DCI Lesley Clarke has moved from Birmingham to Dorset for a six-month stint after suffering PTSD following a bombing. Expecting a slower pace of life she is soon embroiled in investigating the murder of a young lawyer who appears to have been pushed off the cliff early one morning. Lesley is worried because the lawyer was a junior partner in the law firm where her new girlfriend Elsa is a named partner.
The more Lesley and her team investigate the murder, the more suspicious they become of the law firm, but Lesley's sergeant, DS Dennis Frampton (why do I keep thinking his name is Weaver?) is keeping important evidence from her.
There is also a story arc relating to the death of Lesley's predecessor DCI Mackie which was ruled a suicide. Initially Lesley just wanted to know why no-one would talk about him, but her former colleague Zoe (who I understand is the protagonist of a predecessor series) has uncovered some facts which call the verdict into question. We learn some more in this book, but my thought when I read the novella about who might be involved may have been a bit premature as the individual may also be concerned about the verdict.
Anyway, trying to be good and read ARCs in between bingeing this series ... Rachel McLean I’m off down to Swanage, Dorset so it must be time to read the next instalment of the Dorset Crime Book series. This is book 2. Right, let’s settle down to see who is bumped off and if our intrepid DCI, Lesley Clarke, can track down the murderer and solve the case.
True to form it does not take long for a 34-year-old woman who is a junior partner at a Bournemouth law firm to be dispatched off a cliff near Old Harry Rocks. She knows her killer but who is it? The evidence points to one person but are they the killer?
This time the locale spreads to places like Bournemouth, Boscombe, Ringwood, Dorchester and Christchurch. I thought this was a little better than the first book. Seemed to have a bit more depth to it. These are very easy reads. OK, they may not be the best whodunnit’s in the world but they keep you engaged. Although the murders can be somewhat grisly it still has a certain quaintness about it.
We did walk from Ballard Down to Old Harry. Nothing to report other than the walk being absolutely spectacular. Rachel McLean Quick, enjoyable read. Rachel McLean I'm glad a gave the second book a chance. As Lesley settles into Dorset and her new position, both she and her team are becoming a little more comfortable. The first book alludes to former DCI Mackie, and his death is still a sore point. I like that Lesley includes DC Tina even though DS Dennis doesn't like a constable as part of the team. The murder of a young lawyer with connections to Lesley's new girlfriend Elsa's firm complicates things. Rachel McLean I wasn’t very complementary about the first book in the Dorset Crimes series but I found this one to be a great improvement. The plot was intriguing but realistic and the characterisations much better defined. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Rachel McLean
DCI Lesley Clarke is settling into her new job in Dorset's Major Crimes Unit, and becoming accustomed to a slower pace of life.
But then she's called in to solve the murder of a woman with links to Lesley's new girlfriend.
Has Lesley made a grave error of judgement? Can she track down the killer or does she already know her? And how will Lesley's new colleagues react when she tells them she's dating a suspect?
The Clifftop Murders is the second instalment in the gripping Dorset Crime series, in which rural Dorset is a whole lot darker than the holiday brochures would have you think. The Clifftop Murders (Dorset Crime #2)
What a great series , DCI Lesley Clarke is now settling into Dorset and getting to know her colleagues Rachel McLean Book 2 in the DCI Leslie Clarke series. I liked book 2 more than book 1. Great characters and a dynamic plot make for a colorful read. Very difficult to put down. A must read in A must read series. Check it out. Rachel McLean hard to get into/care about the characters
First in the series was ok ; this was just boring and I put it down multiple times not caring if I came back to it. It’s a slow, very slow, slog thru the middle. Frankly tired about Dennis and his bloody DAMN swear jar!!! Rachel McLean I was hoping for a bit more growth in the characters -- the end of the first book showed promise but they kind of started in the same place as before. Again, they were sometimes exasperating but, at the end, showed signs of getting along better and more admirably. But there's a whole backstory/story arc that's developing that I'm not sure I care for. We'll see. For now I'll continue.
In this volume, a woman is found dead at the bottom of a cliff and it turns out she's a junior partner at the law firm where the lead detective's girlfriend is a named partner. And it's pretty clear from the start that there's something hinky going on at the firm. This, of course, complicates the investigation, as does some inter-team conflict and undermining when a connection is found between the firm and a local 'crime boss'.
It definitely kept me reading, though there were things I didn't care for. I gave it a 4 but 3 and ahalf is probably more accurate. As I say, for now I'll continue the series and see where things go. Rachel McLean Yet another amazing book by Rachel! I've been struggling to put it down and have been finding every opportunity to read when I can! At the bus stop, on the bus, before bed! Any chance I can, I love the fact the chapters are short so it's easy to read in small bursts as I hate getting to the middle of a chapter and having to put it down for whatever reason!
This series is so well written, I've never had a passion for this kind of book before but these have totally swayed me! It's also great reading about places I recognise as I myself live in Dorset :)
Am thoroughly enjoying working my way through each book! Can't wait to find out what happens next!! Rachel McLean
characters ☆ PDF, DOC, TXT or eBook ↠ Rachel McLean
