I really enjoyed this book, the first one I’ve read by this author I loved the characters and the development between them all- I had points of real concern for Ridpath at points in the book which is unusual for the first time I’ve met a character!

#2 in the DI Ridpath series, but easy to read as a stand-alone.

DI Ridpath is driving along the busy M60 in Manchester when a young man wearing just a pair of boxer shorts runs in front of his car.  He manages to avoid hitting him, and the man carries on running, but this time into the path of a truck.

Ridpath had also seen another man chasing him, armed with a gun….but no one else saw him.

1990’s Manchester had been a violent time in the city, with gangs and drugs, but it now has an uneasy peace…...is this young man’s death about to start a return to the violence?

Great characters and a unique story from Ridpath’s view working in the coroner's office, with a twisty, compelling plot.

Thank you to the publishers, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.

When a detective is the only witness to a perfect crime.

Where the Dead Fall is the second book in the DI Ridpath series but it can be easily read as a standalone. There is enough backstory which explains everything that happened in the last book. DI Ridpath, recovering from cancer and shafted from the police dept to the coroner’s office, is in the process of getting his life back together when everything goes wrong. Ridpath becomes the prime witness to a murder, right on a busy highway. When not even his own police dept. is ready to believe in him, Ridpath has to prove that not only he is right, but also unearth a sinister plot that threatens the whole of Manchester.

Right from the thrilling opening scene to the climax, Where the Dead Fall is a non-stop thrill ride. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the story that will keep you guessing. The story has 3 parallel tracks; Ridpath’s personal life, the office politics, and the main mystery. All 3 tracks have complimented each other so well, you never feel bored as the story seamlessly switches between the three. The office politics part was well researched and realistic & Ridpath’s personal story is so endearing and heartbreaking at times, that you are almost rooting for him to succeed. Ridpath’s struggles with the politics at his workplace as well as the turmoil in his personal life adds another dimension to the story.

The mystery part feels slightly overshadowed in the first half but it gets into top gear into the second half. The story makes you believe that this will be another murder mystery but it turns out to be so much more. The pace of the novel which is brisk and fast-moving with few dull moments and an ever-changing landscape. The background of Manchester’s gangland wars is really well done. 

M J Lee has done an excellent job of bringing to life some unique characters, even the minor ones. Ridpath is such a well-crafted character; recovering from cancer, abandoned by his colleagues and now his family but giving his all to his new job. The book is readable, just to follow the ups & downs in his life. I believe the characters have elevated the story to another level. 

Overall, this was an excellent follow up to the first book of the series. The storyline in this book continues from the first book, Where The Truth Lies, and though this book can be read as a standalone, It is recommended to read the first book as well. I hope there will be a third in this series as I'd love to see where Ridpath goes from here. If you are looking for a thriller with some solid characters and unique twists, you will enjoy this one. 

Many thanks to the publishers Canelo, the author M J Lee and NetGalley for the ARC.

Detective Thomas Ridpath is back for a second novel, and is still assigned to the Coroners Office whilst in remission from cancer.  Someone is attacking the children of major gangsters, and gang warfare is on the horizon.  After opening with a really dramatic scene, the books grips and doesn’t let go. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, and this sequel was not a disappointment. I am very much looking forward to seeing what is next for Ridpath.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the ARC.

I am a committed M J Lee and D I Ridpath fan! The story-line twists and turns and his role as a Coroner's Officer is an unusual setting for a crime novel.

I thought this would follow on from the first novel in the series, but not a bit of it. Brilliant beginning, middle and ending, and all so very different.

Long may M J Lee and D I Ridpath continue!

When DI Ridpath sees a man running away from a man with a gun across the M60 - and getting hit by a truck he causes chaos by closing the motorway on match day.  Nobody else sees the man with the gun but he is adamant on what he saw.  Causing problems with his career and dealing with only just returning to work after cancer treatment. he keeps digging. until the truth is found.

Another great book by Lee although some of the references to how Ridpath is feeling tired etc can be a bit repetitive.

I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Where The Dead Fall’ by M J Lee.  I really enjoyed the first book in the series and this does not disappoint.

DI Thomas Ridpath is on the M60 during rush hour  to take out his family, however a man in boxers runs into his car an is hit by a lorry.  Ridpath is sure he sees a gunman standing by the side of the road that this man is obviously running away from.

‘Where The Dead Fall’ sees DI Ridpath continue his secondment to the Coroner’s Office. It’s a multi layered story set in Manchester and picks up long forgotten gang related patch war.  A twisty story sees you learn more about Ridpath, he is recovering from cancer and he’s struggling to get back into ‘normal’ life and find a way back to his family who are currently estranged.

Worth picking up the first in the series as it’s a good story too, but this could be read as a stand-alone.

A great read, kept my interest and kept me guessing till the end. I definitely want to read the first DI Ridpath book now (and the next!).

Another fab read by M J Lee. Gripping page turner. Love the main character Ridpath, so flawed but a brilliant detective. Highly recommend

I love the authors idea of a shopping mall as being hell , so do I . This made me like whatever was to come if they thought that then we had the same idea of life and what a crime book should be. Its the second in a series but can be read alone. The characters are believable which makes the book enjoyable to read. Just  follow the breadcrumbs of clues littered throughout and be immersed in a good book. It has  a pace that allows you to enjoy all the words and not skip them to see what comes next. I sat and read it in one sitting but then I read quite fast especially if I am enjoying the book.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I haven't read the previous book in this series bu that hasn't impacted on the reading of this one.

The author sets the scene surrounding DI Ridpath and his place in the police force. He is a likeable character and well defined. The opening scenes of the book are full of impact in more ways than one and this continues throughout the book. I loved the way different branches of the police are portrayed and the internal wrangling that Lee describes so well. 

It is realistic in how events unfold and I had no idea of who the girl was. I intend to go back and read the first book in the series and will be eagerly waiting for more

Another great novel in the DI Ridpath series. Some laugh out load humour too.
 The opening few chapters see the motorway networks around Manchester grind to a halt all because of one man, DI Ridpath. If he failed to brake in time when a naked man dashed across the motorway, maybe he wouldn’t have seen the man’s pursuer and therefore wouldn’t have to declare the motorway a crime scene. With terse comments between the various echelons of the GMP we see Ridpath out on a limb again.
A novel with dark humour, sexist humour, possibly every type of humour, making a fast moving crime thriller a pleasure to read.

I have to admit to  having not read the first book in the DI Ridpath series - an oversight I must rectify at the earliest opportunity. .
The action and tension starts straight away and continues to build up with the turn of every page.
DI Ridpath  is trying to get his life back together . He is in remission from cancer ,dealing with family problems and resentful at being seconded to the Coroner's Office - even though this was seen as a way of easing him back into work..
On his way to collect his daughter he is caught up in a motorway accident. A young man ,dressed only in new blue boxer shorts,runs across the motorway,rests his hands on the bonnet of Ridpath's car (he'd managed to brake in time ) , looks over to the hard shoulder then runs on to be hit by a truck..
Ridpath had seen an armed man on the hard shoulder so proceeded to close the road down and declare the area a crime scene...As this then resulted in gridlock when a big match was due to start he became very unpopular with 'the powers that be' -  especially when no other witnesses came forward and nothing showed up on CCTV.
And so the plot unfolds with more bodies who appear to be unconnected , Ridpath having a hard time convincing anyone that there is a connection and looking increasingly like being made a scapegoat. as the threat of a turf war between rival gangs once again rears its ugly head.
This is a fast paced , compelling read. and I look forward to coming across DI Ridpath again.

An excellent crime thriller which gripped me from the start, I just couldn’t stop reading.  DI Ridpath is now working for the Coroners office but still manages to unravel a very complex set of murders.  An excellent story - looking forward to book 3.

I love a good British crime/police drama and this book did not disappoint. I found the story thrilling and the writing excellent. A great read for lovers of the genre and a really good read for everyone else!

DI Ridpath seems to be at something of a crossroads in his career, he's recovering from cancer and as a result seems to have been put on a version of light duties by being assigned as a Coroner's officer. However when he witnesses a fatal accident that he believes is no accident he gets thrown into the thick of it. Initially he's on his own in believing it's more than just an accident and ruffles a few feathers before eventually others come round to his way of thinking.  Due to his working with the Coroner he's able to tie a few loose ends from other cases together and that's when the book goes into overdrive and becomes one you don't want to put down. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the others in the series (including the one that preceded this).

This is a well written book, it has that "can't put it down" feeling. I found myself reading this in the middle of the night when something else woke me up.

A naked man runs across the M60 and is mown down by a lorry, he must be off his head on drugs or is he?  One witness is DI Ridpath and he thinks he saw the man being chased by a gunman.  Attached to the coroner's department Ridpath comes across the case of another man accidentally drowned but there is a strange link to the motorway case, both men were naked except for their blue boxer shorts.  Also the drowning victim is the image of the gunman but he died a week earlier.  As all the deaths are linked to two prominent Manchester crime families, the police are aware that any false move could result in all out gang warfare.
This is the second outing for DI Ridpath in the series but a welcome new book from Lee.  The experience of Lee's writing shines through with complex but not unbelievable characters, and a satisfyingly twisty plot which is also not so farfetched.

This story bounds along with DI Ridpath trying to self-destruct at every opportunity. Estranged from his wife and daughter, he turns what little energy he has to solving an apparently unconnected series of deaths. Caught between the Coroner's Office and police work, he works the case without the approval of his two "guvnors". 
Lee propels the reader along, suspending disbelief, linking history, forensics and police detail in a great ride. 
Ridpath is frustrating, never quite getting his personal life untangled and his illness hangs over him like a sword. 
If you enjoy a rollicking British mystery, this one is a treat.

I enjoyed the second in the series probably a little bit more than the previous one. I quite like Ridpath, he's working on me. 
The story is good, solid and written well. 
A book that you don't want to stop reading as it gets under your skin and I found myself thinking about it, do I gave in and finished it with several 'what the' moments. 

Thanks to NetGalley, Canelo and M J Lee for the opportunity to read this book.