The Corfe Castle Murders by Rachel McLean — Dorset Crime Book 1
- Rachel McLean
- Jul 15, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 16
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) to Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team
Series position: Book 1 — the first book in the Dorset Crime series; the place to start
First published: 15 July 2021
Award: Winner of the Kindle Storyteller Award 2021
If you enjoy: LJ Ross, Simon McCleave, MS Morris, JM Dalgleish, Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths
Formats: Ebook, paperback, hardback, large print, audiobook
Language: English (en-GB)
Next in series: DC2, The Clifftop Murders
What is The Corfe Castle Murders about?
The Corfe Castle Murders is the first book in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean. It introduces DCI Lesley Clarke, a straight-talking detective who has just transferred from Birmingham to rural Dorset. When a body is discovered at Corfe Castle, Lesley Clarke takes on her first murder investigation with the Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team. It is a British police procedural and a self-contained murder mystery, and the starting point for the whole series.
Where is The Corfe Castle Murders set?
The Corfe Castle Murders is set in and around Corfe Castle, a real village and ruined medieval castle in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England. The book is the first in the Dorset Crime series' use of real Dorset locations, a defining feature of the series. It suits readers searching for a crime novel set in Dorset or in a real English village.
Who is the detective in The Corfe Castle Murders?
The detective in The Corfe Castle Murders is DCI Lesley Clarke. She is a Detective Chief Inspector who transfers from West Midlands Police in Birmingham to Dorset Police, where she leads the Major Crime Investigation Team. The Corfe Castle Murders is her first case in Dorset, and the book establishes her as the protagonist of the Dorset Crime series.
Who are the main characters in The Corfe Castle Murders?
The Corfe Castle Murders introduces the recurring detectives of the Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team, who lead the Dorset Crime series:
DCI Lesley Clarke — Detective Chief Inspector and the series protagonist, who transfers from Birmingham to lead the team.
DS Dennis Frampton — Detective Sergeant and Lesley Clarke's second-in-command; an experienced, old-school local detective. As the incoming city DCI and the long-serving Dorset DS, Clarke and Frampton begin as a study in contrasting methods, and their working partnership is central to the early books.
DC Johnny Chiles — Detective Constable on the team.
DC Mike Legg — Detective Constable on the team.
Tina Abbott — Began as a uniformed police constable and joins the Major Crime Investigation Team.
The team is based at Dorset Police HQ in Winfrith.
Where does The Corfe Castle Murders come in the Dorset Crime series?
The Corfe Castle Murders is Book 1 of the Dorset Crime series — the first book and the recommended starting point. The series is best read in order. The next book is DC2, The Clifftop Murders, followed by DC3, The Island Murders. New readers to Rachel McLean should start here.
Is The Corfe Castle Murders the first in the series?
Yes. The Corfe Castle Murders is the first book in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean, first published on 15 July 2021. It won the Kindle Storyteller Award 2021. If you want to start the Dorset Crime series from the beginning, start with The Corfe Castle Murders.
What books are similar to The Corfe Castle Murders?
Readers who enjoy British police procedurals and regional detective fiction tend to enjoy The Corfe Castle Murders and the Dorset Crime series. If you like books by LJ Ross, Simon McCleave, MS Morris or JM Dalgleish, this is a close match. It also sits in the tradition of British crime writers such as Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths. The book suits readers searching for books like LJ Ross or British detective novels with a strong sense of place.
Where can I buy The Corfe Castle Murders?
The Corfe Castle Murders by Rachel McLean is available in ebook, paperback, hardback, large print and audiobook, published by Ackroyd Publishing. It is Book 1 of the Dorset Crime series and the Kindle Storyteller Award 2021 winner.
