The Riverside Murder

Dorset Crime #3.5

by Rachel McLean

When DCI Lesley Clarke is called upon to investigate a death on the banks of the River Frome in Wareham, she initially suspects a straightforward drowning.

But when she discovers that the victim went missing years ago and that his family have a dark past, the mystery deepens.

Can Lesley and her team uncover the secrets in this family's past and identify the killer?

Genres: Audiobook

53 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2025

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

[Patrick Mothershaw-Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Federica De dominicis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Characters!

I loved this short glimpse into the series, with its quirks and the classics of a procedural. The fact that is a story for charity only adds points. Highly recommended!

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Book

I wouldn't normally buy such a short book but as this one is for a good cause and I absolutely love the DCI Lesley Clarke books I decided to give it a go and I a m glad I did. It had all the usual characters and all the usual places around Dorset were mentioned so somehow it didn't feel rushed. I hope the book raises lots of money to help out people in Ukraine.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story which Rachel McLean wrote to support people affected by the war in Ukraine.

A body found in the River Frome could be accidental death. But when DCI Lesley Clarke learns that the man went missing, presumed dead, over twelve years ago it seems that murder is more likely, especially since his body was found close to the family's old farm.

This was a fun read, but because of the shortness of the book it was over very quickly, no room for red herrings or dead-end investigations. Also, I have some questions about how the murderer perpetrated the crime ...

Anyway, it was nice to read about Lesley and the Dorset gang again.

Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

[Tawnya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in the anthology "Turning the Tide".

The Riverside Murder
Rachel Mclean
3.5 stars
Lesley Clarke and her team in Dorset must discover who killed a man found in a creek near his old home. His family had thought he died twelve years ago, so where has he been in the meantime and is that what led to his death? Overall the story was good. I liked the mystery of it. There were numerous language errors that even accounting for the difference between “British” and “American” English happened too often. I was also disappointed that some of the questions brought up were never answered.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat little crime novella to easily binge in one day. The story flowed well and the crime was interesting. I think it worked being in novella form and was a quick satisfying read. I recommend it if you like to read Rachel McLean’s Dorset Crime series.

There was one continuity issue as two character’s names changed between the first and second time they were mentioned. I read an old edition of it so this may have been corrected now.

[Mrs Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disapointing

Not up to usual standard. Felt like it had been churned out in a hurry. No real story and left me feeling cheated. I've read every other book of Dorset series and the zoe Finch ones to and really enjoyed and recommended them. But not this one. Why on earth did you bother Rachael?

[Carina Bramley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic Fiction has this placed wrong in the series list. It should be before The Monument Murders.
Despite reading it very out of sync, it was a quick novella which I bet all detectives wish was true to life and murder cases were that straight forward!
I enjoyed it as an afternoon time out with a biscuit!

[Ray Bandtock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice way to spend an hour

I'm a real DCI Clarke fan. I wouldn't normally go for short stories, but this is for a very good cause.
I'm glad I read it, even with the typo around page 21 where Lesley introduced herself as DI Finch.

[M R B Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story

This story is somewhat shorter than a standard novella. A body is found and investigations lead to a father's abuse of his wife. But the daughter tampered evidence and where had the victim been for twelve years?

[Kat Colangelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

A predictable crime novella that was written well but not much build up and an obvious ending. There wasn't anything grand about the story or plot but it was for such a good cause I had to buy it.

[John Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short charity read. Lesley is onw of my best detectives in all booka I read!

[Pers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet.

[Eve Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would make a good full-length novel.

[Richard Angrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

An enjoyable short story from one of my favourite authors helping to raise money for the Ukraine. Very laudable gesture.

[Carlin]

Too short to review. Just getting interesting when it abruptly ended.

[Lynn Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little novella

We’ll worth reading. Lesley and team working well together to solve a mystery. Quickly solved and perpetrator found and charged.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book!

I had never read this author’s books. But I will be reading them now! This short story was to benefit Ukraine. It was short but the story was still good.

[Julian Tremayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely novella which still manages to capture the relationships between the members of the team and their domestic situations. Thank you.

Julian Tremayne, East Yorkshire

[vicki Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Rosie]

Very short story

[Elva Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Riverside Murder: A Dorset Crime Story

A good Novella written by Rachel McLean for the Ukrainian Appeal. I enjoyed reading it very much. Thank you Rachel McLean x

[Hannah Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little short story! I forgot about this one when I was reading the latest 2! So read it in a bit of a backwards order but that didn't really matter too much :)

I love this series so much 😍

[Chris Howland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a filler between 'proper' Dorset crime stories. Short and entertaining, but adds nothing to the overall story arc of the series.

[Anne Laugharne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too short.

I chose a four-year rating as the novella was too short to be a full-blown murder mystery. It needed to be more expansive.

[Norma Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Riverside

Good short story. Of a family at war, skeletons in the closet.
DCI Lesley on the trail again, will she apprehended her suspect.

[Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light bite!

The difference between a meal and a light bite us substance! Unfortunately, this novella was lacking in substance. I read it in well under 30 minutes ... a light bite!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read. I enjoyed it but to be honest could of done with the interviews and a bit more detail at the end.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt there were some unanswered questions in this one. Why did he drug his wife? How did the murder come about? Why did the victim return after 12 years?

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short story leaving a few unanswered questions.