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DCI Finnegan Yorkshire Crime #12
Whale Cemetery: Murder On A Smuggler's Tide: A DCI Finnegan Yorkshire Crime Thriller - Book 12
Some graves lie deeper than others... a lot deeper!Whitby has always lived with the sea—its bounty, its storms, and its ghosts. But when the old fishing town becomes the stage for smuggling, betrayal, and sudden violence, the tide brings more than fish ashore.
Legends of the Whale Cemetery rise with the fog, blurring the line between history and murder.
As whispers of old folklore entwine with a deadly new underworld, DCI Frank Finnegan must confront enemies who know every alley, yard, and tide. This is a gang bound by a brutal code of honour—ruthless men who silence betrayal with blood. In a town where the past never sleeps, the present is about to turn lethal.
Whale Cemetery is the twelfth book in the bestselling DCI Finnegan Yorkshire Crime Thriller series.
Perfect for fans of the dark humour of Stuart MacBride, the northern noir of Peter Robinson, and the relentless tension of Val McDermid.
Legends of the Whale Cemetery rise with the fog, blurring the line between history and murder.
As whispers of old folklore entwine with a deadly new underworld, DCI Frank Finnegan must confront enemies who know every alley, yard, and tide. This is a gang bound by a brutal code of honour—ruthless men who silence betrayal with blood. In a town where the past never sleeps, the present is about to turn lethal.
Whale Cemetery is the twelfth book in the bestselling DCI Finnegan Yorkshire Crime Thriller series.
Perfect for fans of the dark humour of Stuart MacBride, the northern noir of Peter Robinson, and the relentless tension of Val McDermid.
420 pages, Paperback
Published January 29, 2026
About the author
Ely North
21 books33 followersEly North writes British crime fiction the way his detectives drink—steadily, seriously, and with the occasional lapse in judgement.
He is the author of the DCI Finnegan Yorkshire Crime Thrillers and the DI Prisha Kumar Yorkshire Cold Case Mysteries, fast-paced police procedurals set in Whitby and across North Yorkshire. His books have amassed tens of millions of pages read on Kindle Unlimited, with readers across the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Europe and beyond.
Ely writes about Whitby because it is the most beautiful and atmospheric place he knows—and he has never trusted anywhere that pretty.
At the centre of the DCI Finnegan series is Frank Finnegan—old, old-school, and not remotely bothered about either. Raised on The Sweeney and seventies cop shows, he still thinks Regan and Carter had the right idea about most things. Finnegan doesn't have much time for procedure, feelings or technology. He'd rather get on with the bit that matters—catching the bastards.
The setting matters almost as much as the murders. Whitby brings the harbour, the abbey, the 199 Steps, sea fret rolling in off the North Sea, cobbled streets, narrow alleys and hidden-away yards. Bodies are supplied courtesy of Ely. Readers have been known to follow the investigations on Google Maps, and a few have even booked holidays inspired by the books. None, so far, have been found unresponsive on the beach—touch wood.
Ely doesn't write cosy crime, but neither does he dwell on gore for the sake of it. He writes about coppers who are good at their jobs and bad at most other things, villains who believe they're the hero, and the kind of gallows humour that gets you through a twelve-hour shift—or a long-running series.
If you grew up with Taggart, Morse, Columbo, Heartbeat and The Professionals, and have spent the years since wondering where all the proper coppers went, you may just have found them.
When he isn't killing people on paper, Ely cooks. Badly, according to his wife. Enthusiastically, according to him. The cats—of which he has none—have refused to comment, as have his daughters, of which he has two.
He is the author of the DCI Finnegan Yorkshire Crime Thrillers and the DI Prisha Kumar Yorkshire Cold Case Mysteries, fast-paced police procedurals set in Whitby and across North Yorkshire. His books have amassed tens of millions of pages read on Kindle Unlimited, with readers across the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Europe and beyond.
Ely writes about Whitby because it is the most beautiful and atmospheric place he knows—and he has never trusted anywhere that pretty.
At the centre of the DCI Finnegan series is Frank Finnegan—old, old-school, and not remotely bothered about either. Raised on The Sweeney and seventies cop shows, he still thinks Regan and Carter had the right idea about most things. Finnegan doesn't have much time for procedure, feelings or technology. He'd rather get on with the bit that matters—catching the bastards.
The setting matters almost as much as the murders. Whitby brings the harbour, the abbey, the 199 Steps, sea fret rolling in off the North Sea, cobbled streets, narrow alleys and hidden-away yards. Bodies are supplied courtesy of Ely. Readers have been known to follow the investigations on Google Maps, and a few have even booked holidays inspired by the books. None, so far, have been found unresponsive on the beach—touch wood.
Ely doesn't write cosy crime, but neither does he dwell on gore for the sake of it. He writes about coppers who are good at their jobs and bad at most other things, villains who believe they're the hero, and the kind of gallows humour that gets you through a twelve-hour shift—or a long-running series.
If you grew up with Taggart, Morse, Columbo, Heartbeat and The Professionals, and have spent the years since wondering where all the proper coppers went, you may just have found them.
When he isn't killing people on paper, Ely cooks. Badly, according to his wife. Enthusiastically, according to him. The cats—of which he has none—have refused to comment, as have his daughters, of which he has two.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 2, 2026
This was my least favourite in the series, a bit too violent and not enough story.
January 31, 2026
Great storytelling
This is the latest novel in what has become one of my favourite crime series. The characters are well rounded and it's very easy to become invested in them and their unfolding stories. I look forward to reading the next book.
This is the latest novel in what has become one of my favourite crime series. The characters are well rounded and it's very easy to become invested in them and their unfolding stories. I look forward to reading the next book.
February 7, 2026
When I first started to read this book I thought it was going to be the one in the series that didn’t work for me. Ships, gangs, drugs etc. but once I kept on reading it I really enjoyed it just like the previous books in the series
February 25, 2026
Criminals at sea
A drug ring is taken over and corruption at the top of society is rumbled and brought to justice. A fast story with lots of twists and opportunities to go badly wrong. With
Risha Kumar in the frame the team get to grips with the help of an undercover cop.
A drug ring is taken over and corruption at the top of society is rumbled and brought to justice. A fast story with lots of twists and opportunities to go badly wrong. With
Risha Kumar in the frame the team get to grips with the help of an undercover cop.
March 27, 2026
Tension at sea
A compelling story of violence and tension with unexpected twists amid a sprinkling of humour.The usual characters set within a different environment ,most enjoyable.
A compelling story of violence and tension with unexpected twists amid a sprinkling of humour.The usual characters set within a different environment ,most enjoyable.
February 3, 2026
Whale Cemetery
Brilliant brilliant loved this book your story lines just get better all the time already pre ordered book 13 so can't wait for that to be released
Brilliant brilliant loved this book your story lines just get better all the time already pre ordered book 13 so can't wait for that to be released
February 10, 2026
A good read. I’m not a fan of dirty cops, gangs and shootings in books normally but this worked well
March 2, 2026
Frank and crew to the rescue
Plenty of suspense as Frank and Team get involved in a complicated sting operation
that is part of a bigger international operation.
Plenty of suspense as Frank and Team get involved in a complicated sting operation
that is part of a bigger international operation.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews