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Dr. Jo McCready #4

The Invisible Dead

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People are dying in the West Yorkshire city of Fordley, from the kind of random, everyday accidents that happen in a busy city.

Or are they? Forensic pathologist Elle Richardson, doesn't think so. She believes there's a serial killer, stalking the streets. But with no hard evidence to go on, West Yorkshire police are treating them as unfortunate deaths.

Convinced she's right, Elle turns to her good friend, Forensic Psychologist Doctor Jo McCready. Working as a police consultant, Jo's methods have proved successful in the past. But this time, she'll have to go it alone, with none of the resources or backup of a major enquiry team.

If this is murder, Jo McCready must work out the link between these seemingly unrelated deaths - then get inside the mind of a killer.

As the body count rises, the clock is ticking down and Jo's profile leads her to one shocking and deadly conclusion. When people she cares about are put at risk, it's as personal as it gets and Jo must risk everything to win a deadly game of psychological cat and mouse. Can she prove her theory and prevent anyone else from dying before it's too late?

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2024

10 people are currently reading
68 people want to read

About the author

Lesley Mcevoy

11 books60 followers

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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Maddie.
703 reviews261 followers
August 28, 2024
The Invisible Dead is book four in Yorkshire Murder books series and it certainly doesn't disappoint.
Brilliantly written, tense, gripping plot, fantastic characters, Lesley Mcevoy writes a great crime thriller and I am definitely a fan.
I hope there'll plenty more books in that series. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Alan Cotterell.
562 reviews189 followers
August 1, 2024
A great read.

Having read the first three books in this series, (Book one the Murder Mile is one of my favourite books of all time)So I was delighted to see the fourth was due, and especially so to be allowed an ARC.

Although this is the fourth novel around the main characters it can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first three as quickly as you can as they are a great read.

The narrative is offset with humorous elements such as the description of Harvey the Boxer Dog ( I love Harvey) sulking

The characters are continuing to develop nicely and the romance element developing nicely

I can't wait for book 5 in the lives of these characters.
Profile Image for Georgia.
223 reviews8 followers
August 7, 2024
What can you do when you’re sure there’s a serial killer around, but all the deaths look accidental? Elle Richardson is convinced the deaths are linked. Teamed with her friend Jo McCready, the two investigate what they are sure are linked murders, but by doing so they may put themselves in danger…

This book is fast paced with a strong plot. The characters are written really well and it’s a very easy book to read. There were points I couldn’t put it down and had no clue what was coming next. Touching on dark subjects and mental health, this book guides the reader through numerous deaths, all of which feel like real life. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a good crime or thriller!

I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Natalie M.
1,459 reviews98 followers
September 2, 2024
Oooh what a premise. It had me all the way.

Forensic pathologist Elle Richardson thinks she has discovered tragic deaths that are actually murders. West Yorkshire police don’t agree. Enter Elle’s good friend Forensic Psychologist Dr Jo McCready. What is her take on these events- accidents or on purposes?

Are these murders? What is the link? And how do you get the right people to pay attention? Despite this being the fourth book on the series, it can be read as a standalone (but you’ll also miss out on some great reading in books 1-3).

A very good series. The authenticity of the characters and the writing soar in this instalment.
469 reviews4 followers
July 5, 2024
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last. This was a clever books that had you looking at the smallest details trying to work out what’s happening and who did it.
Profile Image for Georgina Prince.
193 reviews5 followers
August 7, 2024
This book is so so good, I spent 90% of the book trying to Put the pieces together and I couldn’t figure it out, but when the ending came together it was perfect! Everything tied in perfectly and made sense in a “I didn’t see that coming way”, I guessed some of the motive from the clues but the ending worked so well! The sprinkling of a little romance and relationship angst for the main character was perfect and never overshadowed the crime thriller element.

The writing was great, short chapters which I personally loved made the story flow really well and kept the pacing perfect. Dr. jo is such a bad ass, she’s intelligent and instinctual and an all round really strong female lead. I adored the psychology side it was all so interesting.

I believe there are 3 books before this but it can absolutely be read as a standalone like I did, that being said I am 100% going back to read the first 3. This is a new favourite crime thriller author for me, a perfectly crafted book.
Profile Image for Christine.
127 reviews7 followers
August 2, 2024
Who doesn't love a good " Is there a serial killer on the loose?" Thriller! This is Book 4 in the Dr Jo McCready Mystery series, you can absolutely read this as a standalone like I have, but this was such a great read that I will be adding the others from this series to my TBR to read as soon as I can!

What I loved about this was that it was face paced, a storyline that kept me wanting to read more. I did find that because I hadn't read the others in this series, it took me a little bit to get into it. However, this did not take away from the fact of how good it was.

I enjoyed the detail throughout this of the procedures, the investigation, even the dialect between the characters and even the character development throughout is a testament to the research and the time that Leslie McEvoy has spent writing this series.

There were twists and turns that keep you on your toes, and although from reading a lot of thrillers I did guess who the bad guy was, it was a gripping and thrilling read where I wanted to know what was happening next
Profile Image for Nikki Brooks.
3,573 reviews55 followers
July 20, 2024
For a small town Fordley is having a high proportion of "accidental deaths". But the local pathologist sees a pattern in the random deaths and flags the anomalies to her friend and Forensic Psychologist, Jo. Jo already has a bit of a reputation for getting herself involved in murder investigations so she decides to give the data a look over.

Jo realises that Elle may be right, there are some major red flags over the psychology of these suspicious deaths and as delves into the individual cases, a common factor appears to link them all!

I loved meeting Jo, she is such a deliciously complicated character. She has flaws, blind spots and biases just like everyone else. Her relationship with Cal was over before it began really and now Ed wants to move them on to the next stage and she finds herself distancing herself. I really did want to give her a hug at times.

She is quite a good judge of character overall and I loved the scenes in the police station incident room. I actually work with the same kind of team in another area and the banter, dark humour, casual threats of bodily harm are all so true to life! Whilst of course there are some artistic twists on the investigation, most of the techniques and procedures are ones that I'm very familiar with.

There were plenty of twists and turns and my very cynical brain did make a jump to the right "baddie", I didn't quite get the motivation right.

I really enjoyed meeting Jo and the crew and I'm going to go find the previous books in this series and add them to the TBR!

TW: Suicidal secondary character on page, drug abuse, sexual misadventure alluded to, child abuse
Profile Image for Jane Bridger.
67 reviews3 followers
February 27, 2025
Having just read all four books in Lesley McEvoy's Yorkshire Murder series back to back, I feel bereft that I now have to wait for book five. All the books are 5 ⭐️ reads.
The Invisible Dead is tense, gripping and a true page turner. Jo McCready's best friend Senior Pathologist Elle Richardson believes some recent deaths aren't all that they seem and runs her thoughts past Jo. None of these deaths are thought to be suspicious so the police are not investigating them, if Elle is suspicious that's good enough for Jo. Jo starts looking into the deaths and what follows is an intense rollercoaster ride.
I listened to these on Audible, book one The Murder Mile had a different narrator who I liked but the narrator of books 2-4 has become Jo McCready for me.
Profile Image for Amy Louise.
433 reviews20 followers
August 2, 2024
It’s always a delight to discover a new crime series but it can be a bit intimidating to pick up a book and discover that, as is the case with The Invisible Dead, its the fourth instalment in an established series. Fortunately Lesley McEvoy does an excellent job of introducing new readers to Forensic Psychologist Dr Jo McCready and her colleagues, as well as to the fictional West Yorkshire city of Fordley.

As a bustling city, Fordley gets its fair share of accidental deaths. But Forensic Pathologist Elle Richardson doesn’t think some of the cases she’s seen over the last twelves months are as accidental as they might first appear. Recognising that she has little by way of hard evidence, Elle asks her good friend, Forensic Psychologist and police consultant Dr Jo McCready, to look into the psychology of these suspicious deaths. Working without the resources or backup of a major enquiry team, Jo soon begins to suspect that Elle is right. Which means that a serial killer with an alarming ability to cover up their tracks is on the loose in Fordley…

Although Fordley is fictional, The Invisible Dead is very firmly rooted in Yorkshire and I got a real sense of the place that Lesley McEvoy has created. As Jo’s investigation progresses, we move between areas of the city that have been redeveloped – where regeneration cash flows and tourists flock – and areas that have been long-neglected, where the vulnerable and impoverished can fall prey to criminal gangs. As with Ian Rankin’s Rebus series, McEvoy does a fantastic job of showing the reader the way in which these two halves of the city both connect and collide. As you might expect given the genre of the book, this does lead to discussions of some challenging topics so content warnings are advised for suicidal thoughts/suicide attempt, drug use/drug abuse, and discussions of domestic violence, grooming, and coercive control. The after-effects of infidelity and grief are also, briefly, discussed in the course of one of the storylines and there are some scenes within medical settings.

In terms of protagonists, Jo was, for me, immediately likeable but, more importantly, she felt real. The Invisible Dead sees her grappling with her relationship with DCI Callum Ferguson and, although its frustrating to read at times, I liked the way in which both Jo and Callum are shown struggling to articulate the way in which they feel about each other and how they are going to redefine their relationship in the wake of past mistakes. They both definitely have their foibles but this just makes them seem real whilst also making them a great pairing (both investigative and romantic) to read about! I also didn’t feel as if I’d missed out on character backstories by not reading the other books in the series (although I suspect there might be a couple of spoilers in this book about personal events that occur in previous entries).

As for the investigation itself, it was unusual to read about an off-the-books investigation that isn’t portrayed as being ‘renegade’ or ‘maverick’ in any way. Instead, Jo is carefully evaluating the psychology of the victims in each case and stress-testing the assumption that their deaths were accidental in various ways. It made for a unique way to examine fairly well-worn territory and definitely made The Invisible Dead stand out a bit more. I read a LOT of crime fiction – especially police procedurals – but the psychological aspects and Jo’s position as a police consultant (as opposed to a police officer or private detective) made this one stand out for me.

Overall The Invisible Dead is an accomplished police procedural with a compelling investigation and a sympathetic and likeable protagonist at its heart. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and have already picked up the first novel in the series from my local library with a view to catching up on previous instalments!

NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Lynsey.
757 reviews34 followers
August 7, 2024
‘The Invisible Dead’ is a cracking read that is packed full of realistic details, well-formed characters and there are enough twists and turns to make you dizzy! This is the fourth book in the Jo McCready series but is easily read as a standalone, I was new to this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will be going back to pick up the previous books as I want to know more about her relationship with her ex etc.

When Jo’s close friend Elle, a local pathologist, mentions that she thinks there are some anomalies in a few of her cases, she asks Jo to take a look at them. Two are overdoses and the third is a case of auto-erotica. Jo soon realises that Elle is right and there is someone out there getting away with murder. But is it one person who is involved or are they looking for numerous murderers?

This was one well-researched piece of fiction and it comes as across as really authentic and realistic. It is a combination of a police procedural and a more psychological slant on the crimes. It proves to be a winning combination. This was devoured in a couple of sittings and towards the end, I just could not put it down. Jo is a well-balanced and developed character so is also battling personal problems with her ex and new boyfriend. Let’s just say I'm rooting for the ex!

The narrative does touch on some dark topics but does so with a great deal of empathy. Hidden away in the narrative are actually some good pointers if you ever find yourself in one of these situations. Remember it is never too late to ask for help.

Let me know if you pick this one up!
Profile Image for Shona.
536 reviews19 followers
August 6, 2024
People are dying in the West Yorkshire city of Fordley, from the kind of random, everyday accidents that happen in a busy city. Or are they? Forensic pathologist Elle Richardson, doesn't think so and believes there's a serial killer, stalking the streets. Convinced she's right, Elle turns to her good friend, Forensic Psychologist Doctor Jo McCready. If this is murder, Jo must work out the link between these seemingly unrelated deaths, getting inside the mind of a killer. As the body count rises, the clock is ticking down and Jo's profile leads her to one shocking and deadly conclusion. When people she cares about are put at risk, Jo must risk everything to win a deadly game of psychological cat and mouse.

This is the first title I have read by this author, and although I’m aware that this is the fourth in a series, it works really well as a standalone title and I don’t feel I lacked any background having not read the rest.

Jo is a great character, I enjoyed how the author details the thought process of the characters, the analytical approach to behaviours and seeing the underlying clues in what people say and how they act. Halfway through the book I thought I had it all worked out but I was proved wrong, the twists and turns kept coming with a very dramatic conclusion.

Loved the inclusion of Harvey the dog as some light relief, detailing the personal side of Jo’s character, alongside the tension of the investigating aspect. I will definitely be looking to read more by this author in the future.
Profile Image for Annie.
943 reviews14 followers
August 9, 2024
The firstI have read by this author, which although it is number 4 in a series, is fine as a stand alone . The book is told from the point of view of Jo, a forensic psychologist which is an unusual but interesting angle on crime . It is set in West Yorkshire and begins as a girl is threatening to jump off a tall building.. Looking at her life, Jo discovers there are links to the underworld of weapon crimes and drugs, an ongoing theme throughout the book. Elle, the pathologist is convinced that a spate of recent deaths are not what they seem, accidental or death by misadventure. With the mounting bodycount of murders in the area, the police do not have time to investigate these closed cases, but Jo's ex (Callum) suggests that she can look further. She does this, putting both her own life and that of friends close to her in danger.
What a great read, twisty, interesting and believable. There are triggers for child abuse and drug problems . I liked the unusual take on the investigation and was suprised by the ending , I don't say that very often! I will definately look out for more from this author.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
Profile Image for ericas_bookreviews .
205 reviews7 followers
August 9, 2024
The Invisible Dead is the fourth book featuring Dr Jo McCready but is my first read from this author, this can definitely be read as a standalone with the author doing a great job of reintroducing the characters. I'll absolutely be reading more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book and loved the plot line, I always enjoy a police procedural and the unique spin of focusing on Forensic Psychologist Jo and with no 'official' murders made this even better. I instantly liked the character of Jo, she was so real & relatable, passionate about her job but also has flaws like us all, the dynamic & interactions between the characters are great with the author developing them really well.

I loved the fast pace of this book and quickly found myself engrossed in the story, the twists & turns and dark themes made it a perfect thriller yet there was also a little banter & humour thrown in making it a real all rounder.
Profile Image for Sandra Leivesley.
981 reviews17 followers
August 6, 2024
Forensic psychologist, Dr Jo McCready and her pathologist friend believe that several deaths, ruled as suicides or accidental deaths, are actually murders. But proving it is going to be a problem!

As with the other books in the series, this is well plotted and realistic, and fast paced. The characters in the book continue to develop more and more and I love jo, who is very likeable, but has her flaws. I also love her boxer dog, Harvey, who adds some welcome light relief to the dark themes of the book. As we got nearer and nearer to the books conclusion the tension really ramped up and I was listening on the edge of my seat. This is a fab crime series set in Yorkshire and if you haven't discovered it yet I recommend you start from book 1, The Murder Mile.

The book is brilliantly narrated by Clare Corbett.
Profile Image for Maria.
1,220 reviews17 followers
September 27, 2024
This book was so good.

I haven't had this much "fun" with a grizzly thriller since I last checked in with Robert Hunter - and that's saying something, in my world.

I would binge this series if there were 5, or even 12, more books. That's how much I like Dr. Jo McCready and feel intrigued by the stories Lesley Mcevoy has spun so far.

The murders in this book are so insidious.
Feels weird to put it this way, but I loved how original, twisted, and imaginative this whole plot felt. I consume a lot of mysteries nowadays, and sometimes I think there are no new ideas left in the world.

Then something like this series drops - written by an intelligent and inventive author - and breathes new life into my belief in the genre.

Now excuse me while I (im)patiently wait for the next book.
107 reviews7 followers
August 7, 2024
I did not realise this book was the 4th in the series but this can most definitely be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.

This book had me absolutely gripped. All of the characters, how everything played out it made for such good reading. I could not turn the pages fast enough.

It was so intricate and all so well thought out. The pace was perfect. Jo’s character was incredibly well written. I loved how we got to see all of the elements that made her who she is and how her gut feeling was right all along.
Profile Image for Susan.
391 reviews3 followers
July 19, 2024
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I loved this book, couldn't put it down and when I had to all I could think about was picking it back up again.

This appears to be book 4 in a series, but can easily be read as a standalone. I'm going now to check out the other books in the series!
Profile Image for Ann.
540 reviews
January 17, 2026
4.5
Another great book following the story of Jo McCready, Forensic Psychologist and DCI Callum Ferguson.
I didn't work this out until the killer was revealed.
Excellent writing and great narration by Clare Corbett
Profile Image for Alia.
24 reviews5 followers
October 12, 2024
I love this book. I love Jo! Looking forward to many more of these! This series does not bore me at all
Profile Image for Rob.
Author 1 book
February 2, 2025
Excellent read. The series is getting better and better.
Profile Image for Linda.
1,231 reviews4 followers
November 13, 2025
Another tense, gripping story in this engaging (not to say addictive!) series.
Profile Image for Kirsten .
490 reviews173 followers
March 31, 2025
Absolutely the best of the 4! Would have given 4 stars if it wasn’t for the melodramatic prolonged ending. And Jo McCready’s acute sensitivity still grates on me, but I understand it as part of her professional stance. I think the author has improved her skills for writing banter, which is no mean feat.
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