I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read this book, after thoroughly enjoying the first in the series.
DI Ridpath is a complex character, with health problems, who is torn between his family and his work. This book sees him working between the Coroners Office and the Major Incident Team of the Greater Manchester Police. It's a fast moving story with plenty of twists and turns and a big twist to finish.
The characters are all very believable in this very well written book. I shall look forward to the next in the series.

I really enjoyed the second instalment of the adventures of DI Ridpath. Although this could be read as a stand-alone book, I would recommend reading the first book so that you understand the characters, especially Ridpath.
This was an exciting story with a few twists and unexpected turns. Starting with Ridpath minding his own business, driving to see his daughter, when he nearly runs into a man on the motorway... to the end result which I will leave the reader to find out. In between those two times, the story unfolds and Ridpath works between the police and the coroner’s office to discover what is really going on.
Fast paced and interesting, it was hard to put down. Highly recommended.

Where the Dead Fall by M J Lee is a detective murder mystery. The main character is DI Ridpath who is a MIT detective seconded to the Coroner’s Office as he recovers from serious illness. It’s well written and the plot involves various gangland characters based in Manchester. It’s fast paced and was concluded well..

I particularly liked the main character’s unease in his new role, not sure whether his loyalties lay with his old team or new. The situation created an element of vulnerability in the detective which we seldom see in such a novel.

This book is set in Manchester UK - a grim town as I recall (always raining) and according to Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett in their novel Good Omens, it was created by the demon Crowley as part of his work towards sending humans to Hell [not to mention his slight adjustment of the M25..].
This novel does not encourage you to think that it might be a nice place to visit and be a tourist. It talks about crime families - 4 in Manchester - having ‘carved up’ the town into 4 quarters each holding their own with no inter-gang warfare, but each specialising in drugs, or prostitution, or... but not really guns until this story starts.
I found it a useful introduction to the work of a Coroner’s Office which I had not known - I always assumed that it was part of the offices that dealt with the post-mortem - no doubt confused by TV stories. But here we find out that they stand for the victim and attempt to discover just what happened to them and how the death was investigated, if necessary.
The story makes grim reading as we have a series of deaths and a very ill policeman working for the Coroner’s Office who is charged with assuring the Coroner of her facts as she holds her Inquest into their deaths.
But still compelling and whilst I had guessed some of it, I had not guessed all of the back story which ended up with these particular deaths.

Thank You to Net Galley and Canelo for allowing me to reveiw this book.

Tom Ridpath is back in this second novel about life as a policeman in Greater Manchester. Although the crime scenario is new the backstory of his troubles with family life and continued treatment at Christie's Hospital for cancer continues to provide an interesting story. It also gives informative insights into the work that goes on in he Coroners office and the important role that is played there.
Especially interesting to read a book set around Manchester and its Motorway system as I come from that area and recognised many of the places described and used in the story.

Another excellent thriller from M J Lee and I hope that there are more to come so that we can continue to follow the characters in these novels

Fast-paced, believable, complex characters, an authentic, recognisable setting and a likeable detective; four of the reasons, the DI Ridpath series is a favourite of mine.

Ridpath is a conflicted man, driven by his role in the Murder Investigation Team (MIT), he neglects his wife and daughter who he loves dearly, the situation implodes when he becomes dangerously ill. In remission and reassigned, he finds his detective skills are in constant demand, and maybe he can rebuild his family life too, as a policeman attached to the Coroner's office.

The first chapter of this second story in the series is adrenaline-fueled and suspenseful, the writing is full of visual imagery, and it's easy to imagine what's happening. It would make a great TV series.

The plot is layered, with new surprises and dramatic irony, where the reader learns information that the main protagonist doesn't know.

Ridpath's work life balance is a constant source of conflict as he tries to rebuild both his career and his family life, this doesn't impair his detection skill, which is insightful and tenacious.

This is an intelligent thriller, not relying on graphic images to draw the reader in. You turn the pages because you want to know if he will outsmart the criminals, his doubting colleagues and still manage to salvage his personal life.

I can't wait for the next one.

I received a copy of this book from Canelo via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

DI Tom Ridpath is back in this second thriller but don’t worry if you’ve not read the first as this book stands alone very well. Still in remission from his myeloma but not very careful about looking after himself, Tom is still ‘not quite accepted’ back in his former full-time DI role on the Major Investigation Team (MIT) and remains seconded to the coroner’s office, but this gives an opportunity for the author to explore the role of the coroner and it’s really interesting to see how this crosses over with police work.

Still trying to work out troubles within his family, Tom is driving to meet them one day when a man wearing only boxer shorts runs out ahead of him on a motorway. While he just manages to avoid hitting him, the terrified-looking man runs on, only to be hit by another vehicle. Tom is convinced he saw a man with a gun by the side of the road, chasing after the fleeing man, but no-one else saw a gunman, it was not picked up on CCTV, and Tom – already unpopular for stopping the traffic on football night and causing a tailback – is not readily believed by the MIT. Once again sidelined, and not convinced that this death is the beginning of a new gang war as all his colleagues suspect, we follow Tom’s efforts to find out the truth behind what he knows he saw, not quite believing in the favoured story of gang warfare.

An excellent thriller with good characters and suspense. A little gory in places, and, like the previous book, perhaps a little more than I personally feel necessary, but if you can grit your teeth through that you will thoroughly enjoy this suspenseful thriller.

I liked this book a lot. It is a very satisfying police thriller with lots of action and a likeable main character in Ridpath. The plot unfolds at a good pace and is complicated wnough to be interesting but not so convoluted that you get lost. Recommended.

Quite complex to begin with, a lot of characters, but, unravelled really well with an unexpected outcome.

I had not read the first book in this series but it did not make any difference. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, although it is a light read. It was a little stereotypical in places with the depiction of old fashioned coppers vs new breed of women officers but this did not detract from the enjoyment of the book. I enjoyed learning about Ridley, a well developed character . I felt the story was well crafted with enough twists and turns to hold interest throughout. I shall probably look to read the first book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for a honest unbiased review.
Going to keep it short.
Absolutely love this category of books and having read the first one, was looking forward to this one.
It didn't disappoint.
Great read and here's to the next one from M J Lee.

The second DI Michael Ridpath book, and it's as good as the first.Ridpath is still seconded to the Coroner's Office but on his way home from a training course he becomes involved in an incident that he won't accept is an accident. He sees links where others overlook them and doggedly pursues the case. Add into the mix new boss Claire Trent and matters are complicated as we learn of their previous involvement. It doesn't help that she clashes with DCI Charlie Whitworth, who is still staring over his role in the Beast From Manchester case. Plenty of excitement, detective work and all in all a really good read. I'm already looking forward to the next one and hoping that Michael is well health wise. I'm hurting for the decision he has to make with his selfish wife, Polly. #netgalley #wherethedeadfall

I hadn’t read the first in this series but that wasn’t a problem. The back story was skilfully woven in. The story starts with a bang and moves along at a cracking pace. Ridpath is obviously an intelligent character who has been seconded to the coroners office from the major incident team. It gives good insight into the process of crime investigation and the judicial system. It is a bit scary to think that there are still stereotypical policemen out there, scoffing pies! A good read .

D I Ridpath is a detective trying to get his life back, as he has been suffering from cancer and is currently in remissions and is also separated from his wife and daughter. While travelling to see his daughter he witnesses an accident, where a desperate unclothed young man runs out on the motorway, Ridpath does manage to stop but as he follows the man's eyes he sees a hooded figure aiming a gun at this man ready to shoot, this poor chap has no alternative but to flee further on to the motorway and is run over by an artic lorry. Ridpath at this stage goes into cop mode and declares it a crime scene which put him at loggerheads this the traffic police. As Ridpath. gives his version at what happened nobody else on the motorway saw this hooded figure, so is Ridpath on powerful drugs because that's what his higher up's think, and because he is returning back to work he is demoted to the coroners office but on D I's salary, and because no one is taking that much notice of him he decides to investigate further himself which puts him at loggerheads with the MIT team. Then there is a missing person who turns up dead, and could be the start of a turf war, can Ridpath get to the bottom of this, Ridpath is a tenacious cop and his brilliant mind always working overtime. This is a good read held your interest till the end. Have not read the other book from this author but this can certainly be read as a standalone. Good strong characters well written will go back and read the first M J Lee

I really enjoyed this book. This is the second book in the series and it was great to meet back up with the characters from the first book. DI Ridpath is such a likeable character and I look forward to reading more in this series. M J Lee has an easy writing style and the story flows effortlessly and really draws you in. Love that this series is set in my hometown Manchester.

A dark crime drama. Detective Inspector Ridpath, on secondment to the Coroners Office, is driving along the M60 when a naked man runs in front of his car, before being hit by a lorry. Ridpath is the only witness to see the armed man at the side of the road and the incident is put down to an accident. Until, that is, the victim is identified as the son of the leader of one of Manchester’s big gangs. When another body is found, also the son of a different gang leader, Manchester police realise that they need to act fast to prevent a major gang war.

This was an interesting enough story, without setting the world alight. Ridpath was a suitably troubled character, recovering from cancer, being estranged from his wife and daughter, and struggling with his superiors at work, but at times the action felt forced.

A shorter book than some I have read and it helped me while away a couple of hours without taxing my brain too much.

A slightly slow start, but it then hit the ground running and did not stop. A twisted thriller with a totally unexpected turn at the end that totally surprised me.

A great read.

Wasn't sure for the first few pages if i was going to like this book but then I got hooked. It had good strong characters and was well constructed. Ridpath the main police character had been seconded to the coroner's office as he had been undergoing treatment for cancer but having been witness to a fatality which he was sure was not an accident he was drawn into investigating it. He is also living apart from his wife and daughter and missing them terribly so he is trying to adjust his work/family balance. i did not guess the ending at all. I would read other books by this author.

I stayed up last night until 4.37am to finish this book. So spoiler alert - this book may interfere with your sleep patterns. But it’s worth it! A well plotted, well written book - as you would expect from this great writer. I particularly liked the characterisation and the empathy shown to the main protagonists. This is like a real life story which makes this book so readable and leaves me wanting more. Hurry up and write more please - I’m off to bed now to catch up on my lost sleep

I was looking forward to reading this following my enjoyment of the debut DI Ridpath novel. I was not disappointed; this was another well plotted and paced crime novel.

D.I. Ridpath is in remission from his cancer and is still on secondment to the Coroner's office; the bulk of the story is told via his eyes and perspective. We do have chapters from the killer's point of view and more focus on DCI Charlie Whitworth's voice in this novel and it all works well.
The plot spirals from a violent death on the motorway, witnessed by Ridpath and evolves into gang wars, as the police attempt to discover the truth behind the events. Ridpath finds himself apart from the rest of the teams, but his persistence in his beliefs finally pays off in a tense but satisfying conclusion.
This is an intelligently written, believable crime novel, and despite having a strong idea of the killer quite early on, I enjoyed this read very much.

Overall, a gripping, expertly paced crime novel with enough twists to challenge and thoroughly absorb the reader.

Many thanks for the review copy Canelo & Netgalley.








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This is also an underscore in the narrative as he investigates the latest incident, one is found himself dramatically engaged in. This one begins with an horrific accident on the motorway which draws Ridpath