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A vicious killer... a race against time.

When two men are found mutilated in Birmingham's gay village just before Christmas, DI Zoe Finch and her team are perplexed.

Did their attacker mean to kill one of the men, or simply injure them both? And who would have the surgical skills for such a precise mutilation?

When more bodies are found with the same injuries, the city's gay population is rightfully scared.

And then someone close to Zoe becomes a target...

Can Zoe and her team find the killer before it's too late? And will the new members of the team help crack the case, or make things worse?

Deadly Desires is the third in the Detective Zoe Finch series, described a 'superb' and unputdownable' by reviewers.

430 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2020

1486 people are currently reading
262 people want to read

About the author

Rachel McLean

107 books611 followers
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.

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5 stars
3,251 (57%)
4 stars
1,855 (32%)
3 stars
488 (8%)
2 stars
70 (1%)
1 star
37 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
Profile Image for Steve  .
267 reviews6 followers
December 12, 2020
Birmingham's favourite DI Zoe Finch is back with another case. This series has fast become one of my favourite crime series mainly due to its likeable and believable characters.

A topic which could be heavy going is expertly made readable by the author and makes this book an excellent installment. Bit by bit, book by book, the characters are being fleshed out and given personalities that make you feel as if you know them. Zoe Finch herself is a particularly well-rouded character - having a facade as a hard as nails DI, but prepared to go the extra mile for her team and showing a softer side in the sections dealing with her home life.

This is the third in the series. Buy the three (and sign up for the free prequel) before the next installment which is due in January.
30 reviews
January 9, 2021
I’m getting boring now with my reviews of this series but all I can say is this is another 5+ stars and my favourite of the series so far. Rachel Mclean’s storylines are believable, forceful, addictive and well developed. You must read these books in order to follow the generic storylines and understand the development of the characters. Set time aside with a coffee and cake and enjoy every chapter.
917 reviews5 followers
September 28, 2021
Excellent crime series continues

This is another episode in one of the best police procedural series of recent times. Not much progress in the underlying plot thread, but a well structured plot and memorable characters made it an easy read, albeit a bit gory at times. I recommend this series and this author, but I need to catch up a bit sooner rather than later.
Profile Image for MikeR.
339 reviews11 followers
March 26, 2025
Deadly Desires is the third novel in the series, following Detective Inspector Zoe Finch as she investigates a series of violent assaults against gay men in Birmingham. The story revolves around the pursuit of the serial assailant known as the "Digbeth Ripper," infamous for castrating his victims. The novel continues the investigation into police corruption involving Detective Superintendent David Randle. DI Carl Whaley recruits DS Ian Osman to probe organized crime connections within the force.

The Crime:
The novel centers on a series of attacks targeting gay men in Birmingham's gay village, with the perpetrator kidnapping and castrating his victims. The investigation begins with a focus on the gay village and the possibility of hate crimes.

New detectives on DI Zoe Finch's team include:

Detective Sergeant Ian Osman: A complex character caught between law enforcement and organized crime, he is the father of the missing girls in "Deadly Choices."

Detective Constable Connie Williams: A skilled and driven young detective, she excels in using technology and social media for investigations.

Detective Constable Rhodri Hughes: An inexperienced but promising addition to the team.

Detective Chief Inspector Lesley Clarke: Introduced as DI Finch's superior for the first time.
1,467 reviews25 followers
December 9, 2025
This is another great read in this series. Zoe and the team investigate when someone is targeting gay people. The plot is good, there is a bit of gore and as usual, I just found myself not wanting to put the book down.
Profile Image for Elinor.
48 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2021
Another great read from Rachel McLean, two men are found horribly mutilated, one dead one still alive. They are found in one of the gay pubs of the town.
The investigation is hampered due to the fact that the victim who survived has lost his memory.
Before they can get a proper handle on things the attacks continue!
Fighting against time, and worrying about her son and trying to control her team Zoe is forced to accept a new team member who rubs the others up the wrong way!
Can she make it all work without breaking herself?
Read it and see!
Profile Image for Theresa.
1,385 reviews19 followers
November 17, 2021
An extreme homophobe is kidnapping and castrating gay men and Zoe Finch is in charge of the case. But she has to operate without her best friend Mo who has been assigned to another team. In place of him she gets Ian who was under internal investigation for his connection to criminals. Zoe doesn't trust him but she is required to make him fit with her team. Important to this particular story is the fact that Zoe's son is gay and his lover is Connie's little brother. So when the number of victims increases, both Connie and Zoe are particularly worried about their own loved ones. Some of the scenes were difficult to read because violence against gay men and lesbians is so real in our world and the thought of someone castrating gay men is horrifying. But then again so is murder, rape and other forms of abuse.
Profile Image for Andrew Nattrass.
86 reviews25 followers
May 20, 2022
once again Detective Zoe Finch and her team are on the case in this heart pounding adrenaline rush of a storyline.
The killer is on the loose and he is targeting gay men, and what he does to them is quite gruesome.
Zoe is handed a profiler to assist in the case whether she wants a profiler or not.
The killer is hellbent on converting gay men into heterosexuals, Who is he and what is behind his sinister scheme!
He captures them and keeps them captive some of them make it out alive so what is his game and what has triggered it.
This is a fast paced investigation keeping Zoe and her team very much on their toes, brilliantly written with jaw dropping tension.
Totally brilliant narration on the audiobook as always this is one of my very favourite detective series.
I do highly recommend that you read this series in order as there is a plot going on in the background throughout, this will also help build up a picture of each of the wonderful characters that this amazing author Rachel McLean has created…
522 reviews3 followers
May 21, 2022
Conversion enforcement.

Two men found castrated, one alive, one dead - he bled out.
Who's doing it, why?
More victims, generic description of the attacker.
All victims are gay men, they are talked to regarding their sexuality, how it was wrong, they should be heterosexual. Have families, get married.
None of the victims accepted his suggestions, so he tried chemical or physical castration.
Zoë is working her team hard, they are getting nowhere fast. A profiler is brought in, but denies she profiles!
Will they find the culprit, where did he get his medical knowledge from?
All the removals are neat, not perfect. Not a doctor. Where else would some one get experience in this area?
It's down to Zoë and her team to find out, whilst hampered by Ian Osman, assigned to her team while he collects info for professional standards, but which side is he really working for.
Good series of books, Zoë Finch is a real character with talents and faults in equal measures, but the karate expert mum trusts her gut. Her gut is good.
Profile Image for Wallace.
416 reviews3 followers
October 25, 2021
Hmmm?

Rachel McLean tags her crime fiction with the letters LGBT+, and while there have been undercurrents and moderate instances of LGBT+ aspects in her stories, it comes boldly to the surface in this book in the Detective Zoe Finch series.

The storyline focuses on someone who is attacking homosexual men and trying to 'turn' them. When this fails he castrates them, either chemically or actually! The chapters featuring these activities are quite brutal because of the subject matter. The police are in a race against time to find this person and prevent anyone else from being harmed or killed. I found the chapters dealing with the homophobic attacks disturbing for their aggression and fearfulness.

There is a greater level of strong language in this book than in the previous books in the series.

There is not as much development of the sub-story of police corruption in this book, but maybe that will resurface in future volumes.

Only a 3-star read.
Profile Image for Gordon Johnston.
Author 2 books8 followers
October 13, 2021
Another very good police procedural in what is becoming an excellent series. This one sees changes on DI Zoe Finch's team as they investigate a horrific case. A series of gay men are snatched and castrated - clearly a killer with a great deal of rage. And, as her son is gay, this one gets close to home for Finch.

The crimes continue, but clues are elusive. Can the team catch the killer? The investigation is difficult and takes a few false turns, but the pace is high and the action intense. This one is a little more stand alone than others in the series, with little progress on the long story of police corruption that runs through the series. But it is still a captivating read.
Profile Image for Jen.
2,029 reviews67 followers
March 16, 2022
Someone has been making horrific assaults on gay men, creating anger and fear in the gay community. Amid the pressure to solve the case, Zoe also fears for her eighteen-year-old son who doesn't seem to think he is danger.

There is a connection to police corruption that has been running through from the first book in this series, but as in the previous book, there is a plot that is resolved. While I'd recommend beginning with the first book, each book can be read as a standalone.

Two things I like about this series: the characters on Zoe's team and the fast-paced plots!

Kindle Unlimited
Police Procedural. 2020. Print length: 430 pages.
Profile Image for Alison.
3,685 reviews145 followers
December 5, 2022
DI Zoe Finch investigates when the bodies of two men are found mutilated in a bar in Birmingham's gay village. One died and one survives but has life-changing injuries and is unconscious. is this a homophobic attack? Who are these men? Why did the attacker mutilate the men like that?

This series is definitely starting to feel its feet, each book is a separate investigation but there is the overall police corruption and connection to organised crime arc which continues. The series walks the narrow line between cosy crime and what I term slasher serial killer crime with a diverse team of investigators, each with their own stories.

Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Profile Image for Shelly.
150 reviews
August 9, 2021
Omg I think this was the best book yet, involving a man who was targeting gay men and castrating them after trying to convert them into been normal in his eyes. Obviously do finches son is gay so this book hits very close to home but I give nothing away. The way this either writes keeps the story very much alive and so full of tension from the start, the characters all carry on from the series of books so you get to no them all a little more. She is quick becoming a face either and I will be reading all her books. Give this a read I promise it won't dissapoint.
264 reviews3 followers
June 26, 2024
Deadly Desires

Book 3 and I'm well and truly booked. I'm going to have to buy the rest now. This case ended up becoming personal for Zoe and one of her team. The new member of the team is not fitting in well. They don't seem to play well with others. But Zoe is keeping one she on them and the other on the very disturbing case that has landed in their laps. Brutal is the word! They also have help from a psychologist who Zoe is reluctant to believe initially. But she warns to them in the end. A difficult case makes difficult reading. But very well written.
131 reviews
July 20, 2021
Another cracking read

Zoe and her team, including some unexpected faces, are tracking a serial offender attacking gay men. The attacks keep happening, despite their efforts, and are getting more and more vicious. Throw into the mix a new DS, her concerns over the Superintendent being bent, and a blossoming romance with an undercover officer and Zoe's plate is pretty full. Can the team catch this killer and hoe many victims will he claim before they do!
303 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2021
Fantastic!

This is another great book! We get to see the inside of some of the characters families, and we learn more about what makes them tic! It show their teams strengths, and it also shows the teams biggest weakness. And I have a feeling we're going to see a lot more trouble from him too! The storyline itself unfortunately was one that could have been taken right from the headlines, these types of things happen in the world today ! That's the scary part!!
637 reviews2 followers
August 14, 2022
I Couldn't Put It Down!

Not always an easy read but I was gripped from page 1 and couldn't put the book down. DI Zoe Finch and her team are on the hunt for someone who is targeting men around the gay village in Birmingham and kidnapping and mutilating them, sometimes resulting in death. With very little to go on, a profiler is brought in to help but can they find the culprit before any more men are hurt? A really good read which I would give more than 5 stars if I could.
57 reviews
July 14, 2023
Another tricky case for Zöe

A killer is on the loose, and he’s committing atrocious acts on his innocent victims. More people are snatched and Zöe doesn’t have a clue who is doing it. A consultant psychologist is brought in, and this infuriates Zöe, who doesn’t want to listen to a word that Petra has to say. Things get a lot worse before the team make a breakthrough. This is a great story with a satisfying end.
Profile Image for Nicola Southall.
361 reviews9 followers
November 14, 2020
This is book 3 in the Detective Zoe Finch series.

I now feel I really know Zoe and the series is getting better and better.

This book was original and has short chapters which I love as keeps me turning the pages. The book is fast paced.

There are twists and turns and it keeps you guessing.
Can’t wait for book 4

Profile Image for Marilyn McKnight.
175 reviews
December 28, 2020
Still great.

Another brilliant book from this author. An unusual story, fast moving and exciting. Yet again I found this so difficult to put down, as the story drew me in and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Now I have to wait four days for the next story to download!! Getting writing Rachel, I will need the next book very soon.
130 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2021
Another brilliant book

Another brilliant book, I love the characters and the story flowed really well. I can't wait to read how the police corruption story develops , very " Line of duty", There is just the right amount of personal background story, ( I don't enjoy a book where it's dominated by too many personal background stories, this is spot on) highly recommended.
681 reviews2 followers
April 9, 2022
Another good one

This is another entertaining book in this series. There are details on this one that are a bit Gridley and graphic and I almost stopped reading, but I finished. There ate lots of good characters and as always, police politics. I also like the continuing story of police corruption.
Profile Image for Paul Adler.
632 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2023
I always enjoy a good British murder thriller. This one is no exception. DI Zoe Finch is a very good detective. In this book she is after a madman who castrates homosexuals. This story comes home to roost when Zoe’s son Nicholas and his boyfriend Zac are attacked by this so called psychopath. A good read if you like good police procedural thriller. RECOMMENDED.
509 reviews5 followers
August 10, 2023
A killer is on the loose and is targeting gay men in an effort to turn them back to being heterosexual.
Zoe and the team try to track him down and are led through a few blind alleys before they finally connect the dots that lead them to the correct person. It becomes personal when Zoes son Nicholas is targeted. It is through good investigation together with a psychologist that no one likes that the case is finally solved and the killer is brought to justice.
128 reviews
October 31, 2024
I really am enjoying this series of detective stories.Rachel McLean is good at giving the characters real emotions. They are not superheroes who solve everything by their ‘ genius’. They have real emotional reaction to situations. The organised crime thread is well placed when needed and does not detract from each book’s main theme.
Profile Image for Charlotte Cake .
404 reviews
September 7, 2025
Really enjoy the twists and turns within all the authors books but the interlink with organised crime is carefully done and portrayed well with complex characters to build a narrative that keeps the reader on their seat. I love Zoe and Lesley as co workers who are consistent within the series. Brilliant reading.
Profile Image for John Roberts.
475 reviews1 follower
December 25, 2020
Another top quality n gripping installment in the Zoe Finch series. I really enjoyed this book n looking forward to Deadly Terror in January. Highly recommend this series but start with the first book!
Profile Image for Bernadette Mcgoldrick.
197 reviews4 followers
May 26, 2021
Great series

This is the third in the Zoe Finch series,and just like the other two novels this is a fast paced, great read. I only have one tiny negative, and it's only in this book so far, whom ever edited the book missed a few small grammar and spelling mistakes.
371 reviews3 followers
July 8, 2021
Gripping read, serial killer? But with targets

Another fast paced thriller with detective Zoe Finch. There is a killer targeting gay men, and he's on the loose, is Zoe's son a target too
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews

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