Cold Sacrifice

DS Ian Peterson #1

by Leigh Russell

The First DS Ian Peterson Murder Investigation

When Henry's wife is stabbed to death, he pays a prostitute to give him an alibi. Her body is discovered, strangled, and the police realise they are dealing with a serial killer who will stop at nothing to cover his tracks. While they are hunting for evidence, another prostitute is brutally murdered. On the track of a vicious killer, Ian doesn't realise he is risking the life of his young colleague, Polly.

Already established as a popular character in his own right, Ian Peterson appears in a supporting role in the first three Geraldine Steel novels. Cold Sacrifice is the start of his own career as protagonist in a brand new detective series.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Detective

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Leigh Russell has sold over a million books in her Geraldine Steel series of crime novels. Published in English and in translation throughout Europe and in China, the Geraldine Steel titles have appeared on many bestseller lists, including #1 on kindle. Leigh's work has been nominated for several major awards, including the CWA New Blood Dagger and CWA Dagger in the Library.
Leigh has also written a trilogy featuring Lucy Hall, set in the Seychelles, Paris and Rome, and two standalone psychological thrillers.
Leigh serves on the board of the Crime Writers Association and chairs the judges for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger Award.
She is represented by Bill Goodall.

Reviews

[Jo Ring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good easy reading could imagine it on TV

[James Zhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's an okay story, decent enough that I didn't get sleepy reading it, but not decent enough to get me really hooked. The plot is overall very ordinary and unimpressive.

I quite enjoyed the way in which Russell writes about the characters. We get glimpses of the frustration of Detective Peterson's wife to his irregular work hours. Russell also allotted just the right amount of text on Peterson's struggle to maintain his marriage as a detective, which helps shape his character. However, I didn't like how Russell jumps from the stream of consciousness of one character to another. I get that it's an omniscient narration, but sometimes we only get just a little bit of one character out of the entire story that I feel like it's quite meaningless.

Now onto the biggest problem with the story: the structure of the plot. This story doesn't read like a mystery at all, nor does it have any suspension. It reads more like a police case rewritten in a fiction style. Right at the beginning, we already know how Martha gets murdered, and the ways the other two women get murdered are also narrated real-time, which leaves no mystery or suspension--the only small mystery is who the killer is, but through out the story there are only two suspects: the father or the son. Russell tries to add more mystery with the whole mysterious religious cult thing going, but for some reason I found it quite bland. It also doesn't help how all the three victims are killed in such mundane ways; that already makes the story very ordinary.

When the real murderer is found, it didn't feel like a twist at all. Although I didn't expect it was who it was, it makes sense, and it doesn't create any movement or climax in the story, which is why I felt like it was just a police case written in fiction style.

The story would have been a lot more impressive if the religious cult is main focus. For example, if the police discovers this cult and finds out it has done some really fucked-up crimes, or it is the culprit of many unsolved disturbing crimes from the past. The story could have gone so much darker with this religious cult, but sadly, the story remains on a very regular crime level that I didn't care much for.

The story of the knife used to kill Martha is just absolutely lame. It reads so unnatural and artificial. The story reads like it was there just to add more confusion to the story. It's like adding more crap on top of another pile of crap to try to make it less crappy. Doesn't work.

I think the reason why I didn't fall asleep on this book is that I'm a big fan of crime/detective stories, and the story is decently written. (My dad is a cop and I used to read the crime cases published by his station!) This book definitely isn't one of those heart-racing thrillers.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold Sacrifice by Leigh Russell – A Detective Ian Peterson Mystery- is a 2014 William Morrow – Witness Impulse publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Ian Peterson gets his own series and this first installment is a good beginning for the detective.

Ian and his team are working the case where a woman was found stabbed to death, and the husband, who is hardly the grieving widower, is the primary suspect.

Ian is also struggling mightily with his personal life, since his marriage to Bev is already on the rocks.
But, Ian is determined to make the marriage work, so he continues to work this case as hard as he can so he can get a promotion, which would relocate him and Bev to York, where perhaps the distance from her disapproving family could help strengthen the marriage.

The further Ian delves into the case, the stranger the situation gets. The prime suspect begins to look more and more guilty, but finding the proof is elusive. Meanwhile, the suspect, is quite aware he is a person of interest, which has him trying to cover all his bases, but is he really the killer? Or was there another more sinister plot afoot?

Sending Ian off with a series of his own was a bit of a risky move. I loved him when he was paired up with Geraldine and was curious how this would play out in both series.
The plot of this one was almost darkly comical as paranoia took hold causing a series of events to unfold that never would have otherwise. However the crime solving aspects were not as strong as it needed to be.
For me the personal drama in Ian's life was more in focus than the mystery, and I believe this was most likely done in order to get Ian placed in York and with his new title and promotion. I'm not sure if this part of his life will continue to be a big part of future installments or if the stories will become more focused on the crime solving. I do hope the next book will have a bit more of a balance between the two, or that the murder mystery will have a strong enough plot line in order to compete adequately with Ian's personal dramas and demons.
Having said that, I often feel the first book in a series has a weaker storyline due to the time spent getting everything set up for the future, and hopefully more meaty, releases.
I think the series will even out as time goes on. Leigh Russell is a gifted author and Ian is a character you already know if you have been reading the Geraldine Steel series, so you should be able to just jump right in. Ian is a very different character from Geraldine making his style unique, but also this series will give his character a chance to develop more and I am certainly curious to see what direction Ian's career and personal life will take once he assumes his role as Inspector and moves to York.
This book gives us the insight we need into Ian's life both from a personal and work perspective and is a solid enough beginning to this series. Over all I give this one 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

[Kerry sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something about the author's voice that feels as if she is talking to a younger person or someone of a limited iq or lesser iq. It feels as if she is dumbing down but every so often her vocabulary gives her actual level. It gives the authors voice a young and light feel that actually works as it makes the writing style very easy to read. The story caught me from the start it was engaging, it felt gentle even though the subjects are anything but. There seems to be a theme of domestic abuse going on all the key player's are touched by or suffering it. I am undecided whether this is for social commentary or just lack of imagination. I would hope it is the latter. if I am honest I didn't like most of the characters they where either whiny, kids or thick beyond measure, in other words very believable as members of Joe public and the reason I am an antisocial hermit. The best part of this book was that at the end it wasn't all tied up in a little bow, there were questions left unanswered it made it feel very lifelike and although not totally satisfying it was enjoyable.

[Gary Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The real achievement of this crime thriller by the resplendently qualified Leigh Russell is to peel back the lid on the social deprivation, marginalisation of women and familial neglect, so often the true background to murder most cold, while never skimping on a pacy and hot blooded page turner of a thriller. DS Ian Peterson is struggling with the realities of an overstretched home and work life and facing a series of apparently unconnected and violent murders. Add a measure of pseudo religious fanaticism, dead ends and red herrings, there's much to admire here from a writer who knows the craft of the crime thriller better than most. Without saying anything that will spoil I rather hope we will see the return of a nemesis from this book who was given only fleeting stage time but who was original, dark and bloody dangerous! Enjoy.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5
I have been hooked from the get go with this book. 'Henry' is just an abuser who needs to be killed himself for what he put his wife through. However, it confuses me a lot why martha would stay with him even if it was for religious reasons why she wouldn't divorce him. No one should have to put up with that just because of religion.

Then there is a kid who needs to be seen too, before he does something dangerous with the knife that he would - which is also the one that was used to kill Martha with. I get that he just wants to stop the abuse he gets at home and from the bullies at school but still this isn't the way. The only reason he was stopped and the knife was taken off him is because he pulled it out at school in a fight. When he was talking to the police he tried to take the blame for the murder and then tried to blame his mother's boyfriend for it. Other than getting social services involved with that family nothing else came from it.

Up until about chapter 35  I was thinking that it was Henry that must have done all 3 murders as it easy to suspect him of doning that and all 3 women had a clear connection to him. It wasn't until much later that i started to think that Martin had killed his mother for the inheritance. Then killed delle and candy to make it look like it was his father that had killed them all. Still can't believe that Martin was a part of a cult who has a distorted view of religion and reality. As the leader is more worried about himself and what happened has to do to keep what he has under the raider. Even though one of his followers, which he had happily named assassin is now arrested, he is gone and abandoned him just so he and the rest of the group can't get caught. Also intrigued in what is going to happen in the other books now.

[Nick Pillow · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a last-minute holiday grab from a charity shop and, although it was a page-turner that I finished in 2 days, overall it was rather dissatisfying.

What was good: The speed of the plot development - it was a pacy thriller; the economy of the prose.

What wasn't: The poor characterisation - the female characters, especially, seemed to come out of a cut-out book of worn tropes ie the bitter snarky wife, the gossipy neighbour (who bakes, of course), the drug-addicted prostitute, the judgy mother-in-law - even Polly, the chirpy police assistant, had only one job which was to be compared to Peterson's wife. She was woefully underwritten, I felt. The inclusion of two short passages from the pov of DS Peterson's wife went a small way in making her less unlikeable, but not by much.
The storyline was weak - there simply weren't enough suspects (only two), so it was easy to work out whodunnit very early on. Another review mentioned the pointlessness of the B-plot about the murder weapon - I agree with this completely; it didn't add anything (except another bad female character - the battered mother, or indeed the second battered mother, given the first victim was also a battered mother). The conclusion was a little rushed.

Overall, it was certainly readable, and quick, but nothing really juicy to pull me in.

[Ellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've got 70% in, less than 100 pages to go and I'm yet again hearing about Peterson and his wife or being repeated the handful of facts we know about the killer and how little they actually have. There is no suspense and I've realised at this point I just no longer care. I've had an idea who it is from the beginning but by this point I'm not even flicking ahead to see if I'm right. I skimmed ahead a bit to see if it picked up at all and we're going over old ground continuously. It's so whiny, I can't. I've read a few of the Geraldine Steel books and I don't remember Ian being this much of a boring kn*b. I've come to find I just don't like him, I don't care if he stays with his wife and honestly, I don't think he's cut out for promotion. Best I leave this series here for someone who can enjoy it and move on to something that is a better fit for me.

[Mystic Miraflores · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author is new to me, so I gave this book a try. But I figured out the murderer very early on; the author left several very obvious clues. I just slogged through the rest of the book, reading about the various red herrings, until my guess was confirmed at the end of the book. So to me, it wasn't much of a mystery. There were a lot of distractions from the main plot: Peterson's relationship with his unpleasant wife, a religious cult and its mysterious leader, various teenagers appearing throughout the story, etc. I did like the character of Peterson and his constable, Polly. But not sure that is enough to motivate me to read the next book in the series, when it comes out. I question whether the book was worth the price I paid for the Kindle edition.

[Gary Dowden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first of a spin-off from the Steele series sees her sidekick Ian Peterson investigating the death of a middle aged woman. Everything seems to point to the husband's guilt but he makes a decision that changes the course of the case and ultimately puts him into deeper trouble. Although this is a fairly routine murder-mystery story, I really liked it. Fast paced, no confusing side stories and not to many characters as well as a couple of decent surprises. Peterson's struggle to deal with a good work-life balance is an interesting distraction throughout as well. Nothing groundbreaking but a good, enjoyable and engaging story.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When three dead bodies are discovered in quick succession on his home patch in Kent, DI Ian Peterson becomes too embroiled in a complex murder investigation to worry about his forthcoming promotion or the state of his marriage. The first victim is a middle class housewife, stabbed to death in a park. Her husband is in the clear until the prostitute who provided him with an alibi is murdered. While the police are busy gathering evidence, a second prostitute is killed. Ian and a young female constable, Polly, struggle to make sense of the case and find the elusive killer.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with a lot of mystery. A very frustrating investigation for DS Peterson and his new colleague Polly because of so little evidence. One main suspect with clear motivations but nothing to convict him. One death leads to three, but how many more before they get the break they desperately need? Meanwhile, Peterson is having problems of his own. The long hours and sleepless nights are taking a toll on his marriage and he needs to put an end to this case quick and consentrate on his home life. An intriguing and twisty story line that keeps you guessing throughout.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

DS Ian Peterson is investigating a brutal stabbing in a park that opens a chain of events resulting in further killings. The suspect is obvious and clearly isn't worried about being found out.

Ian is a good character with the usual home life issues of a detective, although probably not as tragic as some. There were parts where I felt the focus was a little too strong on his home life particularly when written from his wife's perspective.

I like the dynamic of colleagues and felt it was believable. The writing was good. The story was a little basic and obvious.

[Cidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think that I have read a book by Leigh Russell before, which is remiss of me when this one was so good. DS Peterson soon to become DI Peterson is a workaholic police officer, and a good one. He suddenly finds himself involved in a series of murders and the murderer is obvious quite early on in the book. Or so you think. The story rollicks along and takes you with it. At the very end do you find yourself thinking ah I should have seen that coming! Good author, good book!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman is found in a park stabbed to death with a single blow. DS Ian Peterson and his team are called in to investigate. They have a strong suspicion that the husband did it but cannot prove it but they set about to build their case. This was a very good police procedural with some engaging and interesting characters.

[Andrea Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read and definitely the start of a new series for the author. building the character of Ian and his new relationship with his now wife Bev. Waiting to hear about his promotion, working long hours and now he's involved in a murder of a woman that initially appears to point to the husband. A few twists and turns in the plot and its ready to reveal.

[Margaret Dudgeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

having never really read Leigh Russell before enjoyed It. I only read 1 have way through Geraldine Steele series. as DS Peterson mentioned in these think need 2 go back and read them first. otherwise throughly good. I will review when re-read.

[Sheila (Ann) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main attraction of this book, for me, was that it is set in Kent, so I spent the time place spotting. The mystery surrounding the murders didn't fascinate me but did keep me reading. The detective's marriage problems irritated me. They didn't ring true and they took up far too much time.

[Pat K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars . It took a while to get into this book. The storyline didn’t grab me at first, but it was interesting enough to keep me listening, the. The pace picked up and I needed to know how it ended.
There were sections that were quite improbable, but it was entertaining anyway.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this, although I happened to read this series in the complete wrong order, it was still very enjoyable! I really like the character of Ian Peterson, looking forward to the next one.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Ian Peterson this is a fascinating crime novel another winner from leigh Russell and i can't wait to read more in the series.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot and characters are ok but the writing style annoyed me.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of inconsistencies in the narrative - could have been better edited.

[Karen wadey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable police procedural novel. I had worked out the ending half way through but was an engaging read. Look forward to rreading more.

[david exell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice one

Yet again a good read, with an unexpected twist in the last few pages. Now on to the next one.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very predictable. Easy read.

[Ivana Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok read. I'll probably read more by Russell.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Leigh Russell read.
Very impressed. Leigh can certainly portray characters very well. I was hooked from the start. Going straight into number two of the trilogy.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Leigh Russell book, and it won't be my last. Looking forward to DI Ian Peterson moving to York, as Iive in West Yorkshire.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
This was okay, but I figured out who the killer was very early on, and I found the writing kind of stilted and not quite developed enough.