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DI Lockyer #3
Hollow Grave
A breathtaking cold case mystery, starring DI Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad. Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid.
1999. A group of archaeologists are excavating a Bronze Age burial site in the grounds of Trusloe Hall, a minor stately home in Wiltshire. Excited that their dig is being filmed for a TV documentary, the group are camping onsite and having the time of their lives.
In the blink of an eye, one of the party a young woman called Nazma Kirmani. An extensive police investigation fails to find any trace of her, and the case goes cold for over twenty years.
2020. When a chance discovery presents new evidence into Nazma's disappearance, DI Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad are put on the case. Did Nazma intend to disappear, or was she taken? Did she walk out on her life, or was she murdered? Lockyer must see past the upheavals in his own life to find out the truth for her desperate family.
1999. A group of archaeologists are excavating a Bronze Age burial site in the grounds of Trusloe Hall, a minor stately home in Wiltshire. Excited that their dig is being filmed for a TV documentary, the group are camping onsite and having the time of their lives.
In the blink of an eye, one of the party a young woman called Nazma Kirmani. An extensive police investigation fails to find any trace of her, and the case goes cold for over twenty years.
2020. When a chance discovery presents new evidence into Nazma's disappearance, DI Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad are put on the case. Did Nazma intend to disappear, or was she taken? Did she walk out on her life, or was she murdered? Lockyer must see past the upheavals in his own life to find out the truth for her desperate family.
480 pages, Hardcover
Published March 13, 2025
12 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 23, 2025
3.75 / 5.0
Greta book from start to finish, the book starts after the events of the second book with spoilers throughout but this book definitely feels homely, free and mature. It’s very heavy police procedural and makes you appreciate the processes involved. The plot, the decisions of the characters all felt right for the characters, nothing felt forced or felt squashed into the plot, it’s very free flowing. The plot is relatively simple, the execution on point. I found myself on a journey, understanding how the characters DI Matt Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad navigate through life both going through personal struggles. We see how Matt nativgates his life with a return from his past (second book) as well as Gemma deal with her personal issues. Also this is a two man band and to solve all of this is quite impressive!
The book centres around a cold mystery case 20 years unsolved when a group of archaeologists are excavating a Bronze Age burial site in the grounds of Trusloe Hall. The dig is also being filmed for a TV documentary where the group is camping and having the time of their lives. However, a young woman part of the group by Nazma Kirmani goes missing and an extensive police investigation fails to find any trace of her. 20 years later, new evidence is discovered linked with Namza’s disappearance which DI Matt Lockyer and DC Gemma broad are tasked to solve.
It’s a great book from start to finish, definitely have my eyes on continuing the series!
Greta book from start to finish, the book starts after the events of the second book with spoilers throughout but this book definitely feels homely, free and mature. It’s very heavy police procedural and makes you appreciate the processes involved. The plot, the decisions of the characters all felt right for the characters, nothing felt forced or felt squashed into the plot, it’s very free flowing. The plot is relatively simple, the execution on point. I found myself on a journey, understanding how the characters DI Matt Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad navigate through life both going through personal struggles. We see how Matt nativgates his life with a return from his past (second book) as well as Gemma deal with her personal issues. Also this is a two man band and to solve all of this is quite impressive!
The book centres around a cold mystery case 20 years unsolved when a group of archaeologists are excavating a Bronze Age burial site in the grounds of Trusloe Hall. The dig is also being filmed for a TV documentary where the group is camping and having the time of their lives. However, a young woman part of the group by Nazma Kirmani goes missing and an extensive police investigation fails to find any trace of her. 20 years later, new evidence is discovered linked with Namza’s disappearance which DI Matt Lockyer and DC Gemma broad are tasked to solve.
It’s a great book from start to finish, definitely have my eyes on continuing the series!
January 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review. This is the third in the DI Lockyer series by Kate (Katherine) Webb. He works with colleague Gem to solve cold cases and the series goes from strength to strength with this book. Lockyer is developing into a likeable lead character with enough depth and flaws to make him interesting and Gem is a great partner who also develops in this story. The mystery is good too, with twists and turns and an ending I didn’t predict. I hope she writes more!
September 25, 2025
I have loved all of Webb's Historical novels. They're so well written, with amazing characterisation and heart wrenching moments. This fell flat for me as I believe it was too long. It was repetitious at times. The "reveal" was very obvious from early on. I know it is part of a series, but can also be enjoyed as a standalone.... but for that there was too much personal/family drama of the inspectors life. The investigation was also a little boring
September 29, 2025
The same game on three separate levels all pointing to the ending made for an obvious whodunnit. I understand why Matt’s interior dialogue about his upcoming fatherhood was necessary; to counterbalance the other two ‘games’ where the men were in control.
I’m disappointed the story ended in a cliffhanger.
I’m disappointed the story ended in a cliffhanger.
October 12, 2025
Bought this on its release on 11th September. Have really enjoyed following the story of detective Lockyer and particularly enjoyed reading this one with mentions of places local to me.
February 18, 2025
The Hollow Grave is another brilliant book about D I Matt Lockyer and his cold case investigations. It is the third in the series but it could be read alone. I do recommend that readers go back and read the previous two though as it will give extra depth to this one.
Di Matt Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad are given the cold case of the disappearance of archaeologist Nazma Kirmani. She vanished in the summer of 1999 and no one has seen her since then but now her bag has been discovered not far from the place where she was last working so the case is reopened.
I do love cold case investigations and this was a particularly intriguing case. It definitely seemed as there were errors in the original investigation but although Matt and Gemma pursue every lead, they don’t seem to be getting any further for a large part of the book. At the same time, they both get on with their own lives, Matt is about to become a father and has very mixed feelings about this including a feeling that he has been trapped into fatherhood and Gemma is finding life with her boyfriend is becoming more difficult.
Despite the slow pace of the book, it never lost my interest. I was fascinated by the case itself and the insights into it that Matt gained from his and Gemma’s own experiences. Gemma’s story arc in particular adds another layer to the plot. The characters in the case were interesting too especially the eccentric owner of the stately home Inez de Redvers. There were lots of dead ends in the investigation but gradually all the parts of the jigsaw began to come together and Matt Lockyer is sure that he knows what happened. Proving it will be another matter though.
I love the setting of this series and all of the characters are vividly written. Added to this, the story is set in Nov 2020 just as the UK was about to enter the second lockdown of COVID19 which gives it quite a claustrophobic feeling.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who loves police procedurals.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers Quercus Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Di Matt Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad are given the cold case of the disappearance of archaeologist Nazma Kirmani. She vanished in the summer of 1999 and no one has seen her since then but now her bag has been discovered not far from the place where she was last working so the case is reopened.
I do love cold case investigations and this was a particularly intriguing case. It definitely seemed as there were errors in the original investigation but although Matt and Gemma pursue every lead, they don’t seem to be getting any further for a large part of the book. At the same time, they both get on with their own lives, Matt is about to become a father and has very mixed feelings about this including a feeling that he has been trapped into fatherhood and Gemma is finding life with her boyfriend is becoming more difficult.
Despite the slow pace of the book, it never lost my interest. I was fascinated by the case itself and the insights into it that Matt gained from his and Gemma’s own experiences. Gemma’s story arc in particular adds another layer to the plot. The characters in the case were interesting too especially the eccentric owner of the stately home Inez de Redvers. There were lots of dead ends in the investigation but gradually all the parts of the jigsaw began to come together and Matt Lockyer is sure that he knows what happened. Proving it will be another matter though.
I love the setting of this series and all of the characters are vividly written. Added to this, the story is set in Nov 2020 just as the UK was about to enter the second lockdown of COVID19 which gives it quite a claustrophobic feeling.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who loves police procedurals.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers Quercus Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 14, 2025
The Hollow Grave is the third book in the series centred around DI Matt Lockyer and his cold case investigations. I am pleased to say that I hadn’t read the previous books, but jumped straight into this one with no problem. So no hesitation in recommending it as a stand-alone.
DI Matt Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad are given the cold case of missing girl Nazma Kirmani from 1999. She was reported missing by her family, but the search for her was called off when she ostensibly walked into a police station saying she was ok and that it was all just a mistake. 21 years later, not one word has been heard from her. Matt and Gemma have now been called in because a bag belonging to Nazma has been pulled from the river and it contains her passport and other personal items. The location of the river is near Trusloe Hall, where Nazma was working on an archaeological dig immediately before disappearing.
Matt and Gemma do uncover flaws in the original investigation but hit plenty of brick walls as they try to unpick what really happened to Nazma.
I liked this police procedural a lot Although, you do get to hear a lot about Matt and Gemma’s private lives, this aspect never overwhelms the original investigation.
One thing to note is that the story is quite slow and finely detailed. So if you like fast-paced thrillers, this may not be for you.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Kate Webb and particularly Quercus for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
DI Matt Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad are given the cold case of missing girl Nazma Kirmani from 1999. She was reported missing by her family, but the search for her was called off when she ostensibly walked into a police station saying she was ok and that it was all just a mistake. 21 years later, not one word has been heard from her. Matt and Gemma have now been called in because a bag belonging to Nazma has been pulled from the river and it contains her passport and other personal items. The location of the river is near Trusloe Hall, where Nazma was working on an archaeological dig immediately before disappearing.
Matt and Gemma do uncover flaws in the original investigation but hit plenty of brick walls as they try to unpick what really happened to Nazma.
I liked this police procedural a lot Although, you do get to hear a lot about Matt and Gemma’s private lives, this aspect never overwhelms the original investigation.
One thing to note is that the story is quite slow and finely detailed. So if you like fast-paced thrillers, this may not be for you.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Kate Webb and particularly Quercus for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
January 16, 2025
Set in Wiltshire, in the lockdown, the book centres on the disappearance of a young woman 21 years ago. She had been working on an archeological dig which was being televised. Now more than 20 years later, a bag with some of her possessions is found and Matt Lockyear and his partner Gemma Broad start looking into the events around the period that she was seen for the last.
The descriptions of places and people are fantastic here, both in the possible crime scenes and in Matt and Gemma's personal lives. Leading on from the last book, Matt is an expectant father and his mixed feelings about that are well portrayed and realistic. Gemma too seems to have problems in her personal life. The lockdown restrictions add to the complications of the investigation (how quickly we forget !) . The pace of the book is fairly moderate but there are certainly plenty of twists in the plot, many towards the end unexpected. The book kept my interest throughout and although I have read the previous episodes, it is ok as a stand alone. For background information on Matt and Gemma's personal lives, I would advise reading the books in order. This series is a must read for me now.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
The descriptions of places and people are fantastic here, both in the possible crime scenes and in Matt and Gemma's personal lives. Leading on from the last book, Matt is an expectant father and his mixed feelings about that are well portrayed and realistic. Gemma too seems to have problems in her personal life. The lockdown restrictions add to the complications of the investigation (how quickly we forget !) . The pace of the book is fairly moderate but there are certainly plenty of twists in the plot, many towards the end unexpected. The book kept my interest throughout and although I have read the previous episodes, it is ok as a stand alone. For background information on Matt and Gemma's personal lives, I would advise reading the books in order. This series is a must read for me now.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
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March 18, 2025It’s always a pleasure to come across an established crime writer for the first time. This is the third outing for Kate Webb’s DI Lockyer Mysteries, but the first one I’ve read. Detective Inspector Matt Lockyer and Detective Constable Gemma Broad investigate the cold case of a young woman who disappeared twenty years earlier. The case has become live again because a bag of her belongings has washed up on the bank of the River Kennet near Marlborough, Wiltshire.
As one would expect from a seasoned writer (Kate Webb also writes bestselling historical novels as Katherine Webb), the writing is fluent and accomplished. The novel is ideal for fans of lengthy, involved police procedurals whose engaging detectives have fully realised and unusual backstories. To get the full experience of this protagonist’s story, it would be worth starting at book one. However, I didn’t lose any understanding by jumping in at book three. Although this works as a standalone, it sets up nicely for book four.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
As one would expect from a seasoned writer (Kate Webb also writes bestselling historical novels as Katherine Webb), the writing is fluent and accomplished. The novel is ideal for fans of lengthy, involved police procedurals whose engaging detectives have fully realised and unusual backstories. To get the full experience of this protagonist’s story, it would be worth starting at book one. However, I didn’t lose any understanding by jumping in at book three. Although this works as a standalone, it sets up nicely for book four.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
December 14, 2025
i enjoyed it, so it got to 4 stars. It sagged a bit around the 300 page mark, There were cycles which kept looping around each character. More of a spiral as they did an interview and then came back and back to the same characters again and again. Saying that, I didn’t find the answer obvious and overall I enjoyed the storyline. It did test my assumptions as the victim who disappeared seemed to have murkier relationships than was apparent at first. The two detectives and their stories are a little tiring. The pregnancy that goes on and on and the partners for both detectives seem to be warped in different ways. Yet I come back to the fact that I kept reading, found the storyline absorbing and just wanted that last 100 pages not to have existed as I think it could have been wrapped up quicker. There were probably too many witnesses and potential persons of interest to really enable me to get it all clear in my head. Another one would be added in and then another peel back of something an interview revealed. I will read the next one and I have read the previous two, I think the author is worth following and reading more of.
February 7, 2025
I love a cold case crime story, and this is the best I have read in a while. When a bag containing belongings is found in the river, it is identified as belonging to Nazma Kirmani, a young woman who had been reported missing 25 years ago, but had apparently then turned up at a police station alive and well, before falling off the radar. Her family have never believed that she had, as the police at the time had decided, run away- they were a happy family and Nazma had loved her job assisting on an archaeological dig. DI Matt Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad determine to find out what really happened to Nazma, and soon begin to unravel a complex chain of events leading up to the fateful night when she was last seen. The gradual piecing together of clues is intriguing and kept me guessing, while the characters involved are, as usual with Webb’s books, nuanced and convincing. She portrays people and events with compassion, never skipping over the grief caused for the people affected by crime and the lasting effects of trauma. The two detectives are well-rounded and likeable, and their personal stories are continued from the earlier books in the series, with Lockyer facing unexpected fatherhood and Broad experiencing relationship issues which make her particularly sensitive to this case and its implications. A very involving and satisfying read.
May 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this police procedural, set in Wiltshire. It concerns the 20-year-old case of a young woman who’d disappeared in 1999. When a holdall pulled out of the River Kennet in 2020 is found to contain her passport, railcard and £170 in cash, the case is reopened and it’s up to DI Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad to re-examine what happened and why the original police investigation was closed so quickly. It turns into a real cat-and-mouse mystery and although it wasn’t difficult to guess the villain, the way the two detectives uncovered the truth kept me turning the pages. It's one of those books that gradually take hold of you. I'll be looking for more of this series now.
Review by: Cornish Eskimo, Oundle Crime
Review by: Cornish Eskimo, Oundle Crime
December 14, 2024
Fast becoming one of my favourite police procedural series, Hollow Grave hits all the right notes- a clever twisty mystery, a continuance of the lives of regular characters and terrific writing.
You can read this without reading the others but my recommendation would be to go in order. However the author does a good job of making it accessible if you wish to dive right in.
I'm.a fan of the police duo at the heart of this series and I'm a fan of how clever all the mysteries are and Hollow Grave is no different. Intelligent plotting, page turning quality and unexpected moments. Can't ask for much more really.
You can read this without reading the others but my recommendation would be to go in order. However the author does a good job of making it accessible if you wish to dive right in.
I'm.a fan of the police duo at the heart of this series and I'm a fan of how clever all the mysteries are and Hollow Grave is no different. Intelligent plotting, page turning quality and unexpected moments. Can't ask for much more really.
March 8, 2025
This is the first book I have read by Kate Webb, and I don’t think it will be the last, I really enjoyed this. Set during Covid lockdown, DI Lockyer and DC B-road are investigating a cold case. Nazma, a young archeologist disappeared in September 1999, the police search was called off as it appeared she had presented at a police station in London to say she was safe and well.
Now over twenty years later her bag with some clothes, her passport and some money has turned up in a river. Lockyer and Broad are tasked with reopening the case and they soon find plenty of holes in the original investigation.
Really good read and I thank NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
Now over twenty years later her bag with some clothes, her passport and some money has turned up in a river. Lockyer and Broad are tasked with reopening the case and they soon find plenty of holes in the original investigation.
Really good read and I thank NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
March 26, 2025
Third book in the series and a first for me.
In the series we follow the cold case duo of DI Lockyer and DC Broad who are tasked with investigating the disappearance on a young Asian woman who was wrongly assumed missing 21 years previous, due to the failings of the original investigators.
There are lots of layers to this story, with interesting characters and a good mix of personal and professional challenges for the main characters.
An emotive read which foretells the impact of cohesive control from within a relationship and the impact that this can have on an and not to mention the deadly consequences.
A solid read.
In the series we follow the cold case duo of DI Lockyer and DC Broad who are tasked with investigating the disappearance on a young Asian woman who was wrongly assumed missing 21 years previous, due to the failings of the original investigators.
There are lots of layers to this story, with interesting characters and a good mix of personal and professional challenges for the main characters.
An emotive read which foretells the impact of cohesive control from within a relationship and the impact that this can have on an and not to mention the deadly consequences.
A solid read.
January 27, 2025
3.5/5
I really enjoyed the premise of the book. The main characters were well-written and the story was really interesting. I like the 'cold case' crime-solving genre - like the 'Unforgotten' tv series. I will need to read the first 2 books to get the best out of this story, I think. What I really do not like, or enjoy is the references to lockdown and covid. I think these references badly date the book and may irritate other readers. It adds nothing to the narrative.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review this book.
I really enjoyed the premise of the book. The main characters were well-written and the story was really interesting. I like the 'cold case' crime-solving genre - like the 'Unforgotten' tv series. I will need to read the first 2 books to get the best out of this story, I think. What I really do not like, or enjoy is the references to lockdown and covid. I think these references badly date the book and may irritate other readers. It adds nothing to the narrative.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review this book.
September 25, 2025
I don't often read detective fiction as the writing & plotting tends to be formulaic. Nevertheless Hollow Grave is a quick, easy read with lots of deplorable suspects & witnesses & the Police eventually get their man who quite reasonably should have been entombed alive in the cist burial site mentioned early on. One or two of the subplots felt slightly contrived but it's an entertaining enough read for a couple of days.
November 20, 2025
An enjoyable page-turner with a spin on the cold case theme. Tends to tick all the usual procedural boxes and I sense an edgier style was edited into the mainstream tastes.
Can easily see it dramatised, but left wondering what Webb could do if she pushed the characterisation out of central casting.
Well-written if somewhat undemanding.
Can easily see it dramatised, but left wondering what Webb could do if she pushed the characterisation out of central casting.
Well-written if somewhat undemanding.
September 18, 2025
The usual murder mystery, an enjoyable read about an old case . Some dogged detective work finds the body and solves the case.
November 13, 2025
Didn’t need to read 3 of these on the bounce because the format is the same across all three books. Each perfectly acceptable ‘who did it’ type format with a few themes underpinning all 3 books. Again, good holiday read but won’t win any awards.
March 16, 2025
Its the third outing for DI Matt Lockyer and DC Gemma Broad. This time its the case of a missing girl, Nazma Kirmani, from 1999. Originally reported missing by her family, the hunt was abandoned when she walked into a police station in London claiming it had all been a mistake. But 21 years later and nothing has ever been heard from her. Now, a bag with her passport and other items has been pulled from the river close to where she was working as part of a group excavating a Bronze Age burial site in the grounds of Trusloe Hall, a minor stately home in Wiltshire.
It seems as though the investigating officers leapt to some racial assumptions (eg Nazma was escaping some arranged marriage, even though her father is a Christian and her stepmother is white) and were relieved when it seemed she had just run away from her family. But the closer Matt and Gemma look into things the more suspicious they seem. Everything centres around that archaeological dig and the people Nazma knew then.
I think this series has really got into its stride, although the necessity for Matt and Hedy's baby to develop normally means they are about to go into the November 2020 lock-down which all just seems a distant memory.
Although Matt still does a little too much navel-gazing for me, I can see progress in his relationship and it wasn't as pervasive as in the previous two books.
Really enjoyed this.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bumped for release.
It seems as though the investigating officers leapt to some racial assumptions (eg Nazma was escaping some arranged marriage, even though her father is a Christian and her stepmother is white) and were relieved when it seemed she had just run away from her family. But the closer Matt and Gemma look into things the more suspicious they seem. Everything centres around that archaeological dig and the people Nazma knew then.
I think this series has really got into its stride, although the necessity for Matt and Hedy's baby to develop normally means they are about to go into the November 2020 lock-down which all just seems a distant memory.
Although Matt still does a little too much navel-gazing for me, I can see progress in his relationship and it wasn't as pervasive as in the previous two books.
Really enjoyed this.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bumped for release.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews