What do you think?
Rate this book
Cornish Crime - Rego & Poldhu #5
Dead and Buried
D E A D A N D B U R I E D
the new gold.
With the government’s move for greener energy and the rapid growth of EV car sales, mining lithium could transform sleepy Cornwall into a new industrial power.
But when a body is found deep underground at the county’s first commercial lithium mine, there’s a lot at stake.
Detective Inspector Robert Rego is trying to work the case but is being frustrated at every turn. When it seems as though the answer is buried deep in the past, he turns to local officer Police Constable Tamsyn Poldhu whose family roots go back across the decades – and are deeply entwined with the new mine.
A Cornish Crime Thriller
the new gold.
With the government’s move for greener energy and the rapid growth of EV car sales, mining lithium could transform sleepy Cornwall into a new industrial power.
But when a body is found deep underground at the county’s first commercial lithium mine, there’s a lot at stake.
Detective Inspector Robert Rego is trying to work the case but is being frustrated at every turn. When it seems as though the answer is buried deep in the past, he turns to local officer Police Constable Tamsyn Poldhu whose family roots go back across the decades – and are deeply entwined with the new mine.
A Cornish Crime Thriller
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
Berrick Ford
9 books18 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 31, 2026
This is already the fifth book in the ‘Cornish crime – Rego & Poldhu’ series. I have enjoyed every book in this series and this was no exception. Each book in the series has its own theme, in this story, we learn more about the mines in the Cornwall region, both in the past and the present. I always associate this region with the sea and its history of smuggling, so I was surprised to discover that there are mines as well. I found that very interesting.
This story begins with the discovery of a dead body during the opening of a new lithium mine on the site of an older tine and copper mine in Wheal Noweth. It turns out to be Martin Beacham, the mine’s chief engineer. From the start, things are strange and complicated, and the more DI Robert Rego investigates, the more convinced he becomes that something big is going on. Something that involves a lot of people, including police officers and politicians. Rego knows from experience that he must be careful. He has to make sure that he trusts the right people. But that isn’t his only problem, many people have invested in the new mine, ordinary people who want the mine to open quickly, who cannot afford to lose their money. Rego feels pressure from various sides, but as always, he relies on his instincts and the help of PC Tamsyn Poldhu to solve his case.
Just like in the previous stories, we met many new faces (it took me a little getting used to all the new names), but we also saw many familiar faces. The story was once again interesting, captivated and well-written. A lot happened, and we discovered many secrets about the past and the present. In this story, we also learned a bit more about the past of Tamsyn’s grandparents, specifically that of her grandmother. Just like in the previous stories, Tamsyn was curious and helpful, traits that often got her into trouble in the past. This time, she really tried to follow the rules (her new boss insisted!), but circumstances made it difficult for her. Fortunately, she can always count on the help of her loved ones and the love of her little dog. You can feel that both Rego and Tamsyn have learned lessons from the past and tried to do better this time but it wasn’t always easy but they tried their best.
I enjoyed this story and I was very happy to discover that Tamsyn and Joe were still a couple, I really love them as a couple. And although they lived some distance apart, Joe was always there for Tamsyn whenever she needed him. He’s a great boyfriend.
The same went for Rego and his family, but there’s a good chance his family will move closer. I think that’s great news and it gives me hope for their future.
‘Dead and buried’ is a great story and I can’t wait for the next one in this series.
This story begins with the discovery of a dead body during the opening of a new lithium mine on the site of an older tine and copper mine in Wheal Noweth. It turns out to be Martin Beacham, the mine’s chief engineer. From the start, things are strange and complicated, and the more DI Robert Rego investigates, the more convinced he becomes that something big is going on. Something that involves a lot of people, including police officers and politicians. Rego knows from experience that he must be careful. He has to make sure that he trusts the right people. But that isn’t his only problem, many people have invested in the new mine, ordinary people who want the mine to open quickly, who cannot afford to lose their money. Rego feels pressure from various sides, but as always, he relies on his instincts and the help of PC Tamsyn Poldhu to solve his case.
Just like in the previous stories, we met many new faces (it took me a little getting used to all the new names), but we also saw many familiar faces. The story was once again interesting, captivated and well-written. A lot happened, and we discovered many secrets about the past and the present. In this story, we also learned a bit more about the past of Tamsyn’s grandparents, specifically that of her grandmother. Just like in the previous stories, Tamsyn was curious and helpful, traits that often got her into trouble in the past. This time, she really tried to follow the rules (her new boss insisted!), but circumstances made it difficult for her. Fortunately, she can always count on the help of her loved ones and the love of her little dog. You can feel that both Rego and Tamsyn have learned lessons from the past and tried to do better this time but it wasn’t always easy but they tried their best.
I enjoyed this story and I was very happy to discover that Tamsyn and Joe were still a couple, I really love them as a couple. And although they lived some distance apart, Joe was always there for Tamsyn whenever she needed him. He’s a great boyfriend.
The same went for Rego and his family, but there’s a good chance his family will move closer. I think that’s great news and it gives me hope for their future.
‘Dead and buried’ is a great story and I can’t wait for the next one in this series.
April 26, 2026
The 5th Cornish Crime thriller is a classic whodunit but the stakes are raised and it gets personal when the family of young PC Tamsyn Poldhu is dragged into the mystery. The initial crime scene is a lithium mine, which holds great promise for the economy of Cornwall, and the scenes in which characters must navigate the underground tunnels are nail-biting. Terrifically authentic details, from police procedures to modern mining techniques. A great series for police procedural fans and anyone who has seen Doc Martin.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews