The Clifftop Murders

Dorset Crime #2

by Rachel McLean

DCI Lesley Clarke is settling into her new job in Dorset's Major Crimes Unit, and becoming accustomed to a slower pace of life.

But then 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?

The Clifftop Murders is the second instalment in the gripping Dorset Crime series, in which rural Dorset is a whole lot darker than the holiday brochures would have you think.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Procedural, Detective

Paperback

First published July 20, 2021

About the author

My name's Rachel McLean and I write stories you can't put down, with characters you'll be rooting for.

I'm best known for my Dorset Crime series, which has sold over a million copies. The first book in that series, The Corfe Castle Murders, won the 2021 Kindle Storyteller Award.

Here's what Clare Balding (the lead judge) had to say about the book:

'I particularly enjoyed the detail of the landscape and the humorous oddities of Dorset life. I enjoyed the richness of the characters, complexity of life for a working mother who is thrown into a new environment and has to prove herself, all over again.'

But The Corfe Castle Murders is by no means my only book. I've published five series and am working on two new ones, all of which connect. You'll find characters from each series in one or more of the other ones, so you (and I) get to follow them as they take on new challenges.

For example:

DCI Lesley Clarke is Zoe's boss in the DI Zoe Finch series and then moves to Dorset where she becomes the star of the Dorset Crime series.
DS Mo Uddin is Zoe's best friend and sidekick, then moves to Scotland for the McBride & Tanner series.
DC Tina Abbott is a key character in the Dorset Crime series and plays an important role in the new Lyme Regis Women's Swimming Club series of mysteries which stars her mum, Annie.
Zaf Williams starts off in the DI Zoe Finch series then moves to London and is one of the stars of the London Cosy Mysteries series (along with his colleague Diana and Gus the cat).
Dr Petra McBride appears in no fewer than three series and I'm planning a new series for her in 2026.
And not to be outdone, Zoe Finch has two series in which she stars: the DI Zoe Finch series of 'Deadly' books, and the Cumbria Crime series.
Once you get to know these characters, you'll find plenty of books to keep you entertained. And I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

You can read a full list of the series and books on my books page. Each series is designed to be read in order but which series you go for first is really up to you.

Reviews

[Chris Steeden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m off down to Swanage, Dorset so it must be time to read the next instalment of the Dorset Crime Book series. This is book 2. Right, let’s settle down to see who is bumped off and if our intrepid DCI, Lesley Clarke, can track down the murderer and solve the case.

True to form it does not take long for a 34-year-old woman who is a junior partner at a Bournemouth law firm to be dispatched off a cliff near Old Harry Rocks. She knows her killer but who is it? The evidence points to one person but are they the killer?

This time the locale spreads to places like Bournemouth, Boscombe, Ringwood, Dorchester and Christchurch. I thought this was a little better than the first book. Seemed to have a bit more depth to it. These are very easy reads. OK, they may not be the best whodunnit’s in the world but they keep you engaged. Although the murders can be somewhat grisly it still has a certain quaintness about it.

We did walk from Ballard Down to Old Harry. Nothing to report other than the walk being absolutely spectacular.

[Miss J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, enjoyable read.

[charlotte, · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rep: bi mc, lesbian mc

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

DCI Lesley Clarke has moved from Birmingham to Dorset for a six-month stint after suffering PTSD following a bombing. Expecting a slower pace of life she is soon embroiled in investigating the murder of a young lawyer who appears to have been pushed off the cliff early one morning. Lesley is worried because the lawyer was a junior partner in the law firm where her new girlfriend Elsa is a named partner.

The more Lesley and her team investigate the murder, the more suspicious they become of the law firm, but Lesley's sergeant, DS Dennis Frampton (why do I keep thinking his name is Weaver?) is keeping important evidence from her.

There is also a story arc relating to the death of Lesley's predecessor DCI Mackie which was ruled a suicide. Initially Lesley just wanted to know why no-one would talk about him, but her former colleague Zoe (who I understand is the protagonist of a predecessor series) has uncovered some facts which call the verdict into question. We learn some more in this book, but my thought when I read the novella about who might be involved may have been a bit premature as the individual may also be concerned about the verdict.

Anyway, trying to be good and read ARCs in between bingeing this series ...

[Lucy Payne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great start to the book when there's a continuation error on the 2nd page - "Her husband Tom was only too happy to stay in bed on Sunday mornings and keep an eye on their daughters"
4 lines down the children are named as Brandon?? and Daisy. Chapter Five confirms they have a boy and a girl. A small error but it annoyed me, just felt like it started off on the wrong foot. There was also instead of the word 'an' it was written as Ann like the name, again small error call me pedantic but it annoys me to find errors in a book.

Not quite the gripping story line I thought this would be, I found it a confusing read there are way too many names to remember who is who. Plus throw all the police ranks on top of that and sometimes instead of names it'd be just 'Sarge' or 'DCI', 'DS' and so on. It was very hard to keep up.

Nothing was really tied up I'm still left wondering what did Nevin mean when he said Ameena had talked? About what?
What about Johnny if I remember rightly it may have been someone else, what happens to the man working for the Kelvins?
Just felt like it wasn't a case of who dunnit it was more about Lesley and Elsa which was up and down and a bit boring. Probably not going to read the next book in this series. 😕

[beverly barker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolute rubbish- DCI Clark is the rudest, most arrogant, bullying, ageist, ignorant detective character I had the displeasure to encounter.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Clifftop Murders is the second novel in the Dorset Crime Series by author Rachel McLean. And featuring Detective Chief Inspector Lesley Clarke. The detective has recently arrived from Birmingham, where she had been involved in uncovering police corruption. In Dorset, her small team consists of Detective Sergeant Dennis Crampton and two male Detective Constables. Sergeant Crampton has issues working for a woman and has a strong dislike for hr bad language, which she promises to try to control. His ire is further raised when a young female uniformed PC is brought into the team by Lesley. The story opens with Lesley having a quiet weekend with her daughter, Sharon, who has recently completed her GCSEs and who normally lives with her father and his girlfriend in the former matrimonial home, where Lesley had found him in bed with the girlfriend and had promptly left. (See the previous book). As in all good crime novels, it is Sunday and then the telephone rings. Lesley is soon at the crime scene on the cliffs above Old Harry Rock at Studland. The trail soon starts to conflict with her recently discovered girlfriend, a local solicitor and then a second body is found.

The DCI comes across as a good character who seems much as expected, and the story evolves around her and how she likes to build the case with solid evidence and not conjecture or theories. Dennis, however, is a man living in the past, and with an outdated view, he will have to change to keep his position. Unfortunately, he wants to keep too much control over the DCs and the new PC. Here, he will clash with the DCI.

The plot develops well and has some twists to keep the attention. There was a little too much emphasis on the DCI's broken marriage and her new relationship with Elsa. There could have been more description of the landscape of this area, which is quite stunning. (My view). The thread left hanging and developed from the first book is what really happened to Lesley’s predecessor, Chief Inspector Mackie, who officially took his own life by jumping off the cliff in the vicinity of the current incident. Lesley has started to dig into the background of the case, unknown to Dennis, who has decided not to refer to the matter again. Enough ends to lead the reader onto the next edition, The Island Murders.

3 stars from me.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this series is developing very nicely! I started book two immediately after the first, and I really liked how the story picked up exactly where the previous book left off. You could read this as a stand-alone - there is enough information for a reader to pick up on where things have been - but it added to my enjoyment, having read the first book. The story is well written, but then based on the previous book written by Rachel McLean, this was expected. The style is punchy, clear, and engaging. The story moves at a good pace; you never feel as though it is dawdling along. For me, however, this book was slightly better than the first book in two ways. Firstly the continued development of the characters, and how you start to get more of an insight into their history and who they really are. This is true of the main character, but the author also takes the time to develop the other characters too. Secondly, the slow burn development of the back story around the previous Detective Chief Inspector and his untimely death. It is clear this is going to be a thread running through the series and it is a great element. Overall, this was an excellent book and prompted me to order books 3 and 4 already! I really cannot wait.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad a gave the second book a chance. As Lesley settles into Dorset and her new position, both she and her team are becoming a little more comfortable. The first book alludes to former DCI Mackie, and his death is still a sore point. I like that Lesley includes DC Tina even though DS Dennis doesn't like a constable as part of the team. The murder of a young lawyer with connections to Lesley's new girlfriend Elsa's firm complicates things.

[Armonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

No conocía a la autora , este es el primer libro suyo que leo. Me ha gustado su narrativa, ágil y concisa. El desarrollo de la investigación, el trabajo forense y los diálogos y personajes . Me ha quedado cierta insatisfacción e incomprensión al final, ya que alude a un caso sin resolver que aparentemente es el caso anterior a este.

[Charlotte Parkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another easy, enjoyable read. Pretty invested in the series now :)

[Michael Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t very complementary about the first book in the Dorset Crimes series but I found this one to be a great improvement. The plot was intriguing but realistic and the characterisations much better defined. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Simon Grimmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent, improvement on the first in the series

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the DCI Leslie Clarke series. I liked book 2 more than book 1. Great characters and a dynamic plot make for a colorful read. Very difficult to put down. A must read in A must read series. Check it out.

[Eleanor Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great series , DCI Lesley Clarke is now settling into Dorset and getting to know her colleagues

[Nick Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a terrible first book this series begins to show it's potential with a much stronger second novel.

In this one McLean begins to show some of the strengths of the series. She utilises the location well. There's a longer term narrative which begins to intrigue the reader. The whodunnit isn't obvious without being implausible. And the characters start to become less of a caricature and develop into real people. It's also an easy read which helps.

The series is still warming up, so the characters still have a bit of a way to go, and I don't think that McLean writes action particularly well. It also isn't the highest quality of writing you will find - it's not the immersive, feel like you are there quality of Galbraith or Marsons.

Overall though a perfectly serviceable crime book, which is worth a read. It won't win any awards but it has enough about it to make it a worth reading, whilst the series holds a lot of promise. Probably a 2.5 star book but rounded up to 3, as a) I like the positives and b) it is an impressive recovery for the series.

[Mark Mckenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

hard to get into/care about the characters

First in the series was ok ; this was just boring and I put it down multiple times not caring if I came back to it. It’s a slow, very slow, slog thru the middle. Frankly tired about Dennis and his bloody DAMN swear jar!!!

[Detlef · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dies ist der zweite Roman der Dorset-Reihe von Rachel McLean. Mit ihm besuchen die Leser die Gegend rund um Bournemouth und Corfe Castle.

Die Protagonistin Detective Chief Inspector Lesley Clark ist vor wenigen Wochen hierher versetzt worden und lebt sich gerade ein. Nach dem ersten Fall »Die Morde von Corfe Castle« hat sie nun mit ihrem Team einen weiteren Fall aufzuklären.

Es wurde die junge Kollegin Ameena Khan von Elsa aus der Kanzlei, welche eine Freundin Lesleys ist, tot aufgefunden. Nach der Trennung von ihrem Mann hat Lesley festgestellt, dass sie Frauen zugetan ist. Elsa ist vielleicht ihre neue Lebensgefährtin, doch sie blockt, wenn die DCI Informationen zu der Toten oder der Kanzlei haben möchte. Lesley gerät in einen Konflikt.

Daneben scheint auch einiges im Team nicht ganz rund zu laufen. Dennis, der eigentlich auf dem Lesleys Posten, gehofft hatte, scheint ihr immer noch nicht zu trauen und spielt nicht mit offenen Karten. Überhaupt sind die Kollegen, die schon länger auf dem Revier arbeiten, etwas zögerlich gegenüber der „Neuen“.

Rachel McLean hat jede Menge Konfliktstoff in die Beziehung der Figuren gepackt. Nahezu alle Spuren bei den Ermittlungen, sofern es überhaupt Spuren gibt, scheinen ins Leere zu laufen.

Wie ich bereits bei »Die Morde von Corfe Castle« geschrieben habe, ist mir der Landstrich nicht unbekannt. Deshalb ist das Abtauchen in diese Region für mich immer ein besonderer Spaß. Letztendlich sind es aber der spannende Konfliktstoff und die Reibereien der Figuren untereinander, die die Leser durch die Seiten blättern lassen. Schon heute freue ich mich auf den dritten Teil dieser Dorset-Reihe.

[wendi wigham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep away from the edge.

Another case with DCI Lesley Clarke as SIO.
A young lawyer is up early indulging in her hobby for photography, just as the light is perfect for her next shot, she is pushed off the clifftop where she had set up her equipment.
Wherever Lesley goes, she seems to attract murder.
The law firm the victim worked for isn't as cooperative as hoped. The atmosphere is uncomfortable. To make matters worse, Lesley has been dating one of the senior partners, her girlfriend is not helpful and on the defensive when Lesley tries to question her. What is the firm hiding?
When the senior partner is found dead behind a beach hut, things get more complicated, as he was chief suspect in the killing of Ameena, the first victim.
The firm seem to have numerous connections to the local mob boss, unfortunately records show the majority of his cases handled by the law firm has Elsa, Lesley"s girlfriend as the legal representative.
Lesley is between a rock and a hard place, she should state her relationship to one of the suspects, but she knows she was with her when the crime occurred.
Dennis is slightly less critical of Lesley and has put his swear box away.
Tina the uniformed officer seconded to the team, has stayed on a more permanent basis and proving her value.
Johnny has got himself in one heck of a mess with the aforementioned crime boss and having been caught by Dennis is surprised when Dennis offers to help him get out of the jam he is in.
A good read, with the characters in this series filling out nicely. We'll worth reading in order, as they rely on knowledge from previous titles in the series.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Clifftop Murders is book two in the Dorset Crime series by Rachel McLean. A junior partner in a local law firm, Ameena Khan, was found dead at the bottom of the cliffs and Old Harry Rocks. At first, DCI Lesley Clarke and her team did not know if it was suicide or murder. However, another complication is that Ameena Khan works at the same firm as her girlfriend. On top of this complication, the prime suspect in Ameena's death turned up dead. The readers of Clifftop Murders will continue to follow DCI Lesley Clarke and her team to discover what happens.

The Clifftop Murders is another fantastic addition to this excellent series by Rachel McLean. I like Rachel McLean's writing style, which allows me to engage with her stories and characters from the beginning of her books. The Clifftop Murders continue the tradition. I love Rachel McLean's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. The Clifftop Murders is well-written and researched by Rachel McLean. I like Rachel McLean's description of the settings of ClifftopMurders, which complemented the book's plot.

The readers of Clifftop Murders will understand the consequences of jealousy and revenge. Also, the readers of Clifftop Murders will learn another meaning for holidaymakers or tourists in Dorset.

I recommend this book.

[Inspector Penny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first in the series, and I'm struggling to finish this one. The characters are one-dimensional, and that one-dimension is dull/unpleasant (except for Tina). DCI Clarke is abrasive and rude. She doesn't tell people things, she "snaps" at them. Always snapping. She complains a lot about her new posting in Dorset because it's unsophisticated and backwater, compared to her Birmingham. Her second in command is old-fashioned and judges whether someone is guilty or not by their sex and morals, on almost every page. The other two guys are sort of there. We never see any of them thinking much about anything other than what they're doing regarding the case.
The plot is thin and pretty dull. There is a lot of driving around and trying to find a place to park. Lots of mud on shoes. There is so little depth it's as if this is a rough draft.
The dialogue is repetitive and often leads nowhere. DCI Clarke often says something like, "Let me know as soon as you find out...." "Let me know what the pathologist says as soon as you find out...." "Do this or that and let me know...." I guess this is supposed to pass as inspired police work.
I'll finish this one, but I'm not going to read any more of them.

[Dave Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like with all good authors this can be read as a standalone or as part of a series this is a really good read.

DCI Lesley Clarke is continuing her secondment to Dorset and she into her second murder investigation a lots happened in her 4 weeks. Which is good news for us as it would be a boring read otherwise but I'm somehow guessing Rachel could still make it exciting but the odd murder certainly helps in the realm of
Mystery Thrillers.

New villians and victims obviously but the same crew some better than others in warming to them some you may never do but that's what makes for a great story, which this certainly is.. So Lesley is definitely the boss and hero of the plots im loving her, I'm also enjoying watching the plot unfold for this book plus huge clues for future books so better read in order but not essential. As said I'm enjoying this series and want to recommend it to you is a fantastic read. Only caution you won't want to put it down shortish chapters so I keep thinking one more then sleep. The only issue was those dreaded words "the end" (not a quote as it didn't say that sorry to spoil the ending there)

So on to the next book 3 here I come.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoping for a bit more growth in the characters -- the end of the first book showed promise but they kind of started in the same place as before. Again, they were sometimes exasperating but, at the end, showed signs of getting along better and more admirably. But there's a whole backstory/story arc that's developing that I'm not sure I care for. We'll see. For now I'll continue.

In this volume, a woman is found dead at the bottom of a cliff and it turns out she's a junior partner at the law firm where the lead detective's girlfriend is a named partner. And it's pretty clear from the start that there's something hinky going on at the firm. This, of course, complicates the investigation, as does some inter-team conflict and undermining when a connection is found between the firm and a local 'crime boss'.

It definitely kept me reading, though there were things I didn't care for. I gave it a 4 but 3 and ahalf is probably more accurate. As I say, for now I'll continue the series and see where things go.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in a police procedural series set in the south of England (fifteen books so far) and the second book in this series which I have read. I quite liked the main character, Detective Chief Inspector Lesley Clarke but the other characters did not come to life for me and I felt the author's writing style was a bit too pedestrian for my taste. Lesley and her team are investigating the murder of a lawyer and Lesley starts to worry that her new lover may be involved in the crime. There is a subplot about organised crime and also a subplot about Lesley's deceased predecessor in the police force. The solution to the crimes was not what I was expecting. This is a readable book though I may be being a bit generous with a three star rating as it's more like two and a half stars. I would probably read other books by this author if I saw them in the library but I would not actively seek them out.

[Gary Dowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the DCI Lesley Clarke (Dorset Crime) series opens with the suspicious death of an amateur photographer whose body is found at the bottom of cliffs, however all her expensive equipment is untouched eliminating theft as a motive. Clarke and her team are on the case, however it isn't long before things get complicated for Clarke on a professional and personal level.
Only two books in but I'm really enjoying this series. The characters, especially from Clarke's team, are all very different and some have their own private issues, while Clarke herself is struggling to adapt to Dorset in comparison to her previous life in Birmingham. The story itself is almost in two parts with the initial investigation opening up various routine lines of enquiry before plenty of secrets and twists emerge towards the finale. Some of which are resolved, some I suspect will continue as sub plots going forward.
Fast paced, twisty and uncomplicated. A good, easy read.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and was excited to jump into the second book. At first it felt like it was repeating the format from the first book, and I think it's good to keep it different to make each story interesting. But that didn't last for long and what this book did do better was having a more complex plot, keeping the suspect pool open and keeping me guessing until the end, compared to the smaller suspect pool of the first book. I love the characters and the ongoing subplot mystery of working out what happened to DCI Mackie, and I will continue reading this series! I also plan to read the DI Zoe Finch books as they look great too! (Plus, she is called Zoe xD). I highly recommend Rachel McLean's books for other crime lovers out there.

[carol fairbairn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The pace was fast moving and made it a real page turner. I would definitely recommend this book to friends

The characters become real although the plot is a bit far fetched. It would make great television drama.
I get a little irritated by Lesley’s inability to make the cottage more comfortable and the fridge always being empty but thought the story moved along at a cracking pace. Find it difficult to believe an educated legal man could be made to murder his other mistress by his first, because of jealousy or in anger at the second spilling the beans. Once she had her way, why kill the lover?

[Cidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of the dorset crime series by Rachel McLean. DCI Lesley Clarke is seconded to Dorset for 6mths to help her recover from ptsd. She's a busy woman as in this book although, still married to her husband Terry and divorcing him after finding him with a girlfriend in the first book, she now has a girlfriend of her own. Unfortunately this girlfriend is a lawyer working for a dodgy company. Needless to say it rollicks along at a fair pace and several murders along the way all is revealed.

I did like this book but I somehow preferred the first book where all the characters were introduced and I hadn't quite guessed the ending.

[Kim J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and book to series!

I really like that the plot lines have been new to this genre for me. And I would have never guessed who the murderer was in this book. I was totally surprised! I am warming up to the team, I really like the DCI, Tina and Mike. I am warming not Dennis and Johnny! I really look forward to more of Lesley and Elsa, to see where their relationship goes. Once the children accept this kind of relationship, it makes the rest so much easier (yes that is from life experience). And I'm off to read the third book, and if you want a great read, start with the first one in the series. They always make more sense that way!

[Kandis Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book I have read from the Dorset crime series inclusive of the prequel. I enjoyed all of them include The Clifftop Murders. DCI Clarke is settling in to her 6mth secondment to Dorset, learning that things are different that when she was serving in Birmingham. The dynamics of the team are interesting plus the relationship between some CID and uniform. The story line was well written with the procedural parts true to life. Looking forward to seeing how all the relationships within the team progress and when DCI Clarke will remain in Dorset. Hope so I am enjoying this series.