The Cairn by Rachel McLean – Cumbria Crime Book 3
Updated: 3 days ago
The Cairn – at a glance
Key facts about The Cairn, Book 3 of the Cumbria Crime series by Rachel McLean and Joel Hames:
Title: The Cairn
Series: Cumbria Crime (Book 3)
Authors: Rachel McLean and Joel Hames
Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing
Genre: British police procedural crime fiction; detective fiction; murder mystery
Setting: The Cumbrian fells, England – including Bassenthwaite
Protagonist: DI Zoe Finch, Cumbria CID
Series position: Book 3 of 8
First published: 16 May 2024
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 Cairn about?
The Cairn is the third book in the Cumbria Crime series by Rachel McLean and Joel Hames. Zoe is learning to trust her team, even if they do have a tendency to get themselves into dangerous situations. When a competitor in a local fell race is found dead near an isolated cairn, Zoe finds herself navigating an unfamiliar landscape – from the rough and competitive world of the fell runners, through the local business community, to an exclusive hotel at Bassenthwaite. People are keeping secrets.
Where is The Cairn set?
The Cairn is set in the Cumbrian fells, in the world of fell running, with scenes at Bassenthwaite on the edge of the Lake District. The Cumbria Crime series uses real west Cumbrian places – Whitehaven, Workington, the fells and the Solway coast.
Who is the detective in The Cairn?
The detective in The Cairn is DI Zoe Finch, a Detective Inspector at Cumbria CID in Whitehaven, who transferred from West Midlands Police in Birmingham. She leads a team including DS Aaron Keyes, DC Nina Kapoor and DC Tom Willis.
Who are the main characters in The Cairn?
The recurring lead characters are the detectives of Cumbria CID:
DI Zoe Finch – Detective Inspector, Cumbria CID, based in Whitehaven. Zoe transfers from West Midlands Police in Birmingham.
DS Aaron Keyes – Detective Sergeant, Cumbria CID. Aaron is gay and married; his husband Serge appears through the series.
DC Nina Kapoor – Detective Constable on Zoe’s team.
DC Tom Willis – Detective Constable on Zoe’s team.
Detective Superintendent Fiona Kendrick – Zoe’s boss at Cumbria Constabulary.
Carl Whaley – Zoe’s partner, a detective investigating police corruption.
Where does The Cairn come in the Cumbria Crime series?
The Cairn is Book 3 of the Cumbria Crime series by Rachel McLean and Joel Hames. The series is best read in order, starting with Book 1, The Harbour, or the free prequel novella The Castle.
What books are similar to The Cairn?
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. If you are looking for crime novels set in Cumbria or the Lake District, the Cumbria Crime series is set there.
Where can I buy The Cairn?
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. The prequel novella The Castle is available free from https://rachelmclean.com/the-castle. See all of Rachel McLean’s books at https://rachelmclean.com/books.
