She Treads Softly: The Marazion Murders

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

The Marazion Murders

The Marazion Murders by Sally Rigby
11/6/25; 269 pages
Storm Publishing
Cornwall Murder Mystery #6

The Marazion Murders by Sally Rigby is a highly recommended police procedural/cozy mystery and the sixth book in the Cornwall murder mystery series. It can be read as a standalone novel.

Opening with the story of Thea Drake, an actress whose career ended in 1969 due to drug and alcohol abuse, the narrative then jumps ahead to the present day when a retire actress is found dead at the Silver Fern Care Home/nursing home for retired entertainers. It is determined that Dawn Cross, 92, was poisoned via ethylene glycol in her chocolates. Detective Lauren Pengelly, DS Matt Price, and the team immediately start investigating. Why would someone target Dawn when, reportedly everyone liked her, but, apparently, back in the day she could be a diva. They are making progress in their investigation when another murder occurs.

It's always enjoyable when procedurals actually proceed logically and all the clues are followed. The narrative moves at a fast-pace as the investigation progresses quickly. This is not a complicated procedural, but it is entertaining and well plotted. The uncommon setting makes this almost a locked room mystery as the murderer would have to have access to the nursing home. It also serves to keep the list of suspects limited to some extent, but the identity of the perpetrator is still unpredictable.

Personally, I enjoy the characters in this series. The main characters are well known to those following this series, however, there is enough background information provided for new readers to easily follow along. They are all well-developed as unique individuals.

The Marazion Murders is a great choice for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries and police procedurals. Thanks to Storm Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.