What can I say but another excellent novel by MJ Lee, this one follows on from the last episode and takes us up to the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United Kingdom. The novel starts with the abduction and eventual killing of a hospital porter, the desecration of an ex Detective Chief Inspector’s grave and the killing of an ex Detective Chief Superintendent’s two dogs. After each episode the murderer leaves a message and DI Ridpath seems to be the only one who thinks the cases are linked. Follow the case as it gets more gruesome to its deadly conclusion.

This series is becoming a favorite and this is an excellent addition.
It's a gripping and highly entertaining story, fast paced and well written.
I loved the fleshed out cast of characters and the solid mystery.
The plot is full of twists and turns and it kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next installment, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

My thanks to Canelo for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘When the Past Kills’ by M.J. Lee in exchange for an honest review.

This is Book 5 in Lee’s DI Ridpath series of police procedurals set in Manchester. I have read all of the previous books in this series and rated them all highly.

“A scream breaks the air in the coroner’s office. An execution is being broadcast live on the internet. An old case has come back to haunt DI Thomas Ridpath... “

Ridpath is about to make another career shift when the above incident occurs. It’s clear that coppers are being targeted, including the desecration of a grave. It appears that the case that defined Ridpath’s career, the Beast of Manchester, has reared its head once more.

No further details as I don’t want to head into spoiler territory. While background is provided for new readers or to refresh memory, it is a series well worth reading in order as it allows for a build up of character arcs and ongoing subplots.

So congratulations to M.J. Lee for another excellent instalment in this thrilling series of police procedurals. I found it well plotted and tightly paced. Given the ending hopefully it won’t be too long until Book 6 is available.

Highly recommended novel and series.

Ridpath is looking forward to rejoining MIT although he has regrets about leaving the Coroner's Office, he needs to move forward. He is dragged back into the past though when people involved in one of his old cases start to be murdered.

This has become of the best crime series out there. The main characters are all well-written and the plot is pacy. There's nothing that feels extraneous or just going through the motions. That ending though! Can't wait for the next one.

TW: some gruesome scenes of death, death of pets.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Canelo, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

When the Past Kills is the sixth instalment in the DI Thomas Ridpath series of crime thrillers, set in Manchester. It isn't strictly necessary to have read previous instalments but it is preferable given how much past events are referred to and are continued in this book. Think the past is over? It’s never over. When Ridpath’s offered his old job back at Manchester’s Major Incident Team he jumps at the chance although Coroner Mrs Challinor has come to rely on him for his excellent work and would rather not see him go. Then a terrifying scream breaks the air in the coroner’s office shattering the quiet of a normally peaceful place. An execution is being broadcast live on the internet. An old case has come back to haunt DI Thomas Ridpath...Coppers are being targeted. Graves desecrated. What is it – a warning? And who else will be dragged in? Just as Ridpath’s life is getting back to normal, the investigation that defined Ridpath’s career, the Beast of Manchester, rears its head once again. But this time it’s not just the investigation at stake – it's his life. 

This is a riveting read from start to finish with a superbly constructed plot full of action, drama, and plentiful twists and turns. It has to be the most high-stakes case to date and my favourite of the series so far as it revolves very much around the predominant case of Ridpath’s career and the one that's caused him the most sleepless nights. Told primarily from Ridpath’s perspective the author cloaks the whole plot in mystery and satisfyingly gives you little to no chance of correctly guessing exactly what is happening. It’s one of the most intelligent, absorbing and compulsive thrillers I’ve read in 2020 so far. An addictive plot that once you pick up will be unable to put down bristles with expertly woven tension and as it is ratcheted up it transforms into a palpable, suspense-packed narrative. Ridpath is a likeable and relatable protagonist and I enjoy learning more about him with each instalment. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Canelo for an ARC.

Another brilliant book in this fantastic crime series.
I love Ridpath and am pleased to see things are going well with Polly and Eve.
The book starts with a shocking video being received by the coroner where it shows a man they all know being hanged.
We then rewind four days and see what led up to this horrific death.
Ridpath decides to go back to MIT but has a few weeks left with the Coroner’s office so splits his time between the two.
He’s asked to investigate the hanging of two dogs that belonged to his previous boss. At first he thinks it’s a waste of his time but then a murder links this incident to an old case Ridpath and his old boss were involved in, so alarm bells start ringing.
Turnbull is now Ridpath’s boss at MIT and they really don’t like each other. Claire still has the final say so ensures Ridpath is treated fairly.
The murders become more frequent and there’s a definite link to the old case but who is the killer?
This is a fast paced crime thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Wow, I am totally gobsmacked by that ending. I am still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor and bring my heart rate back to a normal level. Read this book to find out why I am still completely speechless, it is so worth it,

This is the first book by M.J. Lee I have read. I now intend to read his back list and look forward to more.
Ridpath is a Manchester-based detective torn between his work for the Coroner and getting back to MIT, now his cancer is in remission.
The plot is clever and intriguing. As much a whydunnit as a whodunnit. Anyone who likes a police procedural with a gritty edge won't be disappointed.

A great crime story. Well put together and not too obvious to work out . I could not put this one down, loved the suspense and the way the story progressed. Told fom the perspective of Ridpath, a detective inspector who was working at the coroners court , I liked his personal story . What I did miss was a little more about relationships with his collegues. We hear early on that he and Emily do not get on and I assume later in the book that they can work together but I would have liked to know more about this .
I enjoyed the Manchester setting, having lived there for a good few years.
I`ll definitely read more from this author and cannot wait to read the next episode in this series
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Somehow I can’t understand how it is that I miss so many good books or series. When the past kills may be the fifth book in the Ridpath series, before I read the first chapters I already had the feeling that I’ve know Ridpath for years. This is a series to my heart. The story has a solid background, Ridpath and his family are great characters – and even Turnbull, the ‘boss from hell’ is interesting because I hope to read later why he is such an angry man.
The story itself, although having to do with things that happened way earlier in the life of Ridpath, was very well thought out and the author didn’t make the mistake to try and write two books in one by constantly giving too much information about the background of this story.
It was fun getting to know this author and I hope to pick up some earlier books in the series soon. I will definitely apply for a review copy of the sixth book because of the ending of this one.

Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.

I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘When The Past Kills’ by M J Lee in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
This is now the fifth book in this series and they just go from strength to strength.
This one takes a trip back in time and revisits the events behind "The Beast Of Manchester" case.
I read this book in the space of a number of hours lying on a sun lounger on holiday.
Ridpath is still attached to the coroner office and all the regular characters feature.
Really strong storyline and although you would benefit form reading the books in order this could potentially be read as a standalone.

Keep them coming

I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘When The Past Kills’ by M J Lee in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DI Thomas Ridpath has been working as the Coroner’s Officer and when he’s offered his old job at Manchester’s Major Incident Team he’s keen to accept. On Ridpath’s first day back he’s asked to investigate the death of his old boss ex-DCS John Gorman’s two dogs who’ve been strung up in the shed on his allotment. Then a policeman’s grave is desecrated and the execution of a former Coroner is shown live on the internet, and Ridpath needs to work with the new DCI Paul Turnbull to find a link between what’s happening and discover the identity of the perpetrator.

‘When The Past Kills’ is the fifth instalment in the DI Ridpath series where he’s working with Mrs Challinor, the Coroner, and also the MIT, and I was so gripped with the story that I finished the book in a day. I’ve enjoy catching up with Ridpath who’s a thoroughly reliable though fairly unremarkable policeman, dependable and trustworthy, but ready to risk his life to get to the truth. The storyline is compelling, tense and dramatic, and as I continued reading the suspense was palpable. When I reached the final pages the ending was so shocking and unexpected I couldn’t believe what had happened. I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen in book six.

I have broken one of my own rules during these stay at home days. I always used to say that I would never read a series out of order, and yet with my life turned upside down, I took a chance on When the Past Kills. This is the fifth book in the DI Ridpath series, and though there were things mentioned that most likely were covered in prior books, I thought this worked fine as a standalone.
DI Ridpath has been working in the Coroner's office since successfully battling cancer. He will be returning to his former position as a member of the Major Incident Team shortly. Currently, he is trying to get reacclimated and spends his time in both offices.
The story begins with a murder, broadcast live with a link sent to Ridpath's boss, Mrs. Challinor. We then go back four days and witness a grave destroyed, dogs killed, and some other rather gruesome deaths. Ridpath believes these crimes are related, and that a man he arrested in the past is involved. All the evidence supports Ridpath's theory until an airtight alibi has everyone scrambling to find the real killer.
All of the characters were well developed, and aside from the killer or killers and one member of the Major Incident Team, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Ridpath, his family, and professional colleagues. The ending made me want the sixth book, but at least I have the first four to read while I wait. I certainly picked an action-packed police procedural with an intriguing whodunnit to break my own series reading rule.

Brilliant. This is a really good read. A lot of action and some great characters. I have loved every book in this series so far. Ridpath and his colleagues and family are beginning to feel like friends. Ridpath also has great taste in whisky.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is an excellent series of books. Set in Manchester and featuring DI Ridpath on a secondment to the Coroner's office. Fast paced, an interesting plot, good character development, suspense and tension, and a cliffhanger of an ending. It's a recommendation from me. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

DI Ridpath #5

Ridpath is still attached to the coroner's office and linked to MIT. Just as DI Ridpath is getting his life back together, the Beast of Manchester rears its ugly head again. An execution is being broadcast live on the internet. The police are being targeted and graves are being desecrated. An old case has come back to haunt Thomas Ridpath.

This is a gripping story that's hard to put down. There's lots of twists in this gripping story. My attention was held throughout. We gave 2 new characters: DS Claire Trent and DSI Turnbull who are now in charge of things at the police station. I wasn't keen on Turnbull, he came across as a bit of a bully. This is a really good police procedural series. I did guess where the story was going but I didn't see the cliffhanger coming.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Canelo and the author M.J. Lee for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DI Ridpath returns in M J Lee’s When the Past Kills which is another excellent police crime thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The book starts with a very dramatic opening and finishes on an excellent cliffhanger whilst the bits in between kept me turning the pages.

This is an excellent Series and one that I thoroughly recommend

This is turning into a great series. I like Ridpath and his battleaxe coroner. All the other characters are good too,with just the right amount of friction. An old case comes back to haunt the team,,can they link the deaths in time?

This is book five in the wonderful DI Ridpath series and it’s just as good as the previous books. It’s a fast paced thrill of a ride from the start to the finish with plenty of bodies piling up and Ridpath on the trail of an old enemy who seems to be out for revenge but is he chasing the right person?
What I love most about this book and series is the excellent portrayal of Ridpath who really is one of the most likeable characters ever, he seems so down to earth and real and it’s always a pleasure to start a new book in the series as it feels like you are back with an old friend that you care about. The rest of the reoccurring characters are also so well crafted and some a whole lot more likeable than others mentioning no names DCI Turnbull !!
This plot is as just what you would expect from Mr MJ Lee a riveting page turner with plenty going on and oh boy what an ending it was and I just cannot wait till the next instalment to find out what will happen, can’t say anymore but it was one hell of a shock!!
So another five star read in a series I have loved from book one, please read them all it’s a series not to be missed and this book five was amazing and a big thank you to MJ Lee for another belting read!
My thanks also to NetGalley and Canelo for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A case from the past has come back to haunt D I Ridpath. With his time at the coroner's office seemingly coming to an end, his previous work on the Beast of Manchester case once again rears its head. The police are being targeted and even those already dead are not being spared. Is this some sort of warning and who is behind it? Ridpath must try to uncover the truth to prevent his own life from being put in danger.

I love a book that grabs you straight from the off and When the Past Kills definitely does this! From the moment we see Ridpath's boss, Mrs Challinor watching a video of something truly horrific, we know that this is not going to be an easy case for the coroner's officer, especially when links begin to be made to a case that he previously worked on. This was a good move by the author to start the plot part-way through the investigation before taking you back to how the case started as I could not wait to revisit this moment to see the repercussions.

The case is a particularly horrific one, and one that is very personal to Ridpath. He also has the additional dilemma of whether he should return to work for MIT or whether to remain at the coroner's office. I feel that Ridpath is well-suited to his role with the coroner and although he does have the skills that make him a great detective, he is certainly a good fit in his present role and Mrs Challinor is definitely reluctant to see him go. It is his job as coroner's officer that sets him apart from protagonists in other books of this genre, as it is something that I have not seen in any other books.

There is a lot going on in When the Past Kills and, just when you think the story has ended, the author hits us with the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers! I actually gasped out loud when I reached this moment and can't believe I have to wait until the next book to find out what happens next! Hopefully, book 6 won't be long in the making as I'm desperate to know the outcome!

As the title suggests, the focus of the plot links to a case in one of the previous books, and while you do not need to have read about what has gone before, there are spoilers aplenty should you wish to go back and read this series from the start. This is a really engaging series with a likable protagonist and I would definitely recommend reading them all.