Where the Truth Lies

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Whilst basically a detective thriller, Lee makes this more interesting by forcing Ridpath, the lead character, into a different role. This ensures the reader can follow the plot and acquire the necessary clues, but from a different viewpoint.
The accounts of the torture of the victims are quite harrowing and not for the faint-hearted and the relief we feel towards the end is only to be short-lived, but tends to make this more realistic.
Of course, alongside the struggles at work, the main character suffers problems with his home life and personal relationship. But, once again, Lee manages to put a slightly different angle on this.
Whilst a conflict of opinions between Ridpath and his superiors allows for more tension and frustration I sometimes felt this was a little overplayed and it began to annoy me . However, this was not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of There The Truth Lies, the first novel to feature DI Tom Ridpath of Greater Manchester.

When Ridpath returns to work after a nine month battle with cancer he is seconded to the Coroner’s Office rather than returning to MIT as he’d hoped. The Coroner’s Office is not the oasis of calm and regular hours he had anticipated because the High Court has reopened Ridpath’s first case, the one that made his name, and it’s not looking good. At the same time his old team are hunting another serial killer whose methodology is similar to the original case in some eyes but not all.

I thoroughly enjoyed Where The Truth Lies which is an absorbing read with plenty of twists and turns, some shocking and all unexpected. There is nothing better than an unpredictable read where, reeling from one twist, you are hit with another and this one really hits that mark. Having read the Inspector Danilov series I already knew that Mr Lee knows how to tell a good tale but with this one set in the present day I feel that it has a stronger impact. The novel is mostly told from Ridpath and his “side”’s point of view but there are forays into the perpetrators’ (both past and present) points of view. Interestingly I didn’t find this switching about as distracting as I often do as it raises more questions than it provides answers or advance information. The basis premise of the novel doesn’t really offer anything fresh to the genre but its execution and plot detail make it a good, compelling read. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what was coming next.

I liked the description of the internal police politics where strength and success are all that matters. It makes them appear very hard nosed and unlikeable, not the touchy feeling approach they like to tell us they have. I guess the truth lies somewhere in between. I found myself uncomfortable with some of their attitudes (like bullying and misogyny) which would be unacceptable in most workplaces but they have the ring of authenticity in such a results driven environment.

I’m sitting on the fence about Ridpath (he doesn’t like Tom or any variation of it). He’s recovering from cancer and knows that his wife isn’t happy about his work/life balance but still pursues his investigation relentlessly. It seems selfish and probably physically impossible (returning to work after a long layoff is exhausting) but there would be no novel if he behaved too realistically. On the other hand he’s smart, dedicated and no pushover. I think he’ll grow on me as the series progresses.

Where The Truth Lies is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

What an amazing story - couldn’t put it down and wouldn’t let anyone speak to me for the last half hour. Can’t praise it enough

Loved this - a slow burn at first as characters had to be established but the plot was great, characters believable, the reveal well crafted (I had arrived at the culprit a tad earlier) and I hope that more of the series will follow - it's certainly well placed for at least one further instalment.

Really unusual for me to read a book from the coroners side, but I really enjoyed it and look forward to how this series goes. I could not stop reading it and that to me is a sign of a good book.

This is a gripping and well planned story. The secondment if the detective Ridpath to the coroner's office gives an unusual slant to what is a clever mix of a cold case and contemporary murders. It is hard to put down! Then there is the unexpected ending after most readers will have decided who is the perpetrator. I recommend this unreservedly.

Exciting thriller around a serial killer investigation with Manchester as the setting. Unusually the main character is a Detective Inspector seconded to the coroner on a short term basis after recovering from cancer. A seemingly solved 10 year old case is the start and the central storyline throughout but with more brutal killings happening doubt arises and this is all cleverly explored. The lead characters home life is sewn cleverly into the narrative all building to a good believable climax. The chilling final chapter hints at more thrills to come!

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.

An interesting read. Not the usual police procedural. Inspector Ridpath, following 9 month's off duty for cancer treatment, returns to work to find himself moved sideways to become the Coroner's Officer. His first job is an exhumation, which leads into the story. It's full of twists and turns, good policing and bad.

An enjoyable read. I look forward to more books about Inspector Ridpath.

I really enjoyed this crime novel, it was well paced and kept me reading. I particularly enjoyed the character development which was subtle but always there and as the story gathered pace I found myself identifying easily with the different personalities involved. Even the lesser characters, who were perhaps only in the story for a short time, were brought colourfully to life. It was a good story, with lots of different avenues to get you thinking and I would definitely read another.

Thank you NetGalley for an early read of this new crime novel.
It is nice to be in at the beginning of what I hope is a new series of crime novels set in the UK. The central character Ridpath is vulnerable and conveys all the emotions we all can recognise - vulnerability, loss of confidence, despondency, de-motivation etc, he is great and entirely believable.
I totally enjoyed this book and assumed that Ridpath's return to work after sick leave meant that there had been previous novels - I was disappointed that there weren't, at this time, more for me to delve back in to to catch up.
Readers will not be disappointed .......More Ridpath please !

A new voice in crime fiction. DI Ridpath is back at work after a long period of sick leave but instead of going back to his old team he is seconded to the coroners office for 3 months. His first job is to sepervise the exhumation of a young woman but when they open the coffin it is empty. Ridpath is tasked with discovering what happened to the body but soon becomes embroiled in finding.a serial killer.

Hugely enjoyable, if a little gruesome in places, this book will have you hooked from the very beginning.

I really enjoyed this police procedural, it has a very human protagonist who is on secondment from the police to the Coroners Office. Very tightly plotted serial killer novel with a twist. All of the characters are very believable and Manchester is shown in all of its seedy glory. I look forward to the next book.

Ridpath's fallibility as our main character is appealing in this crime procedural. The cross-over of police and coroner's office added a dimension of research and thus more thought required from the reader: a good thing, really.

The tale bubbled along nicely, the coup de grace in the coroner's court a neat knot around the case.
Just a touch of annoyance in the last paragraph...but in this world of series, I suppose it is inevitable.

Well wow and wow again what an absolutely fantastic book this is !!!! From page one it grabbed my attention and just never let go and talk about a heart pounding finish, this really had it all.
The storyline was exciting, thrilling and just choc full of interesting information about the coroner’s office which I didn’t know and gave the book real depth. I loved Ridpath he is a wonderful character and really look forward to the next book in this new series as I think he will become a firm favourite of mine with his dry sense of humour and sense of duty so if you want a damn good read well just read this you won’t be disappointed it’s wonderful, my thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for a chance to read the ARC.

DI Thomas Ridpath is returning to work after cancer treatment, but finds that he has been seconded to the Coroner's Office for 3 months. Initially unhappy about this, Ridpath finds that his first investigation leads back to a serial killer case where the perpetrator had been jailed for the past ten years. Or has he?

I thought this was a great first book of a new series. Ridpath was a character that it was easy to feel empathy for. He had some foibles but wasn't a stereotype. The case itself was very well written, if a bit gruesome at times, and I had narrowed it down to 2 people by about halfway through. Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes crime fiction and I will be checking out any future sequels.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Canelo, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

A clever debut novel with intriguing characters and a twisted plot, told from a different angle to many current crime series but I wouldn't agree with the cover headline of Most Gripping Crime Novel of the year.
The conclusion is perfectly written as a teaser for the next instalment which I'm already looking forward to reading.

Really good read. Grittty and full of suspense the whole way through. This is a great start to a series. This is a really clever plot which shocks right up to the end. I would definitely recommend this book and I will be looking out for the next in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Excellent book with a great storyline. Characters that are so well written. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

Excellent, this book had me on the edge of my seat from page one right through to the very end. It began with return to work after nine months of sick leave for DI Ridpath and instead of returning to the frontline he is sent to work in the Coroners Office. During his first couple of days of working for the Coroner he is asked to attend the graveside for an exhumation order of a young woman who was murdered by the Beast of Manchester, when the coffin is checked it is found to be empty except for three breeze blocks. This all coincides with the disappearance of several prostitutes and the bodies of some of them are found mutilated. DI Ridpath is forced to investigate the crimes alone as the police think they already have one in prison and another perpetrator dead.

I was very eager and excited to start reading this book, after I had read the blurb.

The story flows beautifully and is full of intense moments that make you so eager to continue on. The characters are well written and engaging.

I really could not recommend this book more to anyone,.

This is an interestng take on the police procedural. D I Ridpath returns from illness to be seconded to the post of coroners officer - slightly unlikely for a D.I. but never mind. A serial killer he helped to put away some years past is proclaiming his innocence and a new series of deaths of young women starts. The events of the plot are well constructed, plausible and keep you following the action. When Ridpath solves the case his old colleagues in the C.I.D. are not best pleased and my guess is he'll be doomed to stay in the coroners office (and entertain us) for some time.

Tom Ridpath is just returning to work after a major illness and an old case comes to the fore, as people are dying but the perpetrator was caught and is in prison. This proves difficult for Tom as he’s seconded to the coroners office for three months and he has to try and get to the truth. In the meantime more bodies are accumulating and no-one is any the wiser. There is no forensic evidence. Then the worst happens, one of the detectives gets kidnapped, and the chase is on to find them before it’s too late.
Wow! What a cracking read. As a Manc, I was delighted to read this book as all the places were familiar to me.

It was an absolutely brilliant read 5**** my thanks to Canelo Publishers, Netgalley and the author for the ARC. I would add that Canelo are one of the few publishers who offer syncing between iPhone and iPad. Makes such a difference to the ARC, otherwise I’m flitting backwards and forwards to find my place.

Where the Truth Lies is the first book in the DI Ridpath series and I loved it and him ! Set in Manchester Ridpath is seconded to work in the Coroners Office after a nine month battle with cancer but he is still a DI and being a Police Officer is in his DNA .The story is fast paced and very interesting ,giving an insight into the workings of the Coroners Office .I loved Ridpath ,he is a great character and I found the book very hard top put down (just one more chapter!) Fabulous plot which left us hanging at the end really looking forward to reading the next book in the series as it promises to be brilliant .Many thanks to the Publisher ,The Author ,and NetGalley for my preview copy in return for an honest reply

A likeable new lead character - a policeman with a conscience. The angle of having Ridpath seconded to the Coroner's Office is a new slant. I thought this was an excellent read - right up until it was revealed I had not worked out who was behind these dreadful crimes. From the blurb I knew a police officer became involved, it had to be Sarah, but I had no idea what would happen from that point on. Really scary stuff, a whole new slant on kidnap/torture/murder. Ridpath's illness and his personal life make it (I hope) inevitable that there are more books. I hope this becomes a new series - I will be looking out for more.

Thank you so much to Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Where The Truth Lies’ by M J Lee in exchange for my honest and unbiased review..

After returning to the force after a series illness, Tom Ridpath is seconded, to his chagrin, to The Coroner's office. He becomes embroiled in a case where a question mark hangs over a man he himself arrested for murder and who was subsequently jailed for life. However, when the bodies of women, more often than not, sex workers, the MOD seems very similar to the one he remembers from ten years previously. Did he and the force get it wrong ten years before? And if so, who is the killer? The ending quietly roars, and although I had my suspicions, I wasn't absolutely sure how things would be tied up. I really enjoy novels about police procedures with lots of twists and turns for me to get my head around. M J lee's D I Ridpath novel gave me that and more. It gripped me from the beginning and can only hope the author will add to the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this AC of this publication in return for an unbiased honest opinion.
Very easy yet entertaining read featuring a police officer retruning to work after cancer treatment and sent to work for the Coroners Dept. The body count starts to mount up, the main issue being the manner of death features the method of a killer currently serving a prison sentence for a murder ten years ago.
Very much look forward to reading the next installment from M J Lee.

This is such a great book. What a thriller of a story. Got me hooked, engagaed and kept me wanting more. Thank you to both NetGalley and Canelo for giving me the opportunity to read Where the truth lies in exchange for my honest unbiased review

The story starts in 2008 in Manchester, PC Tom Ridpath is out with Sgt Mungoven they chase a white van, stop it and whilst Ridpath stays in the patrol car Sargent Mungoven goes to talk to the driver who attacks the Sargent then bolts. Ridpath chases him to a garage, where they fight until Ridpath manages to arrest him. Had they arrested the serial killer they had all been looking for? We then go to present day, unfortunately Ridpath has been on medical leave as he has been treated for cancer he is now in remission and ready to return to the force. He returns and thankfully has retained his position as Detective Inspector but has been appointed Coroner’s officer for three months this is to ease him back into the job. The first case he has to investigate as Coroner’s officer is the body of a murdered woman found on a towpath. She has been tortured similarly to the bodies of The Beast the serial killer Ridpath arrested. Then a body of another girl is exhumed, on orders from the Coroner, the coffin is empty. It is up to Ridpath to look into this on behalf of the coroner. The story gets more complicated with the disappearance of Sarah Castle, an officer on the case. I really enjoyed this book a no nonsense police thriller.

What a great book this was!
DI Ridpath returns from a long illness and is seconded to the coroners office, much to his dislike.
He’s soon embroiled in a case that he thought he’d resolved 10 years earlier and the results could cause real problems within his old department.
A really intriguing story, showing the links (or secrets in this case) between the coronor’s office and the police.
Really enjoyed this and loved the way it’s been set up for Dalbey’s revenge. Willl be following this author, eagerly awaiting the next instalment

This is a police procedural thriller with a real difference in that the main character had been seconded to work as a coroners officer. DI Ridley returns to work Manchester CID after ten months sick leave and is given the choice of the position with the coroners office, or a desk job. He opts for the former and although it is a lot more interesting than he thought it would be, he does not enjoy the conflict he finds himself in with his former colleagues in CID.
When investigating a ten year old case DI Ridley begins to question his part in convicting a man for the murder of several women. Do they have the right man? Could the real killer still be at large commiting more murders?
An excellent start to a new series of books and one which I cannot wait to read the second of.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Where The Truth Lies’ by M J Lee in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Nine months after battling cancer, DI Thomas Ridpath is given the all clear to return to work. As he’s not deemed fit enough to return to his previous job with the Greater Manchester Police he’s moved to the Coroner’s office for a three-month stint working for the Coroner, Mrs Margaret Challinor. When the death of Alice Seagram in 2008 is reopened Ridpath is particularly interested as his first arrest as a Constable was James Dalbey for the murder of Alice and four other women whose bodies were never found. The deeper Ridpath digs in the investigation the more he realises that Dalbey may not be responsible, but can be discover the truth and avoid risking his health and alienating his family?

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Where The Truth Lies’, the first in the DI Ridpath series, as it’s different to the normal police thrillers in that the main character is working for the Coroner’s office rather than the police which gives a different perspective. The story starts slowly but as momentum builds up it becomes really gripping. It has an exciting and fast-paced plot, twists and turns, and a number of suspects any one of whom could be the ‘Beast of Manchester’. The cliff-hanger on the final pages leaves me wanting more so I eagerly look forward to the second in the series with great anticipation.

A good story line featuring Tom Ridpath who returns to work after ill health to find his superiors do not think he is quite ready yet and send him to work in the Coroners office. Despite his lack of initial enthusiasm as his first case unfolds thus changes. Look forward to more of Tom Ridpath in this role!

Where the Truth Lies is the first novel in the DI Thomas Ridpath contemporary crime series set in and around Manchester, UK. Ridpath worked specifically for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) which investigates serious crimes, but due to various reasons, he has been demoted to work in the coroner's office. So, when a past case comes back to haunt him can he contain the fallout?

I am so excited about how refreshingly original this book was, There were plenty of the customary twists and turns to keep you guessing, and there are depictions of graphic violence/torture but it is not gratuitous as in some stories. The plot maintains plausibility and believability throughout, and a number of different threads are masterfully woven together as you get deeper into it all. The characterisation is excellent, especially when it comes to Ridpath, I'm not usually a nail-biter but I discovered that I was doing it for the duration of the story which, to me, is indicative of an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride! Oh, and expect a frustrating cliffhanger conclusion that is cleverly executed to make the reader long for the follow-up. Gritty, original and packed full of suspenseful and intense moments where your heart is in your mouth, I loved it and cannot wait to pick up the sequel.

Many thanks to Canelo for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

An interesting mix of cold and present-day crime cleverly intertwined with a compelling detective who faces realistic life choices. The serial killer is sinister, faceless and whilst there is some graphic description of the horrors inflicted on victims they are necessary to increase the killer's menacing presence.

The crossover between a police detective and coroner officer is interesting and gives an original slant to this well-written police procedural. I enjoyed this and look forward to more crime investigation stories with this DI Ridpath.

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

Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

Excellent book from the very start to the finish. Well written and full of twists and turns with extremely surprising end. Enjoyed this book and struggled to put down.

This is a very well constructed thriller/crime novel, following the narratives of both detective and killer. I always enjoy this particular form of crime novel, as it allows us into a snippet of the life we are so desperate to know more about.
The plot is exceptionally disturbing from the very beginning, and consistently maintains this sense of unease as the novel progresses. This is something that not a lot of authors writing crime fiction can successfully achieve, as often the progression of the investigation reaches an unfortunate plateau.
We do however lack a sense of justification (if ever possible in such a case) regarding the murders, but this is evidently used as a plot device to disguise the killer until the very last moments. Obviously this is somewhat necessary, but maybe I would have enjoyed some crumbs left on the trail.
The office politics discussed within the novels adds an extra element of tension, with notions of misogyny authenticating its presence. The characterisation of the main character Ridpath is also excellent, showing a realistic mix between a likeable character and one who we wish would play to the rules of priority.
The true ending (the 'second' ending, after the big reveal) I enjoyed more than the reveal of the killer themselves, as it hinted well towards the sequel. One of which will undoubtedly be even more exciting than this one. It would be ten years in the making.
I definitely recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys high paced thriller/mysteries set in cities with secrets

A young policeman involved in arresting a killer who looked all too convincing is struck down with cancer. On his return months later, that guy is in jail and questions are raised. Working in coroners office he meets impressive director, a woman who gives him leeway .. in a case with twists and turns, we are left with unresolved postings, pointing to another book. Leslie.

I have not come across books by M J Lee before but I will certainly be looking out for more and I really hope that there will be more books about D I Ridpath. It had me gripped from the beginning and gave insights into how politics affect life in the police and the effects that this has on family life.

It was interesting to learn more about how the Coroners office works and to learn more about the inter relationships between the police, the Coroner , pathologists and forensic medicine.

The book seemed to be well researched and I hope that this is the beginning of a series about D.I. Ridpath.

This debut novel had me gipped from the start and what an explosive start, after recovering from a serious illness which put his career on hold DI Thomas Ridpath returns and is immediately assigned light duties assisting the coroner , when people start dying in the style similar to the serial killer that he caught before his illness struck it is down to him to uncover who the killer is

I really enjoyed this book - a detective story with a difference, in that the detective was a Coroner's officer. As the wife of a Deputy Coroner, I really enjoyed this. It's obviously lined up for a second book and I would be delighted to read that too. Great story - highly recommended.

Fabulous. In its heart it’s a not so very ordinary Police Procedural but it’s really much much more. If you like the genre you will like this. If there’s a series it looks like it will be as the Coroner’s Officer.

Only niggle and it’s personal I can’t believe that he keeps missing those appointments I know it’s to demonstrate his tenacity and doggedness but ...... anyway it’s just a niggle

I loved the characters and the quick characterisation which allows the reader to enter the book quickly

It’s a humdinger !!