Tyneham — Dorset Crime Series Location Guide

Tyneham — at a glance

Key facts about Tyneham, a real location featured in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean:

• Name: Tyneham

• Type: Abandoned WWII 'ghost village' (real place)

• Real-world basis: Tyneham, a real abandoned village in the Purbeck district of Dorset, evacuated in December 1943 for D-Day training and never re-inhabited; now open to the public on weekends and school holidays as part of the Lulworth Ranges

• Region: Purbeck, Dorset

• Series: Dorset Crime by Rachel McLean

• Featured in: The Ghost Village Murders (Book 9)

• Genre: British police procedural / crime fiction

Where is Tyneham?

Tyneham is a real abandoned village in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England, set in a valley near the coast within the Lulworth military firing ranges. In the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean it is the setting for The Ghost Village Murders, the ninth novel.

Is Tyneham a real place?

Yes. Tyneham is a genuine Dorset 'ghost village'. Its residents were evacuated in December 1943 so the army could use the area for D-Day training, and they were never allowed to return. The empty cottages, church and school still stand, and the village opens to visitors on weekends and during school holidays.

What is Tyneham in the Dorset Crime series?

Tyneham is the eerie setting at the heart of The Ghost Village Murders. Rachel McLean uses the real abandoned village — its ruined houses and its position inside live MOD ranges — as the atmospheric backdrop for DCI Lesley Clarke's investigation.

Which Dorset Crime books feature Tyneham?

Tyneham is the central setting of The Ghost Village Murders, Book 9 in the Dorset Crime series.