Note: It’s best to read these after the Dorset and Zoe books, especially the Zoe books because of Mo moving to Scotland. But, as always, I’m writing them in a way that means there are no major spoilers if you do read this series first.

The third novel of the Dorset crime series by Rachel McLean is “The Island Murders.” At the opening of the story, many people in Lesley’s lie are getting deeper in the illegal activities of Arthur Kevin, a local crook in Dorset. Elsa Short, her girlfriend, is also one of these people. Sandra Court’s body was found dumped in a shallow river at Avon Causeway, Hurn in May 1986, just months before one of Britain’s most high-profile cases, the disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh in London. DCI Lesley Calrke is in Birmingham enjoying some good times with her daughter before she’s due to start working for the Dorset Police Major Crimes Investigations Team.Three: she has a team of all men, she could have easily turned it around and asked if it is against her because she’s a female? I recommend reading the DI Zoe Finch books in Birmingham (up to Book 6) before starting this series.

She works with detective sergeant Dennis Frampton, detective constable Michael Legg, detective constable Johnny Chiles, and police constables Mullins and Tinna Abbot. She also gets the support and skills of crime scene manager Gail Hansford. Even though some people in her team do not like her or the way she talks, nobody can dispute the fact that her methods work. After reading many novels over the years, she thought there was a gap in the genre waiting to be filled and this is just what she intends to do with her writing. Rachel At the start of the series, she is introduced as having been injured in a bombing incident in Birmingham and now rumors abound that she is afflicted with PTSD, among other mental issues.Four: there should be specific complaints to corroborate or dismiss; about her delegation capacity, not her health. Deadly Christmas – not part of the Freya series (it’s a Zoe book) but this is where she first appears.

Poor Lesley is having to manage multiple assignments without her right-hand man. The latest murder involves a body draped over the bulb in a lighthouse at Portland Bill. Even more surprising is that the body turns out to be that of a criminal who Zoe Finch put away for child grooming and other offences. He was recently being moved from the local prison when the convoy was ambushed and he was spirited away, only to be found dead. Lesley has to choose between getting some respite in a calmer locale or early retirement. Instead, she decides to take a new position in the Dorset Police Department in Major Crimes. This series will also feature DC Connie Williams from the Zoe Finch books and her partner Rav, who move in down the road from Freya. Freya can’t resist haranguing poor Connie for information about local crimes.She is soon informed that she will be in charge of the investigation alongside a small team from criminal investigations. Even though she hits the ground running, she butts heads with some traditionalists in her team who do not appreciate her style. I've been writing since I was old enough to hold a pen. In every job I've done, I've been the unofficial writer in residence, putting together briefing notes, press releases, training documents and anything else that involves putting pen to paper. As well as being the office expert on the possessive apostrophe.