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Dorset Crime #10
The Poole Harbour Murders
DCI Lesley Clarke is back!
The dust has settled after the arrest of DCI Mackie's killer and Lesley has been told to make a few changes. She's got two DIs to manage, including one she's clashed with in the past, and is overseeing the return of a colleague who left Dorset under a cloud.
Just as she's starting to get to grips with it all, a body is found in Poole Harbour. Is it Jackie Kendal, who went missing a year ago, or Rowena Sharp, who mysteriously vanished after leaving her baby alone in a Sandbanks hotel in 1973?
Establishing the body's identity, and therefore whose case this will be, will require Lesley's investigatory skills and, more challenging, all of her tact and diplomacy.
The Poole Harbour Murders heralds the return of the much-loved DCI Lesley Clarke and her Dorset team in the award-winning series that's sold over a million copies.
The dust has settled after the arrest of DCI Mackie's killer and Lesley has been told to make a few changes. She's got two DIs to manage, including one she's clashed with in the past, and is overseeing the return of a colleague who left Dorset under a cloud.
Just as she's starting to get to grips with it all, a body is found in Poole Harbour. Is it Jackie Kendal, who went missing a year ago, or Rowena Sharp, who mysteriously vanished after leaving her baby alone in a Sandbanks hotel in 1973?
Establishing the body's identity, and therefore whose case this will be, will require Lesley's investigatory skills and, more challenging, all of her tact and diplomacy.
The Poole Harbour Murders heralds the return of the much-loved DCI Lesley Clarke and her Dorset team in the award-winning series that's sold over a million copies.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2025
1970 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Rachel McLean
104 books629 followersMy 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 2, 2025
A few problems with this book. Lesley not a very good manager if she can't sort out her two DIs.
How old is Suzi? She cries when she wakes but can walk and talk (the latter extremely well) and attends school.
In the UK it is 7 years after they have disappeared before anyone to be declared presumed dead, So I don't know how a marriage could happen only 4 years after a disappearance.
I started off reading the Cumbria series and much prefer those to this one.
How old is Suzi? She cries when she wakes but can walk and talk (the latter extremely well) and attends school.
In the UK it is 7 years after they have disappeared before anyone to be declared presumed dead, So I don't know how a marriage could happen only 4 years after a disappearance.
I started off reading the Cumbria series and much prefer those to this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2025
As with all Rachel McLean books this one was very good. I have read all the published Dorset Crime mysteries and all of the Zoe Finch books set in Birmingham plus her 1st 3 set in Cumbria. In this book we find Lesley now in charge of two teams. One dealing with current crimes, and one dealing with cold cases. The current case team are looking into the disappearance of a local estate agent and the cold case team deal with identifying a body found in Poole Harbour. The story is also enhanced by going back to when and why these events happened. Both cases get solved, but not quite as we would expect. There is also a guest appearance of Zoe and also the return of a past character.
An excellent read as are all of Rachel’s books.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
An excellent read as are all of Rachel’s books.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
July 6, 2025
This was another good British crime drama set in Dorset. I liked seeing familiar characters and their development.
There's a cold case when a body is found and there's a missing person case. As DCI, Lesley is in charge of two teams...
It was well-written - despite grammatical and continuity errors - and I enjoyed the twists and turns.
There were great descriptions, thoughts and feelings, which gave depth to the story. I didn't like Hannah but maybe time will change things.
Overall, this was an engaging tale.
Worth a look.
There's a cold case when a body is found and there's a missing person case. As DCI, Lesley is in charge of two teams...
It was well-written - despite grammatical and continuity errors - and I enjoyed the twists and turns.
There were great descriptions, thoughts and feelings, which gave depth to the story. I didn't like Hannah but maybe time will change things.
Overall, this was an engaging tale.
Worth a look.
August 17, 2025
I totally disagree with most of these reviews. This book rambled on about the domestic lives of the characters, most of these insights into their lives away from the investigation were not part of the central plot of the story, the actual police investigation became almost incidental.
And the ending ! Well that was just plain wrong. It just stopped - leaving more questions than answers. I guess that Rachael had so much filler in the book about the characters lives that she had reached the required number of pages of the book so just stopped writing. Or maybe its a plot to make sure you buy the next book to finish the investigation and find out what happens.
And the ending ! Well that was just plain wrong. It just stopped - leaving more questions than answers. I guess that Rachael had so much filler in the book about the characters lives that she had reached the required number of pages of the book so just stopped writing. Or maybe its a plot to make sure you buy the next book to finish the investigation and find out what happens.
June 23, 2025
Only a 3.5 star rating for me as it didn't quite jell as well as others in this series.
January 25, 2026
Book 10 in the Dorset Crime series sees the introduction of several new or returning characters, and if I’m honest, I feel like maybe there are too many ‘main’ characters now, and lots of different threads of storylines overlapping between them and different series by the same author. Sure it’s personal preference, but for me, I’d rather just a few key people.
The storyline overall follows the investigation into a cold case when a body is found in Poole Harbour, alongside a potential missing persons case. It was a fairly easy read but quite predictable in terms of outcomes and twists. This series is sort of a safe bet for me to return to as a quick easy read, but not the most exciting or surprising. One to read if you’re a fan of the series or books set in the local area if you’re a Dorset resident.
The storyline overall follows the investigation into a cold case when a body is found in Poole Harbour, alongside a potential missing persons case. It was a fairly easy read but quite predictable in terms of outcomes and twists. This series is sort of a safe bet for me to return to as a quick easy read, but not the most exciting or surprising. One to read if you’re a fan of the series or books set in the local area if you’re a Dorset resident.
January 29, 2026
The best book in the series yet.
DCI Lesley Clarke heads up two teams of detectives, one investigating serious crimes and the other Cold Cases. The two DI's don't appear to get along, yet they have to sometimes work together as and when their respective cases cross over. Each team has a case to work on. One is identifying the torso found in Poole Harbour, which has been in the water for over half a century. The other is to locate a missing person.
One case is solved, but the other remains on the books.
Also, a former colleague wants to return to the Dorset Police after being in the Met for three years. Will he return? Or will his request be denied?
DCI Lesley Clarke heads up two teams of detectives, one investigating serious crimes and the other Cold Cases. The two DI's don't appear to get along, yet they have to sometimes work together as and when their respective cases cross over. Each team has a case to work on. One is identifying the torso found in Poole Harbour, which has been in the water for over half a century. The other is to locate a missing person.
One case is solved, but the other remains on the books.
Also, a former colleague wants to return to the Dorset Police after being in the Met for three years. Will he return? Or will his request be denied?
September 19, 2025
Trying too hard?
Who wouldn't want more stories set in Dorset under the auspices of DCI Clarke? I've been a fan of this series since the beginning, but effectively sidelining the main character is a negative for me. The competition between the two DIs under her and the teams they control seems a little contrived, and I did not warm to either of them. It's a new setup, so it may need time to bed in, but I don't think this was a patch on the books that ended the first incarnation of this series. Good, but not great.
Who wouldn't want more stories set in Dorset under the auspices of DCI Clarke? I've been a fan of this series since the beginning, but effectively sidelining the main character is a negative for me. The competition between the two DIs under her and the teams they control seems a little contrived, and I did not warm to either of them. It's a new setup, so it may need time to bed in, but I don't think this was a patch on the books that ended the first incarnation of this series. Good, but not great.
June 30, 2025
Intense
Rachel's books always keep you guessing until the end. So hard to put the book down until you finish. I enjoy the way she keeps people from books before in the current book and at the same time use some of them in a different series of books. Can't wait for the next book no matter which series. All her books have me reading late into the night. I would highly recommend reading her series. (In order). A hard to put down book.
Rachel's books always keep you guessing until the end. So hard to put the book down until you finish. I enjoy the way she keeps people from books before in the current book and at the same time use some of them in a different series of books. Can't wait for the next book no matter which series. All her books have me reading late into the night. I would highly recommend reading her series. (In order). A hard to put down book.
September 26, 2025
Have read all of the series, though just discovered I can download an e-book. Big fan, and this didn't disappoint. Bit of a change in that Lesley is now leading two teams, with some new members included. Was rather unsure at first, but soon settled in, and Lesley continues to be a key part of the story. Always a good story and lives of the characters remain an important part of the success of the book.
October 28, 2025
I really enjoy the Rachel McClean Dorset series but I found this book quite confusing. Two deaths, two teams, two DIs and the cases linked in so many ways. The regular team changed with lots of different roles. Thankfully the author had put a chapter showing the personnel changes but I still got muddled. However there was still plenty of drama, lots of wonderful descriptions and a variety of interesting characters.
January 30, 2026
Hmmm, I dont know what it was, but this addition to the series was not the same as others. There were quite a few errors throughout, bits of story that didn't match up with other bits, dates wrong and just a different style of writing.
I have the next part ready to read so will see if it goes back to normal.
I also dont think running two stories/teams at the same time is a great idea. We will see!
I have the next part ready to read so will see if it goes back to normal.
I also dont think running two stories/teams at the same time is a great idea. We will see!
June 22, 2025
excellent
Lesley and teams investigate an old murder and a new missing person. There is a lot going on in this book, lots of suspects to keep up with, lots of information. It is fascinating to me how the teams follow clues, witnesses, and suspects. There is tension between the teams which makes for an interesting dynamic.
Lesley and teams investigate an old murder and a new missing person. There is a lot going on in this book, lots of suspects to keep up with, lots of information. It is fascinating to me how the teams follow clues, witnesses, and suspects. There is tension between the teams which makes for an interesting dynamic.
June 25, 2025
Highly recommended
Another excellent read from Rachel McLean! Just want to keep on reading , can't put it down, too keen to get to the next part of the story! Definitely 5*s Here's to more excellent reads!!
Another excellent read from Rachel McLean! Just want to keep on reading , can't put it down, too keen to get to the next part of the story! Definitely 5*s Here's to more excellent reads!!
June 26, 2025
Wow, the 10th book in the Dorset Crime Series. And, as usual, one of the best. Leslie is struggling to head up two units, an active case and a cold case unit. Two missing women 52 years apart keep the teams busy.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
July 7, 2025
Finished Already
I love this series of books, especially living in Dorset and know the majority of the settings.
One complaint, I wish the books were longer so I didn't read them so fast. Bring on the next instalment!
I love this series of books, especially living in Dorset and know the majority of the settings.
One complaint, I wish the books were longer so I didn't read them so fast. Bring on the next instalment!
July 7, 2025
Very Engaging
A fascinating double plot, DCI problems and the return of Johnny from London. A nothing ending, however. Not sure I like all the married couples working together and switching around. I am still pulled by the need to finish this series to find the conclusion.
A fascinating double plot, DCI problems and the return of Johnny from London. A nothing ending, however. Not sure I like all the married couples working together and switching around. I am still pulled by the need to finish this series to find the conclusion.
July 9, 2025
Great to have Lesley back on our pages again. Interesting, too, to see how she struggles with two competitive DIs and their teams. Be interested to see how the Chesil Beach Murders takes the story forward. Several interesting threads to be pulled yet.
Julian Tremayne, Cromer, Norfolk
Julian Tremayne, Cromer, Norfolk
August 31, 2025
I have loved every book in this series and look forward to the next episode. Rounded characters good plot and pace of development. I enjoyed the book and was sorry when it ended my chance to interact with teh characters.
September 28, 2025
We got 8 POVs which brought basically nothing to the story, besides hot goss of everyone's marital trouble. Actual detective work was done on 70 pages somewhere in the middle. What does the reader care about the damp and mold problem of one of the couples???
November 1, 2025
I got a bit bored with this book I’m afraid hence the reason for 3 stars. The DCI is still there but the 2 DIs take up most of the book. I think the DCI was given a back seat in this book but I wasn’t too keen on the 2 bickering DI’s at all. A bit deflated with it
November 7, 2025
Enjoyed this book but having 2 teams will take some getting used to. I wasn't as gripped to this as I was expecting. Not Rachel's best book but still a decent read and I do recommend it after reading all books in Dorset before this.
June 23, 2025
Another great read. Keep them coming Rachel
June 28, 2025
Enjoyed this one but not as good as previous ones in the series.
July 1, 2025
Excellent as usual, enjoying the mix of established and newer characters
July 14, 2025
I've read all of her stories and enjoyed them all
This one was another good read
The Kelvins are still around especially the mother
The 2 DI are clashing
It was a good solid read
This one was another good read
The Kelvins are still around especially the mother
The 2 DI are clashing
It was a good solid read
August 8, 2025
such a good 10th book, highly recommend
August 17, 2025
i really enjoyed this bbook again she has outdone herself again loved it
August 18, 2025
pool harbour murders
As always a brilliant read all of the murder books. love all the characters not so keen on Hannah the new DI
As always a brilliant read all of the murder books. love all the characters not so keen on Hannah the new DI
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews