Lethal Secret is the fourth book in Sally Rigby’s Cavendish & Walker series. This series follows the two lead characters: DCI Whitney Walker is a single mom of a daughter in college, trying to balance life and all it brings, and Dr. Georgina Cavendish is a forensic psychologist and professor at a local university who has spent most of her life as an academic but has recently been joining Whitney on some investigations to see the practical use of all she has studied.

There has been a spate of suicides in Lenchester. DCI Walker isn’t one to look for trouble, but it has her concerned when there’s a pattern of behavior among all of the victims. All seemed to have some interaction with a Wellness Centre in the nearby country. She asks Georgina to help with the psychological profiles of the victims, and the two end up investigating the centre, which operates more like a cult. Georgina goes undercover on a weekend retreat where, despite all of her academic training, she begins to get roped in.

Lethal Secret isn’t particularly deep, but it shows that no matter how intelligent you are, it’s easy to fall into the trappings of a cult situation. Both Whitney and Georgina think they are above falling victim to the psychological conditioning that draws a person into a cult, and they learn that’s not the case. Even as the book indicates Georgina is aware of the situation and feels cautious, she falls into the trap. She doesn’t want to walk away as they are trying to figure out who is behind the murders, very well disguised as suicides.

There are breaks from the investigation as the women navigate their personal lives and commiserate. Whitney is still dealing with a bit of a guilty conscience for having put her mother in a care home and her disabled brother in a group home. It’s a better situation for both of them, but she’s still struggling with it. Georgina is just back from a trip with her new boyfriend, who is someone her family looks down on. The two struggle with these changes in their lives while at the same time cementing their friendship. I enjoyed that the two were getting a bit more relaxed with each other, and there was more cautious bantering between the two.

I’ve said it with every book I’ve read by Rigby that her style is not for everyone. Her writing is very factual. The usual mantra is “show, don’t tell,” but Rigby’s style is to tell. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I’ve come to like it. I wasn’t sure that I would when I first started reading her books, but the difference works fine. I’m not sure I would like to read every book in the style of Rigby’s writing, but it makes her books very distinctive and memorable.

The audiobook is read by Clare Corbett, her usual narrator. She does a great job with the characters and doesn’t go overboard trying to differentiate them. I have gained insight into the characters through her narration.

The mystery wasn’t that hard to figure out in Lethal Secret. My enjoyment comes from the characters, and I like following their growth throughout the series. Both women are strong and independent, making them great role models, while at the same time not being superwomen. Still, Rigby paces the book well and keeps me interested in what is going to happen. These feel like real people experiencing life as it comes and building each other up.

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