{"title":"Books by M J Lee","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780263927733","title":"Death In Shanghai","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShanghai, 1928. \u003c\/strong\u003eThe body of a blonde is washed up on the Beach of Dead Babies, in the heart of the smog-filled city. Seemingly a suicide, a closer inspection reveals a darker motive: the corpse has been weighed down, it’s lower half mutilated…and the Chinese character for ‘justice’ carved into the chest.\u003c\/p\u003e          \u003cp\u003eThe moment Inspector Danilov lays eyes on the dismembered body, he realises that he has an exceptional case on his hands. And when the first body is followed by another, and another, each displaying a new, bloody message, he has no option but face the truth. He is dealing with the worst kind of criminal; someone determined, twisted…and vengeful.\u003c\/p\u003e          \u003cp\u003eSomeone who must be caught….whatever the cost.\u003c\/p\u003e          \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeath in Shanghai is the first novel in M J Lee’s Inspector Danilov series, perfect for fans of Philip Kerr.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56231356268917,"sku":"9780263927733","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780263927733_0415cdfc-80ac-4000-af19-9f5f91bc9904.jpg?v=1786012318"},{"product_id":"9781788635844","title":"Where the Silence Calls","description":"\u003cp\u003ePlay with fire, and you're going to get burned. The unputdownable new Ridpath crime thriller\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Manchester, a block of flats is burning. The only victim is a middle-aged man, sat watching TV. Are the fire and the man's death an accident or is something more frightening at work?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile, \u003cb\u003eDI Ridpath \u003c\/b\u003eis back with his wife and enjoying work at the Coroner's Office, his myeloma still in remission. But the quiet life is soon shattered by a new threat.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMore corpses start appearing; charred, burnt, silent bodies, strewn in the streets and lodged in buildings. Next to each one is a chilling message sprayed in orange ink.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFighting on all fronts, Ridpath will be drawn into the dark past of his city and the youth football clubs of the 1990s. He must find the link before any more people die. Before the flames come close to home...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn absolutely gripping, nerve-shredding crime thriller from master storyteller M J Lee, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Robert Bryndza and Patricia Gibney.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305551540597,"sku":"9781788635844","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781788635844_1e3f959f-2a72-4552-b38d-0fdaa6f66245.jpg?v=1786027457"},{"product_id":"9781800325678","title":"When the Guilty Cry","description":"\u003cp\u003eThree severed hands. No clues. A race against time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThree embalmed hands are discovered in a disused Victorian house. Is it a gangland ritual? The work of a cult? Or just a prank played by Medical Students? And what happened to the bodies?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile the Coroner needs to issue a Presumption of Death certificate on a teenage girl who vanished eleven years ago in mysterious circumstances.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs hints emerge the two cases are connected, \u003cb\u003eDI Ridpath\u003c\/b\u003e pushes himself to the limit to find out what really happened. It soon emerges the house is a former children's home. When another woman, a local social worker, disappears, he is under immense pressure to find answers. What really happened at Daisy House Children's Home all those years ago?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe has just one week to discover the truth...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe latest in the #1 bestselling DI Ridpath crime thriller series, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Peter James.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305818599797,"sku":"9781800325678","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781800325678_a7f0166b-b1be-4a70-bda5-480d6bac9c36.jpg?v=1786027189"},{"product_id":"9781788638029","title":"Where the Innocent Die","description":"\u003cp\u003eNowhere is safe. No one can be trusted.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA bloodied body is found in a Manchester Immigrant Removal Centre. The investigating officer and the pathologist seem certain: a suicide. But for \u003cstrong\u003eDI Ridpath\u003c\/strong\u003e something doesn't add up.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs the evidence starts to unravel, and with few leads, the pressure is on to find answers before the Inquest is closed. Caught between the police, the coroner and a system that doesn't care, Ridpath isn't making any friends.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd at the centre of the case Ridpath will find a heart of darkness. Innocent people are suffering. How many more will die before Ridpath discovers the truth?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe fourth instalment of the unputdownable DI Ridpath series is perfect fans of Mark Billingham and Patricia Gibney.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56306647728501,"sku":"9781788638029","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781788638029_8fe3222e-8db0-4d20-81d3-073c44136d3f.jpg?v=1786026532"},{"product_id":"9781788635745","title":"Where The Dead Fall","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne chance encounter, one murder, will change everything.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDI Thomas Ridpath\u003c\/b\u003e is in the process of getting his life back together when everything goes wrong. Caught in a gruesome motorway incident, one question remains: why did nobody else see what happened?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRidpath's investigations soon pulls the police force itself into question, and hints at something even more sinister.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith Manchester on the brink of violence unlike anything seen in decades, Ridpath must battle this unprecedented conflict alongside his own demons\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA nail-biting crime thriller, MJ Lee's \u003ci\u003eWhere the Dead Fall\u003c\/i\u003e is an absolute must-read, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Peter James.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56306872516981,"sku":"9781788635745","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781788635745.jpg?v=1786027456"},{"product_id":"9781800327795","title":"When the Night Ends","description":"\u003cp\u003eA death in custody. A life in jeopardy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen \u003cb\u003eBen Holdsworth \u003c\/b\u003edies alone in a police cell, riots erupt in Manchester. But after a post mortem, the authorities have decided nobody was to blame.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDI Ridpath\u003c\/b\u003e is asked to investigate by the coroner before an inquest, and immediately uncovers some discrepancies in the witness statements.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhy was the CCTV not working that night? Where was the custody sergeant, and did he know the victim? Wherever he turns there are lies and gaps. It's a dangerous game and the net is closing On Ridpath himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere is only one way out: uncover what really happened in the prison cells on that dark Manchester night.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA stunning crime thriller from a master of the genre, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Val McDermid and Ian Rankin.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56306979045749,"sku":"9781800327795","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781800327795_c0e7a733-5072-419e-b031-73e79e7feb3d.jpg?v=1786027248"},{"product_id":"9781800329324","title":"What the Shadows Hide","description":"\u003cp\u003eTo love and to cherish, till death did them part...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A brilliant thriller' \u003ci\u003eThe Sun\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo desiccated bodies are found in each other's arms in the bricked up room of a derelict Victorian warehouse. After six months of work, the police have nothing and \u003cb\u003eRidpath\u003c\/b\u003e is finally called in to investigate. Dubbed the Romeo and Juliet murders by the press, so many questions remain unanswered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWho are they? Why were they there? Who killed them? And why was the coroner so keen for him to work on this particular case?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRidpath is plunged into his most difficult investigation yet, in a race against time to discover the truth. Has an unknown serial killer been operating in Manchester for the last twenty years?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFast-paced, vicious and utterly compelling, the latest Ridpath novel is perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Damien Boyd.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307273007477,"sku":"9781800329324","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781800329324_1bb05786-286c-4290-9770-372f24853785.jpg?v=1786027303"},{"product_id":"9781804362556","title":"What the Dead Want","description":"\u003cp\u003eThey are waiting for death. He is waiting to kill them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn May 2020, fourteen-year-old Andrew Golding went out for a walk following a row with his mum. He was never seen again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFour years later, when the press discovers police errors in Andrew Golding's case, DI Ridpath is called in to investigate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs 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. Can he unravel the secrets before the killer strikes again?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe latest tense and gripping DI Ridpath thriller set in Manchester. Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Damien Boyd.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eWhat the Dead Want\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cb\u003eA riveting read with a finale that has your heart pounding\u003c\/b\u003e. Yet again Mr Lee has written a book that is immensely thrilling and entertaining'  Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cb\u003eEverything anyone could possibly want from a tension-filled thriller and then some\u003c\/b\u003e! Ridpath is one of my favourite main protagonists I've read some excellent books recently and this is \u003cb\u003eright up there with the best of them\u003c\/b\u003e'  Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Another highly suspenseful and ultimately satisfying book in the DI Ridpath series. \u003cb\u003eHighly, highly recommended\u003c\/b\u003e'  Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cb\u003eA fabulous twisty turny plot\u003c\/b\u003e Cannot wait for the next in this series!'  Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'It was with a big sigh that I finished this book  I had tried so hard to make it last but the plot was so damn good I just had to know how it was all going to end and \u003cb\u003ewhat an ending\u003c\/b\u003e it was!'  Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cb\u003eIf you like twisty mysteries with imperfect British police protagonists, give this series a try\u003c\/b\u003e. You won't regret it'  Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'This book \u003cb\u003ehad me hooked from the start\u003c\/b\u003e with a shocking and edge-of-your-seat ending!'  Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cb\u003eRelentlessly brilliant\u003c\/b\u003e'  Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307479642485,"sku":"9781804362556","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781804362556_1ac9593a-231a-4e4b-a621-7ca7eeeff471.jpg?v=1786026939"},{"product_id":"9781804369043","title":"What the Dark Whispers","description":"\u003cp\u003eA web of lies. A confusion of secrets. A maze of murder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a quiet Manchester suburb, a man sets himself on fire in a petrol station. Nearby, a fourteen-year-old girl murders her mother in cold blood. At the Coroner's Officer, Detective Inspector Ridpath is called in to investigate both of these baffling deaths. Is one a suicide and and the other an unexplained murder? Or does something more sinister link the two seemingly unconnected tragedies? As Ridpath delves deeper, he must confront the darkness lurking in the most unexpected places, where even innocent facades can hide the darkest of truths. Can he prevent more deaths?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn unputdownable and suspenseful crime thriller from the bestselling author, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Trevor Wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePraise for What the Dark Whispers 'The best in the series so far, with the tension turning with every page' Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Gripping I was drawn in very quickly, unable to put the book down' Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Keeps you on the edge of your seat once again MJ Lee serves up another masterpiece' Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Wow, a fantastic suspenseful crime thriller!! I highly recommend reading this book' Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Absolutely brilliant story. Grabs you from the beginning. I can't wait for the next book' Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Another superb Ridpath book by the brilliant MJ Lee. I love this series of books, and as soon as I have finished one I am desperate to read another' Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Well-crafted, realistic characters and a twisted plot' Reader review\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56312970805621,"sku":"9781804369043","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781804369043_dfb27205-a960-4fd4-8966-4f29c614db1e.jpg?v=1786027164"},{"product_id":"9781835983119","title":"What the Dying See","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe system is broken - and it wants you dead.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn elderly ex-soldier is found dead in his home  starved, alone and long forgotten. No one notices. No one cares.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe same day, a man walks into a Manchester police station and calmly confesses: \u003ci\u003eI just killed my father.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDI Thomas Ridpath\u003c\/b\u003e is called to investigate both cases. But what begins as two unconnected deaths soon unravels into something far more chilling. Behind the polite doors of suburban streets, someone is twisting the very systems meant to protect the vulnerable and turning them into weapons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs the body count climbs, Ridpath realises he's not chasing a lone killer. He's fighting an entire machinery of death. And the next name on the list is his.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA gripping crime thriller from the bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Neil Lancaster and Stuart MacBride\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56369271472501,"sku":"9781835983119","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781835983119_63f956dc-7e9d-4014-b3ad-771d105f3573.jpg?v=1786028340"},{"product_id":"when-the-past-kills","title":"When the Past Kills","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe past is never over. It's just waiting for an opportunity to return...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the notorious serial killer the Beast of Manchester was captured, the streets should have been safe. Except the police got the wrong man. An innocent person was convicted, and only later was the culprit put away.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow, those connected to the case are being targeted. Someone wants revenge.\u003cb\u003e DI Thomas Ridpath\u003c\/b\u003e has to relive the horrors all over again. As the bodies stack up once more, Ridpath knows the answers lie in the mistakes made the first time round.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut as he is searching for clues from years ago, fresh terror awaits. While Ridpath seeks to save lives, he risks overlooking the greatest danger of all - and losing more than he can stand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDon't miss this unputdownable crime thriller featuring one of Britain's best-loved fictional detectives, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Mark Billingham and Cara Hunter.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat readers are saying about \u003ci\u003eWhen the Past Kills\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A fabulous read, \u003cb\u003ethe plotting is genius\u003c\/b\u003e and the characters, even the nasty ones, are so true to life' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Totally riveting, don't start it if you have things to do later that day as \u003cb\u003eI promise it's unputdownable\u003c\/b\u003e' NetGalley review  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57487733490037,"sku":"9781800320154","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781800320154.jpg?v=1786354958"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-m-j-lee.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}