DI Ridpath is back. Still wearing two hats and trying to spend more time with his daughter.
He is soon tasked with taking a second look at an unsolved cold case. A 14-year-old boy, Andrew, vanished four years ago. What he discovers is a rather poor initial investigation. Meanwhile, a letter is sent to the coroner’s office that raises Ridpath's alert system. Is someone killing the residents of a care home? Coincidentally the one where Andrew’s grandmother resided? Are these two seemingly dissimilar cases related and if they are can Ridpath figure them out before there are more deaths.
Always an enjoyable read, this is the 10th book in the series. Ridpath has been through a lot in the prior books, and it doesn’t look like his luck is changing. I hated every time I had to put this book down. I just wanted to know if the cases were connected and how. I did not manage to figure either one out before the author reveals!
This book will be published at the end of June and I’m already eagerly awaiting the next book.

I have read all of the Ridpath books, and thoroughly enjoyed everyone, this book is absolutely no exception.

14 year old Andrew Golding went out for a walk in 2020, during lockdown, after an argument at home. His mum thought he had gone to his grandparents to cool down, but he was never seen again.

His mother has kept his story in the news as much as she can, especially as the police response was negligible and the case had been passed to so many different officer.s

Ridpath is tasked to investigate the case once a local newspaper takes up the story, he is also battling with the temporary coroner whilst Mrs Challinor, his old mentor is still in a coma after being attacked 8 months previously, with his coroner's hat on he is also asked to look into a care home.

Absolutely brilliant, highly recommended

Book 10 and still going strong, the characters continue to develop, the cases remain interesting and different and repetition more or less absent. Ridpath has a new acting Coroner since Mrs Challinor remains in a coma after 8 months, To say that Clarence is not successful is an understatement, bullying, arrogant, insufferable and really doesn't care about the job, inflamed that he's been sent to such a backwater as Manchester. Ridpath also has a new senior police officer, a blunt Glaswegian who actually supports Ridpath; his old team Ellie and Chrissie are back along with a new detective, Helen, who is not a team player. Investigation of a cold case and Ridpath soon finds that the original investigation was shoddy at best and deliberately lazy at worst. Andrew, 14 years old, went missing after a row with his mother. Now, four years later, after a lot of routine, persistent, painstaking and boring investigation his movements after leaving home have been partly traced. There seem to be links to a local nursing home and, digging deeper, this turns out to be the tip of a very nasty iceburg. Added to this, an old enemy of Ridpath's, safely ensconced in a high security hospital is, perhaps, not as he seems - the Beast of Manchester stirs. As if that wasn't enough, Eve, Ridpath's 14 year old daughter has left behind the sensitive, mature, caring girl of old and turned into, well, a 14year old and they are finding it hard to adjust. There are strong social aspects to the story and the whole book is a "jolly good read", so much so that I skipped a couple of titles downloaded earlier in order to have a said good read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

This is the latest in MJ Lee's fascinating crime series featuring DI Thomas Ridpath, his cancer in remission, and who divides his time with Greater Manchester Police and The Coroner's office, but with Mrs Challoner still in a coma, her acting replacement, is proving to be a nightmare, an arrogant bully, Clarence Montague, who has pushed the staff, including Ridpath's invaluable assistant, Sophia Rahman, busy with preparations for her wedding, considering quitting their positions. A desperate Ridpath continues to visit Mrs Challoner in hospital, praying for her recovery and eventual return to her role. However, his GMP boss, the Glaswegian DCI Steve Carruthers is a vast improvement on the previous state of affairs, he is blunt,, a team player, and not a man for playing politics as he has Ridpath SIO on a cold case missing person investigation, aided by the established DS Emily Parkinson and Chrissy Wright, along with the over-ambitious new DC Helen Shipton, who proves to be more problematic.

4 years ago, during Covid, 14 year old Andrew Golding, a keen footballer and loner, went missing after leaving his home after a row with his mother, who was late in reporting his absence, having assumed he had gone to stay with his grandfather. To compound this, the pmade some serious errots plus there were changing personnel, making it hard when it came to continuity, worsening the situation when it came to hunting for the teenager. It is media focus that has forced the police to reopen inquiries, but Ridpath finds the existing case files worrying, they are sparse in the details they contain, meaning old ground has to be revisited. There is another thread in which we are given insights into the mind of an old foe of Ridpath's, who with help is planning to escape, wreaking havoc and take his revence, and no-one close to Ridpath is safe. The coroner receives a note from someone at the SunnySide Residential Care Home that requires Ridpath to look into the matter, could it possibly have connections with his missing person case?

This is a terrific additon to a brilliant series, after following it for so long, I am invested in the character and development of Ridpath, a man still grieving the loss of his wife, Polly, particularly missing her when it comes to his 14 uear old daughter, Eve. He is finding it increasingly difficult to manage and understand her, their relationship under strain, exacerbated by the demands and challenges of his job as he struggles to be able to meet Eve to address issues. This is a fast paced read, exciting if intensely dark in its storyline, and given the drama of the conclusion, I cannot wait for the next in the series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Another excellent book in the Ridpath series. It may be book 10 in the series but they are all just as brilliant as the last. Gripped from the first page with plenty of tension and twists I couldn’t put the book down. Although it’s part of a series it can be read as a standalone but the series is so good I recommend reading it from the start. Can’t wait for the next instalment, hope we don’t have to wait too long!

Another brilliant DI Ridpath novel from MJ Lee. What a brilliant read!

Although this is book 10 in the series it can be read as a standalone. However, if you haven't read the others I would highly recommend starting from the beginnng and working through the books. You will not regret it. The characters develop with each read.

The author has created an amazing, flawed character who investigates yet another murder; This time it is a fourteen year old boy who disappeared four years ago.

Do not miss. Highly recommended.

This is the first book I’ve read by MJ Lee, and I would give it 3 out of 5 stars! It is set in Manchester, England. A fourteen year old boy disappears and it’s a race against the clock to the find who out did it, and to hopefully find him alive!

I have an endless TBR list but when I saw the new Ridpath book was on here I just had to bump it up to the top. This series is my all time favs. The action and suspense is always great and realistic. I'm so invested in each of the characters, especially Ridpath himself, I loved how this book touch on the hard parts of being a single parent. Brilliant story line, can be read as a stand alone but is much better if you read the books in line to get the best from each character

The DI Ridpath series is one of my favourites and What the Dead Want is another excellent read with great main and supporting storylines that keep the pages turning from the beginning to the very end.

Highly recommended.

Another exciting installment in the DI Ridpath series. In this story, ghosts of the past resurface while Mrs Challinor is still in a coma after 8 months. Ridpath is still balancing work and fatherhood while in remission from cancer. The story begins with a missing persons case from 4 years ago. Ridpath and his crew are tasked with reopening then investigation to see if they can make any headway on it. The acting head of the coroner court is driving away everyone on the team in the meantime. Delving into this case leads back to the past case of the Beast of Manchester.

I enjoyed reading about the team and there was plenty of action so the book moved quickly. There is so much forensics information to learn in this series. Thank you to M. J Lee, Netgalley, and Hera publishing for an ARC to read and enjoy. Excited for the next installment!

I am a Ridpath fan, and What The Dead Want by MJ Lee is a good addition to the series. It started off a bit slow but picked up and held my interest.

In May 2020, fourteen-year-old Andrew Golding went out for a walk following a fight with his mom and was never seen again.

Four years later, when the press discovers police errors in Andrew Golding's case, DI Ridpath is called in to investigate.

As Ridpath delves into the case, he slowly discovers something much bigger and far more brutal than he ever expected: a murderer from the past who threatens his career and the lives of those close to him.

I find the relationship between Ridpath and Eve believable and typical of teenage years. The story starts off a bit slow, but it does pick up and has some good tense moments and scenes.

A few side stories are going on in this book, as Mrs. Challinor is still in a coma, her replacement is not liked by anyone, and residents of a care home think someone is killing them off.

I like MJ Lee's writing style, it's crisp and keeps the story moving forward. The characters are developed well and all are different and have many dimensions to them.

I would recommend What The Dead Want and this series. The book had a solid story, good characters, and a satisfying ending. I look forward to the next book in this series.

#WhatTheDeadWant #NetGalley

Oh my goodness, what a brilliant book. I love Ridpath, I say every time this is the best one, but each one surpasses the previous. I cannot wait for the next installment. Please give Ridpath a love interest though, maybe Sarah, the daughter of Mrs Challinor.

The tenth book in the excellent series featuring D I Ridpath. Ridpath is instructed to look into the disappearance of a 14 year old boy who went missing four years previously. All the leads have gone cold and his task seems impossible but with the help of his team, they start making breakthroughs in the case. And everything seems to lead them back to a local nursing home.
This book started off slowly and gradually built up momentum. The second half of the book was especially thrilling and gripping, with plenty of unexpected twists and a nail-biting ending - just what you'd expect from the writer of this series. And as always, the characters are excellent.

This book packs a punch in the latest DI Tom Ridpath adventure. I always enjoy catching up with Tom and his team. The characterisation is brilliant, as is the plotting and the Manchester setting just tops it off. It is good to read more of Tom's teenage daughter, Eve as well as welcoming a new team member in Helen. The book is filled with tension and there are a few surprises along the way in this fast paced thriller which I am sure fans will enjoy as much as I did. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I absolutely love the DI Ridpath series. What better way to while away a rainy Wednesday afternoon.

Totally engrossed on the story. M J Lee never disappoints. 5 stars

Thank you for the opportunity to review

It's all happening in Manchester.

The coroner, Mrs Challinor, has been lying in a coma for eight months. Her "temporary" replacement is causing so much havoc that all the staff want to leave. He's even rubbed DI Ridpath up the wrong way.

Meanwhile, the residents of a care home think someone is killing them off. Schoolboy Andy is still missing after four years, and the police investigation into his disappearance was flawed, to say the least.

And, inside Ashworth secure hospital, the Beast of Manchester is plotting...

Relentlessly brilliant

Thanks to Netgalley for and advance review copy. This is the tenth DI Ridpath book and it’s lovely to revisit the cast of characters. Eve is growing up, Sophia is getting married, Mrs Challinor is absent as the coroner and is missed. The social issue at the background, aged care during COVID is interesting too. If you like character driver police procedurals I recommend this series.

If you like crime thrillers, this is the book for you! This book had me hooked from the start with a shocking and edge of your seat ending!

In May 2020, fourteen-year-old Andrew Golding went out for a walk and he was never seen again.

Four years later, when the press discovers police errors in Andrew Golding's case, DI Ridpath is called in to investigate.

Throughout the book, Ridpath finds out that there is way more going on than just a teenagers disappearance.

Special thanks to Netgalley for this amazing arc!

Amazing book. Would recommend to anyone who asks. I love the twists in any book like this. Great characters also

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of What The Dead Want by M J Lee
What a treat to have Ridpath back in action and with Mrs Challinor still in a coma he is needed more than ever.
The acting head coroner is alienating everyone with his rules and penny pinching ways and all the staff are feeling mutinous.
Added to that Eve, Ridpath's daughter is in the entering her teen years and finding her boundaries.
Not the best time to be landed with a missing boy case from four years ago in his dual role of Manchester Police Inspector.
This is the tenth book in the series and can be read as a standalone, but I do recommend you read the series in order.
This is a wonderful series from M J Lee and if you ever wanted to know exactly what a coroner does, this is a good place to start.