ISBN: 978-0-85730-543-5 (PB)
Well known to all crime readers is the Geraldine Steel series by Leigh Russell. However, Russell now shows us she can turn her hand to a cosy mystery and can keep us turning those pages as we read. This is the start of a new cosy series, featuring Emily and her inherited dog Poppy, a little terrier.
The story starts in London where things are not going well for Emily. She has lost her job and now Ben, her boyfriend has walked out and left her with all the bills of the flat to pay on her own. Then, out of the blue, she hears that her great aunt has died and left her house in the country in Wiltshire to Emily, provided Emily looks after her pets. Off Emily goes to start a new life in the country, discovering there is only a goldfish to take care of.
A couple of days later, as Emily is sorting her life and the house out, a friend of her great aunt knocks with a young dog called Poppy, who her aunt had recently acquired before she died. Emily, as the terms of the will required, takes the dog in. At first, she is tentative but soon Poppy becomes her closest companion.
Emily has tried to get to know her next door neighbour, Alice, but Alice is distant with Emily and talks only of her daughter who has gone travelling around the world. Emily finds it strange that if Alice misses her daughter so much, she shows no sign of wanting Poppy or herself to make friends.
Emily soon settles into a job in a local café, and as she is enjoying life, Ben, her ex, turns up. More trouble occurs and with the help of Poppy, dark secrets are brought to the fore.
All dog lovers will love this fun read cosy crime. And if you are not a dog lover, you will still enjoy it as it is full of mystery, and romance, and who doesn’t love a crime to solve, certainly not us mystery readers.
Well done Leigh Russell. I look forward, very much, to Poppy and Emily’s next outing.
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Reviewer: Linda Regan
www.Lindareganonline.co.uk
Leigh Russell studied at the University of Kent gaining a Master’s 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, Race to Death and Blood Axe. Leigh recently signed a three-book deal with Thomas and Mercer for a new series featuring Lucy Hall. Leigh Russell is married with two daughters and lives in Middlesex.
Linda Regan is the author of nine crime novels. She is also an actor. She holds a Masters degree in critical writing and journalism, and writes a regular column, including book reviews, for three magazines. She also presents the book-club spot on BBC Radio Kent. She is an avid reader and welcomes the chance to read new writers.
To read a review of
Linda's most recent book
The Burning Question
click on the title.
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