Fatal Justice

Cavendish & Walker #2

by Sally Rigby

A vigilante’s on the loose, dishing out their kind of justice…

A string of mutilated bodies sees Detective Chief Inspector Whitney Walker back in action. But when she discovers the victims have all been grooming young girls, she fears a vigilante is on the loose. And while she understands the motive, no one is above the law.

Once again, she turns to forensic psychologist, Dr Georgina Cavendish, to unravel the cryptic clues. But will they be able to save the next victim from a gruesome death?

Genres: Audiobook, Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Detective, Procedural

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 3, 2019

About the author

Sally Rigby was born in Northampton, in the UK. She has always had the travel bug, and after living in both Manchester and London, eventually moved overseas. From 2001 she has lived with her family in New Zealand, which she considers to be the most beautiful place in the world. During this time she also lived for five years in Australia. Sally has always loved crime fiction books, films and TV programmes, and has a particular fascination with the psychology of serial killers.

Reviews

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Vigilante on The Loose*

This instalment sees DCI Whitney Walker back doing what she does best by getting into the thick of a case.

This time she is dealing with a male victim who suffered a gruesome death and is mutilated. This is shortly followed by another male victim with the same injuries as the first murder. As they dig into the history of the victims they all share the same thing in common. They have all been posing as younger men in order to groom girls on the web.

Whitney decides to use the services of forensic psychologist Dr. Georgina Cavendish (Aka George) to help with the case. I just love how they are getting to know each other despite a very prickly start in the previous book.

The motive is a tricky one and they have to be careful how they word it because they will be hard pressed to find anyone who is sympathetic to the crime, a vigilante is responsible. The murderer is hiding in plain sight.

Dark, pacy and thrilling to the end.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again DCI Whitney Walker and Forensic Psychologist Georgina Cavendish are re-united in the search for a serial killer.

This killer is taking down men who have been known to be attracted to young girls. especially following them on website, for young teens. These men pretend to be college students or other students ... not the 40-something men they actually are.

The bodies of the victims are found mutilated, no clues left behind. Walker and her team aren't even real sure of the motive until the killer sends a letter to a local news station. In the letter, the killer states that there are many more to follow ... if the law can't put them away, then the killer can.

This is a well-paced, action-filled, page turner. There are mixed feeling among the cops about this killer, and Walker does well in roping Cavendish in to help her determine who the vigilante is .. and who will be next.

The relationship between the two women has improved significantly since their first case together and I really enjoy how they interact with each other. Walker is still having problems with her supervisor who gives the impression that he doesn't much care for women on the job, Walker especially.

Second in the series, it stands easily as a stand alone, but I highly recommend starting with Book 1. Watching how the characters grow, change, and expand as they work hard to solve crimes is well worth reading.

Many thanks to the author / TBC Reviewer Request Group (FB) for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

FATAL JUSTICE (A Cavendish & Walker Novel) is the second standalone crime fiction/police procedural book in a new series featuring DCI Whitney and Forensic Psychologist, Dr. Georgina (George) Cavendish by author Sally Rigby.

Books in the Cavendish & Walker Series include:
Deadly Games (Book 1)
Fatal Justice (Book 2)

This is an outstanding crime fiction/police procedural book, and one of the best reads I have read this year! This novel, a child-grooming case, races along at an amazing speed, full of twists and turns, totally gripping the reader for the suspense ride from beginning to end. I kept flipping the pages as I had to know what had happened. I loved it!

A vigilante is on the loose, dishing out their kind of justice…

A string of mutilated bodies sees Detective Chief Inspector Whitney Walker back in action. But when she discovers the victims have all been grooming young girls, she fears a vigilante is on the loose.

Once again, she turns to forensic psychologist, Dr Georgina Cavendish, to unravel the cryptic clues. But will they be able to save the next victim from a gruesome death?

I am not going to say anymore as I don’t want to give the plot away, but this is a very riveting and powerful story. I loved it. All I can say is read this dark mystery novel with a twist… I don’t think you will be disappointed.


Fatal Justice is the second book in the Cavendish & Walker crime fiction series. If you like your mysteries dark, and with a twist, pick up a copy of Sally Rigby’s book today.

Many thanks to the author and the TBC Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my copy.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad story, but I had several problems with this book. To start with I don’t particularly like investigations where I have more sympathy with the perpetrator than the victim. Not that I approve of vigilantes, but it does take the edge of my interest.
The author starts the book with Whitney’s Mum showing signs of dementia, which was extremely worrying as she is the only carer for her brain-damaged brother. This wasn’t an issue, what happens was;

The author introduced this, but then ‘chickened out’. Unless you are rich, resolving this problem would be a nightmare for most families, to say nothing of the emotional upheaval of getting her Mum out of her own home. The whole thing was taken care of in days! Also the cost of her Mum’s care home would be more than Whitney’s full take home pay.


I’m still not totally convinced by the two main characters, but they are getting better. We get to see more of George in this book, but the relationship with Whitney still confuses me.
As for the investigation, this was going nowhere for most of the book and I thought the way it was finally solved was a bit simplistic and too easy.

[Mike Shackle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favourite series

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this story even better than the first one. I suppose because I've already "met" both Whitney and George and therefore know them a little better.
The crimes herein are pretty gruesome but then you're a little torn because the victims are creeps in the process of grooming young girls. So very little sympathy abounds which won't make the work of catching someone killing them very easy, as most of the general public are happy to see them cleared off their streets.
I'm so pleased these ladies are pals now, especially in light of their really quite fractious beginning in the last book. It seems to be growing into a really nice friendship. I look forward to maybe learning more about the other members of the team like Matt and Ellie in future instalments. There were some moments that really tickled me throughout, usually originating from Whitney. I hope she finally gets her radio tour in the next book, too.
This version isn't without errors but this time they were expected and I was pre-warned as it was an advance copy Sally sent me over. Therefore I've passed on mistakes I spotted straight across to her.
I'm definitely sticking with this series, I'm really liking it.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars
Good story line but couldn’t help feeling like sometimes Cavendish did the detective work far a lot than some coppers.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was delighted to get my hands on the next in the series.

When a number of mutilated men's bodies are found, all of whom are found to have been grooming young girls; Whitney Walker knows that Dr Georgina Cavendish is the person who may be able to unravel the clues as o the vigilante.

The first in the series dealt a lot with the conflict between the two characters. They are total opposites and seem destined to bump heads. After the last case they worked together they have grown to respect each other and their differentapproaches & backgrounds. I liked seeing how their frienship is developing and am already looking forward to their next case. Although this could be read as a standalone I think a reader will get more from the story if they read the books in order.

Thanks to TBC Reviewers Group for giving me the chance to read & review this book.

[Wilma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was better than the previous installment, but still not great imo.

First, the book could’ve been at least 100 pages shorter if you took out all the recounting of characters relaying info we already know to each other. If there is no new insight, we don’t really need to read how the same piece of information gets retold to different characters. This happens a lot. Too much. And every character does it.

Second, I really don’t care for Whitney. She is very envious and resents everyone who has higher education. Constantly jabs at people for having more education or money than her, George included. Her inferiority complex and jealousy glaringly shows.

These make reading this book alternatively boring and annoying. The plot and mystery were not enough to keep me on the edge of my seat and I struggled to finish and skimmed a ton.

[Liz Mc2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't love this series, but like the main characters enough to keep going, especially as most of it is free with my Audible membership. The murders were far-fetched, but I was interested in the vigilante group that was part of the investigation, and I thought the problems with what they were doing, despite the acknowledged shortcomings of the justice system, were dealt with in a pretty nuanced way, as such things go in crime fiction.

[Mahasweta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline is good. Interesting murder plot. And the perpetrator was a surprise.
However, the investigation seemed to lack depth and the way the murderer was caught was too easy and simple. I’d have liked it if the detectives followed clues and used their intelligence to catch the killer instead of doing stings.

[Tgordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was as good as the first as new friends from different worlds look to find a predator. This predator is actually a vigilante who is killing men who have used the internet to lure young girls. I had no real idea who the killer was until the end and even then I found part of me wishing they got away.

[Skyesmum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly hard hitting due to the nature of story.
I thought this was good and several times I gasped.
I don't agree with vigilantes but this story was written well from their prospective.

[Joanne Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really starting to love these characters. The subject matter in this book is not easy to read and there were points in time I found myself applauding the murderer.
Well written and paced this is a solid mystery with great characters.

[Debbie Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book. It is exciting! One that I didn't want to put down.

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read , looking forward to the next one

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Impossible to believe that the killer would be able to commit the mutilation and murder on their own.

[Catriona Kupper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read by Sally Rigby, not for those that have a delicate stomach but a very real scenario from all sides. Good to see the partnership settling in for the long haul

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

George and Whitney are kinda growing on me...

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in Sally Rigby’s Cavendish & Walker series. The series takes place in Lenchester, England, and follows local Detective Chief Inspector, Whitney Walker, as she investigates a series of local murders. In the first book, Deadly Games, she made the acquaintance of Dr. Georgina Cavendish, who is a professor of forensic psychology at the local university. Having experienced profiling in the theoretical sense up until now, Cavendish found herself eager to help the local police and test out the practical applications of her knowledge.

In Fatal Justice, a body is discovered where the victim was tortured and mutilated. The police investigate the victim, but are confounded by the nature of the crime. When a second body soon turns up in the same fashion, Walker is afraid they have a serial killer on the loose. She calls on Cavendish to help with the investigation. The quest for a common thread between the two victims reveals that both men were grooming young girls online. They believe they have a vigilante on their hands.

The problem here is that if the nature of why the victims were killed were revealed, they might be hard-pressed to find any help from the public. Who would feel sympathy for a pedophile who got what was coming to them? At the same time, they can’t have people taking the law into their own hands. It’s a delicate balance to work the case.

The friendship between Whitney and George is growing. Whitney, in particular, is starting to relax enough to tease George a little more. For George, this is something that will take a bit of getting used to. It seems like she’s not always adept at reading social cues. Could that be a hint for why she’s not had any close friendships? I’ll withhold judgment on that until further into the series. Whitney has convinced her superiors on the force as to the merits of having a forensic psychologist they can call on for help when they need it on the payroll.

To read my complete review, please go to Audiobook Review: Fatal Justice by Sally Rigby – Do All Victims Deserve Justice?

[Aloha4Ever · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Cavendish & Walker series about a chalk and cheese duo consisting of academic forensic psychologist Dr George Cavendish and gritty Detective Chief Inspector Whitney Walker. In Book 1 the two women met and grudgingly began a professional relationship with George trying to prove that her academic knowledge could be helpful in a police investigation, and Whitney trying to overcome her prejudices against what she saw as useless academia that had no place in the hands-on environment of a murder investigation.

In Book 2 the women have accepted their differences although are still not quite easy with each other. George now has a paid consulting role with the police which is causing tension among her academic colleagues at the university where she lectures. Whitney is now dealing simultaneously with trying to identify a serial vigilante murderer while trying to deal with her mother's escalating dementia. Whitney has recognised the value of George's contributions to her police investigations and is calling on George more and more, while overly-reserved George is trying valiantly to loosen up and be more friendly and approachable.

I enjoyed the first book and am happy to say I enjoyed this one even more. The plot was tight and the writing style drew me straight in. I'm enjoying the character development, not just of Whitney and George but of the police team and even Whitney's unpredictable and unlikable superior, Jamieson.

Looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Mike Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitney (DCI Whitney Walker) and George (Dr Georgina Cavendish, a doctor in forensic psychology) once again team up to catch a serial killer who is murdering and mutilating men. These victims are using a social media app to groom underage girls into being indiscreet with pictures and information about themselves. This makes the girls vulnerable to blackmail and thus being drawn ever deeper into these mens' clutches (pun intended).

Along the way George has to put up with an ongoing interview process for an Assistant Professorship position at the university where she works. This turns out to ultimately fail, and despite being initially disappointed about this, George reconciles herself to the fact acknowledging that had she succeeded she would probably would not have the time for the police work which she is enjoying so much. Whitney meanwhile has to negotiate accommodation for her Mother and brother, as both are at the stage of being unable to care for each other. Detective Superintendent Tom Jamieson, Whitney's superior officer who she thinks very little of, seems to suddenly have his own personal problems, thereby leaving her and George alone to set up the perfect sting operation to capture the murderer.

As always the story involve lots of red herring suspects leaving me wondering in the end who the actual killer was. Another great, interesting ans exciting police procedural story which I thoroughly enjoyed and can heartily recommend.

[Chris Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This being the follow up to Deadly Games in the Cavendish and Walker series it has to be very good to get near the heights of that book. Sally Rigby gives us just that with this excellent addition to the series. One thing to note straight away though is it’s not essential to have read Deadly Games to enjoy Fatal Justice. This book deals with some very unpleasant subjects as the story progresses, not least the brutal murders that lead our duo into the case in the first place. It can at times be a tough read featuring tough subject matter but it's another great story for Cavendish & Walker. The author doesn’t fall into the trap a lot of writers do when taking on such dark material and avoids making things gratuitous. There’s no graphic murder scenes but there are some less than pleasant moments when the dead are described. Nothing that ‘grown-ups’ shouldn’t be able to handle though. Sally Rigby develops the relationship between Dr George Cavendish and Detective Whitney Walker further in this book and it’s the heart of the book and series I think. This is a tense read that goes by very quickly once it gets it’s hooks into the reader. I don’t want to give away the story, and certainly not the ending, so I’ll say no more other than it’s as good as book one of the series and a fantastic read that I recommend.

[Beth White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gripping novel by Sally Rigby to add to the Cavendish and Walker series.

Once again we are brought along on the stories of DCI Whitney Walker and forensic psychologist George Cavendish as we explore more of their back stories and home lives alongside a new mystery for them to work through. I really appreciated the further character development for them both and helping us see behind their tough exteriors to their reasoning behind and relatable characteristics.

This crime mystery takes a sinister turn as we take a look into the world of child grooming and vigilantes. Sally does an excellent job of portraying a complex subject weighing in with both the detestation of the crimes and atrocities committed but also weighing this against it still being wrong to take the law into one’s own hands even if the perpetrators might deserve what they get. Interestingly this particular series follows the serial killing of a vigilante fighting against paedophiles rather than too much of a focus being on the child grooming itself.

I also highly appreciated the authors note on the narration from Sally Rigby explaining some of her motivation for writing this novel and the awareness raising of dangers for children on the internet.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow another great mystery,suspense with DSI Whitney Walker and Dr. Georgina Cavendish. This case is one that hits right on an important issue that is happening right now. It shows how pedophiles reach out to young people on the internet and are able to convince them to be friends. This of course is not their end game. Walker and Cavendish are turning into an awesome team even with such different personalities. It's fun to watch how these two ladies interact especially when you get pathologist Claire involved. The story moves along at a great rate you never know what is going to be discovered next or how Cavendish comes up with clues to figure out who is doing the killing. I also like getting the backstory of what is happening in both ladies lives. If you like crime mysteries that are dealing with issues pertinent now you will enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher but I was not asked for anything in return. This review is totally my own opinion.

[Monica Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woohoo, Whitney and George are back together and what a team they make! These two spent a bit of time circling each other in the last book, not really all that sure of each other, but in this book, they become closer (even though they still rib each other) and it is good to see.

Whitney has a lot to contend with, on a personal level, and George is struggling with some work issues so in a way, the series of murders that land on Whitney's doorstep are a good distraction. The case is a complex one and there are several likely places the murderer can come from, but in the end it comes down to a combination of teamwork, hard slog, great detective work and insights from George that solve the case.

I have to admit, I had a feeling I knew who the murderer was, early on, and I was right, but that doesn't detract from the fact that this was a really solid police procedural, well written and with plenty of great characterisations. Looking forward to reading the next one!

4.5 stars from me.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Chief Inspector Whitney had a lot on her plate and didn’t want to be gone from work too long. The social worker was coming and important to be at the house when she came. Her mother and Rob, though grown was like a child. Something had to be done for both of them, was there a perfect solution. When called to a scene of a dead man, naked, yet clothes beside neatly folded. More show up and now knows a connection to young girls. With a touch of romance, decisions personal, and at work. She has more than enough to keep her days full. For readers a plot that keeps us to the end to figure it all out. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really solid sequel to the first book - good pacing, easy to follow. Again, I listened as an audiobook, which this series seems particularly well designed for.

The two main characters (George & Whitney) really start to come into their own. Great to see a series really develop their characters and relationships, rather than using the characters as carbon copies for each book that never seem to really change.

While they could be read as standalone books, I think the real value is reading them as a series as there is character development - would definitely recommend starting at the beginning.

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book in the series, and just as good as first. A body is discovered mutilated, which is found to be that of a paedophile who has been preying on teenage girls through an online site!

Before they can catch the murderer the death toll starts to rise.

Great story, very topical. Good seeing the relationship between the two main characters developing.
The only thing I would have to say is that I would've used Ellie to do the online scamming, she had all the tools already and could have asked George for advice on the psychological side