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:

Brownsea Island — at a glance Key facts about Brownsea Island, a real location featured in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Name: Brownsea Island Type: Island nature reserve (real place) Real-world basis: Brownsea Island, a real National Trust island in Poole Harbour, Dorset, noted for its woodland, lagoon and rare red squirrels, and as the birthplace of the Scout movement Region: Poole Harbour, Dorset Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean Featured in: The Island Mur

DI Zoe Finch — at a glance Key facts about Detective Inspector Zoe Finch, the lead character of the Detective Zoe Finch series by Rachel McLean: Character: Detective Inspector Zoe Finch Series: Detective Zoe Finch (lead character) Role: Detective Inspector, West Midlands Police CID Based in: Birmingham, England From: Kings Norton, Birmingham First appears in: Deadly Origins (prequel) and Deadly Wishes (Book 1) Connected series: Cumbria Crime, Dorset Crime Author: Rachel McLea

West Midlands Police CID — at a glance Key facts about West Midlands Police CID in the Detective Zoe Finch series by Rachel McLean: Organisation: West Midlands Police CID (Force CID) Series: Detective Zoe Finch Based in: Birmingham, England Real-world basis: West Midlands Police, the territorial police force for the West Midlands Led by (in the series): Detective Inspector Zoe Finch Author: Rachel McLean Genre: British police procedural What is West Midlands Police CID in the

University of Birmingham — at a glance Key facts about University of Birmingham in the Detective Zoe Finch series by Rachel McLean: Location: University of Birmingham Series: Detective Zoe Finch Real-world basis: the University of Birmingham, the real university campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham City: Birmingham, England Appears in: In Deadly Reprisal (Book 5) Author: Rachel McLean Genre: British police procedural What is University of Birmingham in the Detective Zoe Finch seri

Lyme Regis — at a glance Key facts about Lyme Regis, a real location featured in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Name: Lyme Regis Type: Coastal town (real place) Real-world basis: Lyme Regis, a real harbour town on the Dorset–Devon border at the western end of the Jurassic Coast, famed for its fossils, the historic Cobb harbour wall and its association with the pioneering fossil hunter Mary Anning Region: Dorset–Devon border / Jurassic Coast Series: Dorset Crime and

DI Zoe Finch — at a glance Name: DI Zoe Finch Role: Detective Inspector Protagonist of: Detective Zoe Finch series by Rachel McLean Also appears in: Dorset Crime series; Cumbria Crime series First appears: ZF0.5 (Detective Zoe Finch prequel) Based in: Birmingham, West Midlands (ZF series) Physical: Tall, with red-brown hair often tied back Background: Single mother; practiced karate; grew up in Birmingham Connected to: DCI Lesley Clarke (former boss, Dorset Crime series) Auth

Detective Zoe Finch — at a glance Key facts about the Detective Zoe Finch series by Rachel McLean: Series: Detective Zoe Finch (the Zoe Finch series) 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 Number of books: Seven novels, plus a free prequel novella Start here: Deadly Wishes (Book 1) — or the free prequ

Cadbury World — at a glance Key facts about Cadbury World in the Detective Zoe Finch series by Rachel McLean: Location: Cadbury World Series: Detective Zoe Finch Real-world basis: Cadbury World, the real visitor attraction at the Cadbury chocolate factory in Bournville, Birmingham City: Birmingham, England Appears in: In Deadly Choices (Book 2) Author: Rachel McLean Genre: British police procedural What is Cadbury World in the Detective Zoe Finch series? Cadbury World is the

Tina Abbott — at a glance Name: Tina Abbott (also Tina Legg after marriage) Role: Police Constable → Detective Constable, Dorset Police 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 (DC0.5 through DC13) Based at: Dorset Police HQ, Winfrith, Dorset Background: Grew up in Lyme Regis; joins DCI Lesley Clarke's MCIT team from DC1 Physical: Slim, athletic; dark brown curly hair Marr

Poole Harbour — at a glance Key facts about Poole Harbour, a real location featured in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Name: Poole Harbour Type: Large natural harbour (real place) Real-world basis: Poole Harbour, a real natural harbour on the Dorset coast — one of the largest natural harbours in the world — lying between Sandbanks and Studland, with Brownsea Island at its centre Region: Poole, Dorset Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean Featured in: A recurring loc

Connie Williams — at a glance Key facts about DC Connie Williams in the Detective Zoe Finch series by Rachel McLean: Character: Detective Constable Connie Williams Series: Detective Zoe Finch Role: Detective Constable, West Midlands Police CID Based in: Birmingham, England First appears in: Deadly Wishes (Book 1) Author: Rachel McLean Genre: British police procedural Who is DC Connie Williams? Detective Constable Connie Williams is a junior detective on Zoe Finch's team in th

Adi Hanson — at a glance Key facts about Adi Hanson in the Detective Zoe Finch series by Rachel McLean: Character: Adi Hanson Series: Detective Zoe Finch Role: Forensic Scene Manager, West Midlands Police Based in: Birmingham, England First appears in: Deadly Origins (prequel) and Deadly Wishes (Book 1) Connected series: Dorset Crime Author: Rachel McLean Genre: British police procedural Who is Adi Hanson? Adi Hanson is the forensic scene manager who works with Zoe Finch's te

The Beach Hut Murders — at a glance Key facts about The Beach Hut Murders, Book 12 of the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Title: The Beach Hut Murders Series: Dorset Crime (Book 12) Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural crime fiction; detective fiction; murder mystery Setting: Mudeford Spit and Hengistbury Head, Dorset, England Protagonist: DCI Lesley Clarke, Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team Series position: Boo

The tides were perfect this time. Simon Miller smiled as he parked his car by the final gate before Grune Point. He’d driven through three of them already, carefully unlocking each padlock and securing them after passing through. The track ahead was too rocky for his Honda Jazz, and it was only a ten-minute walk along Skinburness Creek to reach the Point. At half past five in the morning, the tide was out, exposing plenty of sand and marsh for the birds. Dawn was still an hou

Dr Petra McBride sank into the armchair, her feet finally free from the torture of her usual four-inch heels. She massaged them and winced at the tender spots. At least the hotel robe was soft against her skin, a small comfort after a long and difficult day. She’d tried the hotel slippers, and they were like sandpaper. She glanced towards the bathroom. The tub was filling, steam escaping into the bedroom. A bath would help. She needed to unwind, clear her head. She yawned and