Member Review

I’d like to thank Oldcastle Books, No Exit Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Deadly Revenge’, the fourteenth in the Detective Geraldine Steel series written by Leigh Russell, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Jessica Colman reports that her six-month-old daughter Daisy is missing, presumably taken by her husband Jason who then disappears himself. DS Geraldine Steel and DI Ian Peterson become involved in the search for both Daisy and Jason but their enquiries become more complicated when the body of a man is found.

‘Deadly Revenge’ is the story of what lengths mothers will go to to protect their daughters and has a clever and interesting plot with twists and turns. It flows well and has short chapters making it easy to read, but although I’ve read quite a few of the previous novels in the series I wouldn’t advise reading this as a standalone as, unlike others I’ve read, no attempt is made to give a precis albeit brief of what’s happened in the previous book or give any details of the characters, for example ‘Eileen’ who took me the entire book before learning that she’s the DCI. I’m surprised that a missing baby isn’t the top priority for Geraldine who appears more involved with the problems in her relationship with Ian. Despite working out the identity of who committed the crimes halfway through the book, it’s an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to Ms Russell’s next instalment.