The Lost Girls of Penzance is the first book in the Cornwall Mystery series by Sally Rigby who is also the author of the excellent Cavendish & Walker series of police thrillers
When human bones are discovered by a couple of kids in a field in Penzance, Detective Inspector Lauren Pengelly fears there is a murderer on the loose.
Later that day it’s reported that a little girl, Isla, has been kidnapped from her nursery and seemingly vanished. Are the two cases connected? And what’s the link to Detective Sargent Matt Price?
When another little girl is taken, again from her nursery in the middle of the day, it’s clear Lauren and her new partner Matt need to get to the truth as soon as possible before the hunt becomes a murder investigation.
Good characterisation for both of the very different lead characters, new boy Matt is more laid back and likable whereas Lauren is not wildly loved by her department and has control issues regarding the team.
An intriguing plot plus a selection of interesting supporting characters make this mystery good fun to read or listen to. The author throws plenty of red herrings into the mix whilst ably delivering a gripping story including the emotional turmoil associated with any case that includes young children.
In audio book format the narration is great and adds to the enjoyment of the book. The audio narrator, Claire Corbett, does an excellent job with the local accents.
This is an excellent start to the new series that I hope will maintain the quality as further titles are added. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for book 2
I’d recommend this title to anyone who enjoys mystery detective stories, police procedurals or if you have a particular fondness for UK regional settings.