Deathly Affair

Another decent instalment in this well established series, Geraldine and team have a complex case with few suspects and several interesting characters.

Someone seems to have targeted the homeless in York and 2 bodies are found strangled to death. When Geraldine Steel feels that their suspect is not the guilty party so begins a trail of false accusations and frustrated pice

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.

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.

Enjoyed this book great characters and plot will be looking out for more in this series. Read on a lazy day in the house, perfect distraction and very easy to immerse yourself in this story.

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.

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!

Someone is killing homeless men in York and DS Geraldine Steel is part of the team investigating the murders. But when another two “supposedly” homeless men are then discovered, the team needs to work out if they have more than one killer on their hands.

Another good instalment in this series. An easy and entertaining read.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Oldcastle Books - No Exit, for the ARC.
I quite enjoyed this book, although I found some narrative passages a bit too heavy on detailed thoughts and musings, there is an interesting and complex story-line.
Set in York, where Geraldine Steel is now a DS having been demoted from DI and working in the Serious Crime Unit (previous books explain).
A homeless man is discovered murdered in an empty shop doorway. Geraldine is dismayed by colleagues' derogatory comments regarding rough sleepers being worthy of their time to investigate their deaths - but murder is murder, whoever you are, and she is determined to find the killer.
Working with DI Ian Peterson the investigative team is given extra resources to interview at homeless shelters and identify the victim, culminating in another homeless man confessing to this murder. However, a week later, another rough sleeper is discovered murdered in the same way. The person in custody couldn't have been telling the truth.
A third body is discovered in a stolen van abandoned in a car park. This too looks like a homeless person killing - until forensics give a different story. This body belongs to Mark Routledge, a young music teacher.
Mark is having an affair with Ann (32) who is married to David (52). Aimee, Ann and David's daughter is considering options for leaving home for university and David is scared that Ann will leave him then. David is boring; his wife is bored with him. He is controlling and possessive. Ann is obsessed with Mark but the novelty of the affair with an older woman has begun to wear-thin.

The novel is told through the points of view of the killer/watcher - approaching his first kill and planning the next; of Ann, David and Mark, interspersed with Geraldine's investigation to get to the truth.
There are lots of red-herrings, twists and turns to the plot-line and a good who-dun-it ending.

Intriguing story with various sub plots, a young man with romantic involvement with various married women leads to a series of murders which is when the plot gets very exciting with a further murder seemingly connected which finally proves otherwise and leads to a different killer.

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.

York. Not London. Ian is the inspector, and Geraldine the sergeant. How times change....

A homeless man is found dead. Murdered. And another.

Unhappy wife Ann. Philanderer Mark. How are they connected?

When another body turns up, can Geraldine get to the truth?

I hadn’t read all of the previous books in the series but that didn’t prevent me from engaging fully with the DS Geraldine Steel and with the story. Easy to follow story but with plenty of twists and turns. I didn’t guess the ending, which makes the story 5 stars for me.

I have read all Geraldine Steel books and enjoy the premise. This was interesting subject matter and very twisty. I am however starting to feel the writing is repetitive. Each chapter page says the same things in different ways. After the cliffhanger at the end, I will continue to read the series as I have been loyal to it so far.

Thoroughly enjoyed the previous books in this series & this latest book did not disappoint.
Bit of an unusual storyline to keep you intrigued with plenty of sub plots. Enjoyed the ongoing storyline of the main characters too.
Looking forward to the next instalment.

This is a decent, but not great, police procedural novel. As I hadn't read all the previous books in the series I wasn't up to date with the the lead detective's back story, but the book still reads well without this. Ultimately, the characters lack depth and the writing lacks realism for the book to be truely gripping.

Russell’s next instalment of the Geraldine Steel series is a very mixed bag but does make for somewhat interesting reading. It does have its problems but it did keep my interest.

The characters are a mix bag and we are left with some odd developments which left the characters feeling not fully realised. We have Ann, Ian, Geraldine, David and then Molly who appears as a special guest star before disappearing with the page. This felt a bit like someone inputted into a situation to address homelessness and as a plot device.

The plot moves forward and I was interested enough to finish the book but there was an odd disconnect with the narrative. Characters flowed in and out; we are left with some red herrings which were apparent from the first suggestion. We also had a police force that seems to lack with good policing and reacting through gut decisions. This gave us a police department that is fumbling with everyone behaving unprofessionally whilst the main character is all knowing and most successful though she has been demoted. This is one of the problems with this novel.

The crimes and addressing homelessness in the York area was interesting and what kept the story interesting though there were plenty of stereotyping to ensure that all generalised points are made. There are some interesting concepts delivered but the final third of book when crimes are being solved we are left thinking, where did these people and situations come from.

Overall, I read the book and kept me interested to reach the end but I am not quite sure if this book suffers from character fatigue as this series has been running for a while now. Plot is not too surprising with a crime when it is solved, leaves the reader rolling their eyes. Interesting subplots but not as clever as it thinks it is.

I really enjoyed the subplots in this story.

The characters relationships were interesting and believable and i enjoyed seeing how they changed throughout.

The truth will always out and I found it interesting that it did.

This is a really good fast paced thriller. This is the first book that I have read in this series. I am definitely going to read more. The characters in this book are strong and I was gripped from the start. This is a really well written book and I would recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I have read all of Leigh Russell's books so was delighted to receive this as an advance reader's copy from NetGalley.
As always the storyline is intense and thoroughly thought out by the author. As in the previous novel, Geraldine Steele is working in York where after demotion from her job in London due to inappropriate actions to protect her sister she is working under her previous protégé sergeant, now people to DI, Ian Peterson. I find some of the actions a little unlikely in particular in relation to her recently emerged twin sister. I think future work should have less detail about this as it detracts from the main story. There is some unnecessary repetition too which might be helpful to a first time reader but it's irritating to today who have followed the series. The story is ostensibly about the murder of homeless people in York and this theme is well told.
I enjoyed the book, but it was 4 not 5 stars.

An excellent story with lots of twists and turns that lead you hither and thither. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of book.

The death of a local homeless man, murdered as he slept, sends shockwaves through his already traumatised community in the centre of York. Detective Geraldine Steel has to deal with the feelings of mistrust from his friends and apathy from some of her colleagues as she tries to solve what becomes a complex and bewildering hunt for a serial killer.

At the same time the private lives of three other York residents come under scrutiny as they go about their business which includes love, lies, and the fear of discovery as murder comes close to and then shatters their carefully constructed illusions of lives well led.

This is the thirteenth outing for Detective Sergeant Geraldine Steel but only the third set in York and deals far more with the underside of a busy tourist destination than the one its residents and officials would like to be shown.

Unfortunately, apart from one family unaware of the tragedy they are involved in, there is a cast of suspects who move quickly in and out of the spotlight in a realistic but ultimately disappointing way. It was difficult to get a feeling for any of them or to hope they would be found to be innocent. This is obviously a hugely successful series of books but I felt no connection to any of them and wouldn't rush to catch up with those books I haven't yet read.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone already waiting anxiously for the next instalment.

I voluntarily read this for an honest review - all thoughts and opinions are mine


I really enjoyed this

Well written, great characters and story

I've not read any of the others in this series but will now be watching out for them

A great read on an autumn day

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-deathly-affair-by-leigh-russell/

Another fantastic book written by Leigh Russell. I really like the character Geraldine Steel, a believable person with good morals, when others dismissed the deaths of the homeless as less important than others she didn’t.
This is well written, I could not put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this in exchange for a review. I will be putting this review on Amazon.

This the first Geraldine Steel book that I have read and despite this being number 13th in the series it didn't affect my enjoyment of the story.

The story was easy to follow, with some great characters
kept me interested till the end.

I enjoyed the writing style of this, as well as the story. It was cleverly done and kept you guessing until the end. I was in two minds as to whether the final crime needed to be solved and it was written as though the police woman was too... Good detective drama and I would read the author again.

This was my first read by this particular author and have to say I am so glad to have been able to read this book. The characters were instantly formed in my mind to engage with them especially Geraldine. The plot flowed well with twists and turns making it difficult to put down. Really kept me drawn into finding the truth by getting to the end pages. Would strongly recommend as this was a very compelling read.

#DeathlyAffair #NetGalley
Story is ok but execution is not upto the mark. It didn't conpell me to read it till the end. However i read it and overall this story is good for thriller fans.

The 13th book in the Geraldine Steele series, it can be read as a standalone but as I always say, you gain a depth to the characters and background if you read them as a series. A police procedural that has Geraldine, the main character investigating a death that she feels is cruel but her fellow officers are sceptic about. She carries on relentlesly as Geraldine does and realises its leading her to places she wouldn't have imagined. Such a good read as I always find with the Geraldine Steele books. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

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 storyline 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.

I’d like to thank Oldcastle Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Deathly Affair’ by Leigh Russell in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
A homeless man is being followed on the streets of York, a noose is put around his neck and he’s strangled to death. When a second homeless man is killed in an identical manner DS Geraldine Steel and DI Ian Peterson work together to discover who would want to murder two harmless men. Their investigation soon leads them to more bodies giving credence to Geraldine’s belief it could be the same killer.
‘Deathly Affair’ is an exciting action-packed thriller which has kept me glued to my Kindle. The story is gripping, the characters convincing, and although right from the beginning I thought I’d guessed the identity of the killer, I was half-way through the story when there was a massive twist and then another, casting doubt on my earlier assumption. This is the thirteenth in the series and although I’ve not read them all there’s enough background information given so that I don’t feel I’ve missed anything. We’ve been left with a cliffhanger on the final page, will Geraldine and Ian friendship progress to anything further? I can’t wait to find out in book fourteen.

This is another great Geraldine Steel crime novel. Geraldine has always had a great working relationship with DI Ian Peterson but it is good to see her getting close to her female colleagues too. Her experience and her natural instinct really come to the fore in this book and I love the way she doesn't back down when she thinks the facts don't fit. She always fights her corner even when her opponent is a senior officer. Anyone wanting to write a great British police procedural would do well to look at this series to see how it is done. I can't wait for the next one.

The novel begins when a homeless man is found one morning strangled in York city centre and I enjoyed the opening couple of chapters where Geraldine was annoyed that people weren’t taking the case seriously since the victim was homeless. It was a good social commentary on how society in general views the homeless and that Geraldine was determined that there was going to be justice for this victim despite his unfortunate circumstances.

You are also introduced to her colleagues DI Ian Peterson, who she used to work with before, her boss Eileen and teammate and friend Ariadne. Maybe it is because Geraldine has recently just moved to York after being demoted that the team doesn’t feel connected. They just don’t seem to work as a plot tool. Yes, Russell has tried to portray Geraldine as being the lone voice of the team, the only one that is seeing things from a rational point, but it is more than that. I think these sections of the novel need work. Its a police procedural and there should be more from that aspect. Also, there were glaring plot holes that could have been addressed. One of the victims had been restrained for over a week and somehow the on the ball pathologist missed this. Also, it is clear from the circumstantial evidence used that the various suspects that were arrested to begin with would never have passed the evidential threshold that the CPS would have used to allow someone to be charged. But yet each time the ‘team', minus Geraldine I must say, thought the case was closed.

Throughout the book, you learn about a character called Molly and her home situation, which is the reason she ends up on the streets. Molly is an important witness in the case as she sees one of the murders taking place. However, that is all she is. There isn’t really a reason for all her background and once she has fulfilled her purpose of being a witness you don’t really get an ending for her character as it's felt very rushed. To me, it feels like padding in the book, something that didn’t really add to the narrative and was totally superfluous. It would have made more sense to develop the character of Aimee instead as that would have been a good hook to see the thought processes of Ann and David.

This is the thirteenth book in the Geraldine Steel series and I have read a couple of these over the years and enjoyed them. However, in this case, I found this book very unstructured and for a police procedural over half the book was not related to the ‘police’ points of view. The book for me was full of cliches and the plot was not complicated at all. All through the book, you knew what the next stage in the case would be, that the red herrings were indeed that. The main bugbear for me was that the killer had not been introduced as a character until Geraldine meets them for the first time and realises straight away it is them. It doesn’t allow a reader the main joy of reading a crime book - guessing the killer before it's revealed. Maybe I am just becoming a very picky reader!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I have read most of the Geraldine Steel series of books but not the last three. Events that happened in these books are referred to in this one, although this book can still be read on it’s own. DS Steel has been demoted and is working in York, back alongside DI Peterson. Two tramps are murdered a short time apart and DS Steel is investigating these murders. Two more murders follow and when someone confesses to the murders, the case is considered closed. DS Steel has her doubts about the confession of the culprit and relies on her gut instinct which lead to more questions and suspects. The book is told in parts by different characters which I liked. I felt the book read well, it flowed easily and was an absorbing read although it could have been a little shorter, especially towards the end where I felt it started to waffle a bit. There were lots of twists and turns in the story, and all loose ends were tied together nicely. A surprise ending which I expect will be explored more in the next book. I will want to read the next book and try to catch up on what I’ve missed in this series.

This is the first book in this series that I have read, although it can be read as a stand alone novel I did feel a little bit disadvantaged in not knowing the backgrounds of the characters. This the 13th book with DS Geraldine Steel, so I feel I do have some catching up to do. Not knowing characters relationships and how they have grown is something I am not keen on. I like to know how they normally work.

Geraldine Steel has been demoted from DI to DS, she had no choice it was her only way of keeping her job. She is back working with DI Ian Peterson working in the Serious Crime Unit. Geraldine has previously worked with Ian, she had hoped they would fall back into a previously comfortable working relationship but it doesn’t seem to be working that way. We also see her boss Eileen and her team mate and friend Ariadne. The team don’t feel great but this could be down to Geraldine's demotion or the fact that she has just moved to York.

A homeless man is found strangled in York city centre, initially Geraldine was annoyed that the case was not being taken seriously, mainly because it was a homeless man, so it gave the impression of what does it matter. But Geraldine was determined to get justice for this man regardless of his status. But when investigating going to homeless shelters, someone confessed to the murder, in the teams eyes that’s it crime solved, but Geraldine isn’t buying it. A week later another homeless man is murdered in the same way, meaning the person who confessed couldn’t have been telling the truth. A third body is then found in a van which had been stolen and found abandoned in a car park. At first it looks like this person was homeless as well, but it turns out that it is the body of a music teacher Mark Routledge. But are these killings linked?

The story is told through different points of view, Geraldine as she is investigating, the killer/watcher leading to the first kill then planning the next, and of a family Ann, David and Mark. And the complex relationship going on there.

I enjoyed the story there are a number of red herrings thrown in, to distract you, I realise I am missing quite a bit of back story which I did feel, I enjoyed the police procedural parts, showing the way they try and put all the pieces together. It’s also good the way the writer highlights the perils of being homeless, because so many people just walk by, it’s like they are invisible people, if you ignore it it will just go away, when of course in reality it’s not as simple as that. So many things can lead to homelessness, breakdown in a marriage, loss of job and income, addictions, being thrown out of your home, abuse. Homelessness is not always a choice. So I like the fact that it was addressed in this story.

There were a couple of bits I didn’t get why they were there, like Molly who had witnessed one of the murders, but it looked into her homelessness and how, but the she just seemed to be then gone, I couldn’t work out why that was. Thinking it was going to be more than her being a witness. It did just feel like padding as it didn’t really add or detract from the story.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #Oldcastlebooks for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review

3.5 stars, rounded up for sentimental reasons!
Although admittedly not the strongest episode in the series, this book was still a very decent read that kept my attention nicely throughout and left me satisfied. Obviously being the 13th book in the series and with Geraldine having a rather, shall we just say, interesting past, it's best to dive in with book one and read in order. The main story however is self-contained so it could, at a push, be read stand alone.
We start with the death of one of the homeless community. Although Geraldine values all life alike, there are those who consider this death to be low on the radar of importance and as such the investigation is initially passed over for other crimes considered to be more important. But then another body is found, another homeless man killed in a similar manner and this forces them to ramp things up. But given their lifestyles and the struggle to even identify the deceased men, the investigation falters, coming up against dead end after dead end. Until after a third body is found, one that doesn't quite fit with previous victimology and Geraldine starts to make connections. But given her place in the team and the events that lead up to where she now finds herself professionally, can she persuade those higher up to listen to her?
I say that it's not the strongest in the series. I think that's more due to the plot being slightly weaker rather than anything else. But it also marks a turning point for Geraldine both professionally and personally, so it could be that the author needs this platform to base the direction that the series will continue on in future books. I won't give anything away but I do have to say that the police in this book were woefully inadequate in their investigations, grasping every tentative link and pursuing it to within an inch of its life rather than sitting back and looking at the big picture. Bad procedure indeed, especially given the prevalence of red-herrings to be found throughout, smacks a bit of desperation. But, that aside, I was interested enough to keep reading and was rewarded when they eventually got to the bottom of things. I do think however that if this was my first encounter with this series I would probably not have continued. But I've been through a lot with Geraldine over the years and I am not about to sack her off after one bad case! Besides which, her personal life looks like it may get a bit more interesting...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is book 13 in the Geraldine Steel series but there is enough information to read this as a stand alone. Covering the topic of homelessness, it is a fast paced and well written police procedural by one of my favourite authors. Plenty twists in the story and a surprise ending. Although not my favourite book in the series, I enjoyed the read.Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Homeless men are being killed on the streets and yet some of the people investigating seem to think that because they were homeless their lives don't matter as much? Wanting to dig into this further, Geraldine Steel and her partner, Ian Peterson, are sent off on their trail. Turns out one of the homeless men found was not homeless after all, and in fact a music teacher. A music teacher of which we have just been reading about in a subplot, that was having an affair with a married woman. And so begins the real plot and the search to uncover the truth. Have they got a serial killer on their hands who has made a mistake, or does this murder go much deeper?

This is an established series of which I have not read any of the previous books, an although I couldn't quite call it a standalone, the backstory was easily explained and I quickly fell in step with the story. It was a bit convoluted at times, with so many story lines all blending together, and then several twists and turns later all became clear, but with quite a sudden ending. Overall it was an entertaining, complex read told though multiple points of view, which made me search for clues about the real killer as I read.

Thanks to #Netgalley, #OldcastleBooks and #LeighRusssell for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review. 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book. This is the first Geraldine Steel book I've read and I wasn't confused or lost with her story so this works perfectly well as a standalone.

There are many different characters in this book, each with their own backstory. The characters are interwoven to connect them to the shocking murder of a homeless man in York. I really enjoyed the writing in this book; the way each of the characters were developed and the unfolding story of the murder. For a while it looked like the police just couldn't figure out this case which makes it more enjoyable because it's not immediately obvious where the plot is going.

An entertaining page-turner that I'd definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Leigh Russell and Oldcastle Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not read this book, but gave it 5 stars as it cannot fail to be a thrilling read. I’m going through her Geraldine books from book one

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.

Having not read the first 12 books (yes 12!) in this series, I was unsure if I would get the gist of this one. Steel has been "demoted" and this means she is even more eager and a very thorough detective. I like the veracity of this character. You might even call her analytical. She thrives on investigation, and getting answers. This is the kind of detective I like to read about. She is a good person.

In this novel, Geraldine investigates a serial killer that focuses on homeless people. These poor people are vulnerable and this is highlighted very well throughout too. I loved this read, and so will you!

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.

I am a great fan of Leigh Russell, and I was looking forward to reading this book and it did,'t disappoint, although it was a trifle predictable in places. Recommended

This author is not new to me as I have read a few of the Geraldine and Ian stories, and I have also missed a few as D I Geraldine Steele is no longer a D I but a DS and Ian Peterson is a D I so their roles are reversed and Geraldine has relocated to York, but she is not bitter by all accounts she is glad she still has a job she enjoys. This escapade starts with a loveless marriage so the female has a love affair with a music teacher, and hopes that one day she will leave her husband, when her daughter leaves home for college/uni, and move in with her lover. He is not that keen as it turns out all he wants is the attention and the sex, and she is not the only one. A homeless person is murdered and nobody at the police can think why the only reason they don't like the growing number of homelessness on the streets. Then another is murdered, so somebody has it in for them, and as its, the homeless people that's murdered they are put on a back burner because another murder has taken place and this also is made to look like a homeless person but police soon find out who he really is and its the music teacher. When they start looking at the teacher and the people surrounding him Geraldine who has always been meticulous with her work think it's all connected. A very good story but a bit confusing, without giving the plot away Mark the teacher when he was being murdered it seemed as if there was more than one person present, and then there was a lull in the middle as if the author was not sure which way to go., it stopped rather blunt and we all know that any evidence you can always find someone suitable that it will fit, and this happened a couple of times, so found this one a bit disappointing, and ragged in the middle but when it got going again was good, will I give this author another go,? most probably, unless it happens again hope not as these have always been good saga's. I would like to thank Oldcastle Books and Netgalley for a copy to read and review.

Leigh Russell is a good writer, fact. Starting to churn them out as they did with Patricia Cornwall and others and it shows. Publishers need to understand that waiting for the next book can be part of the experience.

That said it stands up on its own as classic good reading in the genre.

Looking forward to the next one - hopefully it will be a while !

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.