We first meet Det Supt Hedley Sharpe and his DI, Stuart Vasey from the Major Crime Division in Ardwick, Manchester, at court where the defendant Dean Rawlins, facing a double murder charge, has done a runner. He’s also believed to be involved in a 2 million pound diamond theft and Hedley himself believes Rawlins was behind the death of his wife Emily. Now a year on, Rawlins’ body is discovered in the cellar of one of his own properties, drugged and shot about a year since. Unfortunately a very fresh corpse is also discovered next door. When a baby is reported missing at Rawlins’ former home, Hedley and Stuart take an immediate interest but soon discover the mother, Chloe Todd, has never got over the still birth of the baby and is confused. The detectives have very different views of the woman, whose husband Simon worked with Rawlins. Hedley thinks she is a clever little liar but Stuart believes she’s an innocent victim of a coercive and very strange marriage. Throw into the mix Rawlins’ vicious ex-wife Selina, the woman who bullied Chloe at school and who is determined to get her hands on both the house and the diamonds, and we have the baffling start to a great new series. Just what is the clearly manipulative Chloe plotting and what secrets from the past is she desperate to hide? What will happen when the very unlikable Chloe goes head-to-head with a great, if somewhat cliched, lead detective? And where does their prime suspect fit into all of this?
Hedley and Stuart remind me very much of a latter-day Dalziel and Pascoe, the older gruff no-nonsense senior detective with a softer sided junior sidekick, and the pair work well together, despite having conflicting views on the case. The first part of the story is quite confusing as the reader sees very different sides to Chloe’s character and it’s hard to work out exactly what is going on. However the suspense really racks up as the investigation unfolds in a story featuring a great team of detectives full of twists and surprises. It’s well written and highly engrossing, and held my attention throughout as the pages flew past. I’m looking forward to more as the series develops.

For the first novel in a brand new series, this one really missed the mark for me (and I am a big fan of this author and most of her other books). Don't get me wrong, the premise was a solid one, it was the characters that I felt were sorely lacking.

First we have Hedley, an overweight DS who trusts his gut and comes across as brash to those around him (including his own work colleagues). He also keeps a bottle of whiskey in his desk drawer and has been known on occasion to indulge in a "little splash" in his coffee now and then; in the middle of the workday.

By contrast, his partner Stuart is the complete opposite. This one comes across as very naive and at times, downright gullible. We not only see him repeatedly duped by other characters, but he even tries to admonish Hedley on more than one occasion, either for his "treatment" of potential victims, or for continuing to investigate even though "everything is cut and dry."

Considering these two will, I assume, be the leading characters in future novels I am hoping there is some deeper character development to come because right now, I find very little to recommend either of them. The fact that Hedley has a tragic background (his wife was murdered) is something that I strongly feel needs to be explored in the future. Even if his gut instinct was right, and the person responsible for her murder is now dead, I still want to know what exactly led up to her murder since it wasn't mentioned in this story. I would also like to see Hedley in the immediate aftermath of this loss as maybe that would better explain some of his behaviors now.

Now that I've discussed our two prominent leads and what I perceive as their shortcomings, let me talk about the other characters featured in this novel. The major villains just either didn't seem like villains or were so over the top that you had to roll your eyes. Let's begin with Rawlins, Simon and Murray. All three are supposed to be "major players" in the criminal syndicate, yet (unless you count Simon bullying his wife) we never see them actually doing anything that would earn them that sort of heavy reputation. And for all that Murray is supposed to be a crime lord, his solicitor sure gives up pretty fast.

And then there are the women of this novel. Selina comes across by far as being the most blood-thirsty of the bunch, while Chloe comes across as just... off .... throughout the entire book. We know she's suffered a loss. We know her home life is not as she presents it. But there is still something missing about her character that makes me even want to sympathize with her, much less root for her. We know from the jump she's hiding something, we just don't know what that something is. And don't get me started on Brenda, who I am sure was meant to mean well, but just came across as one of those nosy neighbors that no one wants to deal with.

All of that said, it is because I enjoy this author more often than not, I will be giving book number two in this series a shot before I decide whether or not to continue on with it or wait for her to come up with something new.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this that review are 100% my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.
This is a solid police procedural by Helen Durrant. I really like the main character Hedley and can't wait to see how this series develops. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Chloe Todd discovers her three month old baby is missing from her carriage, she runs screaming from the house and her neighbor calls the police. Her husband Simon, a controlling bully, says there is no baby, the baby had died and Chloe, shocked by the death was on medication. Case closed, perhaps? Then a body is found in a cellar, lying there since he was killed a year earlier. A day later, the body of a homeless man was found in that same cellar. How are these three cases related?

DS Hedley Sharpe and DI Stuart Vasey realize that these crimes may be linked to a major diamond theft a year earlier. After another killing, Sharpe is sure that he knows who the murderer(s) are but can’t yet prove it. Nothing is as it seems is this complicated criminal enterprise.

Helen Durrant is a master of the police procedural. DIG TWO GRAVES is the first in a new series featuring DS Hedley Sharpe. He’s an anti-hero with a stubborn attitude, a foul mouth, and an unhealthy appetite paired with an unhealthy body. I cant wait to see what comes next! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and Helen H. Durrant for this ARC.

A very suspenseful mystery in this new series by Helen Durrant. Lots of twists and turns as Superintendent Hedley Sharpe is tasked in tracking down a murderer after two bodies are found two days apart in similar circumstances. And Superintendent Sharpe must determine how Chloe Todd fits into his investigation. A great start to this new series!

I have to agree with other reviewers that this is not the author’s best book. I didn’t really get a feel for the main character and the other characters had no depth to them. I struggled to finish tbh as I really wasn’t invested. Hadley could be a fantastic main character, but needs fleshing out in further novels.

So delighted to be able to catch this new crime series at the start, and Superintendent Hedley Sharpe is a great character who I look forward to getting to know more about

A body found in a cellar, which has been there for a year, then the following day, another victim. Alongside this, a young, grieving mother is trapped in a controlling marriage and the police are on the hunt for some stolen diamonds.

I enjoyed the balance between the plot for this particular book and getting to know Superintendent Hedley Sharpe personally, with hooks being dropped in about his circumstances, hopefully to be further explored in the forthcoming books in this series.

With the book set over a very short period of time, the pace was fast and punchy, the writing was immersive and the curve balls came out of nowhere, literally taking my breath away!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Helen H. Durrant and Joffe for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Dig Two Graves, the first novel to feature Detective Superintendent Hedley Sharpe of Greater Manchester Police.

Chloe Todd’s baby goes missing so a neighbour calls the police. This attracts Hedley’s attention, due to the address, but he doesn’t have much time to devote to what turned out to be a false alarm as he is investigating a skeleton with a gunshot wound. Then another dead body is found close to the first one. His attention turns back to Chloe when he finds links between her and the skeleton.

I enjoyed Dig Two Graves, which has an interesting plot, full of twists and turns. It is told as much from Chloe’s point of view as Hedley’s and that, I think, was a bit of a mistake as it telegraphs too much of the plot when put together with Hedley’s conjectures.

I think Hedley will become a great protagonist as the series progresses. He’s a bit of a cliché, older, overweight and short tempered with an extremely poor diet (who wants to live forever when they’re enjoying the present?), but he’s also extremely clear sighted and easily able to wade his way through all the lies and stories he is told. I like his no nonsense approach.

Chloe Todd is a different kettle of fish. She is obviously lying and plotting so the only question is what and why. She’s very manipulative and extremely unlikeable, so who cares what she’s up to, but the reader doesn’t have a choice, spending fifty percent of the novel with her.

The novel is a bit of a dual with Hedley convinced Chloe is scheming and lying to him and she doing her best to convince him that she is a victim with an uncaring husband. It is interesting to watch them duke it out and gradually find out her plans, although, personally, I would have preferred more of the procedural and less of the psychological as I don’t think the latter worked too well. There wasn’t enough real emotion or narcissism in it to thrill or even connect with the reader.

Dig Two Graves is a mixed bag with both good and not so good points. 3.5*

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Joffe books and the fantastic author Helen durrant for an early copy of her book.


This is a new series from this author, I've read quite a few of her books and still to read many more,I really enjoy her books immensely. Chloe is in a terrible marriage her husband hiding his past life.chloe had a child her neighbour Brenda is concerned how her husband treats Her.superintendant Henley Sharpe on a murder case where the victim is shot in the head...then another victim...is there a connection with chloe? Henley investigates and finds the truth.I enjoyed reading this head strong character and looking forward to reading the next instalment. I was fully engrossed with this read, and highly recommend her books.


This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon uk.

When several crimes are discovered within a few days, Supertendent Hedley Sharpe is assigned to the investigations. As he begins to put clues together, he will discover that all 3 crimes are connected to a previous robbery that has yet to be solved.

DIG TWO GRAVES is the first book in the new Hedley Sharpe series. Helen Durrant is a prolific author of six other series, all of them murder/thrillers that have loyal fan clubs. This is the first book of hers I have read. It's an excellent start as the characters and their community are developed quickly while their back story provides enough clues to carry over arcing stories as well as providing so many possibilities for the next few books. It's going to be enteresting to see where Superintendent Sharpe turns up next.

When the police attend the scene of a missing baby, all is not as it seems. Chloe Todd, the mother, appears on their radar again when she is connected to two dead men, both shot in a cellar of a disused shop. Superintendent Hedley Sharpe does not believe in coincidences and is determined to tie her to the crimes but when evidence seems to point elsewhere, is she, herself, a victim or is she playing a very clever role?

This is a solid start to a new series with Superintendent Hedley Sharpe promising to be an interesting character with an intriguing backstory. We have a few hints about Hedley’s past in Dig Two Graves and I am sure that the story involving his deceased wife will rear its head later in the series.

The plot is a good one with enough twists to keep you on your toes. Chloe is a complex character, but is her downtrodden wife persona just an act? The author does a good job in keeping you guessing, making you feel sorry for her one minute and then making you doubt yourself the next. We are taken into the criminal world of Manchester where there are not many likeable characters and we discover that Hedley has history with some of them. I enjoyed this connection as it made the detective seem real as we read what he really thinks about those who he is investigating.

This is a promising start and I will look forward to seeing what Hedley investigates next.

Now here's an author who always spins a gripping tale!

Detective Superintendent Hedley Sharpe finds himself with not one, but two bodies; one of them is at least a year old, found in a cellar. The other, in the cellar next door but this one is very recently dead. All the usual questions need to be answered, but this isn't a straightforward case. A young woman, Chloe Todd, recently found her baby's pram empty in her garden and the police were called by a neighbour. Now there seems to be some sort of connections between that young woman and the bodies lying in the mortuary . . .

This is the first in a new crime series from the pen of a very favourite author. I'm always astonished at how she manages to create so many different crime series without getting them confused! As always, this is a mesmerising story with many twists and turns but the heart of it is never lost and I rather liked Hedley Sharpe. Another terrific creation from Helen H. Durrant - and one I'm delighted to both recommend and give all five glowing stars! *****

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

This is the first book in a brilliant new series by the bestselling Helen H Durrant.

It is a brilliant story that grabs the reader at the very beginning and doesn't let go all the way to the end. There are numerous red herrings along the way. A victim that has Hedley and his partner, Stuart at logger heads. Stuart thinks Chloe is a victim of abuse by a controlling husband Hedley is not convinced she is a victim of any sort. Who is right?

When a body in a cellar is eventually identified it soon becomes clear that Hedley and his team have a tangled web of lies, deceit, jealousy and revenge to sort through. Will they get to the truth?

It was interesting to meet new characters I didn't take to Hedley at first but he grew on me and I think he and Stuart make an effective combination. All the characters are very realistic and fit the plot perfectly.

As with all Helen's books this is an adrenaline pumping read that I absolutely loved. A very cleverly thought out plot with interesting characters and enough twists and turns to keep my attention. Very much looking forward to the next in this series.

Helen Durrant is one of my favourite authors and writes really well. This new series is, so far, living up to the quality of writing, the story so-so but. what a bunch of obnoxious characters although Superintendent Hedley Sharpe has scope to improve. Bullying and coercive behaviours, deviousness, naivety, nosey and interfering folk, revenge, murder and diamond theft. Everyone is so angry. The subjects are stressful and anger inducing but there's no relief. Even the so-called humour between Sharpe and his DI has a nasty feeling to it. It's just depressing all of the time. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Joffe Books and Helen H Durrant for my ARC of 'Dig Two Graves' in return for an honest review.

Two bodies are found in neighboring cellars within days of each other.Both have been shot. Detective Superintendent Hedley Sharpe teams up with his partner, DI Stuart Vasey, to try to uncover the truth. There is a possibility they are tied to a diamond robbery from twelve months ago.

Many twists and turns left me wondering what had happened.

Recommended

I’d like to thank Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dig Two Graves’, the first in the Detective Hedley Sharpe series written by Helen H Durrant, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Detective Superintendent Hedley Sharpe and Inspector Stuart Vasey of Manchester’s Major Crime Division are called out to investigate when a body is found in a cellar that’s been there for at least a year. Soon after another body is found in the adjoining cellar that leads them to believe they’re linked in some way. Sharpe is convinced they’re connected to the missing criminal Dean Rawlins who didn’t turn up for his Court appearance a year ago and hasn’t been seen since.

‘Dig Two Graves’ is the first in a brand new series featuring the main character of Superintendent Hedley Sharpe who’s in his fifties, overweight, foul-mouthed and has no hesitation in speaking his mind, and is so different to characters normally found in police procedural thrillers. Whilst I enjoyed this novel it didn’t have the excitement I’d hoped for but I’m optimistic that future books will flesh out the characters and give more depth to the stories - and hopefully stop DI Stuart Vasey from disagreeing with everything Hedley Sharpe says. It has its share of intrigue, dubious characters and twists and turns with a conclusion that ties up the loose ends but is slightly disappointing in one regard. Nevertheless, I’ve enjoyed this book that I read in a day and I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

Two bodies are found in neighboring cellars within days of each other, both shot to death. Could they be tied to an unsolved diamond robbery that happened a year earlier? Detective Superintendent Hedley Sharpe teams up with his partner, DI Stuart Vasey, to try to uncover the truth.

This one just wasn’t for me. There was a lot of potential there for the characters but they didn’t feel fully fleshed out enough to get invested and root for the good guys or to buy into the villains and how dangerous and scary they were supposed to be. The story also felt almost superficial. We’re told most of the facts, but aren’t shown much of the investigation. It almost felt like the outline of a good story that just needed more details to develop it.

On a more positive note, it was a good premise and there were a lot of twists. I did want to know what happened to the two people who were found dead. I wanted to find out what the twists were, where the diamonds were, and what Chloe’s role was in the story. As the first book in the series there was the start of a decent foundation there. Hopefully, the author can build on that in the next books in the series.

Thanks NetGally and Joffe Books for this advanced copy.

Couldn't really get into reading this book, seemed too slow with too much detail so I didn't finish it.

Loved this. Always enjoy her work and this was no different. Captured me from the start and read in one sitting.

This is the start of an exciting new series (featuring DS Hedley Sharpe) involving gangsters, diamond robbery and murder. I loved all the strong believable characters and how they interacted. It's more than a police procedural with lots of drama between the feuding gangland wives Chloe and Selina. Packed with shocks and surprises it will be interesting to see how the series develops.