The character of Geraldine Steel was interesting, but the book was largely ruined for me when I was able to identify the villain immediately upon his introduction. Perhaps the other books in the series are better written. Steel may be enough of a solid character that I might try an earlier novel in the series.

If you like strong female lead law enforcement characters, then you will like Deadly Alibi.

When a dead woman's body is found in a garbage bin, Geraldine Steel is on the case. Of course, the 1st suspect is always the husband, but in this case he has an alibi. But when the person supplying his alibi disappears, all bets are off and the mystery thickens. A very good police procedural, driven by an almost annoyingly persistent cop (Steel) this book read just fine as a standalone despite it being #9 in this series.
Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

DI Geraldine Steel is back! She takes on a double homicide ... two women who were abducted, tied up, strangled and then left where they could be found. SO far, nothing too old of the ordinary for Steel. However, it comes to light that one of the women was having an affair with the other one's husband. The two husbands become main suspects. Geraldine just has to unravel all the threads in order to actually point a finger at the guilty party.

Just when Geraldine's hands are all tied up with this case, her twin sister shows up. The sister is someone she has never met, she only met her birth mother a short time ago and she passed away before they could really connect. The sister is a drug addict and all of a sudden she thinks Geraldine is out to take care of her.

Geraldine isn't sure what kind of problems her sister presents... until she has to meet up with a known drug dealer.

Now, not only is Geraldine's life threatened by a killer... her job is on the line because of her sister.

I have read several book in this series and each one seems to get better than the last. However, I always recommend starting with Book 1 in a series. I have been privileged to watch Geraldine grow into the woman she is now. She has loved and lost and put away some of the most unique killers of all time.

The book is well written and works well as a stand alone. The characters are always solidly defined. If you like crime fiction, you need to give this series look. It's one of the better ones I've come across.

Many thanks to the author / Trafalgar Square Publishing / Oldcastle Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of DEADLY ALIBI. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.