‘Fake Alibi’ by Leigh Russell

Published by No Exit Press,
30 August 2022.
ISBN: 978-0-85730346-2 (PB)

Doreen Lewis is an elderly woman who has been partially crippled by a stroke. Her body is discovered by a neighbour, who looks through her window, and sees that she is lying on her sitting room floor, her empty wheelchair nearby .She has been strangled.

Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is one of the first detectives to be detailed to investigate the murder and the obvious suspect is Doreen’s son, Eddy. Doreen was a widow, living alone with Eddy, her only child. From the beginning, most of the detectives on the team are convinced that Eddy was responsible for his mother’s death, but Geraldine’s instincts warn her that the solution is not that simple. She accepts that Eddy is an unattractive character, who gives unsatisfactory answers when questioned, and, according to those who knew them, his relationship with his mother had been difficult. However, Eddy has a genetic cognitive disability and Geraldine does not believe that he is capable of the planning necessary to have carried out a murder that has left so few clues but, at the same time, gives him an easily broken alibi. Eddy has recently lost his job, but he claims that he was with his girlfriend, Kylie, when the murder was committed. The detectives are sceptical, anticipating that Kylie will lie to give Eddy an alibi, but to their surprise, when they track the girl down at the address Eddy gives them, she denies that she has ever met him.

Geraldine has several other reasons for concern regarding the circumstances surrounding this case. Her friend, Detective Sergeant Ariadne Moralis, has just returned from her honeymoon but it seems that her marriage is already in difficulties, and, even worse, her husband may be implicated in Doreen’s murder. As if that is not enough to worry about, Geraldine feels that her immediate boss, Detective Chief Inspector Eileen Duncan, is behaving irrationally and losing her grip on the case. Eileen has always been taciturn and demanding and it seems to Geraldine that nobody else in her team has noticed anything amiss. Geraldine does not feel able to share her doubts with the rest of the team, although she does confide in her colleague and lover, Detective Inspector Ian Peterson, when she phones him while he is away in London, but she is not sure that he is taking her seriously. Geraldine feels loyal to Eileen, who, despite her gruff manner, has helped to rescue Geraldine’s career after she was demoted following a decision that endangered her progress in the police, but she knows how destructive it will be to have a senior officer whose decisions are unreliable.

The girl that Eddy had claimed was his girlfriend is a newcomer to York and has little social life. Soon she suspects that she is being stalked and becomes increasingly afraid. When her dead body is discovered in the street, most of the detectives feel that this confirms that Eddy is a dangerous killer, but Geraldine is still uncertain, her logical mind at war with her instincts. Geraldine continues to investigate but she does not foresee that, as she nears the truth, her persistent probing will endanger her life.

Fake Alibi is the eighteenth in the series featuring Geraldine Steel. This is a series that has retained its pace, complex plots and strong characterisation. One of the most interesting aspects of the Geraldine Steel books is that the author takes the reader into the thoughts of perpetrators and victims as well as the detective team, which gives the books a fascinating variety of perspectives. Fake Alibi has an engrossing plot with several twists and a team of engaging but realistically portrayed protagonists. Geraldine is a character who develops with each book in the series. In this book she is more content than she has ever been, pleased that her relationship with her sister has improved and happy living with Ian, although she is somewhat disconcerted to realise the depth of her love for him.

Fake Alibi is a fascinating read, which I thoroughly recommend.
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Reviewer: Carol Westron

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.

 leighrussell.co.uk/

Carol Westron is a successful author and a Creative Writing teacher.  Her crime novels are set both in contemporary and Victorian times.  Her first book The Terminal Velocity of Cats was published in 2013. Since then, she has since written 6 further mysteries. Carol recently gave an interview to Mystery People. To read the interview click on the link below. 

https://promotingcrime.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/carol-westron.html www.carolwestron.com
http://carolwestron.blogspot.co.uk/

To read a review of Carol latest book click on the title
The Curse of the Concrete Griffin

‘The Woman in the Painting’ by Jane Adams

Published by Joffe Books,
8 July 2021.
ISBN: 978-1-7817831850-0 (PB)
Originally published as
A Kiss Goodbye.

Robert Carr is an artist, known mainly for his paintings of Anna – he knew her briefly and, though he hasn’t seen her for years, she has remained in his memory.  His agent, Simon, decides to find her and set up a meeting on television.  Rob hadn’t actually wanted to meet her, but he survives the television show, and they meet and talk afterwards.  Despite Anna saying she will phone him in a day or two, she doesn’t, and when he does eventually hear from her, it is a phone call asking for his help.  He finds her dead in her flat and runs away, realising that he literally has her blood on his hands.  DI Vic Maris and his team begin to investigate but all is not as it seems.

Rob is an interesting character:  he doesn’t go out a lot, or indeed keep in contact with the outside world; he’s not a great driver, or indeed controller of a supermarket trolley, and anyway he isn’t keen on shopping.  Simon has known Rob for some time, before he became successful and, though he has ‘an adding machine’ for a brain, he’s on Rob’s speed dial (along with a greengrocer and a take-way service), and he does seem to care about Rob.

DI Marris, the investigating officer, is a calm presence who just wants an end to this ‘petty mystery’, but the investigation moves back through the years, uncovering the truth about half-remembered relationships.  Twists and revelations ensure uncertainty to the very end of the story.
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Reviewer: Jo Hesslewood
Other books by Jane Adams:  Series featuring:  Merrow & Clarke, Detective Mike Croft, Detective Ray Flowers, Detective Rozlyn Priest:  Standalones:  The Other Woman, Then She Was Dead

Jane Adams was born in Leicestershire, where she still lives. She has a degree in Sociology and has held a variety of jobs including lead vocalist in a folk rock band. She enjoys pen and ink drawing; martial arts and her ambition is to travel the length of the Silk Road by motorbike. Her first book, The Greenway, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Award in 1995 and for the Author's Club Best First Novel Award. Jane writes several series.  Her first series featured Mike Croft. Several books featuring DS Ray Flowers. Seven titles featuring blind Naoimi Blake, and six titles featuring Rina Martin. In 2016 she started a series set between the two World Wars and featuring Detective Inspector Henry Johnstone and his sergeant, Micky Hitchens.  Bury Me deep is the first book in a series featuring Detective Inspector Rozlyn Priest.  Jane has also written several standalone novels. She is married with two children.

Jo Hesslewood. Crime fiction has been my favourite reading material since as a teenager I first spotted Agatha Christie on the library bookshelves.  For twenty-five years the commute to and from London provided plenty of reading time.  I am fortunate to live in Cambridge, where my local crime fiction book club, Crimecrackers, meets at Heffers Bookshop .  I enjoy attending crime fiction events and currently organise events for the Margery Allingham Society.

‘A Load of Old Bones’ by Suzette A. Hill

Published by Constable,
28 June 2007.
ISBN: 978-1-84529-581-3 (HB)

Set in the 1950s in the village of Molehill in Surrey, the Vicar Francis Oughterard seeks only a quiet life following his move from an inner-city parish.  But his peaceful existence is soon shattered when Elizabeth Fotherington returns from Italy and constantly appears on his doorstep. Her visits are unpredictable and frequently accompanied by gifts - but when the knitting starts, madness is only a hair’s breadth away.

The removal of Elizabeth Fotherington poses an important question for Maurice, her cat – where will he lay his head, or rather where will he get food and lodging in the style to which he has become accustomed.

Meanwhile the disappearance of Reginald Bowler, the local bank manager, poses a similar question for his dog Bouncer. So, Maurice sets about acquiring then both a suitable new home.

With the demise of Elizabeth Fotherington life for the Reverend Francis Oughterard has become fraught with problems, his nerves stretched to breaking point, with officious policeman poking round, uninvited guests, and to cap it all a visit from Horace Clinker the ‘mad’ bishop. Poor FO is smoking furiously and chomping his special humbugs at the same time.

The narrative is fresh and sparkling; told from the points of view of Maurice the cat, Bouncer the dog and the vicar. Bouncer’s most earnest hope is that Maurice will fall off the damn gatepost. Just when I thought that I had run the gauntlet of amazing names up popped Flirty-Girty, a Pomeranian who has annexed the affections of William, a Great Dane of immense dignity and proportion.

I loved this book and was thrilled to discover the second in the series already in print, which I instantly obtained, and found just as enthralling. Very highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes 

Suzette A. Hill was born in Eastbourne, Sussex, in 1941; but has lived in many locations - the Midlands, Nottingham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Berkshire - and finally in retirement in Ledbury, Herefordshire. Although being an English graduate of two universities and having taught ‘Eng. Lit.’ all her professional life, she never contemplated doing any creative writing herself. It was only when she was sixty-four and well retired, that out of idle curiosity she thought she might try her hand at a short story - just to see what writing fiction felt like. And to her ongoing surprise A Load of Old Bones plus its four sequels was the result. A Little Murder (pub. Allison & Busby) is the first in a new series featuring Rosie Gilchrist and followed by The Venetian Venture & A Southwold Mystery. The Primrose Pursuit (2016), the first book to feature Primrose Oughterard, is a link to the original ‘Bones’ series.

 http://www.suzetteahill.co.uk/