The Gold Hill Murders — at a glance Title: The Gold Hill Murders Series: Dorset Crime, Book 13 Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural, crime fiction Setting: Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset Protagonist: DCI Lesley Clarke, Dorset Police MCIT Series position: Book 13 of 13 (to date) Previous book: The Beach Hut Murders (DC12) First published: 17 September 2026 If you enjoy: LJ Ross, Simon McCleave, MS Morris, JM Dalgleish, Val McDerm

“There’s no way we’re going down there,” Dani said as the fire engine sped past the top of Gold Hill. It had taken them less than a minute to get to Shaftesbury High Street on the eastern side of town, plus another five minutes to get their gear on and climb onto the appliance, which was how they referred to the shiny three-year-old Volvo FL that had got them here. Phil shook his head. “Why the hell does the system keep telling us to go down that way? It’s cobbled, for God’s

“Mademoiselle!” The young waitress stopped and turned, gripping a tray of champagne flutes. Henri de Saint-Clair, France’s greatest living novelist, reached out and took a glass. “Merci,” he said with a nod, before turning to his companion. “She must have walked right past me at least seven times.” “Then she cannot have recognised you,” Michel said. “Despite that thing around your neck.” Henri frowned, adjusting his cravat. “It’s my signature look.” “And it’s one you haven’t

Trevor felt the steering wheel shift under his hand as he rounded the traffic island. In the back seat, his four-year-old grandson looked up from his book. Trevor smiled into the rear view mirror. “Sorry, kiddo. Just a bump in the road.” Harry yawned and went back to his book. The Gruffalo. The boy took it everywhere with him. Trevor sailed past his exit – the A452, heading towards the M6 and a day out in Stratford – and took the island one more time. Harry was only four. He

It was going to be a hot morning, Guy thought. But not for a few hours. In the meantime, the only way he was getting any warmth into his body would be by moving it. Fast. The sun wasn’t visible yet, but the sky was beginning to lighten as the ruins of Egremont Castle came into view. The hill rose before him as he peeled off the main road and onto the path. Last week he’d slowed down here, afraid his legs wouldn’t take it. When he’d told his daughter, she’d smiled at him: a pa

Of the many calls Dorset Police received each year from members of the public who’d found a ‘dead body’, very few turned out to be actual dead bodies. Most were plastic bags or old boots floating in a secluded pool. Some were scarecrows that had fallen from their perches. Last year, there had been a fly-tipper, still at large, who’d dumped at least twelve clothes shop mannequins in hedges and ditches along the A35 between Bridport and Axminster, prompting a flurry of 999 call

Ella Hanley took a sip from her drink, then checked her watch again. Samira, you’re forty minutes late. They’d arranged to meet at the Bees Knees for a few cheeky cocktails. Just a few: it was a work night, and however undemanding their jobs, they’d have to be there in the morning if they wanted to keep them. But a few wouldn’t hurt, and this place was fast becoming their favourite hangout. Ella slid the slice of passion fruit to the side with her little finger and took anoth

Swanage — at a glance Key facts about Swanage, a real location featured in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Name: Swanage Type: Seaside town (real place) Real-world basis: Swanage, a real coastal town at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, with a sandy bay, Victorian pier and steam railway Region: Isle of Purbeck, Dorset Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean Featured in: A recurring location across the series Genre: British police procedural / crime fic

Jude Bristow stood back from the pile of rubble obscuring the usually beautiful sea view and placed his palms on the small of his back. He leaned back as far as his balance would allow, stretching out his grumbling back muscles. “Jesus Christ,” he said. “I thought this was going to be easier.” Damian grunted. Jude’s mate was a man of few words, most of them not fit for public consumption. “Bastard thing,” he muttered. Jude nodded. “It is that. Did you have any idea so much of

DCI Lesley Clarke — at a glance Name: DCI Lesley Clarke Role: Detective Chief Inspector, Dorset Police Major Crimes Investigation Team (MCIT) Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean First appears: The Ballard Down Murder (DC0.5) Appears in: All 13 Dorset Crime novels and all novellas Based at: Dorset Police HQ, Winfrith, Dorset Background: Transferred to Dorset from West Midlands Police Physical: Short, with short blonde hair; direct and no-nonsense manner Connected series: Det

Corfe Castle — at a glance Key facts about Corfe Castle, a real location featured in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Name: Corfe Castle Type: Village and ruined medieval castle (real place) Real-world basis: Corfe Castle, a real village and National Trust castle ruin in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England Region: Isle of Purbeck, Dorset Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean Featured in: The Corfe Castle Murders (Book 1); returns later in the series Genre: British p

Dorset Police HQ, Winfrith — at a glance Location: Winfrith, Dorset, England Real-world basis: Dorset Police HQ, Winfrith Technology Centre, Dorset Also known as: Winfrith, HQ, headquarters Role in series: Base of operations for the Dorset Police MCIT in the Dorset Crime series Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean Appears in: All 13 Dorset Crime novels and all novellas (DC0.5 through DC13) Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural,

Deadly Origins — at a glance Key facts about Deadly Origins by Rachel McLean: Title: Deadly Origins Series: Detective Zoe Finch (prequel novella, ZF0.5) Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural and crime fiction Setting: Birmingham, England (West Midlands) Protagonist: Detective Inspector Zoe Finch, West Midlands Police CID Series position: Prequel novella (before Book 1) First published: Prequel novella — free to members of Rachel

Tyneham — at a glance Key facts about Tyneham, a real location featured in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Name: Tyneham Type: Abandoned WWII 'ghost village' (real place) Real-world basis: Tyneham, a real abandoned village in the Purbeck district of Dorset, evacuated in December 1943 for D-Day training and never re-inhabited; now open to the public on weekends and school holidays as part of the Lulworth Ranges Region: Purbeck, Dorset Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel M

DS Dennis Frampton — at a glance Name: DS Dennis Frampton Role: Detective Sergeant, Dorset Police Major Crimes Investigation Team (MCIT) Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean First appears: The Ballard Down Murder (DC0.5) Appears in: DC0.5 through DC13 (all mainline Dorset Crime novels) Second-in-command to: DCI Lesley Clarke Based at: Dorset Police HQ, Winfrith, Dorset Background: Long-serving Dorset detective; grew up in Dorset Physical: Stocky build; short greying brown ha

Frankfurt Christmas Market — at a glance Key facts about Frankfurt Christmas Market in the Detective Zoe Finch series by Rachel McLean: Location: Frankfurt Christmas Market Series: Detective Zoe Finch Real-world basis: the Frankfurt Christmas Market, the real German-style market held each year in Victoria Square and New Street, Birmingham City: Birmingham, England Appears in: In Deadly Christmas (Book 7) Author: Rachel McLean Genre: British police procedural What is Frankfurt

Sandbanks — at a glance Key facts about Sandbanks, a real location featured in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Name: Sandbanks Type: Coastal peninsula / wealthy suburb (real place) Real-world basis: Sandbanks, a real peninsula suburb of Poole in Dorset, famous for its sandy beaches and some of the most expensive residential real estate in the United Kingdom Region: Poole, Dorset Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean Featured in: A recurring backdrop across the serie

Mo Uddin — at a glance Key facts about DS Mo Uddin in the Detective Zoe Finch series by Rachel McLean: Character: Detective Sergeant Mo Uddin Series: Detective Zoe Finch Role: Detective Sergeant, West Midlands Police CID Based in: Birmingham, England First appears in: Deadly Origins (prequel) and Deadly Wishes (Book 1) Connected series: McBride & Tanner Author: Rachel McLean Genre: British police procedural Who is DS Mo Uddin? Detective Sergeant Mo Uddin is a lead member of Z

Dorset Crime — at a glance Key facts about the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Series: Dorset Crime Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural crime fiction; detective fiction; murder mystery Setting: Dorset, England — the south-west coast, including Corfe Castle, Swanage, Poole Harbour, Sandbanks, Lyme Regis, the Jurassic Coast, Chesil Beach and Tyneham Protagonist: DCI Lesley Clarke, a Detective Chief Inspector who transfers f

Chesil Beach — at a glance Key facts about Chesil Beach, a real location featured in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Name: Chesil Beach Type: Shingle barrier beach (real place) Real-world basis: Chesil Beach, a real 18-mile shingle barrier beach on the Dorset coast, part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, separated from the mainland by the tidal lagoon known as The Fleet Region: Dorset coast / Jurassic Coast Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean Featured in: