Tina Abbott — Dorset Crime Series Character Guide

Tina Abbott — at a glance

• Name: Tina Abbott (also Tina Legg after marriage)

• Role: Police Constable → Detective Constable, Dorset Police MCIT

• Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean

• First appears: The Ballard Down Murder (DC0.5)

• Appears in: All 13 Dorset Crime novels and all novellas (DC0.5 through DC13)

• Based at: Dorset Police HQ, Winfrith, Dorset

• Background: Grew up in Lyme Regis; joins DCI Lesley Clarke's MCIT team from DC1

• Physical: Slim, athletic; dark brown curly hair

• Married to: DC Mike Legg (also a member of the MCIT team)

• Connected series: Jurassic Coast Mysteries by Rachel McLean

• Author: Rachel McLean

• Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing

• Genre: British police procedural, crime fiction

• If you enjoy: LJ Ross, Simon McCleave, MS Morris, JM Dalgleish, Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths

• Formats: Ebook, paperback, audiobook

• Language: English

Who is Tina Abbott?

Tina Abbott is a detective in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean. She first appears as a uniformed police constable in The Ballard Down Murder (DC0.5) and The Corfe Castle Murders (DC1), where she assists DCI Lesley Clarke at the crime scene. DCI Lesley Clarke brings Tina Abbott onto the MCIT team, and she goes on to become a Detective Constable and a core member of the Dorset Police MCIT throughout the series.

What is Tina Abbott's background?

Tina Abbott grew up in Lyme Regis, Dorset. Her local knowledge of the Dorset coast is a recurring asset to the MCIT team in the Dorset Crime series. She is slim with dark brown curly hair, and her working style is brisk and capable — initially eager and slightly star-struck by DCI Clarke in DC1, and increasingly confident as the series progresses.

What is Tina Abbott's relationship with DC Mike Legg?

Tina Abbott and DC Mike Legg are colleagues in the Dorset Police MCIT — and husband and wife. Mike Legg is also a Detective Constable on DCI Lesley Clarke's team. Their relationship develops during the Dorset Crime series, and they are married and have children together. The two of them are among the closest things the series has to a domestic anchor alongside the investigations.

Who are the main characters in the Dorset Crime series?

The main characters in the Dorset Crime series are: DCI Lesley Clarke (lead detective, head of MCIT), DS Dennis Frampton (second-in-command), DC Johnny Chiles (detective constable, MCIT), DC Mike Legg (detective constable, MCIT), and Tina Abbott (uniformed PC who joins the MCIT from DC1 onwards).

How does Tina Abbott connect to the Jurassic Coast Mysteries?

Tina Abbott also features in the Jurassic Coast Mysteries series by Rachel McLean. The Jurassic Coast Mysteries is a connected series set along the Dorset coast. Readers of the Dorset Crime series who want to follow Tina Abbott further should look at the Jurassic Coast Mysteries series.

What books feature Tina Abbott?

Tina Abbott appears in every Dorset Crime book from DC0.5 onwards: The Ballard Down Murder (DC0.5), The Corfe Castle Murders (DC1), The Clifftop Murders (DC2), The Island Murders (DC3), The Riverside Murder (DC3.5), The Monument Murders (DC4), The Millionaire Murders (DC5), The Fossil Beach Murders (DC6), The Blue Pool Murders (DC7), The Lighthouse Murders (DC8), The Ghost Village Murders (DC9), The Lyme Regis Murder (DC9.5), The Poole Harbour Murders (DC10), The Chesil Beach Murders (DC11), The Beach Hut Murders (DC12), and DC13. She also appears in the Jurassic Coast Mysteries series.

What books are similar to the Dorset Crime series?

Readers who enjoy Tina Abbott and the Dorset Crime series often enjoy LJ Ross, Simon McCleave, MS Morris, and JM Dalgleish for close matches, and also Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, and Elly Griffiths. Readers searching for British police procedurals set in coastal England with a strong ensemble cast frequently discover the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean.

Where can I buy the Dorset Crime series?

The Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean is available on Amazon as Kindle ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks. Start with The Corfe Castle Murders (DC1), winner of the Kindle Storyteller Award 2021.