen next. It's incredibly well-written with exciting characters. The descriptions of Cornwall bring it to life for the reader. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 28, 2024
Could be read as a stand alone — was full of tension and felt like I was able to visualize the books content easily like watching a British crime drama .
December 14, 2023
This was an easy to read police procedural. Things are quiet in Penzance so D I Lauren Pengelly takes an interest in the case of a missing woman. The case takes a more sinister turn when another woman goes missing in fairly similar circumstances. This is extremely unusual in the quiet Cornish town and the team rapidly realise that they have a serious crime on their hands.
I enjoyed the mystery and the detailed police work that was undertaken to solve it. The case had lots of twists and turns which all led to a dramatic climax.
Lauren is an interesting lead character and certainly lacks people skills, saving all of her affection for her two dogs. It was interesting to see how she unbent slightly during the course of this investigation. I liked the characters that made up the rest of her team and the way that they worked together.
I was a bit disappointed by the lack of detail in the setting. I love books that use the setting well to enhance the mystery but this could have been set in any small town.
Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I enjoyed the mystery and the detailed police work that was undertaken to solve it. The case had lots of twists and turns which all led to a dramatic climax.
Lauren is an interesting lead character and certainly lacks people skills, saving all of her affection for her two dogs. It was interesting to see how she unbent slightly during the course of this investigation. I liked the characters that made up the rest of her team and the way that they worked together.
I was a bit disappointed by the lack of detail in the setting. I love books that use the setting well to enhance the mystery but this could have been set in any small town.
Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 14, 2025
The Hidden Graves of St. Ives is the second book in author Sally Rigby’s Cornwall Murder Mystery series. I found the series through an advanced reader copy I received of one of the later books. I enjoyed it so much I wanted to go back to the beginning. What I didn’t know until I started reading another series by the author was that this was a spin-off of her Cavendish & Walker series. Matt Price originally appeared in that series, and I now understand some of his references to his other boss much better after having read the first few books in that series as well. You don’t have to read any of that to enjoy the books, but there are many small things that made sense only after I read the earlier books and other series.
In The Hidden Graves of St. Ives, Freya Kempston has gone missing. Her husband is begging the police to investigate after she didn’t come home from a shopping trip. There’s some belief that she might have run off from her marriage, no matter how much her husband protests that she wouldn’t do that. They locate surveillance footage that shows Freya talking to a local mechanic before she disappeared. He has an alibi, however, and claims he just happened to run into a customer while they were out.
When a second woman goes missing after a work shift at a local supermarket, DI Matt Price and DS Lauren Pengelly begin to believe there is more going on than they first thought. As they look for a connection between the two women, a third goes missing after a night out with friends. In less than a week, three women have gone missing from St. Ives without a trace. For the police, it’s a race to hopefully uncover what happened while the women are still alive.
I’ll start by saying Sally Rigby’s writing style isn’t for everybody. She writes in a very matter-of-fact style that I think works well for police procedurals. It’s not for everyone, though. I don’t think it works as well when she delves into the personal lives of her characters. In this case, it happens that one of Lauren’s beloved dogs is quite ill while all of the disappearances are happening. I found it hard to grasp the emotional pull this put on her. It’s there; Rigby tells us how upset she is, and Matt does his best to support her as she needs it, but I didn’t feel it.
To read my complete review, please go to The Hidden Graves of St. Ives by Sally Rigby – Missing Women and a Captivating Investigation
In The Hidden Graves of St. Ives, Freya Kempston has gone missing. Her husband is begging the police to investigate after she didn’t come home from a shopping trip. There’s some belief that she might have run off from her marriage, no matter how much her husband protests that she wouldn’t do that. They locate surveillance footage that shows Freya talking to a local mechanic before she disappeared. He has an alibi, however, and claims he just happened to run into a customer while they were out.
When a second woman goes missing after a work shift at a local supermarket, DI Matt Price and DS Lauren Pengelly begin to believe there is more going on than they first thought. As they look for a connection between the two women, a third goes missing after a night out with friends. In less than a week, three women have gone missing from St. Ives without a trace. For the police, it’s a race to hopefully uncover what happened while the women are still alive.
I’ll start by saying Sally Rigby’s writing style isn’t for everybody. She writes in a very matter-of-fact style that I think works well for police procedurals. It’s not for everyone, though. I don’t think it works as well when she delves into the personal lives of her characters. In this case, it happens that one of Lauren’s beloved dogs is quite ill while all of the disappearances are happening. I found it hard to grasp the emotional pull this put on her. It’s there; Rigby tells us how upset she is, and Matt does his best to support her as she needs it, but I didn’t feel it.
To read my complete review, please go to The Hidden Graves of St. Ives by Sally Rigby – Missing Women and a Captivating Investigation
December 27, 2023
I would like to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.
This is a solid police procedural. Detective Lauren Pengelly, Sargeant Matt Price and their team are investigating the disappearances of women happening in St. Ives. I enjoyed following the team along as the hunted and researched the case, trying to find what the connection was. I thought I had some things figured out, then I didn’t!
I really liked the characters Matt Price, Jenna, and the rest of the team. However, it was hard for me to connect with Lauren, the main character. She was very restrained- and sometimes harsh to the team. There was really no info given on her back story. I liked when you got to glimpse the softer side of her when she was with her dogs. I realize now that this is the second in the series, so I plan to get the first and see if there is more info about her.
Overall I would recommend this book if you like solid police procedural, and witnessing the beginning of an investigative teams bonding. I would suggest to read the first in the series before this one!
This is a solid police procedural. Detective Lauren Pengelly, Sargeant Matt Price and their team are investigating the disappearances of women happening in St. Ives. I enjoyed following the team along as the hunted and researched the case, trying to find what the connection was. I thought I had some things figured out, then I didn’t!
I really liked the characters Matt Price, Jenna, and the rest of the team. However, it was hard for me to connect with Lauren, the main character. She was very restrained- and sometimes harsh to the team. There was really no info given on her back story. I liked when you got to glimpse the softer side of her when she was with her dogs. I realize now that this is the second in the series, so I plan to get the first and see if there is more info about her.
Overall I would recommend this book if you like solid police procedural, and witnessing the beginning of an investigative teams bonding. I would suggest to read the first in the series before this one!
November 26, 2024
This one...annoyed me. I haven't been so tempted to give something I've read only 2 stars in a while. But the connection between the victims was just interesting and unusual enough for me to reward the idea at least.
Right from the start of reading this, I had the thought that it's very stiff and formally written. That it doesn't seem to flow naturally from one point to the next. The dialogue was stilted, and seemed more with how I think in my head than how I speak with my mouth. I've a writer friend from the UK, and I've accused him of this very same formality and sense of distance from the story in his writing - like we're interacting with the characters through a window rather than being in the room with them.
I can SEE them, but I can't touch or feel them. I can't connect with them. I've joked that it's the writing equivalent of British politeness and aloofness and that he needs to learn to be just a little more invasive. To WRITE about the characters the way he TALKS about them when we're chatting, to let us as the readers feel what he feels about these characters that live in his head. And I believe Ms. Rigby has that same problem.
There was also the problem of the whole story being just a little....thin. There's a very clearly defined journey, and we move swiftly along - checking off each plot point like we're following a to do list that must not be deviated from at all even a little bit.
- First crime is committed
- Meet MC - make her human with something to worry about
- Team meeting - MC must be stiff, Very Professional (2IC is the buffer)
And so on and so forth. But this following of Things That Need To Happen without any flexibility at all means the progression of the story makes sense, but it hop-skip-jumps instead of rolling smoothly down the road. Every now and then I see a moment where it seems a character tried to wander off I to the story just a little. Show the reader some aspect of themselves. But then they get yanked back to the Plot Path and made to behave and follow the will of the writer or else.
There was no exploring the story, no teasing out of the clues, no slow discovery of motives or discussion about unrelated but actually Important things. There was no flesh on the bones of this story, and I for one, prefer having something a little juicier to chew on.
I'm sorry Ms. Rigby. The theory was great, the execution has left me wanting. And I truly wish it wasn't so.
Right from the start of reading this, I had the thought that it's very stiff and formally written. That it doesn't seem to flow naturally from one point to the next. The dialogue was stilted, and seemed more with how I think in my head than how I speak with my mouth. I've a writer friend from the UK, and I've accused him of this very same formality and sense of distance from the story in his writing - like we're interacting with the characters through a window rather than being in the room with them.
I can SEE them, but I can't touch or feel them. I can't connect with them. I've joked that it's the writing equivalent of British politeness and aloofness and that he needs to learn to be just a little more invasive. To WRITE about the characters the way he TALKS about them when we're chatting, to let us as the readers feel what he feels about these characters that live in his head. And I believe Ms. Rigby has that same problem.
There was also the problem of the whole story being just a little....thin. There's a very clearly defined journey, and we move swiftly along - checking off each plot point like we're following a to do list that must not be deviated from at all even a little bit.
- First crime is committed
- Meet MC - make her human with something to worry about
- Team meeting - MC must be stiff, Very Professional (2IC is the buffer)
And so on and so forth. But this following of Things That Need To Happen without any flexibility at all means the progression of the story makes sense, but it hop-skip-jumps instead of rolling smoothly down the road. Every now and then I see a moment where it seems a character tried to wander off I to the story just a little. Show the reader some aspect of themselves. But then they get yanked back to the Plot Path and made to behave and follow the will of the writer or else.
There was no exploring the story, no teasing out of the clues, no slow discovery of motives or discussion about unrelated but actually Important things. There was no flesh on the bones of this story, and I for one, prefer having something a little juicier to chew on.
I'm sorry Ms. Rigby. The theory was great, the execution has left me wanting. And I truly wish it wasn't so.
January 8, 2024
I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of The Hidden Graves of St Ives, the second novel to feature DI Lauren Pengelly, set in St Ives, Cornwall.
Anthony Kempston reports his wife, Freya, missing when she fails to return from a shopping trip. A local mechanic quickly comes under suspicion, having been seen talking to Freya on CCTV and unable to provide a strong alibi. Lauren and the team are still investigating him when another woman is reported missing, quickly followed by a third. Lauren realises that they need to discover what links the women to the serial predator they are hunting.
I enjoyed The Hidden Graves of St Ives, which is a straightforward police procedural, where a hunt for clues leads to a winnowing of suspects until a prime suspect is identified. After the initial chapter, which identifies a motive for the reader, it is told entirely from the investigative point of view, giving the reader an immersive read and the opportunity to guess.
The plot initially consists of missing women and an investigation into final sightings of them and their lives and personalities. It’s interesting, but not entirely convincing. This changes about the 65% mark when they identify a prime suspect and set about gathering enough evidence for an arrest. This gets quite tense and gruesome and makes the journey to there worthwhile.
I’m still not sure that I like DI Lauren Pengelly, but I am certain that I would hate to work for her. She is incredibly uptight and rigid and can be quite rude to the team if they don’t do things her way. She has no sense of humour and from what I can see no social life either outside her dogs. Lighten up Lauren please.
The Hidden Graves of St Ives is not a profound read, but it has enough interesting points to be entertaining, so I can recommend it as an easy way to pass a few hours.
Anthony Kempston reports his wife, Freya, missing when she fails to return from a shopping trip. A local mechanic quickly comes under suspicion, having been seen talking to Freya on CCTV and unable to provide a strong alibi. Lauren and the team are still investigating him when another woman is reported missing, quickly followed by a third. Lauren realises that they need to discover what links the women to the serial predator they are hunting.
I enjoyed The Hidden Graves of St Ives, which is a straightforward police procedural, where a hunt for clues leads to a winnowing of suspects until a prime suspect is identified. After the initial chapter, which identifies a motive for the reader, it is told entirely from the investigative point of view, giving the reader an immersive read and the opportunity to guess.
The plot initially consists of missing women and an investigation into final sightings of them and their lives and personalities. It’s interesting, but not entirely convincing. This changes about the 65% mark when they identify a prime suspect and set about gathering enough evidence for an arrest. This gets quite tense and gruesome and makes the journey to there worthwhile.
I’m still not sure that I like DI Lauren Pengelly, but I am certain that I would hate to work for her. She is incredibly uptight and rigid and can be quite rude to the team if they don’t do things her way. She has no sense of humour and from what I can see no social life either outside her dogs. Lighten up Lauren please.
The Hidden Graves of St Ives is not a profound read, but it has enough interesting points to be entertaining, so I can recommend it as an easy way to pass a few hours.
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