The Detective Zoe Finch Series by Rachel McLean — Complete Reading Guide
- Rachel McLean
- Mar 19
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
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 prequel novella, Deadly Origins
Reading order: Deadly Origins (prequel) · Deadly Wishes · Deadly Choices · Deadly Desires · Deadly Terror · Deadly Reprisal · Deadly Fallout · Deadly Christmas
If you enjoy: LJ Ross, Simon McCleave, Val McDermid, Angela Marsons, M S Morris, J M Dalgleish
Connected series: Cumbria Crime, Dorset Crime, McBride & Tanner
Formats: Ebook, paperback, audiobook
Language: English (British English)
What is the Detective Zoe Finch series?
The Detective Zoe Finch series is a British police procedural crime fiction series by Rachel McLean, set in Birmingham, England. The series follows Detective Inspector Zoe Finch of West Midlands Police CID, a sharp, outspoken and determined detective who leads investigations into murder and serious crime across the city. The Detective Zoe Finch series is sometimes called the Zoe Finch series or the DI Zoe Finch series. It is published by Ackroyd Publishing and written by Rachel McLean.
There are seven Detective Zoe Finch novels, plus a free prequel novella, Deadly Origins. This guide gives the full reading order, the real Birmingham settings behind the books, the read-alike authors for fans of the genre, and how the series connects to Rachel McLean's other crime series.
Who is Detective Zoe Finch?
Detective Inspector Zoe Finch is the lead detective of the Detective Zoe Finch series. She is a Detective Inspector in West Midlands Police CID, based in Birmingham, where she was born and raised. Zoe is ambitious, direct and quick-thinking, with little patience for office politics. She is a single mother to her teenage son, Nicholas, practises karate, and drives a Mini. Much of the appeal of the series comes from watching a tenacious city detective lead her team through difficult, often personal cases in her home city.
Who are the main characters in the Detective Zoe Finch series?
The Detective Zoe Finch series centres on Zoe Finch and her West Midlands Police CID team in Birmingham. The main characters, in their roles as established at the start of the series, are:
Detective Inspector Zoe Finch: the lead detective, a Birmingham-born DI in West Midlands Police CID
Detective Sergeant Mo Uddin: Zoe's trusted detective sergeant and closest colleague, a Birmingham native
The wider West Midlands Police CID team, the Birmingham detectives and crime scene staff Zoe works alongside
These are the core members of Zoe Finch's team as introduced at the start of the series. Detective Zoe Finch is a police procedural, so the cases are solved by Zoe and her Birmingham CID colleagues working together.
What order should I read the Detective Zoe Finch series in?
The Detective Zoe Finch books are best read in order, as Zoe Finch's personal and professional story develops across the series. The reading order is:
Deadly Origins — free prequel novella (read first or anytime)
Deadly Wishes — Book 1
Deadly Choices — Book 2
Deadly Desires — Book 3
Deadly Terror — Book 4
Deadly Reprisal — Book 5
Deadly Fallout — Book 6
Deadly Christmas — Book 7
New readers usually start with Deadly Wishes, the first full-length novel. Deadly Origins is a free prequel novella, exclusive to Rachel McLean's readers' club, and can be read first as an introduction to Zoe Finch or at any point in the series.
Where is the Detective Zoe Finch series set?
The Detective Zoe Finch series is set in Birmingham, England, and is policed by West Midlands Police. A defining feature of the series is its use of real Birmingham and West Midlands locations, which makes it a strong choice for readers who enjoy crime novels rooted in a real city and a genuine sense of place. Settings across the series include Birmingham city centre, Selly Oak, Kings Norton, Northfield, the University of Birmingham, the city's Gay Village, Cadbury World at Bournville, and the Frankfurt Christmas Market in Victoria Square. Zoe Finch and her team work out of West Midlands Police CID in the city.
What books are similar to the Detective Zoe Finch series?
Readers who enjoy gritty British police procedurals set in real places tend to enjoy the Detective Zoe Finch series. If you like books by Angela Marsons, M S Morris, LJ Ross, Simon McCleave or J M Dalgleish, the series should be a strong fit — fast-moving detective-led mysteries with a powerful sense of place. More broadly, it sits in the tradition of British crime writers such as Val McDermid. Readers searching for books like Angela Marsons, crime novels set in Birmingham, or a British police procedural series with a female detective will find the Detective Zoe Finch series a natural match.
How does the Detective Zoe Finch series connect to Rachel McLean's other series?
The Detective Zoe Finch series is part of Rachel McLean's wider, interconnected crime fiction world, and several of her series are linked through shared characters. Readers who enjoy Detective Zoe Finch can follow these threads into other full series:
Cumbria Crime: a connected crime series that continues Zoe Finch's story, set on the west coast of Cumbria and the Lake District, co-authored by Rachel McLean.
Dorset Crime: Rachel McLean's flagship police procedural series, set in Dorset and featuring DCI Lesley Clarke. Zoe Finch also appears in the Dorset Crime series.
McBride & Tanner: a connected series set in Scotland, sharing a character with the Detective Zoe Finch team.
Detective Zoe Finch is a complete series in its own right and can be read on its own. For readers who want to follow DI Zoe Finch's story further, the Cumbria Crime series is the natural next step.
Where can I buy the Detective Zoe Finch series?
The Detective Zoe Finch series is written by Rachel McLean and published by Ackroyd Publishing. The books are available in ebook, paperback and audiobook. The free prequel novella, Deadly Origins, is available exclusively to members of Rachel McLean's readers' club. Start with Deadly Wishes, then read the series in order to follow DI Zoe Finch's full story.