DI Ridpath series, book 12
What I like about this series is the fact that M.J Lee always manages to find a plot that includes something either topical, or something that could quite easily happen.
In this book the murder of a man, found malnourished and who had been dead for several weeks, gets linked to other cases after an almost casual observation at the scene.
Meanwhile Greater Manchesters Coroner is beginning to have suspicions around the involvement of the Department of Work and Pensions in the seemingly accidental deaths of several people.
She is always on guard, shes never going to let another Harold Shipman happen on her watch.
So when it becomes apparent that the DWP are cutting vulnerable people’s benefits, or putting undue restrictions, or impossible request, on them, and that several people’s deaths may have been the result of this, then she makes it her mission to stop these practices.
Could Ridpath’s murder investigations be somehow linked to the Coroners suspicions of the practices of the DWP.
The use of private carers is mentioned in the book. Having seen the vast differences between good carers, and bad ones for myself, it’s a surprise to me that there are not more deaths involving carers investigated by the Police.
Then there is the question of assisted suicide. Moralistically this is divisive, legally its a minefield. So when a man walks into a police station and says he’s killed his father, but later states that it was a part of an assisted suicide, its a clever plot twist that just adds more intrigue to the story.
The plot is not as complicated as I may have made it sound. It’s a cleverly written story. It brings together some very believable scenarios.
That coupled with the ongoing storyline of Ridpath’s private life makes this book a great read.
Publisher: Canelo Crime. Pages: 352. Available now
nigeladamsbookworm 