So good, a twisty fast paced thriller that’s gonna have you hooked from page one, a must read for anyone who loves the mystery thrillers!

This is the 7th book in the DI Ridpath series and again this does not disappoint.

The ongoing storyline of the characters is what makes this series for me. You want to know more about them, I feel invested in their story. The fact it is a rather dark tale all adds to the enjoyment for me.

4.5 stars

This is the seventh book in this exciting series featuring Detective Thomas Ridpath and one I couldn’t put down, Ridpath is still working for the Coroners Office as well as being part of the Major Investigation Team. A TV production team are filming Ghost Hunters at an old, disused children's home where they stumble across an old rucksack containing three embalmed severed hands. They appear to be from three different people, two men and one woman. Ridpath and his team are only given a few days to work on the case as then it will be handed over to the Cold Case Unit. He is also working on the case for the Coroners Office where the family of a 16 year old girl who went missing in 2009 are wanting a Presumption of Death Certificate. On investigating it becomes clear that both cases are linked and Ridpath and his team are under pressure to solve the case quickly. Ridpath is still coming to terms with the death of his wife and being a single parent to his teenage daughter. This is a captivating read, with many twists and turns and a book that was difficult to put down. I love this series and can’t wait for book number eight.
Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Great book, by an author I will read more of! Thrilling plot, great writing and brilliant characters. Highly recommend to others.

Mrs Challinor, the Coroner, wants to issue a Presumption of Death Certificate for Jane Ryder who’s been missing since 2009. DI Ridpath is given a week to investigate her disappearance and is also brought in by MIT to identify the owners of three embalmed right hands found in a backpack in the former Daisy House Children’s Home. As the countdown begins for DI Ridpath to find the answers, DCI Turnbull seems determined to make things as difficult for him as possible.

I always enjoy the latest book in the DI Ridpath series as he continues his work for the Coroner and ‘When The Guilty Cry’ has been a pleasure to read.

The discovery of three severed hands in a backpack is shocking enough but post-mortem evidence says that the hands were severed after death and the hunt is now on for a serial killer. As DI Ridpath is handed this impossible case, he is also charged with investigating the disappearance of a 16 year old girl over ten years earlier. Her mother is dying and the family want a death certificate. In the middle of this Ridpath is also grieving his wife and trying to be a lone parent to a sparky 12 year old.
I have enjoyed the Ridpath series so far and this book was no exception. The plot pulls in many social topics - Covid, self-isolation, social services and child welfare - as well as being an excellently plotted novel. It's not the most complex book in the world but for a light and enjoyable read it certainly fits the bill.

I absolutely love the Ridpath books, this one was faced paced following Ridpath at his bath juggling two cases and now single dad after the lose of his wife. This book touches slightly on the death of his wife so I give a chance to be read as a stand alone, however I would recommend starting from the beginning with this series as Ridpath truly is a great character to follow. The plot was well researched and I felt this was the best book to date

Thansk to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
I always feel I am in safe company reading a DI Ridpath novel. Just enough gore, bad language and personnel angst to entertain but not overwhelm. A perfect winter read and, hopefully another outing for Ridpath etc will be along soon !

Another great instalment in this series. The characters are good and developing well especially Polly,Ridpaths daughter. The story moved along at a great pace and holds interest throughout.

DI Ridpath is bang on form both in the coroners office and back with Manchester CID. There is the usual humor written into the text but this never belittles the importance of good old fashioned police work. For some reason Ridpath seems to rub his superiors up the wrong way, which makes life uncomfortable at times. Ridpath has the extra burden of being a widower with his wife Polly having been killed in an earlier book. Sorry if anyone is reading the books out of chronological order. His daughter is a chip off the old bloke and strongly mirrors Polly in her words and actions. Got this as a review copy from Netgalley, so thank you and further thanks to the publishing house. To conclude, if you are new to Ridpath enjoy and if you are a Ridpath enthusiast, you wont be dissapointed.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (check out other reviews if that's what you're after!)

As a fan of the DI Ridpath series, I was delighted to read this latest book in the series. However if you haven't read any of the previous books, I feel that there's enough background for it to work just fine as a standalone.

I love the main characters, and the settings (many of which are familiar to me as a native of the area!) It's interesting to see Eve's character developing, and how she and Ridpath are coping without Poll. Great to see some familiar characters again too - with the exception of the unpleasant toad-like Turnbull, still trying his best to discredit Ridpath!

The plot is (as usual) very well thought out, and the inclusion of real-life characters and investigations (Jimmy Saville et al) all adds to the realism.

I could imagine these books making a great TV series! Now eagerly awaiting the next book...

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Tightly Woven Plot….
The seventh in the DI Ridpath series finds the Detective and team with a gruesome case possibly with links to the past. A tightly woven plot with clever interwoven threads makes for an interesting and immersive read and the cast of credible and realistic characters add well to the tale. A solid read.

DI Ridpath, working for the Coroner, is back with three severed hands on his plate. These were found when a TV crew were filming a ghost hunting series in an old abandoned Children's Home of dubious repute. He also has to tie up the threads of a disappeared girl whose family want closure before her mother dies. The two cases become inter-twined and Ridpath works his socks off to solve them - against all odds as usual. Helped by the Coroner, assistant Sandra and the head of the Major Investigations Team, more than hindered where possible by the nauseous DCI Turnbull, he has his work cut out. There is sufficient of his personal life to develop further his character as he's still coming to terms with the death of his wife and their teenage daughter is so mature but still a child - real life there then! Set during the Covid but after full lockdown has ended, it deals well with changes to which we have adapted. Harrowing to a degree - child abuse - but well written as ever.

Another winner from MJ Lee.

I have been lucky enough to read all of the previous DI Ridpath books and they just get better,

The Coroner, Mrs. Challinor, has been asked by the parents of Jane Ryder to declare their daughter dead, she has been missing since 2009 and her mother is now terminally ill and would like closure. Ridpath, still on secondment to the Coroner's office, is given a week to investigate her disappearance to see if he can find any sign of Jane.

Wearing his other hat as a member of MIT he is asked to investigate when a paranormal TV show whilst filming in an abandoned old children's home that had a history of abuse, finds a rucksack with three hands inside.

Great story as always, though I have to say I'm getting a bit bored of the senior policeman picking on Ridpath, it happens in every book.

Thank you to Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended

Coroner’s Officer, DI Thomas Ridpath, finds himself involved in a race against time when three hands are discovered in a backpack at a former children’s home. With his superiors convinced that this is an unsolveable case, Ridpath must battle against those determined to see him fail while also working on a Presumption of Death case for the coroner. With the clock ticking before he is removed from the case, can he uncover the truth of what really happened at Daisy Nook Children’s Home?

This is the seventh in the Ridpath series and, arguably, one of the best. There is a very authentic feeling to these books, Ridpath being a likeable character who is finding it difficult to juggle his work and home life. Workplace politics definitely play a huge part, with Ridpath seen as an ‘old school’ kind of police officer, someone who is looked down upon by many of his superiors who are desperate to see him fail.

The plot is, at times, quite an emotive one, as you would expect from anything involving a children’s home. M J Lee injects a touch of realism by referencing Jimmy Savile and the fictional Operation Pharaoh, reminding us of the horrific crimes perpetrated by those who abused their positions.

Throughout my reading of When the Guilty Cry, I found myself clearly visualising each scene. This series (this book in particular) would make a great TV drama and I hope that, at some point, a production company picks it up.

This is a series going from strength to strength and long may it continue!

This is a difficult book to review. Although it is fiction it bears so much of a similarity to real events that occurred, the truth of which has only come to light recently. I found it a very emotive read and although I thought some of it was a bit predictable there was one shock I really did see coming. As always there was plenty of suspense which really made the story come to life. Looking forward to the next book.

Another gripping and entertaining addition to this excellent series.
A solid mystery that kept me guessing, great characters and a well developed plot that kept me reading.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another great book from M.J.Lee. I was enthralled by this book and could not put it down. Seemingly unrelated cases in Ridpaths work for the coroner and the MIT mean lots of work in different places . Set in the time of Covid , this book deals with that well.
Bit by bit, facts are revealed and cases solved with several twists and turns along the way.
Thank you to Net Galley for the read in exchange for an honest review

The seventh book in the series and DI Ridpath remains assigned to the Manchester coroner's office while still a member of the Major Investigations Team. The coroner is anxious to hold a "presumption of death" hearing for a 16 year old girl who disappeared 12 years ago. The girl's mother is close to the end of her life.. Meanwhile a backpack with 3 severed hands is found in a long abandoned children's home. Ridpath is assigned to both cases. He has a week to work on them,, and is badly under- resourced.....He is niggled by officers higher up the food chain. Ridpath is also single parent to a demanding teenager.

A gripping police procedural with bags of procedural detail - more than I remember from previous books. The story rattles along to a dramatic conclusion.

The seventh book in the DI Ridpath series, When The Guilty Cry, is brilliant. We are still in the midst of Covid, but the work of the murder investigation team and the coroner’s office must continue which means Ridpath is busier than ever.
With Ridpath and his daughter Eve settling into a routine at home, he has to navigate his way through his relationships with his colleagues at MIT and at the Coroner’s Office to try to keep all balls in the air and make sure justice is done.
Can Ridpath help to find out how three severed hands came to be at a disused children’s home? Where are the bodies that the hands belonged to? Also, will he find out what happened to a 16 year old girl who went missing almost 11 years ago? With two major cases to work on and so little time and workforce to solve both matters, Ridpath has his work cut out for him. Will he be able to make any headway on either matter?
A superbly written read as always in this series. I just race through them and look forward to the next so much, they are very addictive and so thrilling I hope the author continues to write them for many years to come.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.