
Member Reviews

At a petrol station in a quiet Manchester suburb, a man watches horrified as someone walks up to the pump, pours petrol over themselves & sets it alight. Meanwhile, a 14-year-old girl is arrested for killing her mother but she seems confused over the details.
At the Coroner's Officer, Mrs Challinor is back even if it is only part time at present, but the Major Incident Team want Detective Inspector Ridpath back working on their cases. Given two green young detectives, Ridpath looks into the apparently unconnected suicide & murder & starts to find some odd coincidences, & if there's one thing Ridpath doesn't believe in, it's coincidence.
Another strong instalment in this series which takes the usual route of a slow start which builds up to a tense, fast-paced ending. Alongside the two cases, there's also the lingering aftermath of Ridpath's daughter's ordeal in a previous book. I wasn't a huge fan of the time jump ending but it was fine overall. If you haven't read this series & are a fan of police procedurals, then do give this one a go. 4.5 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Canelo, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I can’t believe this is the eleventh booth in the DI Ridpath series by MJ Lee. I read a large amount of Crime series but this one is certainly in my top 3. This is a very good police procedurals, characters are very strong and the plots are carefully crafted. The main character is DI Ridpath who had a very promising career brought to a sudden halt hen he was diagnosed with cancer. After a leave of absence of 9 months he is now back at work and on secondment to the Coroner’s office. Ridpath is a determined man who takes his job very serious as well as bringing up his daughter alone following the tragic death of his wife.
Two shocking, seemingly unrelated deaths, a man’s horrific self-immolation at a petrol station and a teenage girl murdering her own mother in cold blood. At first glance, these incidents appear tragically unconnected. But when Ridpath is brought in by the Coroner’s Office to investigate, he quickly suspects that a web of lies, secrets, and long-buried truths may bind them together. As the case unfolds, Ridpath finds himself navigating a moral maze where appearances deceive and the darkest corners of ordinary lives hide dangerous truths.
This is a fast paced novel that is emotionally charged. Thomas Ridpath is once again the strong and empathetic lead. He has his critics but remains dedicated and determined to uncover the truth. As he follows the trail, the novel builds steadily toward a chilling conclusion that not only ties the threads together but also leaves readers pondering the complexity of guilt, justice, and psychological trauma.
This is an atmospheric novel set in Manchester where two haunting cases fuse into one.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Canelo for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliant crime thriller from M J Lee.
It’s always great to see what Ridpath is involved in, and this time he’s definitely got a lot to deal with.
Ridpath is asked to attend an apparent suicide at a petrol station and then given another case to get ready for the CPS as well.
Other members of the Police are not his greatest fans, but as a follower of this series, I love how his determined approach gets him results.
This is a gripping crime thriller, and is a series that I’d highly recommend.
Thanks to Canelo for the opportunity to read this book.

Let me start by saying I am a huge Ridpath fan, and have read (and enjoyed!) the previous books.
Is there a link between a 14 year old murdering her mother and a man who commits suicide in a petrol station by dosing himself with petrol and then setting fire to himself?
Ridpath has been sent back to GMP to give them a helping hand, while still working with the Coroner's office.
I enjoyed the book but found the lazy detective and superior who had his own ulterior motives, a little formulaic.
It can be read as a stand alone, but there are mentions of things that happened in the previous book
On the whole a good solid read

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
ridpath is in the middle of it all again...
though the coroner has asked ridpath to look into a death he also gets sent to investigate an apparent suicide
the man had walked into a petrol station where he proceeded to buy petrol and pour it over himself.... all the cctv show him doing this everyone who investigates this think its an open and shut case
but ridpath likes to dot every i and cross every t..... leaving nothing to chance
and boy does he open up a can of worms
wow this book really keeps you guessing and ridpath though everyone has written him off is very good at his job... i just wish someone would take him more seriously
looking forward to the next one in this brilliant series

I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘What The Dark Whispers’, book 11 of the DI Ridpath series written by M J Lee, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
DI Ridpath is assigned by the Coroner’s Office to attend when a man sets fire to himself at a petrol station, and at a nearby house when a fourteen-year-old girl rings the emergency services saying that she’s killed her mother. As Ridpath works alongside DC Megan Muldowney, he believes there are too many similarities between the two deaths for them to be a coincidence.
‘What The Dark Whispers’ is the continuing story of DI Thomas Ridpath whose time is shared equally between the Coroner’s Office and the Major Incident Team. I enjoy reading this series as DI Ridpath’s investigations are always intriguing whilst he spends as much time as possible with his teenage daughter Eve who’s been finding life difficult since the death of her mother Polly and her attack by Billy Diamond. This is a cleverly written story with a well-constructed plot and relatable characters as Ridpath works hard to get to the truth while his superior officer has his own reasons for wanting him removed from the investigation. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this thriller that has been so gripping I’ve read in a day and look forward to the next one.

What the Dark Whispers is book number 11 in the ever excellent DI Ridpath series by MJ Lee and it is another superb police procedural with highly engaging storylines and brilliant pacing.
Definitely recommended.

Another stand out book in the Ridpath series from this writer. I totally enjoyed this book and catching up with the characters, but it could be enjoyed by someone who hadn’t read the rest of the series. Fabulous police procedural set in Manchester, with the added twist that Ridpath also works for the Coroner’s office, giving the readers an insight into the work a Coroner does.

Book 11 in the DI Ridpath series is just a good a read as the first and could be read as a stand alone. I really like the developing characterisation, especially young Eve, as Ridpath negotiates being a single parent to a young teenager. I like the insight into his personal life as much as I like reading about his work life. The plotting is very interesting and I failed to work out who the murderer was, it kept me interested throughout with the fast pacing. The ending was very satisfying, there is plenty of tension and I can highly recommend the whole series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Lee returns along with Ridpath in a Halloween set tale that sees the maverick Ridpath again having to uncover the truth behind a series of recent murders in the Greater Manchester area which may or may not be connected. A man sets himself on fire at a petrol station, a family is brutally murdered in their home and a single mother is strangled by her daughter.
Ridpath under his guise as policeman and assistant to the Coroner, has to battle familiar office politics - those who have been promoted ahead of him - with his embatteled support staff who endeavour to do the right thing despite the best efforts of those to merely tick a box.
This along with his daughter, Eve, going through the tumultuous period of hormones and school coupled with the conclusion of the last book where she was attacked by a male teen; with the two navigating their life together without mother, Penny around.
A familiar experience when reading Lee's series (and this can be said for his contemporary Marion Todd) is that the books start off sprightly with the problem laid out before our hero in the first act. Only when he starts investigating and is at loggerheads with a superior officer, does the narrative gain pace and reads at a clip that is enjoyable as this reader digests with aplomb.
The last act of the book as the answers become clear to Ridpath and his team - a credit and salute to the leg work and diligence of police work - before the murderer can kill again.
Excellent

(Afterthought for you. I’ve read 2 more books since this one and I’m still thinking of the characters & plot! Extra star added)! This is a great storyline. It is kind of a slow burn the first half. It’s two storylines each with its own mystery to solve but the storylines begin to intertwine and suck you in. There’s still a few spelling errors and grammar errors. The ending was rather abrupt. But overall it was a good book.

The DI Ridpath books are right up there in my favourite reads, and are always the next-to-read, as soon as they are available to me.
Ridpath is a brilliantly conceived character. Employed by Greater Manchester Police, and posted within the MIT, he has, from the start of the series, been on secondment to the Coroners Office, allowing him a greater range of deaths to investigate.
His secondment was intended to give him an easy ride back to work following a battle with cancer, but over the years he has been involved in some serious murder investigations. He has become a single parent who is struggling to bring up his now teenage daughter, and balance his home life with work. A typical cop his work often comes first.
Now, with GMP under increasing scrutiny , and with staff shortages being exacerbated by increased crime levels the Police want more and more of Ridpath’s time.
So when he is called in by his boss (police) to look at a serious crime that another DI and his team have already wound up Ridpath is put into conflict with one of his peers.
The crime, a young girl accused of killing her mother, a seemingly open and shut case following the girls confession. But she is a minor, and the interview was not carried out well.
Did she really killer mother.
In a separate case Ridpath is tasked by the coroner to look into the death of a man who set himself on fire on a petrol station forecourt.
Suicide? Everything points to it.
But why did both victims, who died hours apart, say the same thing insinuating they are dying in order to save others.
As the investigations continue more similarities are uncovered.
Add to this another team investigating the murder of a family of four, which in isolation seems unrelated. And that’s the problem if these crimes were looked at in isolation nobody would ever get caught.
Can the connections be made.
Are there more deaths to come.
The pace of the book is none stop. M.J Lee’s cadence in his writing just keeps me hooked every time I pick one of his books up.
This one, in my opinion, is one of the best in the series.
Could it be read as a standalone, yes, there is enough mention of previous happenings to leave new readers with no doubt as to how Ridpath, and his family, have got to where they are.
Nicely, for those of us that have read the previous books there’s not too much rehashing and it certainly doesn’t detract from the story, it more reminds us of what has gone before.
But, if I was to be asked, I’d say read the series in order. It really is that good.

Like a lot of us, DI Thomas Ridpath struggles to find time for the many aspects of his life. In this, the 11th of the series, Ridpath is again juggling being a single dad and his dual work roles as coroner’s officer and Met detective. He has been seconded to the Met and responsible for reinvestigating two disturbing cases that have only been superficially investigated. These are high stakes investigations and this makes it hard for him to be around for his daughter Eve who particularly needs him.
I always enjoy this series. It isn’t glib about crime or the consequences that come with investigating criminals. I enjoy spending time again with Sophia and Mrs Challinor. This installment was particularly intriguing and well paced. Thanks to Canelo crime and NetGalley for the arc.

I love this Ridpath series so was excited to read this instalment. Gripped from the start, the characters are likeable and it’s great to hear about Mrs Challinor. What seems like two unrelated investigations seem to come together. Plenty to keep me gripped till the end, I didn’t want it to end! Although it can be read as a standalone I recommend reading the series from the start to get all the background but also because they are so good.

Another fantastic read about Thomas Ridpath. Very harrowing in parts due to the subject matter of the premise. Well written with amazing characterisation. Kept me guessing from the first to the last page. Loved the backstory about the coroner Mrs Challinor and looking forward to the next offering..

When the dark whispers is another great crime thriller in the DI Ridpath series.
When a man sets himself on fire at a petrol station and a fourteen year old murders her mother Ridpath is sent from his secondment at the coroners office to help in the investigation . Realising these events are somehow linked he starts the investigation through as usual has to contend with more senior officers officious behaviour and disdain. The wokeness and promotion of senior officer who are not up to the role reminds me very much of the same situations in the NHS.
Despite being handicapped by a pretty useless and lazy junior detective and a senior officer determined to ruin Ridpath we have his dogged determination to ensure the facts and circumstances are thoroughly checked, which he does brilliantly.
An exciting read with a great finale, another winner from this very talented writer.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Two cases that appear unrelated. A man who douses himself in gasoline and then lights a match; a 14-year-old, who apparently killed her mother. There is always more than one thread to pull when DI Ridpath is involved. This time, I barely figured out the connection, maybe two pages before the author reveal. I cannot say much more without heading towards spoiler territory. I will say that, even though I did not agree with the reasons for these killings, part of me felt extremely sorry for what the killer had gone through. Until we meet again, Ridpath… Stay out of trouble.!

In the run up to Halloween something seems to be upsetting the people of Manchester.
A young teenager has apparently murdered her mother and a man has doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire. Both seemingly open and shut cases. But something isn’t right and DI Ridpath is asked to look into both cases and if he deaths. can find out what.
Given just two young, inexperienced detectives Ridpath delves into the background of the deaths. What he finds is incredibly disturbing and Ridpath is convinced there is a link, but they need to find it before any more people die.
This fast paced, thrilling story will have you hooked from first page to last. These books just get better and better.

I always save MJ Lee's books until I have read a few other NetGalley choices as I know that I shall enjoy them, they are well-crafted, the characters realistic, plots twisted but come together in the end. They are guaranteed quality. This time Ridpath is back to being a policeman although remains Coroner's Assistant. He upsets lazy, dim, non focussed, pole climbing detectives as much, or even more than ever, in his determination to see justice done. He and team have to deal with odd suicides, a pervert influencer I suppose you could call them and revenge. His daughter Eve is now 14/5 and has her own issues but, as usual works through them to come out better the other side. Father and daughter are rather alike in that respect and both are starting to come to terms with life without Polly, wife/mother, murdered some years ago now. A slightly abrupt ending with a definite 'phew'.

4/5 stars
As an avid reader of the DI Ridpath series, I was excited to read an advanced copy of the latest installment and it's safe to say it didn't disappoint!
What the Dark Whispers is structured similarly to the other books in the collection: two parallel and seemingly unrelated investigations lead the action, while the antagonist's diabolical plan is drip fed to us and Ridpath's home life once again takes a backseat to his work.
I thoroughly enjoy Lee's writing, not only because I'm Mancunian and enjoy playing 'Spot The Manc Landmark', but also due the crime-drama formula he seems to have down to a fine art. He reveals just enough to make us feel clever for spotting clues but not too much to ruin the ending. He manages to keep us on the hook, desperate to read through for answers.
The time jump at the end creates a mini cliffhanger but reading Ridpath's exposition-heavy dialogue in the finale felt clunky and unnecessary when we could have just witnessed the dramatic scene for ourselves? However, this doesn't take away from the ending itself and I finished the book happy with the way things had fallen.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment and I know I will be looking out for the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the advanced copy.