The Deeper the Dead

DI Nyree Bradshaw #3

by Catherine Lea

Book #3 in the Can't-Put-Down DI Nyree Bradshaw Series

On a remote New Zealand island, two bodies lie cold. One is a young heiress. The other—a stranger with no past.

Detective Inspector Nyree Bradshaw knows this is no ordinary crime scene. The double homicide reeks of secrets, haunting betrayal, and a family feud turned deadly. As Nyree digs into the island’s tangled history, she uncovers a trail that links a missing child from decades ago, a powerful family with everything to lose, and a town built on silence.

The deeper she pushes, the more dangerous the investigation becomes. With her granddaughter to protect and her own past every step, Nyree must solve the case before the killer strikes again.

⭐ “A gripping New Zealand crime thriller… atmospheric, twisty, and character-driven.” - Angela Z. - Goodreads reviewer
⭐ “A taut, beautifully written police procedural with an unforgettable lead detective. DI Nyree Bradshaw is the heart and soul of this series.” - Kelly Blackie - Goodreads reviewer
⭐ "A total page turner, finished in a day. It took me until the end to figure out "who done it", fabulous writing as usual. Looking forward to book 4 in the Nyree Bradshaw series next year." - Hannah - Goodreads reviewer

Gritty, atmospheric, and unputdownable, The Deeper the Dead is a crime thriller that blends psychological suspense with a compelling murder mystery. Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Tana French, and Broadchurch.

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 23, 2025

About the author

Catherine lives with a rescue dog who's the love of her life. In past lives, she has sold international satellite capacity, worked in IT recruitment, and run her own communications store.

When Catherine isn't writing, she's dog-wrangling, wrestling with technology, or going crazy trying to maintain control of the yard.

THE CANDIDATE'S DAUGHTER is her first published work, followed by the sequel in the Elizabeth McClaine series, CHILD OF THE STATE, and A STOLEN WOMAN.

Her latest book in the DI NYREE BRADSHAW SERIES, set in the beautiful Far North of New Zealand, is THE DEEPER THE DEAD: A DI Nyree Bradshaw Crime Thriller, out now.

She also writes gritty thrillers under the pen name C.J. Lea.

Reviews

[Sherryl Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to a new DI Nyree Bradshaw novel and I wasn’t disappointed. I always enjoy female police detectives who use their brains and also have a (well hidden) heart. There’s even a touch of Roberta Steele in there, if you are a Stuart MacBride fan!
The story starts with a double shotgun murder on an island in the picturesque Bay of Islands, and the final line of that chapter sets us up for the key story question – who is holding the gun? Nyree is just starting to realise the complications that guardianship of her granddaughter is bringing to her life. The job has always come first, and now her guilt over her son being in prison flows onto his daughter, Ellie – as any working woman knows, after-school pick-up can’t be ignored.

The disappearance of a small child on the island twenty years ago is woven into the main plot very deftly, along with anger about the detective at the time trying to blame a local Maori. Lea also weaves in land rights and local grievances without being heavy-handed. The twists and turns keep coming.

There are a lot of characters, but mostly they were clearly defined and not confusing. I liked that Nyree has a sergeant who respects her and does his job really well, and isn’t the typical anti-woman-in-charge character. That’s left to the crusty old cop who butts in on the cold case!
A very enjoyable crime novel. Even if I didn’t know the locale well, I’d still appreciate the setting and details. Highly recommended.

[Alex Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved being back in Northland with no nonsense DI Nyree Bradshaw. This book sucked me in, right from the prologue. On a private island, a terrible crime has been committed, and DI Bradshaw has to dig out the truth from locals who all seem to have a lot to hide. I’m so familiar with the Bay of Islands and surrounding areas and I really enjoyed the authenticity, for example the small town politics and disputes, and somewhat eccentric characters. 🫣🤣
Aside from the investigation, I enjoyed seeing Nyree’s relationship developing with her granddaughter, it was so nice to see a lighter side to her, along with some humour (the penguin/pillow incident with Spot! Never too early to teach a child about motive and opportunity 🤣).
This is another fantastic addition to the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to work it all out. Addictive and easy to read, yet hard to put down!
Thankyou Catherine for the gifted copy, always happy to give my honest thoughts in a review! I hope we see Nyree again in a fourth book 👀

[Kelly Blackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Deeper the Dead is the 3rd book in the Ngaire Bradshaw series and quite possibly my favourite book in the series so far!

We follow Ngaire Bradshaw as she juggles being a full time carer and solving the murders of two people on a private island in NZ. One of the victims is the current owner of the island, but the other victim is unknown- who is he and why were they murdered?

It is masterfully crafted to keep you guessing to the very last page, full of interesting characters and one kick ass middle age female detective!

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It was an interesting storyline. I liked Nyree. I think that she was a good character to follow on a murder investigation. I think that the murder location was unique because it was a remote island community. She and her team had to travel by boat which I thought was neat.
I liked the author's story because her writing kept me hooked until the very end so I can say that I was really entertained.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ange · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Deeper the Dead by Catherine Lea is a gripping New Zealand crime thriller featuring DI Nyree Bradshaw. Set on a remote island, the story begins with a double murder and unearths a child’s decades-old disappearance. Lea blends suspense, Māori cultural elements, and emotional depth into a tense procedural. The atmospheric setting, twisty plot, and complex lead, keeps you guessing. A solid, character-driven read for fans of gritty, place-rich mysteries.

[Lauren Roche · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is a standalone story I would recommend reading the series of the three books in order. This allows a sense of Nyree’s character development. The lead detective is powerfully woven. A hard working mum with flaws and regrets, trying to balance her police role with the care of her young granddaughter.
I won’t spoil the book by outlining it, but will tell you it is well-plotted with some excellent character studies and a fine sense of place. Northland noir at its finest.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving a review copy of Catherine Lea’s latest book, The Deeper the Dead. It is the third book in the DI Nyree Bradshaw series. Nyree is back with another case on her hands, this time involving a double homicide on a private island and discovering the remains of a child who vanished 20 years ago. I loved the mystery and suspense of this crime novel. This is a must read for anyone who loves detective novels.

[Hastings75 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this third instalment of the Nyree Bradshaw series.

Really enjoy the recurring characters and the way Lea is able to present a murder mystery that makes sense and wraps up nicely. I don’t guess the murderer -which is also a massive plus for me! 🤣

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A total page turner, finished in a day. It took me until the end to figure out "who done it", fabulous writing as usual. Looking forward to book 4 in the Nyree Bradshaw series next year.

[Lynette Eklund · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I love the DI Nyree Bradshaw series. Well written, easy to follow, tricky to solve, but Lea writes with no cheating. The clues are there, and the stories unfold at a steady pace.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little ripper

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great NZ crime series! Realistic, familiar setting, great plot - what more could you want.