The Fossil Beach Murders — at a glance Key facts about The Fossil Beach Murders, Book 6 of the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Title: The Fossil Beach Murders Series: Dorset Crime (Book 6) Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural crime fiction; detective fiction; murder mystery Setting: the Jurassic Coast near Lyme Regis, Dorset, England Protagonist: DCI Lesley Clarke, Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team Series positi

PC Douglas Anderson was having a bad day. He’d been woken at 4am by his daughter Poppy, and despite Naomi getting up and sending him back to bed, he hadn’t found sleep afterwards. At 6:30 when he’d eventually given up, he’d discovered that the boiler was on the blink and there was no hot water for a shower. And now, despite the skies being clear when he left home, raindrops the size of gumdrops were splattering his police uniform. Douglas yawned and tried to shake himself out

The Millionaire Murders — at a glance Key facts about The Millionaire Murders, Book 5 of the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Title: The Millionaire Murders Series: Dorset Crime (Book 5) Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural crime fiction; detective fiction; murder mystery Setting: Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset, England Protagonist: DCI Lesley Clarke, Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team Series position: Book 5 of the Dor

Ines Perez opened the front door to the house, her senses on fire. Her boyfriend Vali was behind her, holding her hand. He tugged at it as she stepped over the threshold. “Are you sure this is OK?” he said. “She’s definitely gone for the weekend?” Ines turned and gave him the most reassuring smile she could muster, despite her own nerves. “It’s fine,” she whispered. “She’s at her chalet in Verbier, the house is empty.” His eyes brightened. She could sense the excitement strea

The Monument Murders — at a glance Key facts about The Monument Murders, Book 4 of the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Title: The Monument Murders Series: Dorset Crime (Book 4) Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural crime fiction; detective fiction; murder mystery Setting: Swanage, Dorset, England Protagonist: DCI Lesley Clarke, Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team Series position: Book 4 of the Dorset Crime series F

Shane Gisborne’s mum had told him that coming down here before the castle opened was trespassing. But Shane didn’t care, he’d done it often enough. There was a spot down by the Globe he liked. Tucked in behind it, looking out to sea but nestled in the shelter of the massive concrete sphere. It was a good spot to squirrel yourself away and hide. To smoke weed. On Saturday he’d brought Lorelei, who he very much hoped was going to be his new girlfriend. Today, he wasn’t with Lor

Frankie knocked on the door of the low-roofed cottage and pulled her arms around herself, wishing she’d brought a jacket. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to see a rabbit disappearing around the side of the building. She smiled. Rabbits got the visitors excited, but they were as common as rats on Brownsea Island. Red squirrels: now they were more of a rarity. The visitors came here every day, seeking them out, marvelling over their rareness. What th

The Island Murders — at a glance Key facts about The Island Murders, Book 3 of the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Title: The Island Murders Series: Dorset Crime (Book 3) Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural crime fiction; detective fiction; murder mystery Setting: Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Dorset, England Protagonist: DCI Lesley Clarke, Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team Series position: Book 3 of the Dors

The Clifftop Murders — at a glance Key facts about The Clifftop Murders, Book 2 of the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Title: The Clifftop Murders Series: Dorset Crime (Book 2) Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural crime fiction; detective fiction; murder mystery Setting: The Dorset coast, England Protagonist: DCI Lesley Clarke, Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team Series position: Book 2 of the Dorset Crime series

Ameena Khan parked on a narrow lane in the quiet village of Studland and stared out into the darkness. It wasn’t quite dawn, the last of the streetlights not yet extinguished. She yawned and heaved herself out of the car, then went to the boot and took out her camera bag and a thick, waterproof jacket. She raised her fingers to feel the damp air. Last night’s forecast had said it would be sunny later, perfect conditions for what she was planning. She slammed the boot shut, sh

The Corfe Castle Murders — at a glance Key facts about The Corfe Castle Murders, Book 1 of the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean: Title: The Corfe Castle Murders Series: Dorset Crime (Book 1) Author: Rachel McLean Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing Genre: British police procedural crime fiction; detective fiction; murder mystery Setting: Corfe Castle, in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England Protagonist: DCI Lesley Clarke, newly transferred from Birmingham (West Midlands Police)

Laila stopped halfway up the stairs, her senses pricking. There was someone in her room. She could hear drawers being pulled out, doors being opened. Footsteps; no matter how hard the intruder tried to be stealthy, this was an old, creaky house. Was Archie back? No. Archie wasn’t coming back till Monday. He had a meeting in London, something to do with securing extra funding for the dig. Now they’d uncovered evidence of 12th century occupation, they were all hopeful. Holding

The house was a burglar’s dream. Nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac, with an alleyway on one side and a high wall on the other, it had no houses overlooking it. The front garden was shielded by a high hedge, with access to the garden down both sides of the house. Sure, one side had a gate but that was secured with nothing more than a slide bolt. “Amateurs,” he muttered as he strolled along the road towards it, hands in pockets, rucksack shifting as he walked. He’d been keepin

Deadly Fallout — at a glance Key facts about Deadly Fallout by Rachel McLean: Title: Deadly Fallout Series: Detective Zoe Finch, Book 6 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: Detective Zoe Finch — Book 6 First published: 28 April 2021 If you enjoy: LJ Ross, Simon McCleave, Val McDermi

“Not that one.” Kayla felt her chest tighten as her friend Lin raised a hand to knock on the door. Lin turned to her, eyes flashing into the camera lens. “Yeah. Let’s leave that one. For now.” She smiled, injecting a note of breeziness into her voice and lifting her chin for the most flattering angle. “We’ll start at the far end of the corridor and work our way along.” Kayla let out a short breath, glancing back at the door as they headed towards the other end of the corridor

Deadly Reprisal — at a glance Key facts about Deadly Reprisal by Rachel McLean: Title: Deadly Reprisal Series: Detective Zoe Finch, Book 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: Detective Zoe Finch — Book 5 First published: 28 February 2021 If you enjoy: LJ Ross, Simon McCleave, Val M

Sameena Khan hated shopping. Even more, she hated shopping for shoes with her fifteen-year-old daughter Jamila. For what seemed like the hundredth time in the last hour, Jamila picked up a pair of unsuitable shoes and shoved them in her mum’s direction, eyebrows raised. Sameena shook her head. “You know the answer.” “But Sarah’s got these.” Sameena eyed the shoes. Black patent – at least the colour was sensible – with a tiny pink bow on the back – not in the uniform guidance

Deadly Terror — at a glance Key facts about Deadly Terror by Rachel McLean: Title: Deadly Terror Series: Detective Zoe Finch, Book 4 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: Detective Zoe Finch — Book 4 First published: 31 December 2020 If you enjoy: LJ Ross, Simon McCleave, Val McDermi

Amit Hussain stepped down from the bus and yawned. He had to be up early for work tomorrow and was looking forward to his bed. He watched the bus pull away, lights receding into the December night, and brought his rucksack down from his shoulders. The three others who’d got off at his stop hurried away, no doubt eager to be out of the cold. There was a thick hedge behind this stop, separating the road from a patch of scrubland the council never seemed to clean up. Amit knew w

Deadly Desires — at a glance Key facts about Deadly Desires by Rachel McLean: Title: Deadly Desires Series: Detective Zoe Finch, Book 3 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: Detective Zoe Finch — Book 3 First published: 12 November 2020 If you enjoy: LJ Ross, Simon McCleave, Val McDe