First book I have read by this author and I will definitely be buying others in this series A good thriller Loved it

I loved it. I didn't realise that there was a book one to this series, it doesn't matter, this can be read as a stand-alone, but I will go back and read the first book.
The plot was great, very compelling, so many twists and turns which I so love in a book. Lots of conflict to keep the reader engaged, never boring.
The characters were believable, very well done and I love the bits of humour, excellent dialogue.
I would recommend this as a great read.

Fantastic book. Really enjoyed getting the chance to read it. Had my interest from the start and throughout could not put it down. Story was brilliant

Detective Inspector Ridpath, whilst recovering from injury, has been temporarily assigned to the department that prepares reports for the coroner's office. Should be the quiet life. But not for Ridpath who finds himself being dragged into trying to prevent a major war breaking out between Manchester drug gangs. His involvement starts when he is en route to collect his daughter to visit the cinema. Unfortunately, he misses out on this thanks to a naked man running in front of his car on the motorway! And from then on he spends his time getting too involved with police work and spending too little time fixing things with up with his family - from whom he is living apart - and carrying out the more mundane duties required of him by the coroner's office. Full of bizarre twists and fast-paced action this is an exciting read in which the good guys eventually make good and the bad guys give each other a very hard time! Love of family is shown to generate many different outcomes - some happy, some tragic.

There is a good variety of characters which make for a entertaining read.
A good plot keeps you engaged with the story and made for a very easy read.
Give it a try and you may no be disappointed.

Great story and plot. Hadn't read this author before but I really enjoyed the story. Great characters and I would recommend to others.

A rollercoaster of a book. I was exhausted , the pace was exhilarating. I was drawn in from the first chapter and just had to know the outcome as soon as possible. Hope DI Ridpath is with us for a long time to come.

Love love love these books. I think DI Ridpath is my new favourite copper. The relationship between the coroner and the police is great to read too. People, you need to read this book!!!

I really enjoyed this book, the first one I’ve read by this author I loved the characters and the development between them all- I had points of real concern for Ridpath at points in the book which is unusual for the first time I’ve met a character!

#2 in the DI Ridpath series, but easy to read as a stand-alone.

DI Ridpath is driving along the busy M60 in Manchester when a young man wearing just a pair of boxer shorts runs in front of his car. He manages to avoid hitting him, and the man carries on running, but this time into the path of a truck.

Ridpath had also seen another man chasing him, armed with a gun….but no one else saw him.

1990’s Manchester had been a violent time in the city, with gangs and drugs, but it now has an uneasy peace…...is this young man’s death about to start a return to the violence?

Great characters and a unique story from Ridpath’s view working in the coroner's office, with a twisty, compelling plot.

Thank you to the publishers, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.

When a detective is the only witness to a perfect crime.

Where the Dead Fall is the second book in the DI Ridpath series but it can be easily read as a standalone. There is enough backstory which explains everything that happened in the last book. DI Ridpath, recovering from cancer and shafted from the police dept to the coroner’s office, is in the process of getting his life back together when everything goes wrong. Ridpath becomes the prime witness to a murder, right on a busy highway. When not even his own police dept. is ready to believe in him, Ridpath has to prove that not only he is right, but also unearth a sinister plot that threatens the whole of Manchester.

Right from the thrilling opening scene to the climax, Where the Dead Fall is a non-stop thrill ride. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the story that will keep you guessing. The story has 3 parallel tracks; Ridpath’s personal life, the office politics, and the main mystery. All 3 tracks have complimented each other so well, you never feel bored as the story seamlessly switches between the three. The office politics part was well researched and realistic & Ridpath’s personal story is so endearing and heartbreaking at times, that you are almost rooting for him to succeed. Ridpath’s struggles with the politics at his workplace as well as the turmoil in his personal life adds another dimension to the story.

The mystery part feels slightly overshadowed in the first half but it gets into top gear into the second half. The story makes you believe that this will be another murder mystery but it turns out to be so much more. The pace of the novel which is brisk and fast-moving with few dull moments and an ever-changing landscape. The background of Manchester’s gangland wars is really well done.

M J Lee has done an excellent job of bringing to life some unique characters, even the minor ones. Ridpath is such a well-crafted character; recovering from cancer, abandoned by his colleagues and now his family but giving his all to his new job. The book is readable, just to follow the ups & downs in his life. I believe the characters have elevated the story to another level.

Overall, this was an excellent follow up to the first book of the series. The storyline in this book continues from the first book, Where The Truth Lies, and though this book can be read as a standalone, It is recommended to read the first book as well. I hope there will be a third in this series as I'd love to see where Ridpath goes from here. If you are looking for a thriller with some solid characters and unique twists, you will enjoy this one.

Many thanks to the publishers Canelo, the author M J Lee and NetGalley for the ARC.

Detective Thomas Ridpath is back for a second novel, and is still assigned to the Coroners Office whilst in remission from cancer. Someone is attacking the children of major gangsters, and gang warfare is on the horizon. After opening with a really dramatic scene, the books grips and doesn’t let go. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, and this sequel was not a disappointment. I am very much looking forward to seeing what is next for Ridpath.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the ARC.

I am a committed M J Lee and D I Ridpath fan! The story-line twists and turns and his role as a Coroner's Officer is an unusual setting for a crime novel.

I thought this would follow on from the first novel in the series, but not a bit of it. Brilliant beginning, middle and ending, and all so very different.

Long may M J Lee and D I Ridpath continue!

When DI Ridpath sees a man running away from a man with a gun across the M60 - and getting hit by a truck he causes chaos by closing the motorway on match day. Nobody else sees the man with the gun but he is adamant on what he saw. Causing problems with his career and dealing with only just returning to work after cancer treatment. he keeps digging. until the truth is found.

Another great book by Lee although some of the references to how Ridpath is feeling tired etc can be a bit repetitive.

I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Where The Dead Fall’ by M J Lee. I really enjoyed the first book in the series and this does not disappoint.

DI Thomas Ridpath is on the M60 during rush hour to take out his family, however a man in boxers runs into his car an is hit by a lorry. Ridpath is sure he sees a gunman standing by the side of the road that this man is obviously running away from.

‘Where The Dead Fall’ sees DI Ridpath continue his secondment to the Coroner’s Office. It’s a multi layered story set in Manchester and picks up long forgotten gang related patch war. A twisty story sees you learn more about Ridpath, he is recovering from cancer and he’s struggling to get back into ‘normal’ life and find a way back to his family who are currently estranged.

Worth picking up the first in the series as it’s a good story too, but this could be read as a stand-alone.

A great read, kept my interest and kept me guessing till the end. I definitely want to read the first DI Ridpath book now (and the next!).

Another fab read by M J Lee. Gripping page turner. Love the main character Ridpath, so flawed but a brilliant detective. Highly recommend

I love the authors idea of a shopping mall as being hell , so do I . This made me like whatever was to come if they thought that then we had the same idea of life and what a crime book should be. Its the second in a series but can be read alone. The characters are believable which makes the book enjoyable to read. Just follow the breadcrumbs of clues littered throughout and be immersed in a good book. It has a pace that allows you to enjoy all the words and not skip them to see what comes next. I sat and read it in one sitting but then I read quite fast especially if I am enjoying the book.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I haven't read the previous book in this series bu that hasn't impacted on the reading of this one.

The author sets the scene surrounding DI Ridpath and his place in the police force. He is a likeable character and well defined. The opening scenes of the book are full of impact in more ways than one and this continues throughout the book. I loved the way different branches of the police are portrayed and the internal wrangling that Lee describes so well.

It is realistic in how events unfold and I had no idea of who the girl was. I intend to go back and read the first book in the series and will be eagerly waiting for more

Another great novel in the DI Ridpath series. Some laugh out load humour too.
The opening few chapters see the motorway networks around Manchester grind to a halt all because of one man, DI Ridpath. If he failed to brake in time when a naked man dashed across the motorway, maybe he wouldn’t have seen the man’s pursuer and therefore wouldn’t have to declare the motorway a crime scene. With terse comments between the various echelons of the GMP we see Ridpath out on a limb again.
A novel with dark humour, sexist humour, possibly every type of humour, making a fast moving crime thriller a pleasure to read.