‘Girl in Danger’ by Leigh Russell

Published by Thomas & Mercer,
27 September 2016.
ISBN: 978-1-5039-3825-0

The second book in the series featuring Lucy Hall finds her in a new job in Paris as an investigative reporter.  Keen and eager for her first ‘big’ story, twenty-four year old Lucy is hungrily putting out feelers, or as her boss puts it more succinctly, ‘pestering people for stories.’ ‘It’s got to stop’ he says, ‘It’s not professional.  So when Lucy gets an anonymous call from a possible source who suggests a questionable meeting place, she decides to ‘go it alone.’

Her anonymous contact tells her that he is giving her the story of her life, and Lucy is buzzing with excitement. Although his words that, ‘if those watching him see him talking to her they could both be dead by nightfall’ would have had me shivering in terror, they don’t have that effect on Lucy.

But when she returns to her apartment she finds it trashed and her friend Nina, who was staying with her for the summer, is missing.  As expected, the police are not prepared to class Nina as a missing person until 48 hours have passed, so Lucy is on her own.

From the state of her apartment it is clear that it was a thorough search but for what?   And where is Nina who knows no one in Paris?  With scant to go on. Lucy determines to find her friend, but things look black when she discovers that her informant is dead. Despite the fact that Lucy now realises that she has become involved with some seriously bad people, and just how bad she learns when she meets up with a private investigator, she
continues to rush headlong into trouble. 

There are some harrowing and brutal scenes and the story moves along at a cracking pace, brilliantly plotted with many twists and turns.  Lucy knowingly puts herself in danger several times and when you are holding your breath knowing that she cannot get out of this one, she somehow manages to always emerge relatively unscathed. But eventually you know her luck will run out. 

A roller-coaster of a ride which will keep you on the edge of your seat right to the dramatic ending.

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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

Leigh Russell studied at the University of Kent gaining a Masters degree in English and American literature. Formerly a secondary school English teacher, with the success of her Geraldine Steel series, Leigh now writes full-time. Her debut novel, Cut Short, was published in 2009 by No Exit Press in the UK, followed by Road Closed, Dead End, Death Bed, Stop Dead, Fatal Act and Killer Plan, all featuring detective Geraldine Steel, and Murder Ring will be published in 2016. Leigh also writes a spinoff series for Geraldine's sergeant, Ian Peterson. Cold Sacrifice and Race to Death are already published, to be followed by Blood Axe in late 2015. Leigh recently signed a three book deal with Thomas and Mercer for a new series featuring Lucy Hall. The first two titles in this series will be published in 2016. Leigh Russell is married with two daughters and lives in Middlesex.

leighrussell.co.uk/