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DI Geraldine Steel #13
Deathly Affair
Four dead bodies. But who is guilty in this deadly web of secrecy and lies?
When two homeless men are strangled to death, Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is caught off guard by the cold-blooded nature of the crimes. However, her suspicions are raised as two more bodies are found, forcing her to question the motivation behind the murders.
Plagued by countless red-herrings, the investigation drags Geraldine into the lives of three people caught in a toxic triangle of love and dishonesty. Is this a crime of passion, or is there more to this case than meets the eye?
When two homeless men are strangled to death, Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is caught off guard by the cold-blooded nature of the crimes. However, her suspicions are raised as two more bodies are found, forcing her to question the motivation behind the murders.
Plagued by countless red-herrings, the investigation drags Geraldine into the lives of three people caught in a toxic triangle of love and dishonesty. Is this a crime of passion, or is there more to this case than meets the eye?
320 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2020
73 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Russell
70 books336 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 - 29 of 61 reviews
November 14, 2019
Deathly Affair is supposed to be a police procedural but there is not much procedure in it. In fact, 90% of the time the police is involved, they stumble around, making wrong decisions and coming to the wrong conclusions.
Geraldine is the main character and it may be therefore that apparently she is the only one that doesn’t make mistakes. There are a few murders in this book and right from the beginning we, the readers, get a glimpse of the killer. And guess what? It takes Geraldine and her colleagues a whole 300 pages to find him, in the meantime arresting the wrong person(s). This book is full of cliché’s, so full you can see the ending from almost the start of the book.
There are some strange developments too. There is a girl, Molly, who plays an important part in the book but in the end her story goes nowhere. There is Anna, who at one point in the story wants to call someone but cannot ‘because she didn’t have the number of the home phone’, but who turns out to have the mobile number of that person later… So why not call the mobile number?
The writing style is too much ‘tell’ and not enough ‘do’ to my taste and is also full of cliché’s. All in all: it is not that I didn’t enjoy the book a little bit. It is a very easy read because you don’t have to puzzle; everything is laid out for you and there are no surprises at all. I can fully understand why this series is so successful and while it isn’t completely to my taste, it will attract readers who don’t want complicated plots or characters.
Thanks to Netgalley for the digital review copy of this book.
Geraldine is the main character and it may be therefore that apparently she is the only one that doesn’t make mistakes. There are a few murders in this book and right from the beginning we, the readers, get a glimpse of the killer. And guess what? It takes Geraldine and her colleagues a whole 300 pages to find him, in the meantime arresting the wrong person(s). This book is full of cliché’s, so full you can see the ending from almost the start of the book.
There are some strange developments too. There is a girl, Molly, who plays an important part in the book but in the end her story goes nowhere. There is Anna, who at one point in the story wants to call someone but cannot ‘because she didn’t have the number of the home phone’, but who turns out to have the mobile number of that person later… So why not call the mobile number?
The writing style is too much ‘tell’ and not enough ‘do’ to my taste and is also full of cliché’s. All in all: it is not that I didn’t enjoy the book a little bit. It is a very easy read because you don’t have to puzzle; everything is laid out for you and there are no surprises at all. I can fully understand why this series is so successful and while it isn’t completely to my taste, it will attract readers who don’t want complicated plots or characters.
Thanks to Netgalley for the digital review copy of this book.
January 29, 2020
DS Geraldine Steele #13
A homeless man has been murdered while he slept. The community is shocked. At the same time, three of Yorks residents come under scrutiny.
DS Geraldine Steele is determined to find the person who killed the homeless man. Ut some of her colleagues derogatory comments regarding homeless people sickened her. Along with her partner, DI Ian Peterson, they are given extra resources to interview at homeless shelters. Then another homeless person is killed in the same way. A third ody is found. Mark Routledge had been a music teacher. He was having an affair with a married woman. There are lots of twists and the loose ends were all tied up together. The ending was a bit of a surprise but it did seem to go on a it longer than necessary. The story is told through multiple points of view. An interesting read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Emma Jane Unsworth for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A homeless man has been murdered while he slept. The community is shocked. At the same time, three of Yorks residents come under scrutiny.
DS Geraldine Steele is determined to find the person who killed the homeless man. Ut some of her colleagues derogatory comments regarding homeless people sickened her. Along with her partner, DI Ian Peterson, they are given extra resources to interview at homeless shelters. Then another homeless person is killed in the same way. A third ody is found. Mark Routledge had been a music teacher. He was having an affair with a married woman. There are lots of twists and the loose ends were all tied up together. The ending was a bit of a surprise but it did seem to go on a it longer than necessary. The story is told through multiple points of view. An interesting read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Emma Jane Unsworth for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2019
Although I have not read any other books in this series and as this is 13th in the series, Deathly affair can be read as a standalone.
Geraldine Steele has just been demoted from DI to DS in the Serious Crime Unit in the town of York. When a homeless man is discovered murdered by strangulation in a doorway. Thinking that this is one-time only incident another murder is committed. A man is arrested for his murder but, it soon turns out that he is not the killer. Soon after, a van who has failed it’s MOT has been reported a stolen turns up with a body wrapped up in a carpet. Could all these murders be linked in some way?
Thank you NetGalley and No exit for a copy of Deathly affair. I quite enjoyed this. This police procedural that I have read, has had the most red herrings I have ever read it in a crime novel. It was mad. But, saying that, it had a great story line and characters with lots and twists and turns that made it more interesting. I will be looking out for more books from this author. 4 stars from me.
Geraldine Steele has just been demoted from DI to DS in the Serious Crime Unit in the town of York. When a homeless man is discovered murdered by strangulation in a doorway. Thinking that this is one-time only incident another murder is committed. A man is arrested for his murder but, it soon turns out that he is not the killer. Soon after, a van who has failed it’s MOT has been reported a stolen turns up with a body wrapped up in a carpet. Could all these murders be linked in some way?
Thank you NetGalley and No exit for a copy of Deathly affair. I quite enjoyed this. This police procedural that I have read, has had the most red herrings I have ever read it in a crime novel. It was mad. But, saying that, it had a great story line and characters with lots and twists and turns that made it more interesting. I will be looking out for more books from this author. 4 stars from me.
October 8, 2022
1.5, really and that's generous! The plot is reasonable, but the book is ruined (as usual with Leigh Russell novels) by a lack of proof-reading as there's more continuity errors than the average Bond film has! The third victim is found because a cop sees naked feet in a roll of carpet, yet at the p.m the pathologist talks about him having good shoes and socks. ( presumably he's been out shopping since he was killed?). Pg 264 has "Aimee drove to the police station with Linda" which is ridiculous given that Aimee is 15. Even more stupid, during the final chat with the killer ( who, annoyingly, is only introduced to the reader 30 pages before the end , meaning there's no chance of working the solution out for yourself), the killer is given the name of the 3rd victim. It's really poor when neither the author nor the editor knows the names of the characters concerned. Read this by all means, just do so while half asleep, much as it seems others did before publishing it.
December 17, 2019
Oh My God where on earth have I been hiding?!? I class myself as a crime thriller fan, I'd heard of Leigh Russell but never read her books (I'm very sorry Leigh, this will soon be remedied) Why had I never picked up a book from her before? Because maybe I'm just stupid.
I'd like to thank Anne Cater for my stop on Deathly Affair blog tour. When this landed on my doormat (Thanks to No Exit Press and Leigh for my gifted copy) I was excited to get reading, because the blurb had me hooked. It was only then I realised this book was number 13 in the Geraldine Steel series. Now usually I would panic thinking I'd need to read all the rest first, but fear not this can easily be read as a standalone. It didn't make me feel that I've somehow lost a huge chunk of a story. I know some series of crime fiction that I've read with a central detective character needs to be read in order as the progression of the characters storyline gets lost in transit otherwise. But, Russell has made this book a great standalone. We get minor hints of a backstory but nothing to warrant us to feel clueless.
What a perfect character name! Steel by name, steely by nature. When all around her sometimes seem clueless, Geraldine always has her eye on the ball and is determined to seek justice. I liked her character for this fact, she was very focused on the job in hand and doesn't let personal matters hamper her working life. In this book we see that Geraldine has been demoted to Detective Sergeant, it doesn't go into great detail only hints as to the reason why (I'll be reading the previous book to find out 👍🏻) but, the hints prove how dedicated Steel is to her job.
This story focuses on a serial killer who is targeting the homeless. With the homeless as the victims it highlights how society perceive them as a whole. It is a real eye opener, and has made me stop and think more.
I really enjoyed this story. As we read, the pieces to the puzzle start slotting together and things become clearer. It's a well thought out and cleverly planned police procedural novel. As I've previously said I will definitely be reading more of the Geraldine Steel series.
I'd like to thank Anne Cater for my stop on Deathly Affair blog tour. When this landed on my doormat (Thanks to No Exit Press and Leigh for my gifted copy) I was excited to get reading, because the blurb had me hooked. It was only then I realised this book was number 13 in the Geraldine Steel series. Now usually I would panic thinking I'd need to read all the rest first, but fear not this can easily be read as a standalone. It didn't make me feel that I've somehow lost a huge chunk of a story. I know some series of crime fiction that I've read with a central detective character needs to be read in order as the progression of the characters storyline gets lost in transit otherwise. But, Russell has made this book a great standalone. We get minor hints of a backstory but nothing to warrant us to feel clueless.
What a perfect character name! Steel by name, steely by nature. When all around her sometimes seem clueless, Geraldine always has her eye on the ball and is determined to seek justice. I liked her character for this fact, she was very focused on the job in hand and doesn't let personal matters hamper her working life. In this book we see that Geraldine has been demoted to Detective Sergeant, it doesn't go into great detail only hints as to the reason why (I'll be reading the previous book to find out 👍🏻) but, the hints prove how dedicated Steel is to her job.
This story focuses on a serial killer who is targeting the homeless. With the homeless as the victims it highlights how society perceive them as a whole. It is a real eye opener, and has made me stop and think more.
I really enjoyed this story. As we read, the pieces to the puzzle start slotting together and things become clearer. It's a well thought out and cleverly planned police procedural novel. As I've previously said I will definitely be reading more of the Geraldine Steel series.
October 13, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Oldcastle Books for an advance copy of Deathly Affair, the thirteenth novel to feature DS Geraldine Steel of the York Police.
When a homeless man is found strangled to death in a doorway the police launch a murder enquiry, fearing that it might not be a one off. Unfortunately their fears are justified as more murders are committed. It is a difficult investigation as identifying the victims is a task within itself.
I have enjoyed this all of this series but Deathly Affair failed to capture my attention or fire my imagination for a variety of reasons. Firstly the novel is told from various points of view, chiefly Geraldine, a housewife called Ann and a homeless teenager called Molly, which is distracting. These points of view are interrupted by the thoughts and actions of the killer which keep his identity hidden but reveal his motive early on in the novel. This gives the reader one less thing to puzzle over and less incentive to get involved. Secondly the emphasis on Ann and Molly’s lives/preoccupations makes less room for the investigation, which I have to say, pushes credibility to the limit. After every murder the seasoned professional police officers are happy to charge a suspect on the flimsiest of circumstantial evidence with only Geraldine having doubts. It’s simplistic, repetitive and tiresome. Lastly there is a fair amount of discussion about homelessness, the challenges involved, the reasons for it and the attitudes towards it. It may be heartless of me but I don’t need it rammed down my throat when I’m reading for entertainment.
To be fair the last quarter of the novel is quite compelling as Geraldine pulls the case together with an action scene and an ironical twist.
When a homeless man is found strangled to death in a doorway the police launch a murder enquiry, fearing that it might not be a one off. Unfortunately their fears are justified as more murders are committed. It is a difficult investigation as identifying the victims is a task within itself.
I have enjoyed this all of this series but Deathly Affair failed to capture my attention or fire my imagination for a variety of reasons. Firstly the novel is told from various points of view, chiefly Geraldine, a housewife called Ann and a homeless teenager called Molly, which is distracting. These points of view are interrupted by the thoughts and actions of the killer which keep his identity hidden but reveal his motive early on in the novel. This gives the reader one less thing to puzzle over and less incentive to get involved. Secondly the emphasis on Ann and Molly’s lives/preoccupations makes less room for the investigation, which I have to say, pushes credibility to the limit. After every murder the seasoned professional police officers are happy to charge a suspect on the flimsiest of circumstantial evidence with only Geraldine having doubts. It’s simplistic, repetitive and tiresome. Lastly there is a fair amount of discussion about homelessness, the challenges involved, the reasons for it and the attitudes towards it. It may be heartless of me but I don’t need it rammed down my throat when I’m reading for entertainment.
To be fair the last quarter of the novel is quite compelling as Geraldine pulls the case together with an action scene and an ironical twist.
September 2, 2019
Another fantastic read in this brilliant series which is now set in York where Geraldine is working with her old Sargeant Ian Peterson. The roles have been reversed as Geraldine has been demoted and this was her only chance of staying in the job. She did hope that they could slip back into their comfy way of working together but the last case made her think this was not to be and now he seems to be distancing himself even more, as they try to find the murderer of trap who was found dead on the streets of York. This is one of my favourite crime series and I can highly recommend all the other books.
December 27, 2019
Ok read , good twist but quite predictable in parts
August 14, 2023
A good plot of a man consumed by jealousy, who commits murder, and a woman who thinks her husband is a murderer. Quite a good number of twists are sometimes injected into the story suddenly and the flow is not consistent. The characters are all believable and could be your next door neighbours. I do find the constant references by Geraldine to her demotion back to Sergeant frustrating and her feelings for Ian Peterson can only hinder her career again.
Ok, read but nothing spectacular. 3 stars.
Ok, read but nothing spectacular. 3 stars.
September 28, 2019
5 Stars from me
Although there is clearly a hell of a back story here that I am missing (I only say that as it is book 13 in a series), I truly feel that A Deathly Affair worked well as a standalone book. Actually, I'm pretty stunned that it is book 13 as it really is gripping and doesn't smack at all of 'just the next one in the series as I've got deadlines to meet'.
I greatly enjoyed the relationships within this book. The husband/wife, the affair that isn't quite what it seemed and also the dynamics within the police force were all very engaging.
I liked the police procedural elements and the methodology behind the investigative routes.
I also really like how the story highlights the plight of the homeless - something which I feel is all too easily ignored, yet most of us are only a few steps away from it at any time. A wrong decision, a loss of income, a relationship breakdown, an addiction, a twist of fate or circumstance can all very quickly lead to homelessness.
Synopsis: Four dead bodies. But who is guilty in this deadly web of secrecy and lies?
When two homeless men are strangled to death, Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is caught off guard by the cold-blooded nature of the crimes. However, her suspicions are raised as two more bodies are found, forcing her to question the motivation behind the murders.
Plagued by countless red-herrings, the investigation drags Geraldine into the lives of three people caught in a toxic triangle of love and dishonesty. Is this a crime of passion, or is there more to this case than meets the eye?
http://readandrated.com/2019/09/28/a-...
Although there is clearly a hell of a back story here that I am missing (I only say that as it is book 13 in a series), I truly feel that A Deathly Affair worked well as a standalone book. Actually, I'm pretty stunned that it is book 13 as it really is gripping and doesn't smack at all of 'just the next one in the series as I've got deadlines to meet'.
I greatly enjoyed the relationships within this book. The husband/wife, the affair that isn't quite what it seemed and also the dynamics within the police force were all very engaging.
I liked the police procedural elements and the methodology behind the investigative routes.
I also really like how the story highlights the plight of the homeless - something which I feel is all too easily ignored, yet most of us are only a few steps away from it at any time. A wrong decision, a loss of income, a relationship breakdown, an addiction, a twist of fate or circumstance can all very quickly lead to homelessness.
Synopsis: Four dead bodies. But who is guilty in this deadly web of secrecy and lies?
When two homeless men are strangled to death, Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is caught off guard by the cold-blooded nature of the crimes. However, her suspicions are raised as two more bodies are found, forcing her to question the motivation behind the murders.
Plagued by countless red-herrings, the investigation drags Geraldine into the lives of three people caught in a toxic triangle of love and dishonesty. Is this a crime of passion, or is there more to this case than meets the eye?
http://readandrated.com/2019/09/28/a-...
August 12, 2019
Someone has killed two homeless men in York and DS Geraldine Steel is part of the investigating team. A man was arrested following the discovery of the second victim but it soon became clear he was not responsible. Then a third body is found in a van - he is evacuated and malnourished but Mark Routledge wasn’t homeless. Meanwhile housewife Ann is convinced her husband killed her lover and plots her revenge. Can the police discover the truth?
Another fantastic read in this series by Leigh Russell.
Thanks to Netgalley, Oldcastle Books and Leigh Russsell for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Another fantastic read in this series by Leigh Russell.
Thanks to Netgalley, Oldcastle Books and Leigh Russsell for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
August 20, 2019
Despite being well into a series that I am not familiar with the author dealt with the back story in such a way that it did not impede my enjoyment of this book.
It did take me a while to get into it, maybe because of the different threads at the beginning but like all good books it pulled it together.
The main character is likeable and conscientious and works hard to solve a complex case.
It did take me a while to get into it, maybe because of the different threads at the beginning but like all good books it pulled it together.
The main character is likeable and conscientious and works hard to solve a complex case.
August 18, 2019
It's hard to come into an established series part-way through without feeling you're playing catch-up, but the author did a good job of bringing the reader up to speed. Twisty-turny plot and I didn't see the reveal coming, so that was good.
August 25, 2019
13th book in this series and as fresh as the first. It’s a credit to the author that none of the staleness that sometimes creeps into long running series is here. Brilliant read, great plot, with a twist I never saw coming and oh the ending!
August 1, 2019
When two homeless men are found strangled in their doorways, Geraldine Steel has the impression all is not what it seems
August 22, 2025
3 - 3.5 Stars
Deathly Affair is the thirteenth book 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…
Deathly Affair is the thirteenth book 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…
August 12, 2020
Deathly Affair is the 13th book in the Detective Geraldine Steel series by Leigh Russell and it is the first book that I have read not only in the series but also by the author.
It is a police procedural crime thriller with quite a few twists and turns thrown in - it certainly kept me guessing!
From what I can tell Geraldine has very recently been demoted from Detective Inspector to Detective Sergeant for reasons I don't know. She does not for one second let that stop her from being driven in her hunt for the truth. She will stop at nothing to solve the case. She is a very strong female character who is actually very admirable in her role.
In this most recent case in Deathly Affair the team are investigating the murder of two homeless men living on the streets in York. Where some members of the team seem to want to close the case as quickly as possible due to them not being important enough, DS Steel is not willing to forget about them and pushes to find the truth!
When a 3rd is murdered in very similar circumstances but with a big difference the rest of the force start to take notice.
After quite a few errors of judgement the puzzle finally starts falling into place.
I can't believe I have never read any books by this author, I won't be missing any more that's for sure. I now want to read the previous books so I can find out Geraldine's back story.
Thank you Netgalley and Old Castle Books for my ARC in return for an honest review.
It is a police procedural crime thriller with quite a few twists and turns thrown in - it certainly kept me guessing!
From what I can tell Geraldine has very recently been demoted from Detective Inspector to Detective Sergeant for reasons I don't know. She does not for one second let that stop her from being driven in her hunt for the truth. She will stop at nothing to solve the case. She is a very strong female character who is actually very admirable in her role.
In this most recent case in Deathly Affair the team are investigating the murder of two homeless men living on the streets in York. Where some members of the team seem to want to close the case as quickly as possible due to them not being important enough, DS Steel is not willing to forget about them and pushes to find the truth!
When a 3rd is murdered in very similar circumstances but with a big difference the rest of the force start to take notice.
After quite a few errors of judgement the puzzle finally starts falling into place.
I can't believe I have never read any books by this author, I won't be missing any more that's for sure. I now want to read the previous books so I can find out Geraldine's back story.
Thank you Netgalley and Old Castle Books for my ARC in return for an honest review.
October 22, 2020
I am definitely a fan of this series and am shocked that we are already on book 13. For those that haven’t read the series although its not absolutely necessary to read them in order I think it’s a lot better to have Geraldine’s back story. There are things I just cannot get my head around and that don’t sit right with me in this book and that’s why I ended up rating it with a 3/5. Geraldine is now in a role following a demotion. It was certainly a good move to see a character dealt with how they would be in the real world BUT the end result doesn’t seem right.
Geraldine as a character and a copper has worked primarily on instinct and has always been surrounded by great colleagues. The last book in the series made me think her colleagues were not the brightest but this book makes me think they are just morons. I feel like the characters just aren’t that real and they don’t sit right with Geraldine and overall this was the feeling that I had all the way through.
Because of this, the story just took a back seat as you see Geraldine questioning herself and then seemingly have to take a backl seat to people that are clueless and this gives it an edge of unrealisticness (is that even a word?). Anyway, although my review doesn’t cover the actual storyline, it’s because that took a backseat to the characters not feeling authentic anymore. However, I am LOVING the last chapter and am goign to eagerly pick up book 14 with the hope that things change going forward!
Geraldine as a character and a copper has worked primarily on instinct and has always been surrounded by great colleagues. The last book in the series made me think her colleagues were not the brightest but this book makes me think they are just morons. I feel like the characters just aren’t that real and they don’t sit right with Geraldine and overall this was the feeling that I had all the way through.
Because of this, the story just took a back seat as you see Geraldine questioning herself and then seemingly have to take a backl seat to people that are clueless and this gives it an edge of unrealisticness (is that even a word?). Anyway, although my review doesn’t cover the actual storyline, it’s because that took a backseat to the characters not feeling authentic anymore. However, I am LOVING the last chapter and am goign to eagerly pick up book 14 with the hope that things change going forward!
May 25, 2020
This is the 13th book in the Geraldine Steel series and I can't believe that it's only the first one I've read!
The book opens strongly with a person attempting their first murder on a homeless person. The story then flits between DS Geraldine Steel who is investigating murders of homeless people and Ann who is married to David, 20+ years her senior. She is also having an affair with a music teacher named Mark. The two stories tie well together and I was convinced that I knew how it was all going to pan out. It kept me gripped and I liked reading about the personal life of Steel too.
Although it is part of a series, it was easy to follow along as a standalone and I didn't feel confused with anything. The ending was great and left me wanting more so I will definitely be reading the rest of the series both previous books and any that come after this one.
The book opens strongly with a person attempting their first murder on a homeless person. The story then flits between DS Geraldine Steel who is investigating murders of homeless people and Ann who is married to David, 20+ years her senior. She is also having an affair with a music teacher named Mark. The two stories tie well together and I was convinced that I knew how it was all going to pan out. It kept me gripped and I liked reading about the personal life of Steel too.
Although it is part of a series, it was easy to follow along as a standalone and I didn't feel confused with anything. The ending was great and left me wanting more so I will definitely be reading the rest of the series both previous books and any that come after this one.
August 7, 2020
This is the thirteenth book in the series Featuring DI Geraldine Steel. She is on the case of a killer who seems to be targeting homeless people. She has recently been demoted but she still is relentless in her pursuit of the truth. Her fellow officers are convinced theY have the killer but Geraldine follows her instincts and disagrees. When the third body, Mark Routledge, is discovered they realise that he wasn’t a homeless person and Geraldine was right,. The story is told in chapters by Geraldine, the killer and by the family of Mark. I found it a gripping book with an unexpected twist. An enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 1, 2024
Not so keen on the characters - I wasn't endeared towards them yet I also didn't hate them. They're just blah! There are some weird loose ends that are never explained (the note through Mark's door?). And the twist that didn't need to be (I thought it'd be a better read if the twist wasn't there and what I thought had happened actually did happen). I liked that it was a very simple read and chapters were short (good for the commute). I didn't like that random characters just flew in, then flew out again just as quickly (Molly and Charlie).
November 10, 2020
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
December 23, 2020
Only realised I had missed reading this instalment whilst reading ‘Deadly Revenge’ the 14th book in the series. Having now read books 13 and 14, I feel the overall quality has diminished as the series has continued. Whilst still a decent read, Geraldine Steel seems subdued since her relocation to York and the stories are equally lacking in sparkle and excitement.
September 30, 2020
I agree with a previous reviewer as to how on earth have I missed this author? A bonus is that I now have a whole new to me series to read! Excellent book.
October 13, 2020
Another Great Read
DI Geraldine Steel came out as a winner AND got the culprits get what they deserve. This author is prased by many reviewers.
DI Geraldine Steel came out as a winner AND got the culprits get what they deserve. This author is prased by many reviewers.
May 9, 2021
another reliable story in the Steel series, but her intuition and perception in this one is only established by comparision with all her colleagues acting like numpties.
February 28, 2024
Love this series great characters and good twists x
January 30, 2025
I've read a lot of detective books, I found this a bit light on detail. I might try one more in the series to see if it is the standard MO.
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