Dorset Crime Series

The Corfe Castle Murders - Book 1

When a body is found at the castle ruins, can DCI Lesley Clarke uncover the killer?

After being injured in a bomb attack in Birmingham, DCI Lesley Clarke relocates to the peace of rural Dorset.

But things don’t stay calm for long. Before she’s even started her new job, Lesley has to hit the ground running as she’s dragged into investigating a murder at one of England’s most iconic landmarks, the imposing Corfe Castle.

Can she navigate the politics of a smaller force and work with her new partner DS Dennis Frampton, who doesn’t appreciate her. And most importantly, can she solve the murder before the killer strikes again?

An unputdownable, character-driven mystery, perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves.

The Clifftop Murders - Book 2

A murder at Old Harry Rocks. A detective on a case that’s too close to home.

After moving to rural Dorset, DCI Lesley Clarke is settling into her new job at the Major Crimes Unit and becoming accustomed to a slower pace of life.

Until she's called in to solve the murder of a woman with links to Lesley's new girlfriend.

Has Lesley made a grave error of judgement? Can she track down the killer or does she already know her? And how will Lesley's new colleagues react when she tells them she's dating a suspect?

A fast-paced, gripping detective novel that fans of Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves will love.

The Island Murders - Book 3

A lonely island concealing a deadly mystery

When a body washes up on the shores of Brownsea Island, DCI Lesley Clarke initially suspects suicide. But as she investigates the death, growing close to the island’s isolated community, she starts to suspect foul play.

As the case deepens, Lesley uncovers the many secrets mysteries hidden within Brownsea Island – secrets that might just hold the key to the case.

Why did the victim argue with her best friend days before her death? What is the victim’s manager concealing from the investigation? What secrets isn’t the victim's manager keeping? And can Lesley get to the bottom of the mystery … before someone else dies?

The Monument Murders (Book 4)

When a body is found draped over Swanage’s iconic Globe monument, DCI Lesley Clarke is called in. A message points to the motive: Go Home.

Is this a hate crime? Or something closer to home?

Lesley must find the killer before he or she strikes again, all while dealing with a mutiny in her team and political pressure from her boss.

At the same time, a local journalist has been investigating the death of Lesley's predecessor - and claims to have key information. Wary of involving her team, Lesley brings in her old colleague Zoe Finch to help.

Will Lesley come out of this case with her reputation, her team, and her career intact?

The Millionaire Murders (Book 5)

An anonymous murder victim and a missing journalist: can Lesley uncover the truth?

DCI Lesley Clarke has too many suspects to choose from when a wealthy lawyer and her unidentified companion are found brutally murdered in a Sandbanks mansion.

Was it the victim's ex-husband, resentful at her new lifestyle? Her housekeeper, who found the bodies? Or could it have been a murder-suicide?

Lesley and her team must unravel the evidence and find the real killer, while also investigating the disappearance of local journalist Sadie Dawes. Did Sadie go on planned leave, as her manager insists, or did she get too close to the truth about DCI Mackie's death? Can Lesley's old colleague Zoe Finch find out more?

The Fossil Beach Murders (Book 6)

While DCI Lesley Clarke is now settled in her home in Dorset, her team at the Major Incident squad is close to collapse.

Just as Lesley feels she is getting closer to answers as to what is troubling her squad, she's forced to work on the other side of Dorset after a body is uncovered by a landslide at Lyme Regis's beach. Who is the body and what is the connection to DCI Mackie, Arthur Kelvin, and her girlfriend's law firm?

With a case that seems to have more questions than answers, it's going to take Lesley everything she has to track down a killer...

The Blue Pool Murders (Book 7)

DCI Lesley Clarke is a busy woman. She’s dealing with the reopened investigation into DCI Mackie's death, supporting DS Dennis Frampton through recurring mental health problems, and making plans for her own future. And then prominent crime boss Arthur Kelvin is found dead at a local beauty spot. Who killed him? Could it have been a member of his own gang? A rival, from within Dorset or further afield? Or maybe one of Kelvin's many victims?

The Lighthouse Murders (Book 8)

DCI Lesley Clarke is back in Dorset, and her world has turned upside down. One of the people she’s closest to is to under arrest for the murder of DCI Mackie and a body has been found in the remote lighthouse at Portland Bill. And not just any body, but the body of someone she investigated before moving to Dorset. Can Lesley win the trust of the close-knit Portland community and find the killer? And can DI Zoe Finch of the West Midlands force help her track down potential suspects?

The Ghost Village Murders (Book 9)

DCI Lesley Clarke thinks she's close to solving her predecessor’s murder. But when the body of a police officer connected to the crime turns up in the abandoned village of Tyneham, the case steps up a gear. And when someone she's close to is threatened by the killer, Lesley’s quest for the truth becomes even more urgent. Can Lesley convince her senior officers of the truth, keep her team on track and protect her family?

• Author  -  Rachel McLean
• Series / Key Character  -  DCI Lesley Clarke / Dorset Crime
• Illustrated  -  No
• Age -  Adult
• ISBN  -  various
• Publisher  -  Hera
• Date  -  n/a
• Format  -  Paperback
• Weight  -  260g
• Size  -  20 x 13 cm
  
• Pages  -  n/a
• RRP  -  £9.99

Awards:  None