My thanks to Canelo for an ARC of this novel via NetGalley.

I found this police procedural/thriller a total page turner with plenty of surprises and a strong supporting cast of characters. It was interesting to have its protagonist, DI Thomas Ridpath, on assignment to the Coroner’s Office as it opened up a different type of investigation.

It certainly heralds a promising start for a new series. I certainly will be on the lookout for the next.

"We seek evidence, it's all that counts. The truth always lies. Only evidence is clear."

DI Tom Ridpath has been temporarily seconded to the coroner from Manchester Police. He's just returned to work after a 9 month absence for treatment of his myeloma. He's now in remission and has been cleared, but he has to smooth over relationships between the coroner's office and the constabulary before he can resume his previous position. His first assignment is to deal with the family of the murdered Alice Seagram. It seems they don't believe that the man who was found guilty and imprisoned for the crime, James Dalbey, was really the killer. It's been 10 years and an exhumation of the body is ordered. The problems begin when the coffin is unearthed and is found empty. And then, the body of a woman is found and the wounds are reminiscent of circumstances surrounding that of Alice Seagram. Ridpath, working with Coroner Margaret Challinor, and trying to liaise with the police, finds himself somewhat at odds in his new job and the nature of the investigation forces him to examine the very same case that put him on the fast-track to inspector years ago. NO SPOILERS.

This was a high-octane crime thriller that kept me guessing and completely engrossed until the very satisfying conclusion. I don't think I've ever read a book where the main character has this particular job title and I found it all very interesting. It's a great mix of police procedural and forensic investigation. I really liked the character of Tom Ridpath and it seems that, considering the last chapter, he may be continuing in that role for the next book -- I hope so, and I can't wait.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Publishing for the e-book ARC to read and review.

I received an advance copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Tom Ridpath is returning to work after an illness, but not everybody is welcoming him with open arms. He is sidelined into the coroners office where he faces a real challenge, getting to the bottom of a case which seems to have links to one from a number of years ago. This book was quite gruesome in places, so unless you’ve got a fairly strong stomach I’d proceed with caution. It is, however, a gripping read and one that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys crime fiction.

Hooked from the first page until the last. Described as unputdownable and I totally agree.
This first DI Ridpath thriller, has it all, mystery, intrigue, great characters and murder, everything I want in a crime thriller.
A well written and exciting page turner, I won’t give anything away, go read it for yourself.

This is the first in the DI Thomas Ridpath series and what a beginning it is!
Ridpath has been assigned to the coroners office following his return from sick leave. His first job is to attend the exhumation of a young woman whos murderer he was instrumental in catching 10 years ago..
Her family are convinced that the wrong man is in prison, and the man nicknamed "The Beast" by the press is still at large.
The coffin is empty!
Ridpath`s tasked with finding the missing body.
Old bodies go missing , new bodies turn up with MO`s bearing strong similarities to that of "The Beast".
Do they have a copycat or was the wrong man imprisoned 10 years ago?
An exciting read that had me gripped throughout.
I hope I don`t have to wait too long for the next in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the chance to read this as an ARC.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I was carried away with it A real page turner with some good insights into the working of a Coroners Office . There were a few pages of graphic detail of torture by the killer which I found a little hard to read but overall a superb book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys good crime fiction.

Is he innocent? Tom Ridpath had everything going for him but that all changed in an instant. He is in remission now and well enough to go back to the Police but they aren't so welcoming. His new job is work at the Coroner's office he isn't happy but if it is the only way to get back to his normal duties it will do for now. His new job isn't what he was expecting and his first case is to get answers about a crime committed over ten years ago. He knows the case as he brought down the killer but others are convinced that he is innocent. There is a problem as there is no body in the casket and the public are out for blood. Can Ridpath with the help of a young female officer find out the truth? A killer is on the loose and Ridpath realises that they knew caught the real killer? Can he find the body and caught the real killer before even more bodies are found? The case has taken a more serious turn as a police officer is taken and they don't know if they can them in time. Ridpath is battling his health things aren't great at home and he has to find the real killers, he is very determine to find out the truth. Will Ridpath be able to gather all the proof that he needs so that his boss can get justice for all the victims? Ridpath is a man that is very driven and he doesn't give up easily even when he was ill. Will he be able to fix his family now that he knows what is important? I really hope so. Can't wait to read what happens next seeing as someone wants revenge for the last ten years. Really enjoyable read. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley and the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

A new detective novel. I really enjoyed reading a new detective story. By author M J LEE
DI Thomas Ridpath is a breath of fresh air in Manchester CID unit and helped get of the worst several killer's of the streets.
Years later did he make a wrong decision?
With health issues that he has to deal with and a new job which he doesn't want,, can he help still catch a killer and save his colleague and his job?

Great read. Not my usual genre but I was gripped throughout. I will definitely look out for more from this author and will be recommending to others.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book....what a book

this author can write a brilliant murder mystery...

a convicted felon
a coroner court opening an old case
a detective inspector on remission for cancer assigned to the coroners court to oversea this cold case,but where is the body...

a fast paced thriller with many red herrings, couldnt put the book down...cant wait for the next in this series...

my first book by this author and it wont be the last

Had me hooked from the first page. Well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Real page turner

This grabbed my attention in the first chapter and didn’t let it go. Ridpath is a great character even though he had me shouting at my kindle. I liked the way the old and new cases were linked. A few surprises along the way and a great set up at the end for a follow on book. What more could you ask for? Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher, Canelo, for the ARC
This was a really good, thrilling, read. There are well-written brief passages describing the torturous activities of a serial killer - sufficient for the reader to be able to identify which body is which once they are found later in the story, as I found timelines difficult to get my head around at first. From Ridpath's dramatic arrest of, and subsequent conviction of a serial killer, as a young PC, the story jumps really to the beginning - ten years later. I found that 'gap' a little disconcerting as the connecting threads only slowly emerged through the 'present' story. Was there an innocent man locked up?
The plot lines merged slowly through office politics, Ridpath's illness and, in particular, his working relationship with the Coroner Margaret Challiner. The writing flowed, kept a steady pace, but was interjected with moments of frenetic activity which then dispersed into inspirational detective-work.
Personally, my mind was conjuring-up several different scenarios involving cover-ups - especially when investigative/ administrative paperwork goes missing, but I really didn't see 'The Twist In The Tale'.
There are two main sub-stories - Ridpath's marriage, and then........well, you need to read the ending for that!
Thank you M J Lee. I'd like to read more of Ridpath and possibly, if you take that path, of his working with the Coroner.
Very Enjoyable!

DI Ridpath is back from long-term sick leave, and finds himself on a temporary assignment as a coroner's officer.

Ten years ago, he put away the Beast Of Manchester. But now more bodies with similar injuries appear. And when the Beast's last victim's body is exhumed and the coffin is empty, an new investigation begins. As well as the missing body, records are missing. There is definitely some sort of inside assistance to the killer....

A true cat and mouse tale about “The Beast”, a serial killer who was locked up 10 years ago for a series of murders, but was the right man convicted? Very well written book that had me gripped from the first chapter through to the last. Can’t wait to be able to read the next instalment if he DI Ridpath series!

I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the last page. Gripped throughout. Never guessed the ending which is a great plus point. Look forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

This book was a little like the curate's egg, what was good was very good but there was something familiar about the main premise of the serial killer and his reasoning but not his identity, which was a surprise even though, with hindsight, the clues were there. That said the book was a first class read, and take away the aforementioned familiarity and it works on all levels.

Tom Ridpath' s reason for being out of the loop due to ill health was original and either very well researched or experienced first hand. The feelings of both Ridpath and those around him were detailed and emotive but didn't overwhelm any part of the rest of the storyline.

The details of the crimes pulled no punches and if you are a fan of quiet, cosy crime this may not be for you. These details however, didn't feel gratuitous but did show how ruthless, manipulative and obviously deranged the killer was. In some ways the denouement was the quietest part of the story but it had to be in order for it to work. The drama and excitement had already occurred and again worked very well.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this novel thanks to Netgalley and at first was going to award it 3 stars. As I began thinking about this review however, I started to realise that although I had felt a sense of deja vu  on one part the rest of the story was original and very well written. The politics of the workplace was laid bare and appeared up to date with the problems local and regional police forces face on a daily basis.

I would recommend this book and look forward to a sequel.

It's a well thought out book with plenty of action and a certain amount of horror.
However, I could not warm to the central figure, Tom Ridpath, who on return from a serious illness finds his detective's job demoted to being a Coroner's assistant. He is involved in office politics but also in healthissues which impinge on his private life.
There seemed to be little humour or lightness in the story and I have to admit that I struggled to get involved.
Thanks to Net Galley for a review copy.

The first in a series l hope of very successful police crime drama set in Manchester like the coroner slant read the book over the course of two days and did not loose interest once

The ‘blurb’ says nail-biting and it’s nit wrong! Great book, riveting from the first chapter to the last.