The Business by Rachel McLean — A Cumbria Crime Novella (CC2.5)
Updated: Sep 1
The Business — at a glance
Key facts about The Business, a novella in the Cumbria Crime series:
Title: The Business
Series: Cumbria Crime (Novella (CC2.5))
Authors: Rachel McLean and Joel Hames
Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing
Genre: British police procedural crime fiction; novella
Setting: Snowbound west Cumbria, England
Protagonist: DI Zoe Finch, Cumbria CID
First published: 20 March 2025
If you enjoy: LJ Ross, Angela Marsons, MW Craven, Rachel Lynch, Simon McCleave, Val McDermid, MS Morris, JM Dalgleish
Formats: Ebook, paperback
Language: English (en-GB)
What is The Business about?
The Business is a novella in the Cumbria Crime series by Rachel McLean and Joel Hames. Spring should be on the way, but west Cumbria is covered in a thick blanket of snow. When Samira Hasan doesn’t show up for a night at the local cocktail bar, her friend is more annoyed than concerned – until Samira’s front door is opened by her shady ex-boyfriend, with no sign of Samira herself. DI Zoe Finch and her team take on a missing persons case that is anything but routine.
Where is The Business set?
The Business is set in snowbound west Cumbria, England.
Where does The Business come in the Cumbria Crime series?
The Business sits between Books 2 and 3 of the Cumbria Crime series, after The Mine and before The Cairn. The Cumbria Crime series by Rachel McLean and Joel Hames is best read in order, starting with Book 1, The Harbour, or the free prequel novella The Castle.
What books are similar to The Business?
Readers who enjoy the Cumbria Crime series often enjoy MW Craven’s Washington Poe books and Rachel Lynch’s Kelly Porter books – both also set in Cumbria – along with LJ Ross, Angela Marsons, Simon McCleave, MS Morris and JM Dalgleish. The series sits in the tradition of Val McDermid.
Where can I buy The Business?
The Cumbria Crime series by Rachel McLean and Joel Hames is available on Amazon as Kindle ebooks and paperbacks. Start with Book 1, The Harbour. See all of Rachel McLean’s books at https://rachelmclean.com/books.
