Published by No Exit
Press,
12 December 2019.
ISBN: 978-0-85730-301-1(PB)
12 December 2019.
ISBN: 978-0-85730-301-1(PB)
Although
Geraldine Steel cannot regret putting herself on the line to save her newly
discovered sister, she is finding the consequences of doing so hard to endure. Because
she breached police rules, she was demoted in rank from Detective Inspector to
Detective Sergeant and transferred from London to York. Geraldine had comforted
herself with the thought that she had one close friend in the York police
force. Ian Peterson had been Geraldine’s sergeant before she moved to London
and, even though he has been promoted and is now her superior officer, she had
expected him to still be friendly and supportive. However, Ian has been very
aloof and, although Geraldine has started to make friends with Ariadne, another
detective sergeant, there are few people she can let her guard down with and she
feels isolated.
When a homeless man is found murdered,
Geraldine is appalled, although not surprised, by the callous contempt shown by
some of her colleagues. She herself feels deeply moved by the fate of a man who
was so anonymous in life and so unmourned in death. The police soon make an
arrest and charge a homeless man with the murder. Even though he confesses to
the crime, Geraldine is not convinced that they have got the true killer. When
another homeless person is killed it becomes clear that Geraldine’s doubts were
justified. Again, the police hold a suspect in custody but the evidence is all
circumstantial. The tension escalates when another death occurs, although this
crime is subtly different, it becomes clear that it is linked to the first two killings.
Also evident that the police have got it wrong again and that they still have
no idea who is responsible for these apparently random murders.
A separate strand of the narrative follows
the lives of three people trapped in a toxic relationship. David is desperately
attached and emotionally dependent upon his wife Ann, but she regrets their
marriage and is infatuated with a younger man, Mark, who in his turn is
emotionally indifferent to her and using her for sex. When the story of this
ill-fated trio becomes involved with the murders of homeless men, tragedy
becomes inevitable. Despite her loss of rank, Geraldine remains a superb
detective, and she is determined to discover the truth, even though her
dedication endangers her own life.
Deathly Affair is the thirteenth novel featuring Geraldine Steel and it is
a series that continues to develop, with a protagonist that is still growing.
Geraldine Steel is an admirable protagonist, a strong, independent career woman
who is also courageous and caring. The plot of Deathly Affair is complex
and cleverly handled, with skilful psychological insights, and the conclusion
is satisfying. This is an intriguing police procedural, which I recommend.
-------
Reviewer: Carol Westron
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,
featuring
detective Geraldine Steel. There are now 11 books in the series. Leigh also
writes a spinoff series for Geraldine's sergeant, Ian Peterson. Of which there are three
in the series. Her latest
series published by Thomas and Mercer feature Lucy Hall. Leigh Russell is married
with two daughters and lives in Middlesex.
The Deadly Dames. Her crime novels are set both in contemporary and Victorian times. The Terminal Velocity of Cats the first in her Scene of Crimes novels, was published July 2013. Carol recently gave an interview to Mystery People. To read the interview click on the link below.
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