I'm always looking for police procedurals to read. Especially with female detectives. Unfortunately it's often hit and miss. This was somewhere in the middle.

I came to like both of the main characters but I struggled to start with. George was alright but Whitney was a total jerk with a massive chip on her shoulder about academics. It was ridiculous. She grated on my nerves a lot to start with - she took offence to everything and it was exhausting.

I can't say I particularly noticed George's snobbish behaviour before it was pointed out - I felt like it was she had trouble relating to others rather than actively disapproving of anyone. Still I liked how the characters evolved and came to see the benefits of their own and each other's characteristics.

At one point Whitney asks George out for a drink and mentions about she hoped that she didn't think it was a date - but honestly I kind of wished it had of been - I felt like that would've been a unique angle to take the story in.

The procedural itself was alright. I more or less guessed the culprit and I liked that the evidence was all laid out logically. It was a little bland but it was decently written and much better than a lot of other procedurals I've read. There were a few plot holes Lydia's diary? Who was staring at her? and the motives for the murders? that weren't quite wrapped up but most of the loose ends were tied up.

One thing I hated though were the insert chapters of the killer's mind. It jolted me out of the story and took away from the narrative. They served no real purpose and it would've been a stronger story without their inclusion.

3 stars. ( )

Walking to her post at the University, forensic psychologist Dr Georgina Cavendish, discovers a body of a student. DCI Whitney Walker and her team are called in to investigate. Cavendish wishes to help Walker but at first is rebuffed. But when another student is discovered dead, a truce is called.
An enjoyable crime story ( )

Book 1 audible audio - "Included" because it was a free "included" title I am now getting to know the Author Sally Rigby - I read BOOK 2 of the Cavendish & Walker Series, not realizing it was part of a series - Then backtracked to start the series at the beginning with a Book 0 intro into DCI Whitney Walker. This book 1 in the series introduces Dr Georgina Cavendish into the series, professor at the local university and somewhat of a good profiler - Whitney is somewhat antagonized by George and isn't too eager to allow her to give input; however, they slowly develop a relationship with mutual respect building on both sides - In this segment of the series - there is a serial killer out there, targeting college girls, the race to find the killer before DCI Walker is removed from the case intensifies as Whitney's own daughter may be in the killer sights. I am enjoying the series and ready to move on to Book 3 to find out what Cavendish & Walker are up to next! ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed Deadly Games, book 1 in the Cavendish and Walker series by Sally Rigby. Whitney Walker, a DCI reluctantly works with George (Georgina) Walker, a forensic psychologist. It was a great story that kept me engrossed. Plenty going on throughout the story and my interest remained high the whole way through. Love the mix of characters and their temperaments. Highly recommended. ( )