Another excellent read in the "Inspector Ridpath" series.

Ridpath is still torn between juggling work and raising his daughter Eve, who is growing up fast.

The plot is extremely well thought out, with red herrings aplenty to throw you off the trail, just when you thought you had it all figured out...

These novels feel very authentic to me, as I grew up in the region and know many of the places mentioned - the settings are well described even if you don't know the area though!

A good cast of old and new characters, and an understanding of the sort of wrangling that goes on in large organisations all adds to the writing.

Looking forward to more Ridpath stories...

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

Another part of the Detective Ripath series, I have read quite a few of these and all, including this one are good. This book is about different, seemingly unrelated crimes in and around Manchester . Ridpath is a widowed father of Eve, who is now a teenager . She misses her mother and after she was involved with a criminal, has her own fears. The crimes in this book gradually come to make sense, though at first Ridpath seems to get off on rubbing some of his seniors up the wrong way . He was irritating at times that he wanted to pursue the less obvious threads of an investigation, however everything does start to make sense in the closing chapters of the book.
I like that Eve is starting to make sense of her family situation and that Ridpath is also starting to recognize the effect that his demons are having on his life
I enjoyed the book on the whole, though it is 4 rather than 5 stars for me, due to the confusion at first and Ridpath's attitude. Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book

As always MJ Lee write a great crime thriller.
Ridpath is balancing being a father and working for the police and coroner’s office, He’s asked to look into an unexplained death and goes on the hunt till he finds the truth. We meet a new character who helps him through and hopefully we will hear more from her in the next book.
Once I start reading a MJ Lee book I’m hooked and this series is definitely the best. This book can be read as a stand alone however to truth get the back story it better to be read as a series and follow the great characters

What a banger! I hadn't read such a good detective thriller in a long time. What the Dark Whispers felt like diving straight into a high-quality British crime drama, but on the page.

Even though this is book 11 in the DI Ridpath series (how did I miss 10 of these?!), it worked perfectly as a standalone. But now that I’ve read this one, I’m 100% starting from book 1. I need more of this series in my life, very addictive!

Ridpath is such an easy character to root for. He’s layered and likeable, and his personal life adds real emotional weight to the story. His relationship with his daughter, Eve, who’s dealing with the fallout of a traumatic past, gives the book more depth without slowing it down one bit. I also really liked the addition of his new DC, Megan, I hope we see more of her in future books!

There’s plenty of action and tension throughout, and it was actually really satisfying to get the villain’s backstory and see what was driving him, even while Ridpath was on his tail. So well done.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves gritty detective thrillers with heart. I couldn’t put it down!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

A man sets fire to himself in a petrol station and Ridpath becomes involved in the investigation of this and also a 14-year old girl accused of killing her mother. Meanwhile his MIT team are looking into a home invasion where an entire family has been slaughtered. Ridpath's daughter Eve is struggling in the aftermath of the attack. Can he help his daughter as well as solve these cases?
I really like Lee's series of procedurals and this is another great instalment. There is a lot of humour in the writing and the interpersonal relationships are handled well. Here Ridpath comes across a couple of antagonistic colleagues, promoted above him and determined to exert their power. I also like the twin narratives about Eve and Anita, vulnerable teenage girls but very different in their treatment.

As a long-time fan of M.J. Lee’s Ridpath series, What the Dark Whispers delivers exactly what I’ve come to love: a tightly woven police procedural with a dark, compelling mystery at its core. From the very first chapter — a man setting himself alight in a quiet Manchester suburb and a teenage girl murdering her mother — the story plunges you into a chilling web of secrets, lies, and unexpected connections.

Detective Inspector Ridpath is once again the calm in the storm, methodically working through the maze of murder and misdirection. You sort of sense where the narrative is heading, but the clever way Lee unveils the serial killer — piece by piece, layer by layer — makes the journey thoroughly satisfying. The tension builds gradually, never feeling forced, and the payoff is rewarding without needing to rely on cheap twists. The plot is carefully constructed, each thread connecting in ways that are both believable and disturbing.

While it doesn’t quite reach the emotional punch or pace of the series’ very best, it’s still a standout read for anyone who enjoys intelligent crime fiction. Highly recommended for fans of dark procedurals who appreciate a slow-burn mystery that respects the reader’s intelligence.

Detective Inspector Ridpath, still working as the Coroner’s Officer, finds himself investigating a set of particularly puzzling deaths. Just why would a man set himself on fire in a petrol station and why would a fourteen-year-old girl kill her mother? When a link is made between these seemingly unconnected deaths, Ridpath must try to figure out what has made these people do what they have done while trying to stop others experiencing the same fate.

Book eleven in the Ridpath series and each one is as good as the last. While this could be read as a standalone, there are some elements of What the Dark Whispers that link back to previous books and could serve as a spoiler should you go back and read the rest of the series.

Ridpath has dealt with some disturbing cases over the cause of his career, but this may be one of the most disturbing yet. M J Lee has managed to link together a series of horrific crimes, creating a motive that really makes the reader think about justice and the reason people feel compelled to do what they do.

While Ridpath’s homelife isn’t as prevalent in What the Dark Whispers, we still see him struggling with his daughter and the aftermath of previous events, not realising how close she is is becoming to his current case. I liked how these plots linked together, creating incredibly tense moments.

This is still one of my favourite series and I look forward to book twelve!

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.