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DI Geraldine Steel #21
Revenge Killing
A man is found dead, lying at the bottom of the stairs to his flat, his body blocking the door of the elderly woman who lives downstairs.
The worried landlord who finds the body seeks advice from his friend's wife - now Detective Inspector Ariadne Moralis. Something in his demeanour hints at a hidden secret.
When it becomes apparent that the body has been moved, it is clear the man's death was not an accident.
With only an elderly witness who seems hesitant to disclose all she heard unless the price is right, and a key suspect on the run having fled the scene, Ariadne finds herself grasping at straws.
DNA evidence supports the witness's claims that the victim had two girlfriends, Carly is unwilling to cooperate. Lauren is missing.
The motive remains unclear, and the case becomes a confounding maze of unanswered questions, pushing Ariadne to her limits.
Meanwhile, Geraldine Steel, adjusting to the routine of new motherhood, longs for the thrill of being at the centre of an investigation. As the body count grows, and every lead seems to turn out to be a dead end, the case quickly throws up more questions than answers, and Ariadne is rapidly out of her depth.
Can her friend Geraldine Steel help her uncover the truth?
The worried landlord who finds the body seeks advice from his friend's wife - now Detective Inspector Ariadne Moralis. Something in his demeanour hints at a hidden secret.
When it becomes apparent that the body has been moved, it is clear the man's death was not an accident.
With only an elderly witness who seems hesitant to disclose all she heard unless the price is right, and a key suspect on the run having fled the scene, Ariadne finds herself grasping at straws.
DNA evidence supports the witness's claims that the victim had two girlfriends, Carly is unwilling to cooperate. Lauren is missing.
The motive remains unclear, and the case becomes a confounding maze of unanswered questions, pushing Ariadne to her limits.
Meanwhile, Geraldine Steel, adjusting to the routine of new motherhood, longs for the thrill of being at the centre of an investigation. As the body count grows, and every lead seems to turn out to be a dead end, the case quickly throws up more questions than answers, and Ariadne is rapidly out of her depth.
Can her friend Geraldine Steel help her uncover the truth?
- GenresCrime
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About the author
Leigh Russell
70 books335 followersLeigh 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 2, 2024
When a man's body is found at the bottom of the stairs where he lives, Detective Inspector Ariadne Moralis knows the body has been moved, but why and who would of moved him and also where from. The man Jay Roper, who has been murdered is a small time drug dealer with two girlsfriends, Lauren and Carly. When DI Moralis goes looking for them there is a problem, one will not talk and the other has gone missing, could this be connected to the murder. Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is on leave after having a baby, but she still offers to help solve the case. There is also a second storyline running, Yiannis the landlord of the property once lived in Greece s did Jay. The story has a few twists that I wasn't sure about at first but one you read it you'll understand. It did feel a bit strange with DI Steel not being the main character but the story still worked great. I do love this series with DI Steel and I can't wait until the next one.
October 6, 2024
Revenge Killing by Leigh Russell was a disappointment from start to finish. The plot felt predictable, with little to no suspense to keep me hooked. The characters were flat and underdeveloped, making it hard to care about any of their fates. The writing style lacked depth and subtlety, often feeling rushed and simplistic. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of dull, repetitive scenes that didn’t add much to the story. Even the “big twist” felt telegraphed early on, leaving me uninvested in the conclusion.
January 29, 2025
Too many characters and too many sub-plots to be credible.
April 2, 2024
I reviewed an earlier book in this series, Final Term, in January 2023 and thoroughly enjoyed it, so it was good to become reacquainted with York copper, DI Geraldine Steel. Revenge Killing is a little bit different in that DI Steel is off on maternity leave. As much as she loves baby Tom, she is feeling very much out of the loop in terms of her police career. When her friend and colleague DI Ariadne Moralis asks for her advice, she leaps at the chance to help.
Moralis has a complete puzzle of a case on her hands. Initially, her husband - Greek, like Ariadne - has been visited by a friend and compatriot called Yiannis Karalis. Yiannis owns a property where one of the tenants - a small time drug dealer called Jay Roper - has been found dead at the foot of the stairs leading up to his flat. Ariadne assures him that he has nothing to worry about, but when the post mortem examination reveals that Jay was suffocated, things become more complicated.
Ariadne discovers that Yiannis is something of a fugitive, as he fled Greece during the fallout from the murder of his older brother and a subsequent vengeance death. Did he visit Jay to remonstrate with him about the drug dealing? Did the visit turn violent. One of Jay's girlfriends, Lauren Shaw, has gone missing. What does she know? Another girlfriend, Carly, who works in what is euphemistically known as a gentleman's club, is located, and she is completely antagonistic towards the police. Despite claiming that she and Jay had an 'open' relationship, was jealousy simmering just below the surface, and did she kill Jay on the grounds that if she couldn't have him, no-one else would?
Leigh Russell cleverly lets us spend some time with Lauren, who has panicked. We know. from the early pages of the book that she and Jay had a blazing row which ended in him falling down the stairs. Now, terrified that the police will blame her for his death, she goes on the run, and we share her misery as she her meagre savings run out, and she discovers that life on the streets is miserable and dangerous.
Revenge Killing is, at its heart, an excellent and engaging police procedural, but Leigh Russell has an intriguing little subtext ticking away in the background, and it centres on Geraldine's misgivings about her life trajectory. She dutifully attends a mothers and toddlers group, but feels only alienation:
"But the other mothers at the toddler group had never dealt with murder investigations in the real world. None of them had watched a post-mortem, knowing the cold flesh on the slab had once been a living breathing human being, whose life had been snatched away by someone in the grip of an evil passion. The other mothers had never learned to close their minds to the horrors of every day human brutality, so shock couldn't prevent them from doing the job. Gazing at the cheerful faces around her, she regretted her choice of career and wished her life could be as simple as it was for the other women in the room. But her experience had cut her adrift from these chattering young women, with their sheltered upbringing and cosseted lives. They discussed their various tribulations as the infants crawled or toddled around the room, or sat propped up watching warily, like Tom."
As with all good whodunnits, we are presented with just the right blend of surprise at the identity of the killer, and a few helpful nudges to point us in the right direction. Revenge Killing is published by No Exit Press and is available now.
Moralis has a complete puzzle of a case on her hands. Initially, her husband - Greek, like Ariadne - has been visited by a friend and compatriot called Yiannis Karalis. Yiannis owns a property where one of the tenants - a small time drug dealer called Jay Roper - has been found dead at the foot of the stairs leading up to his flat. Ariadne assures him that he has nothing to worry about, but when the post mortem examination reveals that Jay was suffocated, things become more complicated.
Ariadne discovers that Yiannis is something of a fugitive, as he fled Greece during the fallout from the murder of his older brother and a subsequent vengeance death. Did he visit Jay to remonstrate with him about the drug dealing? Did the visit turn violent. One of Jay's girlfriends, Lauren Shaw, has gone missing. What does she know? Another girlfriend, Carly, who works in what is euphemistically known as a gentleman's club, is located, and she is completely antagonistic towards the police. Despite claiming that she and Jay had an 'open' relationship, was jealousy simmering just below the surface, and did she kill Jay on the grounds that if she couldn't have him, no-one else would?
Leigh Russell cleverly lets us spend some time with Lauren, who has panicked. We know. from the early pages of the book that she and Jay had a blazing row which ended in him falling down the stairs. Now, terrified that the police will blame her for his death, she goes on the run, and we share her misery as she her meagre savings run out, and she discovers that life on the streets is miserable and dangerous.
Revenge Killing is, at its heart, an excellent and engaging police procedural, but Leigh Russell has an intriguing little subtext ticking away in the background, and it centres on Geraldine's misgivings about her life trajectory. She dutifully attends a mothers and toddlers group, but feels only alienation:
"But the other mothers at the toddler group had never dealt with murder investigations in the real world. None of them had watched a post-mortem, knowing the cold flesh on the slab had once been a living breathing human being, whose life had been snatched away by someone in the grip of an evil passion. The other mothers had never learned to close their minds to the horrors of every day human brutality, so shock couldn't prevent them from doing the job. Gazing at the cheerful faces around her, she regretted her choice of career and wished her life could be as simple as it was for the other women in the room. But her experience had cut her adrift from these chattering young women, with their sheltered upbringing and cosseted lives. They discussed their various tribulations as the infants crawled or toddled around the room, or sat propped up watching warily, like Tom."
As with all good whodunnits, we are presented with just the right blend of surprise at the identity of the killer, and a few helpful nudges to point us in the right direction. Revenge Killing is published by No Exit Press and is available now.
April 10, 2024
The story:
Jay Roper is, by all accounts, an unpleasant man. But when his death from a fall down stairs looks more likely to be murder than an accident, acting Detective Inspector Ariadne Moralis and her team have a challenge on their hands uncovering who is responsible, especially with their usual DI, Geraldine Steel, away on maternity leave.
According to Jay’s elderly neighbour, he had at least two girlfriends, and a loud argument was heard with one of them just before his fall — but neither have come forward with any information. With the enquiries leading them in circles, Ariadne turns to her good friend Geraldine for advice. But will she be able to crack a case she isn’t even officially working on?
My thoughts:
“Revenge Killing”, by Leigh Russell is the 21st instalment in the DI Geraldine Steel series, and the fifth I have read — it’s now a go-to series for me when I see a new title coming out!
For this case, and following the events of the last book (“Without Trace”), Geraldine’s colleague Ariadne has stepped up to lead the team during her absence on maternity leave. Seeing the case from Ariadne’s point of view gives a different perspective to previous novels, and although she doesn’t have quite such a complicated history as Geraldine, she also lacks some of the instinctual insight into cases that her colleague possesses. So it’s no surprise when she seeks out Geraldine’s opinion on the ongoing case.
Meanwhile, Geraldine is grappling with the new challenge of motherhood with her 5-month-old son Tom, while fighting off the feelings of guilt and isolation she feels at not working as a DI. Having been adopted herself, she is worried she may have somehow inherited ‘being a bad mother’, and it’s sad to see Gearaldine doubting herself like this, especially given her usual confidence in her professional life. The link Ariadne provides her into the ongoing case is something of a lifeline, and helps her come to a decision about her plans to return to work.
The case itself is a tricky one, due to a lack of witnesses and Jay’s elusive and, when found, uncooperative girlfriends. Revenge is at the heart of the case, but the solution isn’t the one you might expect…
I find this series of books really easy to read, as the author immediately immerses you in a fast-paced plot, and having read several titles in the series, I’m invested in the characters at York police station. The author says in her afterword that we haven’t seen the last of Geraldine, and I look forward to seeing where the story goes next!
Jay Roper is, by all accounts, an unpleasant man. But when his death from a fall down stairs looks more likely to be murder than an accident, acting Detective Inspector Ariadne Moralis and her team have a challenge on their hands uncovering who is responsible, especially with their usual DI, Geraldine Steel, away on maternity leave.
According to Jay’s elderly neighbour, he had at least two girlfriends, and a loud argument was heard with one of them just before his fall — but neither have come forward with any information. With the enquiries leading them in circles, Ariadne turns to her good friend Geraldine for advice. But will she be able to crack a case she isn’t even officially working on?
My thoughts:
“Revenge Killing”, by Leigh Russell is the 21st instalment in the DI Geraldine Steel series, and the fifth I have read — it’s now a go-to series for me when I see a new title coming out!
For this case, and following the events of the last book (“Without Trace”), Geraldine’s colleague Ariadne has stepped up to lead the team during her absence on maternity leave. Seeing the case from Ariadne’s point of view gives a different perspective to previous novels, and although she doesn’t have quite such a complicated history as Geraldine, she also lacks some of the instinctual insight into cases that her colleague possesses. So it’s no surprise when she seeks out Geraldine’s opinion on the ongoing case.
Meanwhile, Geraldine is grappling with the new challenge of motherhood with her 5-month-old son Tom, while fighting off the feelings of guilt and isolation she feels at not working as a DI. Having been adopted herself, she is worried she may have somehow inherited ‘being a bad mother’, and it’s sad to see Gearaldine doubting herself like this, especially given her usual confidence in her professional life. The link Ariadne provides her into the ongoing case is something of a lifeline, and helps her come to a decision about her plans to return to work.
The case itself is a tricky one, due to a lack of witnesses and Jay’s elusive and, when found, uncooperative girlfriends. Revenge is at the heart of the case, but the solution isn’t the one you might expect…
I find this series of books really easy to read, as the author immediately immerses you in a fast-paced plot, and having read several titles in the series, I’m invested in the characters at York police station. The author says in her afterword that we haven’t seen the last of Geraldine, and I look forward to seeing where the story goes next!
April 4, 2024
Geraldine has been off on maternity leave for nearly six months and now, at home with baby Tom, is seriously missing her work as a Detective Inspector in serious crimes. She also wonders if she has inherited traits from her own mother which leave her struggling to cope with a child. Ariadne Moralis is now acting DI in her place and, together with DS Naomi Arnold, soon has a new case. The reader has already heard how Lauren Shaw has discovered her boyfriend, small time drug dealer Jay Roper, has been two timing her. When he attacks her as she tries to dump him, they wrestle and he crashes down the stairs at his home. Having her doubts about whether it really was self-defence, Lauren flees her home before the police can visit her. What she doesn’t know and the post mortem soon reveals is that Jay was suffocated soon after he fell. A clear case of murder but by whom? With Lauren missing, the detectives are unsure whether she is a killer or a scared witness. They finally track down the other woman but she is no help, like the other witness, an elderly lady who seems confused. Soon Ariadne is struggling with her first big case and needs help from her old friend. Bored at home, Geraldine is only too glad to assist. And Ariadne will need all the help she can get in a double murder investigation where absolutely no one seems to be telling the truth.
Although not essential, I would definitely recommend reading this series in order to get to grips with all the history which has shaped Geraldine’s life and career so far and the relationship with both her twin sister and partner Ian. Geraldine is a dogged and tenacious detective, and her usually very reliable hunches are sorely missed by the rest of the team but fortunately her input is still built into a story very much centred around Ariadne this time. This is another very well told twisty and complex police procedural in an excellent long-running series and it will be good to see Geraldine back in her DI role soon I hope.
Although not essential, I would definitely recommend reading this series in order to get to grips with all the history which has shaped Geraldine’s life and career so far and the relationship with both her twin sister and partner Ian. Geraldine is a dogged and tenacious detective, and her usually very reliable hunches are sorely missed by the rest of the team but fortunately her input is still built into a story very much centred around Ariadne this time. This is another very well told twisty and complex police procedural in an excellent long-running series and it will be good to see Geraldine back in her DI role soon I hope.
April 8, 2024
Leigh Russell has managed to breathe some fresh air into this series by mixing it up for this outing! Still packed full of tension, misdirection, twists and revelations, I devoured this book in one day. This is the 21st (!!!) book in the Geraldine Steel series but it can be easily read as a standalone and is probably a good place for a new reader to jump into it. This book sees Geraldine take a back seat in the story as she is on maternity leave so she isn't too integral to the main mystery. But she still makes her mark though.
When a young man is found dead at the bottom of his steep stairs, the landlord, who is a friend to Detective Inspector Ariadne Moralis’s husband asks for her help. She tells him he has to talk to the police. It soon becomes clear that the man was murdered and there is only a frail elderly lady who witnessed his death. She claims that someone fled from the scene and that it was probably one of his many girlfriends. Can Ariadne sort out what is her first case as a DI?
It was really a pleasure to see Ariadne up front and centre in this story and as a loyal reader of this series it was lovely to learn more about her and her motivations. Turns out she is a lot more like Geraldine than I thought! It definitely brought some freshness to the series and shook it up a bit. Geraldine is certainly off-centre so to speak in this outing as she is on her maternity leave after giving birth to her son Tom. Ian is blissfully happy but Geraldine is reluctant to accept she doesn't feel right and is desperate to return to work!
The mystery was a good one as there were very few leads for Ariadne and the team to go on. I didn't guess what happened that's for sure! It certainly was a good puzzle and it was although there were some nudges that I got I must have missed some. It was a brilliant and engrossing read and I can't wait for the next one!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
When a young man is found dead at the bottom of his steep stairs, the landlord, who is a friend to Detective Inspector Ariadne Moralis’s husband asks for her help. She tells him he has to talk to the police. It soon becomes clear that the man was murdered and there is only a frail elderly lady who witnessed his death. She claims that someone fled from the scene and that it was probably one of his many girlfriends. Can Ariadne sort out what is her first case as a DI?
It was really a pleasure to see Ariadne up front and centre in this story and as a loyal reader of this series it was lovely to learn more about her and her motivations. Turns out she is a lot more like Geraldine than I thought! It definitely brought some freshness to the series and shook it up a bit. Geraldine is certainly off-centre so to speak in this outing as she is on her maternity leave after giving birth to her son Tom. Ian is blissfully happy but Geraldine is reluctant to accept she doesn't feel right and is desperate to return to work!
The mystery was a good one as there were very few leads for Ariadne and the team to go on. I didn't guess what happened that's for sure! It certainly was a good puzzle and it was although there were some nudges that I got I must have missed some. It was a brilliant and engrossing read and I can't wait for the next one!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
August 22, 2025
3.5 Stars
Revenge Killing is Book #21 in the DI Geraldine Steel series by Leigh Russell. This series is a gripping collection of crime fiction novels that masterfully blends crime & investigation, detective/police procedure, suspense, and thought-provoking themes. With dynamic storytelling and intriguing characters, I was hooked from the get-go.
We follow Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel, who is a fiercely intelligent and deeply empathetic investigator. She is a cleverly crafted and fully realised individual with her own unique quirks and flaws. Ms. Russell beautifully balances Geraldine’s professional brilliance with some vulnerability and personal struggles, making her entirely ‘real’ and ‘relatable’. As the series progresses, we are further drawn into her world, where she pursues justice with unwavering determination, even as she grapples with her own burdens.
Each book in the series could be read as a standalone if you wanted, as each instalment presents a new, chilling case, often delving into the darker corners of human nature. But, having said that, I highly recommend reading the entire series from the beginning, as each instalment helps build a bigger picture of Geraldine Steel’s character, development, backstories, etc. And knowing all of that will definitely enhance your overall reading experience.
f you love stories with the perfect blend of psychological depth, thrilling mysteries, and emotional resonance, then this is definitely a series you will want to dive into.
Happy Reading…
Revenge Killing is Book #21 in the DI Geraldine Steel series by Leigh Russell. This series is a gripping collection of crime fiction novels that masterfully blends crime & investigation, detective/police procedure, suspense, and thought-provoking themes. With dynamic storytelling and intriguing characters, I was hooked from the get-go.
We follow Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel, who is a fiercely intelligent and deeply empathetic investigator. She is a cleverly crafted and fully realised individual with her own unique quirks and flaws. Ms. Russell beautifully balances Geraldine’s professional brilliance with some vulnerability and personal struggles, making her entirely ‘real’ and ‘relatable’. As the series progresses, we are further drawn into her world, where she pursues justice with unwavering determination, even as she grapples with her own burdens.
Each book in the series could be read as a standalone if you wanted, as each instalment presents a new, chilling case, often delving into the darker corners of human nature. But, having said that, I highly recommend reading the entire series from the beginning, as each instalment helps build a bigger picture of Geraldine Steel’s character, development, backstories, etc. And knowing all of that will definitely enhance your overall reading experience.
f you love stories with the perfect blend of psychological depth, thrilling mysteries, and emotional resonance, then this is definitely a series you will want to dive into.
Happy Reading…
July 24, 2024
This is the latest police thriller from Leigh Russell. A man is found dead, lying at the bottom of the stairs to his flat and it soon becomes clear that this is not an accident. The dead man's landlord seeks advice from Detective Inspector Ariadne Moralis who is married to his friend. Ariadne is not convinced she is getting the true picture either from the landlord or the elderly witness who overhears the tumble down the stairs.
Identifying the killer is the raison d'etre of the entire novel and it is a really great plot which keeps you guessing right to the end. Lots of references to Police procedure give the story a reliable basis and it is a well written and well plotted crime novel.
Ariadne is covering the maternity leave of her friend Geraldine Steel. Geraldine is struggling with coming to terms with her role as a new mother and her desire to be back in the front line of solving crimes. A very relatable position for many new mothers. She is delighted to be involved with the solving of her friend's case even on the periphery and gives some sound advice which helps solve what eventually turns out to be two murders.
I really enjoyed this well-crafted story and particularly appreciated the believable characters that Leigh Russell presents to her readers. I can't wait for Geraldine to get back to work after her maternity leave!
------
Reviewer: Toni Russell
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
Identifying the killer is the raison d'etre of the entire novel and it is a really great plot which keeps you guessing right to the end. Lots of references to Police procedure give the story a reliable basis and it is a well written and well plotted crime novel.
Ariadne is covering the maternity leave of her friend Geraldine Steel. Geraldine is struggling with coming to terms with her role as a new mother and her desire to be back in the front line of solving crimes. A very relatable position for many new mothers. She is delighted to be involved with the solving of her friend's case even on the periphery and gives some sound advice which helps solve what eventually turns out to be two murders.
I really enjoyed this well-crafted story and particularly appreciated the believable characters that Leigh Russell presents to her readers. I can't wait for Geraldine to get back to work after her maternity leave!
------
Reviewer: Toni Russell
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
January 9, 2025
This is the twenty first book in the series featuring DI Geraldine Steel. It mainly centres on DI Ariadne Moralis who is standing in for Geraldine as she is still on maternity leave, but Geraldine does feature in the story as DI Moralis consults her for advice. She is investigating the case of a man who has been found dead at the bottom of the stairs to his flat. His death begins to look suspicious as it appears that his body was moved after his death. An elderly lady who lived in the flats found him and tells the police that she saw someone flee the scene and thought it could have been one of his two girlfriends. DI Moralis traces the two girls. Carly claims that they had an open relationship so jealousy was not a motive for her to kill him but Lauren appears to have gone missing so it becomes a hard case to solve. I have enjoyed this series of books and this one did not disappoint. I look forward to Geraldine’s return in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 23, 2024
This was a really interesting read. After a man's body is discovered at the end of a flight of stairs, things just keep getting more complicated.
The landlord is not being quite straightforward about his opinion regarding what may have taken place here, nor is the witness entirely forthcoming. But the body has been moved, so foul play seems a given.
The fact that the dead man appears to have been dating two women simultaneously is also adding to the confusion - especially as one cannot be found, and the other one will not cooperate.
Detective Inspector Ariadne Moralis has her hands full with red herrings and dead ends. So it is just as well that her friend Geraldine Steel is inclined to help out with the investigation...
This is a gripping read, and a rock solid police procedural that offers a satisfying number of twists. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The landlord is not being quite straightforward about his opinion regarding what may have taken place here, nor is the witness entirely forthcoming. But the body has been moved, so foul play seems a given.
The fact that the dead man appears to have been dating two women simultaneously is also adding to the confusion - especially as one cannot be found, and the other one will not cooperate.
Detective Inspector Ariadne Moralis has her hands full with red herrings and dead ends. So it is just as well that her friend Geraldine Steel is inclined to help out with the investigation...
This is a gripping read, and a rock solid police procedural that offers a satisfying number of twists. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
March 30, 2024
Book 21 in the DI Geraldine Steel series - even though she's on maternity leave, that doesn't stop her help solve crimes, with smart thinking and great instincts.
I liked the panicked reactions from people within the story, it felt real. A case of wrong time, wrong place can land you in a very sticky situation and it's a choice of run or try to explain the truth.
I didn't feel there was as much team development and I did solve something right at the start, so no suspense there.
Overall, a good story even though not my favourite - I'm looking forward to Geraldine getting back to work and the series continuing.
*I received a complementary copy of the book from Random Things Tours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I liked the panicked reactions from people within the story, it felt real. A case of wrong time, wrong place can land you in a very sticky situation and it's a choice of run or try to explain the truth.
I didn't feel there was as much team development and I did solve something right at the start, so no suspense there.
Overall, a good story even though not my favourite - I'm looking forward to Geraldine getting back to work and the series continuing.
*I received a complementary copy of the book from Random Things Tours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
March 18, 2024
So I enjoyed Book 20 and went on to read Book 21 in the series!
DI Ariadne Moralls is the lead investigator in this story although DI Geraldine Steel ( on maternity leave ) can’t resist trying and succeeding to be involved!
The story is focused on a victim who is found dead at the bottom of his stairs and his landlord ( who has an interesting added story historically in Greece )
I found the story again fast moving and exciting and all the threads were brought together well
Another good police procedural packed with red herrings and non starters ( although of course we don’t know this at the time )
DI Ariadne Moralls is the lead investigator in this story although DI Geraldine Steel ( on maternity leave ) can’t resist trying and succeeding to be involved!
The story is focused on a victim who is found dead at the bottom of his stairs and his landlord ( who has an interesting added story historically in Greece )
I found the story again fast moving and exciting and all the threads were brought together well
Another good police procedural packed with red herrings and non starters ( although of course we don’t know this at the time )
April 14, 2024
Wow!!
This is actually the first book that I've ever read by this author and on keying this review I've discovered that this is the 21st book in this - the Geraldine Steel Crime Thriller series.
I can't believe that I've never come across these before as it's definitely one of my favourite genres and I loved this book.
On realising that this was so far on in the series, this made the fact that Geraldine wasn't actually the main focus of the storyline at first.
Now on maternity leave, we only see her later on as Ariadne struggles with the finer points of the case that she's taking the lead on.
I really liked Ariadne on the whole, but it was easy to see that this was her first case in charge.
Having said that, the complexities of the case were at fault and so I didn't judge her too badly.
I loved the friendship shown between Geraldine and Ariadne and it was clear to see that there was a lot of history there - which has me intrigued and keen to catch up on more of the books in the series.
I'd love to see Geraldine from the start of her career as she obviously missed being in the middle of the action.
This was a great read which I flew through.
The case was a complex one, but it was nice and easy to keep track of all the suspects and information given to us - but I loved that there were also twists to throw off my theories.
This is actually the first book that I've ever read by this author and on keying this review I've discovered that this is the 21st book in this - the Geraldine Steel Crime Thriller series.
I can't believe that I've never come across these before as it's definitely one of my favourite genres and I loved this book.
On realising that this was so far on in the series, this made the fact that Geraldine wasn't actually the main focus of the storyline at first.
Now on maternity leave, we only see her later on as Ariadne struggles with the finer points of the case that she's taking the lead on.
I really liked Ariadne on the whole, but it was easy to see that this was her first case in charge.
Having said that, the complexities of the case were at fault and so I didn't judge her too badly.
I loved the friendship shown between Geraldine and Ariadne and it was clear to see that there was a lot of history there - which has me intrigued and keen to catch up on more of the books in the series.
I'd love to see Geraldine from the start of her career as she obviously missed being in the middle of the action.
This was a great read which I flew through.
The case was a complex one, but it was nice and easy to keep track of all the suspects and information given to us - but I loved that there were also twists to throw off my theories.
July 7, 2024
Would Give It 4.5 Stars
I didn't feel this book was worth quite the 5 stars I normally give to this series but it was still good. DI Geraldine Steele is on maternity leave. She loves her new baby but is missing her job. In her place Ariadne is in charge but is struggling. A man is found dead lying at the bottom of the stairs leading to his flat. Did he trip or was he pushed? Days later his girlfriend is found dead. Ariadne turns to Geraldine for support and advice and between them they arrive at the truth. Now Geraldine must decide if she wants to return to work.
I didn't feel this book was worth quite the 5 stars I normally give to this series but it was still good. DI Geraldine Steele is on maternity leave. She loves her new baby but is missing her job. In her place Ariadne is in charge but is struggling. A man is found dead lying at the bottom of the stairs leading to his flat. Did he trip or was he pushed? Days later his girlfriend is found dead. Ariadne turns to Geraldine for support and advice and between them they arrive at the truth. Now Geraldine must decide if she wants to return to work.
February 15, 2024
This is a good addition to the Geraldine Steel series, although not my favourite. Geraldine is on maternity leave so does not appear much in this latest episode. The team are investigating the death of a man found dead at the bottom of stairs to his flat. The pacing was steady and there were multiple threads to the story as DI Ariadne Moralis leads the investigation. Not the best in the series but a good read nevertheless. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
May 15, 2024
I was quite disappointed with this one. Not as good as the previous books in the series. It felt rushed and the Greek side plot seemed to be forced in just so Ariadne had more to do. The story also implied only Geraldine can solve serious crimes. It jumped a lot, with one part saying Mary had been in a hotel for a week, then another part saying 2 weeks! And one minute Geraldine was struggling at toddler group, then suddenly she was doing ok in one. Hope the next one is better.
October 20, 2024
I have resigned myself to the fact that this series has reached the end of the line so I only read this instalment for the sake of completion. Billed as a Geraldine Steel crime thriller in spite of the fact that she’s on maternity leave and has no active role in the investigation,’Revenge Killing’ is ponderous and unrealistic. I didn’t feel as if either of the culprits had sufficient motivation to kill. The sub plot involving an honour killing on a Greek island seemed irrelevant.
March 20, 2024
A good addition to the Geraldine Steel series I've loved all of them including this one. Geraldine is on maternity leave which leaves Adrianne to lead the investigation of a man found at the bottom of the stairs. Plenty of plot twists and an occasional input from Geraldine. Thanks to Bedford Square Publishing and Netgalley for this review ARC
April 15, 2024
Wow wow wow loved it
September 4, 2024
A very enjoyable read. This series continues to impress. Difficult to put down once started.
November 25, 2024
Another enjoyable edition in this long running series.
A good main plot with twists and the sup plot simmers along nicely as we catch up with the characters whom have become like friends.
A good main plot with twists and the sup plot simmers along nicely as we catch up with the characters whom have become like friends.
March 28, 2024
A good cosy crime book which was a little bit of a slow starter for me but then the wheels started to run by about a third of the way through and my interest was captured a little more. There were fairly few main characters / suspects so it was quite easy to keep track of who was who and get to know their interlinks and developing roles in the murders. A man is found at the bottom of the stairwell in his flats, dead. He is a known small time drug dealer with multiple girlfriends, who visit him, two of which regularly and he also has an elderly nosey neighbour downstairs.
The focus is always on the girlfriends with only a brief check on the drug angle a bit lack lustre in investigation in that direction.
There are no real big surprises in the plot, it is a little pedestrian for me. There is a side story thread around the landlord of the property and his past life and history in Greece but that didn’t massively get going or capture my imagination.
It was nice to catch up with the previous main detective, from earlier books in the series, but slightly depressing to know that being a new parent isn’t really floating her boat and she’s pretty fed up. Some good parts but overall not quite there for me this time.
The focus is always on the girlfriends with only a brief check on the drug angle a bit lack lustre in investigation in that direction.
There are no real big surprises in the plot, it is a little pedestrian for me. There is a side story thread around the landlord of the property and his past life and history in Greece but that didn’t massively get going or capture my imagination.
It was nice to catch up with the previous main detective, from earlier books in the series, but slightly depressing to know that being a new parent isn’t really floating her boat and she’s pretty fed up. Some good parts but overall not quite there for me this time.
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