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The Wrong Man

Ethan Adler, Book 1

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The Wrong Man

By: Chris McDonald
Narrated by: Dan Lee
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A new PI. A dead rockstar. A tangled web of secrets.

When Ethan Adler set up his new PI agency in central Manchester, he wasn’t expecting his first case to be so high profile – investigating the mysterious death of rock star Dylan Vy.

Ethan has been avoiding the spotlight ever since his beloved wife Maggie’s untimely passing. His grief has been complicated by rumours that Maggie was pregnant with another man’s child at the time of her fatal accident. And because said accident took place just hours after Ethan won the lottery, a cloud of suspicion has followed Ethan ever since.

With the help of his assistant Amelia, Ethan throws himself into uncovering the truth about Dylan Vy. In a fast-escalating investigation, they uncover a labyrinth of secrets, lies and deadly connections between bandmates, girlfriends and a volatile manager. And when Dylan's unreleased music is leaked on the dark web, speculation swirls that the lyrics contain hidden clues that might lead to the killer. But who leaked these songs, and what is their secret motive? In the midst of a media frenzy and a storm of fan conspiracy theories, who can Ethan trust?

As Ethan digs deeper, he must also confront his own demons — the lingering questions about Maggie’s death and the growing realisation that those closest to him may have played a role…

PRAISE FOR THE WRONG MAN

'The Wrong Man is everything you want in a British private investigator novel. It's fun and fast-paced with a plot that never lets up.' M W Craven

'Chris McDonald’s multi-millionaire, Skoda-driving, suspected-of-wife-murdering private eye Ethan Adler is a breath of fresh air … A slice of contemporary PI noir to delight fans of the genre.' Vaseem Khan

'I absolutely loved The Wrong Man. Pacy and addictive, with wonderfully realised characters and a genius central premise, I ripped through it in a day. An expertly told rock and roll murder mystery set in Manchester? Hook it to my veins now…' Adam Simcox

'Chris McDonald rocks! Music, mayhem and murder in Manchester – what’s not to like? … The Wrong Man is heading to the top charts – with a bullet!' Trevor Wood

'It’s fun, twisty, and a fab start to a brilliant new series!' Sam Holland

'The menacing streets of Manchester rub shoulders with rockstar glamour as danger lurks at every turn.' Natalie Chandler

©2026 Chris McDonald (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers
Crime Fiction Crime Thrillers Modern Detectives Mystery Private Investigators Thriller & Suspense Marriage
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Critic reviews

PRAISE FOR THE WRONG MAN
'The Wrong Man is everything you want in a British private investigator novel. It's fun and fast-paced with a plot that never lets up. Add a pair of mismatched PI’s – the troubled Ethan Adler and the quirky Amelia Hope – to the affectionately drawn Manchester music scene and you have a sure-fire hit on your hands. Highly recommended.' M W Craven
'Chris McDonald’s multi-millionaire, Skoda-driving, suspected-of-wife-murdering private eye Ethan Adler is a breath of fresh air. A (literal) rock and roll plot, a gritty Manchester backdrop, and a dark sense of fun … A slice of contemporary PI noir to delight fans of the genre.' Vaseem Khan
'I absolutely loved The Wrong Man. Pacy and addictive, with wonderfully realised characters and a genius central premise, I ripped through it in a day. An expertly told rock and roll murder mystery set in Manchester? Hook it to my veins now…' Adam Simcox
'Chris McDonald rocks! Music, mayhem and murder in Manchester – what’s not to like? When a rock star called Dylan is murdered, there’s bound to be blood on the tracks. Enter the coolest PI in town, Ethan Adler, and his outstanding partner in crime, Amelia Hope, who I know will be your new favourite crime-fighting duo. The Wrong Man is heading to the top charts – with a bullet!' Trevor Wood
'Introducing Ethan Adler – newly qualified PI setting out to prove himself on his first case. He’s everything you want from your hero – determined, smart, handsome – but it’s Amelia Hope who steals the show. His tech-savvy second-in-command excels in the “grey areas”, and between them they set out to discover who killed rock star Dylan Vy. It’s fun, twisty, and a fab start to a brilliant new series!' Sam Holland
'The menacing streets of Manchester rub shoulders with rockstar glamour as danger lurks at every turn.' Natalie Chandler
All stars
Most relevant
I have read/listened to all Chris' other books. i liked the cosy feel to the Colin and Adam series. This book is the 1st in a series and I can't wait for the next book. The characters of Ethan and Amelia are likeable and by thr end of the book the reader is invested in wanting to.kmow more about their lives. A cliff hanger at the end leaves the reader wanting the next book NOW.
I'm not convinced that the narrator was the best for this book but it didnt detract from the story. Perhaps as Chris becomes a more popular/known author he will get better narrators.
Think you did right to leave teaching tp beome a an author, Chris. Something many other teachers would love to do.

excellent 1st book in the series

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