The Clifftop Murders

Dorset Crime, Book 2

By: Rachel McLean

Narrated by: Jan Cramer

Length: 7 hrs

Publisher's summary

DCI Lesley Clarke is settling into her new job in Dorset's Major Crimes Unit, and becoming accustomed to a slower pace of life.

But then she's called in to solve the murder of a woman with links to Lesley's new girlfriend.

Has Lesley made a grave error of judgement? Can she track down the killer, or does she already know her? And how will Lesley's new colleagues react when she tells them she's dating a suspect?

The Clifftop Murders is the second installment in the gripping Dorset Crime series, in which rural Dorset is a whole lot darker than the holiday brochures would have you think.

©2021 Rachel McLean (P)2022 Rachel McLean

I tried, I really did.....

This is the second book in the series that I've listened to- I love UK-based crime procedurals. But this series is disappointing, with respect to both the plot and the narration. There's too much "procedural"- the author spells out investigative conclusions and crime scene discoveries in a "See Spot Run" style that is pedantic, maddening, and, frankly, a little insulting to an adult audience. Secondary character development is solely in broad, predicatble and overused brush strokes- "Dennis, the opinionated, old-school copper", "Tina, the eager newbie trying to prove herself in an all-male team". Granted, there are always certain tropes, but they've been developed with greater nuance (and less annoyance) by other authors in the genre. But the narration was the final straw. All characters sound either very old (including the main character who sounds as though she's 80 and a chain smoker) or like a small child or teenager. And then in the dramatic scenes- where a suspect is apprehended, etc.- the narrator becomes so incredibly melodramatic that it is almost laughable. I tried, I really did, but after two books, I'll devote my time elsewhere.

Spoilers

I chose this series pretty much because Jan Cramer was the narrator and the description of the first book was interesting. The first book was also pretty good.

This one, not so much. As another reviewer described it was very formulaic without any real depth. There was not really any good detective work and the capture of the main perpetrator was quite accidental. There was no explanation as to why the killers did the second murder or why the second victim killed the first victim. The worst part was the abduction of the third victim and the use of the dogs (for which there is also no explanation of what happened to them). What detective doesn't go into the building where a crime just happened and check out the apartment of the criminal? This was just an unbelievable jumble of events.

Finally, the author obviously hates men and portrays all of them as either cheating, misogynistic, liars or uber religious, old fashioned, weirdos. Not sure who wronged her but wow, get a grip. There are plenty of good men out there. I only gave an overall 2 stars because of the narration. Save your credit and give this series a pass.

2

A lite mystery. I tired of it but hung in till
the end. It felt like the author had a good idea but pulled it together by checking off a list
of How-to-Write a mystery suggestions.