Where to Start Zoe Finch's Story
If you are diving into Rachel McLean's gritty police procedurals, you might wonder whether to read the books in the order they were written or follow the chronological timeline of Zoe's career. We highly recommend starting with the first full-length novel, Deadly Wishes. Starting here introduces Zoe Finch at a pivotal point in her professional life, establishing her relationships with her team and boss, and grounding readers in the corrupt police environment of Birmingham before stepping back into her past.
The Original Birmingham Series (DI Zoe Finch)
The core series follows Detective Inspector Zoe Finch as she navigates complex cases, systemic police corruption, and personal challenges as a single mother in the West Midlands Police force. The books should be read in publication order to fully appreciate the unfolding corruption subplots:
- Deadly Wishes (2020) - Zoe investigates the murder of Assistant Chief Constable Bryn Jackson, uncovering a deep-seated corruption scandal that threatens her career.
- Deadly Origins (2020 - Novella 0.5) - A prequel novella set in 2003. It explores Zoe's early days in the CID, investigating a gruesome murder case that links back to her own family secrets. (Author recommendation: Read this after Deadly Wishes).
- Deadly Choices (2020) - Zoe races against the clock to find missing children, facing a mother's impossible dilemma.
- Deadly Desires (2020) - A serial killer targets Birmingham's gay village, forcing Zoe's team to confront hate crime and personal tragedies.
- Deadly Terror (2021) - Political pressure rises when Zoe's team must stop a major terror threat targeting the heart of Birmingham.
- Deadly Reprisal (2021) - Zoe investigates suspicious deaths at Birmingham University, exposing campus secrets and academic rivalries.
- Deadly Fallout (2021) - The explosive climax of the police corruption arc. The fallout leads to life-changing consequences for Zoe's boss.
- Deadly Christmas (2022) - A festive, high-stakes thriller that serves as the final case and farewell to Zoe's time in Birmingham.
The Dorset Crime Crossover (DCI Lesley Clarke)
Rachel McLean's books share a highly interconnected universe. In the Birmingham series, Zoe's boss is DCI Lesley Clarke. During the events of Deadly Fallout, Lesley is severely injured in a terrorist attack, prompting her to transfer to Dorset for a quieter life. This transition begins McLean's bestselling Dorset Crime series, starting with The Corfe Castle Murders. If you want to follow the complete chronological flow of this shared universe, read the first six Zoe Finch books, then begin the Dorset series. Zoe Finch even makes guest appearances in Dorset to assist Lesley with complex cases.
The Next Chapter: Cumbria Crime Series
After wrapping up her West Midlands cases in Deadly Christmas, Zoe Finch moves to Whitehaven, Cumbria, for a fresh start with her partner, DI Carl Whaley. This move kicks off the Cumbria Crime series, co-authored by Rachel McLean and Joel Hames. The series shifts the tone from urban grit to coastal mystery. The main books in this continuation should be read in the following order:
- The Harbour (2022)
- The Mine (2022)
- The Cairn (2023)
- The Barn (2023)
- The Lake (2023)
- The Wood (2023)
- The Port (2024)
- The Marsh (2024)
There are also accompanying Cumbrian novellas—including The Castle, The Karaoke Bar, and The Business—that offer short, standalone cases featuring Zoe and her new Cumbrian team.
What to Know Before You Start
The Detective Zoe Finch books are highly serialized procedurals. While each novel presents a self-contained murder investigation, the overarching storylines involving police corruption, Zoe's family history, and the evolution of her personal relationships build continuously. Reading them out of order will expose major spoilers, particularly regarding the corruption investigations. The series is ideal for fans of authentic, character-driven British crime fiction like the BBC's Line of Duty.