Really enjoyed this 7th in the Ridpath series. A case that intersects both of his jobs. He has a new boss who seems reasonable but he is still a rule breaker. I also loved the bringing in of genetic genealogy to help with the case.
I was given a copy by NetGalley. Opinions are my own

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of the latest instalment from DI Ridpath. This is a great series of books, always a most enjoyable read. I have to ration myself to not read from cover to cover in one sitting.
Looking forward to the next book as always.

I loved this book! I realized who the murderer was just moments before i read it! It was fast moving and had me on the very edge until I could pick it up again, a true page turner.

This is the ninth book in the series featuring DI Thomas Ridpath and is set in Manchester, it is an excellent series of books but this reads well as a standalone. Ridpath works for the Major Investigation Team but is also loaned out to assist the Coroner in the Coroner’s Office. Ridpath is called on to investigate the discovery of two bodies, a young girl and boy who were found in a sealed room of a house that was being demolished. The case becomes known as the Romeo and Juliet murders and Ridpath and his team are under pressure from the Chief Constable to solve the case within eight days. On top of this Ridpath learns that Mrs Challinor, the Coroner, is in a local hospital in a coma after being brutally attacked and Ridpath suspects that it could be connected to a case she was secretly investigating. Ridpath’s life is hectic as he had a serious cancer scare a number of years ago, lost his wife and his now struggling to bring up his teenage daughter Evie. This is one of my favourite series of books and this latest one certainly didn’t disappoint. I eagerly await book number ten.
Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received this book as a free review copy from Netgalley, so many thanks to the publishers for approving access.. I have read all the books in the DI Ridpath series and they are all well worth a read. This book follows the usual route of a number of deaths, Ridpath juggling homelife with his two jobs and his constant battle with senior management. Although this book did not disappoint I thought that the killer's identity was sign posted about half way through the book. This meant I gave a 4 star rating instead of my normal 5. Having said that I am still eagerly awaiting the next Ridpath book.

I just reviewed What the Shadows Hide by M J Lee. #WhattheShadowsHide #NetGalley

Very very good! Well written and really gripping thriller about two bodies found in an old house.

Is there a serial killer out there that got away with a double-murder? Are there more bodies to discover? I’m not telling you! You will have to read the book to find out.

This is another winer in this series: a tense story that mixes the human aspect with a tense and tightly knitted plot.
The mystery, full of twists, is gripping and kept on the edge and guessing
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

My thanks to Canelo for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘What the Shadows Hide’ by M.J. Lee.

This is Book 9 in Lee’s DI Ridpath series of police procedurals set in Manchester. I have read the majority of the books in this series and found them all excellent reads. While there are some ongoing aspects linked to character development, background is provided for new readers.

DI Thomas Ridpath continues his assignment with the Coroner’s Office as an investigator. Six months previously two desiccated bodies were found wrapped in each other's arms in a bricked up room of a derelict Victorian warehouse. The investigation has found nothing and before police resources are pulled, Ridpath has been called in to investigate.

The press have dubbed the case the Romeo and Juliet murders. Yet so many questions remain unanswered including the identity of the victims and of course whodunnit. Can Ridpath and his small team solve the case in the short amount of time they have been allotted?

Meanwhile, the Coroner, Margaret Challinor, has begun to suspect that an unknown serial killer has been operating in the area for the past twenty years. Is the Romeo and Juliet case connected? Then something terrible happens that plunges the Coroner’s Office into crises.

I found this a highly compelling read and definitely was on the edge of my seat as the novel reached its conclusion.

Overall, ‘What the Shadows Hide’ was another gripping crime thriller in a series that continues to get better and better with each novel. Having reached the end I now have to wait for Book 10!

Highly recommended for lovers of gritty police procedurals.

I never repeat the blurb. Never fails to disappoint and the very up to date and modern methodology used really comes to the fore. Leaves the reader awaiting the next installment - can't wait.

I always look forward to the next book in this series and this one (book 9) did not disappoint. Ridpath is, as usual, juggling the demands of the coroners office with those of his police bosses and doing his best as the lone parent of a teenage daughter. I really like him as the central character and the relationships with colleagues that have built up over the course of the series. The ending pretty much ensures that readers will return for the next instalment. Highly recommended.

Is it really possible that this is the ninth book in the DI Ridpath series already? Time really does fly. After finishing What the Shadows Hide, all I know is that I have my fingers and toes crossed that the author will write at least one more book.
Ridpath has his hands full as usual. He is tasked with solving a crime that happened many years ago. DS Trent gives him eight days to figure out who killed two young people and why their bodies were found walled up in a building. That’s right, they were walled up and left to die and I have to say this particular make-believe crime was kind of one that gave me shivers. What a horrible way to die!
While Ridpath is trying to solve this cold case in record time, he also notices that the corner, Mrs. Challinor, seems preoccupied.. Before she can explain what she suspects, something terrible happens, and Ridpath, as usual is juggling quite a full plate.
The mystery and the murders had my little grace cells working overtime, trying to figure out whodunnit and why. Alas, I was only a page or two ahead of Ridpath before I had the aha moment and finally, I guessed the killer’s identity, but not the why.
I really enjoy this series as well as the relationship that Ridpath has with his teenage daughter and also the people he works with. Until we meet again, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it’s early in 2024 if not sooner.

When the remains of two bodies are found in a bricked up room of a Victorian building destined for demolition, the initial investigation goes nowhere. The case is dubbed the 'Romeo & Juliet murders' as the remains are of a teenage boy & girl, but no clues, no identifying marks, & no DNA from their killer means that it looks destined to be a cold case. Six months later, Ridpath is asked to take over the case & look at it with fresh eyes. Meanwhile Margaret Challinor, the Coroner, has been conducting an investigation of her own. She thinks that the time is almost right to bring in Ridpath but before she can, she is attacked whilst walking her dog, & ends up in a coma. She may still be in danger - can Ridpath discover why she was attacked & by whom?

We're now on the ninth book of the series, & it shows no sign of flagging. As usual, the case is told from Ridpath's point of view with an occasional short chapter from the view of the Coroner's attacker. The cases themselves are well thought out &, as an amateur genealogist, it was nice to see this used to help crack the R&J case. The usual familiar faces were back, alongside a few new ones -
Turnbull may be gone, but Ridpath has a new antagonist in the form of the temporary Coroner, Clarence Montague, a pedant if ever there was one. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this one, even if it did take Ridpath a bit too long to twig what was going on. 4.5 stars (rounded up)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Canelo, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book in a fabulous series

ridpath at his best when he is racing against time to find out the cause from a cold case and he only has a week to find anything out... and with the antagonism he faces from yet another force, he certainly knows how to make friends ...

but this case hits closer to home as someone close to ridpath is attacked

can ridpath uncover the truth behind the cold case and also find out the identity of the attacker

one of the best books yet but also ending on a cliff hanger...

brilliant cant rate this author high enough...and its a fitting day to read it on mothers day as this author was one of my moms favourite, she would have loved this one

DI Ridpath #9

Two desiccated bodies are found in each other's arms in the bricked-up room of a derelict Victorian warehouse. After six months of work, the police have nothing and Ridpath is finally called into investigate. Dubbed the Romeo and Juliet murders by the press, so many questions remain unanswered. Who are they? Why were they there? Who killed them? and why was the coroner so keen for him to work on this particular case?

The story is told from multiple points of view. The pace is fast, the plotline gripping, and I was hooked straight away. This series gets better with each new book. Ridpath is investigating the cold case of two bodies that were found in a derelict Victorian warehouse. The author has been diligent in the details surrounding the storyline. Its action packed, full of twists, and I love the authors writing style. Ridpath always has a lot on his plate to deal with, but he has only got ten days to solve this case. This is my favourite book in the series so far.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Canelo and the author #MJLee for my ARC of #WhatTheShadowsHide in exchange folr an honest review.

I have read more of this series and enjoyed the books. Ridpath (the detective) does not disappoint as he works out the twisty plot in this book. Plenty of action, well thought out crimes and investigations and a great read . Ridpath can rub people up the wrong way but he does get the job done. I like the writing , we also hear the murderers point of view , which sounds contrived, but it is not overdone and adds to the tension in the story. There were some unexpected turns in the plot.
The book is fine as a stand alone, though it is better to read the books in order so that you understand Ridpath's personal situation and the relationship he has with collegues in the police and at the coroners office. I am looking forward to the next episode
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review .

Not for the first time I'm giving a MJ Lee "Ridpath" book five stars.
Just when you think it can't get any better along comes the next instalment.
Don't think there is anything quite like this out there where a serving police officer is seconded to thew coroner's department and carries out work for both. It's safe to say, that even if you hadn't read any other in the series you could read this as a standalone, but do yourself a favour, if this is your genre, then go back and start at the beginning. You won't be disappointed.

huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC

I read Where the Truth Lies, the first book in the Ridpath series, in February 2021, a mere two years ago. It was first published in 2018. A big compliment to M J Lee for giving his readers the ninth book in just five years. A ninth book that is among the very best in this series.
Tom Ridpath is still struggling with the death of his wife and his fight with myeloma, but also with being a single parent of a thirteen year old daughter. He is trying to be the best version of himself he can, with juggling two jobs too. His boss at MIT, Claire Trent, is caught between the wishes of hér bosses to solve the case of the dead teenagers asap, and the fact that Manchester police is understaffed. His boss at the Coroners’ Office, Margaret Challinor, has every bit of faith in Ridpath. Maybe a little too much faith because she always gives him the most difficult cases to work on. Without the help of his trusted assistants at the two offices Ridpath wouldn’t be able to work everything out and it’s great he expresses this often – Ridpath is no superhero, just very determined (and sometimes he likes to do things his own way).
Of course, when he gets the case of the two murdered teenagers, the people who worked on this case before him are not happy because they’re afraid it will seem like they didn’t put enough effort in it. Which is not true, but Ridpath is someone who’s able to think out of the box. In this case, he’s so far out of the box that almost no one believes him. Until he solves the case, of course. But with Mrs Challinor not being able to support him, because she’s in hospital in an induced coma, what will become of him now?
Only a few days before I started reading this book, there was a news item on tv regarding the fact that Dutch police is going to go and work together with American private DNA banks, to try and solve more cold cases. Interesting! What’s even more interesting is that exactly this is what happening in the book, with a detailed explanation that said way more than just that short news item. I just loved the combination of very detailed technical stuff with the complicated plot and the interaction between Ridpath and the other characters.
Thanks to Netgally and Canelo for this review copy.

What the Shadows Hide is the ninth book in the wonderful Ridpath series by the brilliant author, MJ Lee. I always look forward to the next book in the series and I am never disappointed by the result. It is like welcoming an old friend into my life again (although I would despair for friends who have as much drama in their lives as poor old Ridpath experiences!).
Ridpath continues juggling his work with the Coroners Office and the Murder Investigation Team, and trying to balance his home life, to make sure all is taken care of adequately whilst also keeping an eye on his ongoing health issues. The main investigation centres around the Romeo and Juliet murders, so called as two bodies were found in each other’s arms. It is a horrible death, with seemingly no leads at all, which is why it is now being assigned to Ridpath. Can he shed any light where the previous investigation has failed?.
Another brilliant book in the series. I highly recommend this book, which could be read as a stand-alone book, but I would suggest reading all as they are all so great. I now look forward to book number ten!
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and author for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Six months ago, the bodies of a young male and female were found by builders in a derelict house, but the police have drawn a blank in trying to find their identities or how they ended up there. The press labelled them the Romeo and Juliet murders and interest was high but the case has fallen on to the back burner. Why then is the coroner so keen for her officer, D I Ridpath, to investigate? Intrigued, he begins to look into the case and uncovers information that changes the whole investigation – has there been an unknown serial killer operating in Manchester over the past two decades?

After the shocking events of the previous book, Ridpath is back and working with new boss Steve Carruthers – a breath of fresh air after his previous superior officer, Turnbull. I liked this new addition but am already wondering what secrets he hides! Events in the book see Ridpath on a personal mission, continuing to bend the rules in order to get the evidence he needs. I’ve always liked this about the detective, his determination to bring the bad guys to justice meaning that he often falls foul of his bosses, although he is always shown to be right in the end!

Fans of one of the author’s other series (like myself) will be thrilled to see a familiar face in the form of genealogist Jayne Sinclair. As I read about the unidentified bodies, I started to think that Jayne would be the ideal person to assist so was glad to see her being drafted in. This was a great cameo role for the genealogist and I hope that we see another crossover in the future.

As always, the story is well written and keeps you gripped right until the end. This is now the ninth Ridpath book and the series is showing no sign of slowing down.

As usual M J Lee has come up trumps with this new ridpath instalment. This is rapidly becoming one of my favourite series of books. I hope they just keep on coming and developing. I can’t wait for the next one. #WhattheShadowsHide #NetGalley