This is the first book in the series featuring DS Hedley Sharpe. We learn that Hedley is a widower, whose wife was murdered a few years ago and he has always suspected a man called Rawlings, a known criminal, was responsible for her death. A year previously Rawlings was due in court but disappeared and everyone thought he has fled the country but Hedley and his team are called out when his body turns up in a disused building. He had been drugged and shot. But the diamonds he was supposed to have stolen are still missing. It is obvious that he has been dead for some time but another body of a homeless man is found nearby but he has only recently been killed. We then meet Chloe and her controlling husband Simon, Hedley soon finds a connection between them and Rawlings. Then when Simon is murdered Chloe becomes the main suspect. But there are so many twists and turns to solve that leaves Hedley frustrated. I must admit I didn’t like any of the characters but look forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and a Joffe books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I just couldn't get into this book for some reason. Helen is one of my favourite authors and I love the detail she puts into her stories but this one was just not the same. I found it confusing and it really dragged, I managed a third of the book before eventually giving up. Sorry!

Fantastic book , kept me hooked from beginning to end , such a great page turner . I have read many books by this author and they are all so good. I love a book that keeps you guessing right to the end and this certainly did not disappoint. Great story and characters. Highly recommend reading this book.

Loved this book. Helen is one of my favourite authors so I was excited to read it. Totally didn’t disappoint. Fast paced and twisty kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing the whole way through. Really great book, highly recommend.

Full of twists and turns, a psychological thriller that will have you gripped until the very last page!

Helen H Durrant does it again, I love her books, they are nice, quick easy reads. I really enjoy her books and can never wait for the next one. Gripping story lines and characters you really invest in and care about

A nice quick read. This story is fast paced throughout and kept me engaged. I hope this is the start of a new series with Hedley as I would like to know more about his back story and in particular, his wife. A very promising start to the series.

Another winner from Helen Durrant. I have read many of Helens books and this one did not disappoint, I would thoroughly recommend.

This was not my favorite read. I found the writing stilted and repetitive at times. I found Hadley’s pov interesting enough but Chloe’s was confusing and boring.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book by Helen Durrant and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good murder mystery. It involves an investigation by Detective Hedley Sharpe into the shooting in the head of a body found in the cellar of a house. This novel keeps the reader enthralled to the last pages.

I have read and enjoyed more books by this author. This is a new series with a new team. Again set in and around Manchester, this time around Saddleworth and the East of the city. The crimes are mostly involved with gangs of criminals and appear to be revenge killings . The detectives are OK and although Hedley, the main detective's life is documented, his partner Stuart is not as well described and feels a bit flat. Their interaction did not really ring true, perhaps that needs to grow in future episodes of the series. There is plenty of action in the book and a couple of twists in the plot, enough characters to keep the book interesting and enough descriptions to picture the scenes, though as I know Manchester well, I am perhaps projecting my knowledge onto the districts .
Certainly not bad, but with more attention to the interaction between the investigating team, it could be much better
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARc .

This new book is sure to keep you guessing til the end! With lots of twists, and bodies piling up, Sup. Sharpe is depending on his long tuned instincts to tell him is something is off, and it definitely is. The murders seem to be connected, but every time they turn up a link it gets dismissed. With multiple suspects and Todd acting suspicious, his instinct is telling him she's connected, but deciphering HOW is going to take all hands on deck sifting through the past with lots of dead ends. It's a nail biter, seeing if the police will solve this crime! Durrant does it again!

Have read all of Helens books and this one did not disappoint, kept me reading until the early hours thanks so much

new-series, first-in-series, Manchester, law-enforcement, procedural, mental-health-issues, secrets, lies, bullies, crime-thriller, gangsters, psychopath, jewelry-heist, dual-perspectives*****

DS Hedley Sharpe is a long-serving detective working for Manchester’s Major Crime Division and is nearing retirement age but is still messed up since his wife's unsolved murder. He's jaded, aging, perennially grumpy, and pessimistic. His partner, Stuart, is sympathetic to those on the other side of the investigation but I can't believe how well he tolerates His Negativeness. The case is fascinating, and the investigation is relentless with its twists and sidetracks. All characters are well portrayed, but I can't say that I care for the main characters. Still, I'm glad that I read it.
I requested and received an EARC from Jaffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Life got in the way of reading it for free but I love the author's writing, so I bought it and read it before reviewing.

A new crime procedural featuring Detective Hedley Sharpe. I did enjoy the fast pace at which this book moved. I wasn't sure if I could believe Chloe or not. At times, she appeared as a victim, and other times she seemed to be the antagonist.

I enjoyed the fast pace of the story, and the backstory provided on Chloe. That helped us get to know her better. I did find that there was a lack of backstory provided on her husband, Simon. I would've liked to know more about what caused him to lead the life he did. I didn't find myself eagerly turning the pages, but i was interested enough to want to know what was going to happen at the end.

There weren't many twists and turns, but the plot held my interest. I'm sure that was due to the fast pace of the story. I'm not sure why, but I found myself feeling bad for Chloe by the end of the book. I have read a LOT of crime thrillers lately, and this one missed the mark for me. I was not a fan of Hedley and his tone or tactics. The dialogue between him and his partner read juvenile to me. The ending provided the perfect segue for book 2 in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A dead body with a bullet in the the head, unidentifiable as it hasn't been found for a year. A fresh corpse in the adjacent room. Is one of them a missing gangster who disappeared after a diamond heist?
Dig Two Graves is the first book in a new series of police procedural/crime thrillers featuring Detective Superintendent Hedley Sharpe.
Chloe is unhappily married to a bully with dealings with Dean Rawlins and together the men stole diamonds. She is devastated after the stillbirth of her daughter and now she has been uprooted to a new house. She is also being threatened by Dean's ex. How much more can she take?
Hedley Sharpe is a great new detective. He is overweight, middle aged, sarcastic, cynical. There is pain in his past due to the murder of his wife. He is tenacious and is determined to bring gangster Dean Rawlins to justice although he won't be too disappointed if someone else disposes of him first.
Hedley barely seems to appear in the first part of the book but, as more bodies are discovered, the police investigation becomes more prominent. The pace of the plot races along and the writing style is quite dialogue driven.
Dig Two Graves is an enjoyable start to a new series and I look forward to catching up with Hedley soon.

A new series by Helen and it does not disappoint. A great storyline which flows easily and I'm looking forward to reading more on the new DI Sharpe an interesting character

Missed the mark for me which surprised me from this author. It is the first in what I expect will be a series so things might improve particularly if the villains in the next book are more believable.

Detectives Hedley Sharpe and Stuart Vasey are furious when Rawlings doesn't appear in court accused of a large diamond robbery. Nearly a year later they are called out to investigate two bodies found in wasteland- one of which could well be the elusive Rawlings.
A young mother finds her baby's pram empty her screams alert the neighbours who call the police. Chloe & Simon have only just moved into the house. Brenda, the neighbour tries to calm Chloe. When Hedley and Stuart arrive they find out that the baby dies at birth but they also discover that Simon Todd was an associate of Rawlins- this was his house. Sharpe is convinced Chloe is not the innocent the tries to project. They might be able to solve the diamond robbery as well as the murders.

The characters were mainly dislikeable, particularly Hedley (I know he had a tragedy to cope with but..) He epitomised all the bad news going around about the police. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. This is the start of a new series. I won't be staying for the next I'm afraid

Yes!!! A new series written by an excellent author!! 💃 🥰

Dig Two Graves by Helen H. Durrant is the first book in the new DS Hedley Sharpe Mysteries series..........what a brilliant start this was. Every book I have read by Helen, they've been a joy to read and this one was no different - So turn your mobile off, re-schedule your plans for your day, find a comfy spot and open your kindle or book.
This book will not disappoint. I did not want it to end and I am looking forward reading more about DS Hedley Sharpe in the future. I loved it!!! Thanks Helen!

I highly recommend this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Joffe books for my ARC.