Deadly Alibi

D.I. Geraldine Steel is up to her neck in trouble, both personally and professionally. The detective has two dead bodies and a suspect with a shaky alibi. The case is so precarious and so frightening that Geraldine’s career, not to mention her life, is in danger. Add to the mix a twin that Geraldine never knew she had, a woman with so many sordid problems of her own that she’s apt to drag Geraldine down into the mire with her and the detective finds herself looking a long way up just to see the bottom. I really enjoy this series, Russell has created a complex, but relatable character in Steel and she always manages to throw in a few curves I never saw coming

Deadly alibi by leigh Russell is a mystery and thriller and general fiction (adult) read.
A hand gripped her upper arm so suddenly it made her yelp. Biting her lower lip, she spun round, lashing out in terror. As she yanked her arm out of his grasp, her elbow hit the side of his chest. Struggling to cling on to her, he lost his footing. She staggered back and reached out, leaning one hand on the cold wall of the tunnel. Before she had recovered her balance he fell, arms flailing, eyes glaring wildly as he disappeared over the edge of the platform onto the rails below. . .
Two murder victims and a suspect whose alibi appears open to doubt... Geraldine Steel is plunged into a double murder investigation which threatens not only her career, but her life.
When her previously unknown twin Helena turns up, her problems threaten to make Geraldine's life turn toxic in more ways than one.
An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. Geraldine is my favourite character. Full of twists and plots. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.

Another great instalment in the Geraldine Steele series. Steele's personal life is more messy than ever while facing one of her strangest cases to date. With a gritty twisted plot and a few red herrings thrown in, definitely a good read.

DI Geraldine Steel is investigating two murders and has a suspect with a questionable alibi.
Interspersed with the murder investigation Geraldine was dealing with Helena, her biological twin that she never knew existed.
The plot moves along at a good pace, keeping the reader interested. The characters are well developed and realistic. The ending was not surprising as I had correctly guessed early on in the novel, but still a good read and I recommend it to others.

In this book I was introduced to DI Geraldine Steel even though there have been a number of books in the series (which somehow I have missed).

‘Deadly Alibi’ follows the convention of the lone detective with no partner to hamper her as she works long hours. Although in this case Geraldine is caught up in the aftermath of her adopted mother’s death and the death of her birth mother.

At work she is called in to investigate the murder of the body dumped in a wheelie bin outside an Oxfam shop. As the investigation develops we are presented with forensics, interviewing suspects, searching for witnesses and another murder.

I did enjoy this book and in particular because of the setting. I lived in North London for many years. Beth arriving at Cockfosters Station – I was right there with her. The plot is well constructed and interesting and the characters credible. Geraldine’s personality and her situation also very credible.

I recommend this book as a good read, not thrilling, not scary but just a good, satisfying read and I shall be reaching for more by Leigh Russell.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley.

Wow, Wow and another Wow! This is Leigh Russell at her best writing about DI Geraldine Steel. The books just get better and better. This is the latest book and for me is the best. It doesn't matter if you haven't read all of them, although some parts of the story carry on from previous books a lot of it is stand alone. DI Steel is a strong female detective who gets the best out of her team. A brilliant series which would make good TV!

Good,gritty thriller. Good ,believable characters.

I have read this book through NetGalley. It is a double murder story with a gripping writing style. The discerning reader will have resolved the case long before the police but it is worth reading if only to see how long it takes the lead detective to twig. Mind you she is consumed with family issues. Why do all detective stories have to have police with dysfunctional families? This will certainly keep you reading.

I love the D.I. Geraldine Steel series, its crime procedural at it's best. You almost feel as if you know the main characters as there is plenty of background information into their lives. I was very pleased that Ian Peterson put in an appearance, love it how they bounce ideas off each other. It is one of those kind of books that you don't want to finish. It has a great plot where Leigh gives you little titbits and clues but all is not what you might imagine.

D.I. Geraldine Steel is investigating the murder of a young whose body is found in a wheelie bin at a charity shop. The immediate suspect is her husband, who claims he was with his girlfriend. When Geraldine speaks with the girlfriend, she confirms the story and promises to come in the next day to the station to make a formal statement. When she doesn't show and has seemingly disappeared, the case turns tricky. Not only is the case a difficult one, but Geraldine is also dealing with the shock of discovering she has a twin sister, who appears to be an addict. I really love Geraldine, she's honest, not only with herself, but also others and she works tirelessly to put the world to rights. I can't wait to read the next book, I'm so curious to find out how things work out between the sisters. This was an excellent read highly recommended.
Thank you Netgalley, No Exit Press and Leigh Russell for the ARC.

This was my second book by Leigh russsel and I wished I had found her books sooner if you want a book with loads of twists and turns then this is the book for you I felt for Geraldine when she found out she had a twin sister she never meet after finding out she was adopted and then her birth mother passed away and then having to deal with her job and her believes when having to deal with her twin sister who is in trouble and nearly los g her job because of the twin but it all turns out ok loved the ending as well

I would like to thank Netgalley and Oldcastle books for an advance copy of Deadly Alibi, the ninth police procedural to feature DI Geraldine Steel.

Jamie Cordwell is found dead in a wheelie bin outside an Oxfam shop. Her husband, Chris, unable to provide an alibi or disprove the evidence gathered by the police is swiftly charged. Geraldine, while acknowledging the validity of the evidence, is the only one to have reservations about this. When another body linked to Chris turns up his guilt appears sealed but Geraldine keeps digging. Problems with her newly found twin sister, Helena, distract her from her job in a way she has never known before.

I enjoyed this novel. Geraldine is a nice person, unusual in a results oriented environment like the police, but it is this niceness that gets her into trouble. Despite this she is a good detective and keeps gnawing away at the information she has and asking questions until she reaches a solution. It is a well paced novel with plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages. Some of them are obvious and had me screaming, "clock on" at the police but others are less so and add to the mystery.

I like a good police procedural and think the investigative side of it works really well. I'm less sure about the relationship between Geraldine and Helena which seems decidedly unnatural. I find it hard to believe that after a couple of meetings Geraldine, a worldly wise police officer, would offer to help her sister, a drug addict, with thousands of pounds. Surely she can't be so needy?

This quibble aside Deadly Alibi is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Deadly Alibi by Leigh Russell. This an engaging and enjoyable crime thriller with some adult themes. It is well written and moves along at a nice pace but in my opinion the plot is rather obvious and if like me you will fairly soon have a reasonable idea as to the identity of the killer.
SPOILER ALERT
There seems to be an editing error in that Geraldine refuses to accept the inheritance from her biological mother, rather allowing her twin sister to keep the whole inheritance but later in the book she includes the inheritance in her plans for moving to York.

Also, I felt the note written in blood by the second victim rather implausible and frankly the story would have run along nicely without this element.

All together a good read though - I will seek out other stories in the series.

It's been far too long since the last catch up with DI Geraldine Steel so it was with great excitement I devoured Deadly Alibi, which as it turned out, was a perfect title!

Geraldine and her Sergeant, Sam are called to investigate the murder of Jamie and soon suspect and arrest her husband Chris who is having an affair with Louise. He is reluctant at first to provide himself with an alibi and various evidence suggests he is the guilty party.

On a personal level, Deadly Alibi picks up immediately after Murder Ring, in which Geraldine suffers the loss of her birth mother and shock of discovering she has a twin sister, she is understandably nervous about attending the funeral, in case she bumps into her twin.

Their first meeting doesn't go too well, and Geraldine is worried about the impact to her career with the issues Helena is involved with, but she wants to help her and build a relationship with her.

There is a lot going on with the case, and as the story deepens, it is clear that there is more than meets the eye.
It was really nice to read another book in this series, and see more of Geraldine's personal life and I hope this will continue for a long time to come!

I have read and enjoyed all the books in this series and this one was no different. As Geraldine does come with a lot of baggage, even though enough of her back story is shared in this book, to get the very best from this great character, I would recommend starting from book one and reading in order. That said, the main story is contained within this book, as usual for most series of this ilk.
So, charity shop workers make a gruesome discovery when they open up one morning. There's a body in a wheelie-bin. Enter DI Geraldine Steel to investigate. She is a bit pre-occupied with a lot of personal stuff going on in her life at the moment, but not too distracted that she doesn't give the investigation all she has. And that takes some doing because as things unwind, it gets more and more convoluted and she needs all her wits about her, and those of her team as well as assistance from an old colleague, to get to the bottom of things. At the same time, at her mother's funeral, she meets her twin sister, Helena. It's obvious that Helena's life has been very different from Geraldine's and Helena definitely has a score to settle, as Geraldine herself starts to unravel with everything going on, will Helena's appearance be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
On the whole, I really enjoyed this book. It kept my attention nicely and I finished mostly satisfied. I say mostly, I did have a few niggles that I wasn't happy with during the book. A couple of procedural things, a slight continuity discrepancy and something that, to me, was a bit of an impossibility. That said, all the things I noticed were all integral to the actual plot and so I think I can forgive and write them off as poetic license. I was definitely able to move on from them and carry on reading so they can't have been that bad!
Pacing as always, was good. The story gets on with itself very nicely both with respect to the main crime and also Geraldine's ongoing personal strife. Characters were also well described and easy to emote with / relate to.
As already mentioned, it gripped me very well and I read it start to finish in just one day. I am so familiar with the author's style and characters that starting one of her books is like slipping into an already familiar world, one that you have been wanting to come back to.
All in all, another good addition to this series. That's three good series now for this author.

My thanks go to Netgalley and the Publisher for the chance to read this book.

Another brilliant Geraldine Steel book. I really enjoyed it and was willing her to remember the vital clue she needed.

Well written with the usual dark undertones. It was an easy 5 stars from me.

I thought this was a very good read. Gritty and down to earth. Leigh's characters are not holier than though but humans with all the flaws and failings we all carry through life........... Geraldine has plenty heaped on her plate. A double murder, the death of her mother and a reconnection with a sibling. Also throw in the jealousy of her adopted sister's pregnancy and you have an extremely readable and well written tale. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book.

This was the first book I read and I was surprised it is the 9th in a series. Surprised, because the reader isn't bothered with too many details about things happening in the past, while it is very easy to get to know the main character.
What I liked especially in the book is the fact that there are only a handful of main characters, and one of them has to be a killer. But which one? When the truth comes out it's rather a suprise but a good one; there a no loose threads and the puzzle is complete.
The twin sister that suddenly appears and the subsequent problems that arise is something I could have missed. It's just a little too much for me in a thriller to be confronted with a completely different story. What it is leading up to is obvious from the beginning, and thus in stark contrast with the main story.
I liked the book and I hope to read more of this author. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book.

This was the first book I read and I was surprised it is the 9th in a series. Surprised, because the reader isn't bothered with too many details about things happening in the past, while it is very easy to get to know the main character.
What I liked especially in the book is the fact that there are only a handful of main characters, and one of them has to be a killer. But which one? When the truth comes out it's rather a suprise but a good one; there a no loose threads and the puzzle is complete.
The twin sister that suddenly appears and the subsequent problems that arise is something I could have missed. It's just a little too much for me in a thriller to be confronted with a completely different story. What it is leading up to is obvious from the beginning, and thus in stark contrast with the main story.
I liked the book and I hope to read more of this author.

I have read all the books in this series and really like to hear about Geraldine both as a person and a DCI. This book was good both in relation to the crime that she was working to solve and the personal backstory that was playing out alongside it. I thought the reasons for the murders was a bit strange/weak when revealed, but this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book in general. As a result of the ending of the book, I am looking forward to seeing where this takes Geraldine next and if she will be reunited with old friends!

Deadly Alibi, by Leigh Russell, is the latest in a series featuring Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel. I have not read any of the other books in the series, but I thought this one was well-written.

The story follows the investigation into two murders, which DI Steel thinks may be related. A man named Chris Cordwell is accused of murdering his wife and all the evidence seems to point to him. However, he claims to have an alibi – his mistress, who seems to have gone missing as well. Things are not looking good for Chris at all.

Meanwhile, Geraldine has to attend the funeral for her mother, who gave her up for adoption at birth. She has also learned that she has a twin sister, who was not expected to live and so was raised by her birth mother. She did survive and is now an adult and wants to have a relationship with Geraldine. However, the sister, Helena, has lived as a drug addict and had a very rough life. Geraldine’s helping her sister out of a difficult situation may very well cost her the career she loves.

The investigators eventually do find the mistress, but she’s been murdered as well. Cordwell is looking like the most likely suspect in both homicides. However, Steel has doubts and keeps looking for the truth.

I thought this story was believable and the characters were well-developed. Other novels in the series may offer more background on Geraldine Steel, but this one stands alone. I don’t think you need to read the others in order to make sense of this story. There were enough details to tell the reader about Steel’s background and that she’s a well-known and respected London detective.

The bad guy was revealed early on in the story. If you pay attention, the clue that gives him away is pretty obvious. However, it takes the investigators a long time to figure out this clue and what it means. As a reader, you might feel like you want to shout to the detectives and tell them to take a closer look at this guy, but you can’t. It makes for good tension in the story, I think.

This story takes place in London and I found it refreshingly less violent and bloody than many American crime novels. Sure, there are two murders, but they are not as gruesome as some of the ones you find when reading similar murder mysteries from across the pond. Many American authors seem to be trying to outdo each other in the level of horrific violence they can kill off their victims with, or they write about serial killers who use extreme methods. I’ve been totally turned off by several authors due to this extreme emphasis on violence in their works. As an American, I often find reading British mystery and crime novels more enjoyable because of that more toned-down level of violence. I have no idea if the other novels in this series are similar, but I think I’ll pick one up to see. Maybe I’ve found a new author whose work I’ll enjoy.

Thank you.
Enjoyed it.
Will purchase copies for family and friends.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Oldcastle Books for giving me the opportunity to read this which I voluntarily reviewed.
I have read all of Leigh Russell's books since I was first introduced to them 18 months ago by a Facebook book club (TBC).
In this, the 9th in the series, DI Steel is faced with a double murder. On the surface it seems an open and shut case but she has her doubts.
I feel as if Geraldine is my friend. I've followed her career through its ups and downs, as well as her personal life.
This book introduces us to a previously unknown part of her life, her twin sister Helena, who is the antithethis of her.
This book is a welcome addition to the series and I can't wait to see how Geraldine's life progresses.

DI Geraldine Steel is attending her birth mother's cremation when she is called to investigate a body discovered in a wheelie bin at a charity shop. The case seems cut and dried - the husband did it - but Geraldine is not convinced especially when the woman who can give the husband an alibi disappears. While investigating both cases Geraldine is also trying, if somewhat reluctantly, to build a relationship with the twin sister she's only just met. Really enjoyed the book even though I haven't read any of the other books in the series. Will definitely read more by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Another excellent page-turner from Leigh Russell!
Love the Geraldine Steel series!

DI Geraldine Steel is attending her birth mother’s funeral when she is called to investigate the murder of a young woman found inside a wheelie bin outside a charity shop.

When Geraldine’s mother died she found out she was adopted. On the death bed of her birth mother she finds out she has a twin sister who is the complete opposite to her.

The story revolves around the murder of the woman found in the wheelie bin and her husband who has no apparent alibi until his girlfriend confirms to Geraldine she was with him on the night of the murder but disappears before she can give a statement.

The story is an interesting one with Geraldine trying to keep an open mind with regard to solving the murder and also dealing with her sister, who is a drug addict, plus the consequences of trying to help her sister, which causes problems for Geraldine’s career. I am interested to see what becomes of Geraldine and where she goes from here.

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.

I have read all of Leigh Russell's Geraldine Steel series and enjoyed them. The characters have developed from one book to the next, and there are lots of other things going on as well as the main plot. The story keeps you involved and progresses at a good pace, Geraldine's family story is emerging as the series progresses and lots of additional information comes out in this book. I did guess who -done -it but was kept involved as the twists of the plot continued. There are a lot of police procedurals around just now and this one stands up well to the competition. There are some very original ideas on it and they are well developed.
The door is left open at the end of this book for a new location as the possibility of Geraldine moving to York to rejoin Ian, her former colleague is quite firmly suggested. Looking forward to the next chapter in the adventure of Geraldine's career.

A book filled with lots of plot twists and hints as to what the killer is thinking, but not who this killer just happens to be. This book had me hooked from the very beginning and did not let me go. The main suspect, Chris, who is the husband of the first murder victim, Jamie, spends most of his time during the book behind bars. He's adamant that he is innocent, however, the police do not believe him. They can find no other suspect and no one else has the connections Chris has to the murders. Freaky and thrilling, the real killer is very sneaky.

There is also another story wherein the main policewoman, Geraldine has just learned of her birth mother's death and that she has a twin sister. This part of the book is crazy, or maybe that's just Geraldine's twin. She has some serious problems. While, Geraldine has never met her birth mother, she had tried to get in contact with her, but she would never commit to seeing her. Then at her birth mother's funeral, she gets a letter from her stating that Geraldine has a twin sister, Helena. Geraldine's mother is asking that she find Helena and please take care of her. That is definitely easier said than done.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it was a first for me with this author, but it won't be my last. Geraldine Steel is one character I can't wait to read more about.

Thanks to Oldcastle Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Detective Inspector Geraldine Steele only met her birth mother shortly before her death. It is a surprise to learn she has a twin sister Helena, an addict struggling through life. After meeting for the first time at the funeral Geraldine is initially hesitant about allowing Helena into her life. She does not want to jeopardize her career in the police force. Her strong sense of justice makes her a good officer and also throws her into conflict as she attempts to build a relationship with her sister.
When two bodies are found (one of them squashed into a wheelie bin) police are quick to take a suspect into custody. Geraldine’s investigative instincts tell her they have the wrong person and a simple piece of equipment will lead police to the real killer.
This is the ninth book in the DI Steele series and the first I have read. Geraldine became my favourite character for two main reasons. Firstly she didn’t seem like a fictitious person and I could relate to her and the way she dealt with different events in her life. Secondly I admired how she managed to salvage her career despite making a mistake and paying the price.
In my opinion the author did a great job of providing clues and several suspects without making it easy for the reader to anticipate the ending and the unexpected twist that went with it.
This crime thriller has plenty of punch and will easily hold your interest.
A copy of the digital version was kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley and this review is solely mine.