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DI Geraldine Steel #6
Fatal Act
After a glamorous young TV soap star dies in a car crash, all eyes are on Detective Geraldine Steel to discover what caused the tragic accident. Another driver was involved in the collision but seems to have miraculously walked away unscathed and has now vanished. The deceased had no obvious enemies and nothing to hide, so the investigation seems to be stalling. But when another young actress is found dead, it becomes painfully clear that there is a murderer on the loose targeting beautiful, famous women. The only problem is that whoever is committing these crimes isn't leaving any clues. With public pressure mounting, Geraldine Steel unwittingly risks her sergeant's life in their search to track down a serial killer …
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2013
79 people are currently reading
399 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Russell
70 books335 followersLeigh Russell has sold over a million books in her Geraldine Steel series of crime novels. Published in English and in translation throughout Europe and in China, the Geraldine Steel titles have appeared on many bestseller lists, including #1 on kindle. Leigh's work has been nominated for several major awards, including the CWA New Blood Dagger and CWA Dagger in the Library.
Leigh has also written a trilogy featuring Lucy Hall, set in the Seychelles, Paris and Rome, and two standalone psychological thrillers.
Leigh serves on the board of the Crime Writers Association and chairs the judges for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger Award.
She is represented by Bill Goodall.
Leigh has also written a trilogy featuring Lucy Hall, set in the Seychelles, Paris and Rome, and two standalone psychological thrillers.
Leigh serves on the board of the Crime Writers Association and chairs the judges for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger Award.
She is represented by Bill Goodall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 24, 2022
Fatal Act is the sixth installment of the Geraldine Steel series by Leigh Russell
We begin with Anna Porter, a young actress, who is found dead in her Porsche after an apparent collision with a van, but nobody knows where the other driver is, they've simply vanished. At first it's thought to be the usual road traffic accident, however it turns into a suspected murder after further investigations reveal some disturbing facts. Steel and her team delve into the theatrical world to try and find out who the vanishing murderer is. Later on another young actress is found dead, causing more suspicion around both deaths. What is making it hard to pin down the killer is that they don't leave any clues behind, making it a real struggle for DI Geraldine Steel and her team. Steel is also working with Sergeant Sam Healy who I found incredibly irritating. Her childish strops, the way she tried to build evidence around people she wanted to be the murderer which Steel decides to go along with, and also her never ending moaning about being hungry.
The short chapters make it an easy read, but the tension and pace isn't there until the final few chapters. Geraldine is certainly good at her job and acts on instinct, when she final decides to follow her head, which ends up paying off, even if it means going against her superiors to catch the killer. She is also a protagonist and didn't seem to develop much as a character.
Definitely disappointed by this one. I was expecting a lot more and I did correctly guess the identity of the killer early on. I started to lose interest when the story started to flag a little in the middle and found myself wanting to skip pages but, I managed to persevere through to the end.
We begin with Anna Porter, a young actress, who is found dead in her Porsche after an apparent collision with a van, but nobody knows where the other driver is, they've simply vanished. At first it's thought to be the usual road traffic accident, however it turns into a suspected murder after further investigations reveal some disturbing facts. Steel and her team delve into the theatrical world to try and find out who the vanishing murderer is. Later on another young actress is found dead, causing more suspicion around both deaths. What is making it hard to pin down the killer is that they don't leave any clues behind, making it a real struggle for DI Geraldine Steel and her team. Steel is also working with Sergeant Sam Healy who I found incredibly irritating. Her childish strops, the way she tried to build evidence around people she wanted to be the murderer which Steel decides to go along with, and also her never ending moaning about being hungry.
The short chapters make it an easy read, but the tension and pace isn't there until the final few chapters. Geraldine is certainly good at her job and acts on instinct, when she final decides to follow her head, which ends up paying off, even if it means going against her superiors to catch the killer. She is also a protagonist and didn't seem to develop much as a character.
Definitely disappointed by this one. I was expecting a lot more and I did correctly guess the identity of the killer early on. I started to lose interest when the story started to flag a little in the middle and found myself wanting to skip pages but, I managed to persevere through to the end.
July 20, 2015
- My Description -
After an argument with her boyfriend, young starlet Anna Porter storms out of the house.
To cool off, She decides to go for a long drive.
The streets are quite dark and lonely.
Someone is out there, watching. Waiting for just the perfect opportunity.
Anna ends up on an even darker and more lonely road.
WHAM!! Anna doesn't see the other car till it's too late.
She doesn't die right away.
Later, a taxi driver is the one who finds the scene.
By this time, Anna is dead.
He phones the police.
The police discover that Anna was the lead star of the soap opera TV show Down and Out.
The police check security cameras in the area.
Hmmm, The driver doesn't show up on the cameras.
He/she seems to have vanished.
They also discover that the other vehicle involved in the crash belongs to Anna's boyfriend.
Everything is all very mysterious, but evidence clearly points to the boyfriend.
Her boyfriend is the famous director Piers Trevelyan.
Piers is in his 60's but he's had loads of young girlfriends in his lifetime.
Just like Anna. Young and hoping for fame.
Piers has been married and divorced three times.
One of his wives died in a drowning incident.
He has one son, Zak.
Nineteen year old Zak is around the same age as Anna.
Zak also has access to the van.
Bodies are piling up.
How many more will die?
Who will be next?
- My Review -
I can honestly say I was blown away by this British mystery.
I loved the author's writing style.
I will be reading more from this author.
This is book 6 but could also work as a stand alone.
January 26, 2019
Inspector Geraldine Steele and her Sergeant Sam Haley are called to a road traffic collision that rapidly turns to murder and leads the pair into the realms of the theatre, television and drama schools. A lot of head scratching about how the killer mysteriously disappears from the scene and indeed if they are male or female. Along the way there are the private life scenes and the almost inevitable married man, all heading towards tears.
A good story but one that did not always flow as smoothly as it have. Some of the characters are at times hard to believe. None the less an enjoyable if not memorable read.
A good story but one that did not always flow as smoothly as it have. Some of the characters are at times hard to believe. None the less an enjoyable if not memorable read.
April 8, 2021
Another nice mystery with plenty of red herrings, even if I did spot the killer fairly early on.
March 30, 2014
Fatal Act is the sixth DI Geraldine Steel story from Leigh Russell, I reviewed her last book Stop Dead back in August 2013.
I mentioned in my review of Stop Dead that I hadn't read any of the previous novels in the series, but this did not spoil my enjoyment or understanding of the story. Fatal Act works perfectly well as a stand-alone story too. The author cleverly updates the reader about Geraldine's past without straying away from the current plot at all.
Geraldine Steel and her colleague Sam are heading up a murder investigation. When the body of a successful young actress is found dead behind the wheel of her powerful sports car, it is assumed that she died from her injuries and that this is a regular, if tragic, road traffic accident. But where is the other driver? How did they escape unharmed? It soon becomes clear that this is not an open and shut case, and that this might, in fact, be murder.
As Geraldine and Sam work hard on trying to unravel this mystery, a prime suspect is identified, and although Geraldine has her doubts as to his guilt, her superiors are determined that he is their man. When another young girl is found murdered, and she too has links to this suspect, it seems that Geraldine may have been wrong after all.
Leigh Russell writes very well. Her short sharp paragraphs within each punchy chapter work so well to keep the story moving at a fast pace. Geraldine is a complex character; lonely but very bright, she often makes decisions about her personal life that are questionable. At times she appears to be very vulnerable, especially when dealing with male colleagues. However, she is loyal and she is not afraid to put herself in difficult situations, from dealing with her superiors, to facing up to a potential killer.
The murder mystery is well constructed, with a few red herrings planted along the way, enough to keep the reader engaged and guessing until not quite the end in my case, but certainly until the last few chapters.
I enjoyed this well paced, cleverly constructed story, and was pleased to get to know a little more about Geraldine Steel and her colleagues. I'm certainly watching out for the next in the series.
I mentioned in my review of Stop Dead that I hadn't read any of the previous novels in the series, but this did not spoil my enjoyment or understanding of the story. Fatal Act works perfectly well as a stand-alone story too. The author cleverly updates the reader about Geraldine's past without straying away from the current plot at all.
Geraldine Steel and her colleague Sam are heading up a murder investigation. When the body of a successful young actress is found dead behind the wheel of her powerful sports car, it is assumed that she died from her injuries and that this is a regular, if tragic, road traffic accident. But where is the other driver? How did they escape unharmed? It soon becomes clear that this is not an open and shut case, and that this might, in fact, be murder.
As Geraldine and Sam work hard on trying to unravel this mystery, a prime suspect is identified, and although Geraldine has her doubts as to his guilt, her superiors are determined that he is their man. When another young girl is found murdered, and she too has links to this suspect, it seems that Geraldine may have been wrong after all.
Leigh Russell writes very well. Her short sharp paragraphs within each punchy chapter work so well to keep the story moving at a fast pace. Geraldine is a complex character; lonely but very bright, she often makes decisions about her personal life that are questionable. At times she appears to be very vulnerable, especially when dealing with male colleagues. However, she is loyal and she is not afraid to put herself in difficult situations, from dealing with her superiors, to facing up to a potential killer.
The murder mystery is well constructed, with a few red herrings planted along the way, enough to keep the reader engaged and guessing until not quite the end in my case, but certainly until the last few chapters.
I enjoyed this well paced, cleverly constructed story, and was pleased to get to know a little more about Geraldine Steel and her colleagues. I'm certainly watching out for the next in the series.
December 14, 2017
review to follow
March 30, 2014
Time taken to read - dipped in and out over 5 days
Publisher - No Exit Press
Pages - 319
Source - RealReaders
Blurb from Back cover
A glamorous young TV soap star dies in a car crash. Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is baffled as the driver of the second vehicle miraculously survives - and vanishes. Another young actress is murdered and, once again, the killer mysteriously disappears. Geraldine unwittingly risks her sergeant's life in their struggle to track down a serial killer who leaves no clues.
My Review
Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is on the case, a young actress has died in a car crash yet there is no sign of the other driver. Soon another up and coming star dies and the police realize they have a very crafty murderer to find and one who leaves no traces. In the search for a killer and trying to prevent any further deaths, Steel puts her sergeant at risk and maybe even herself before the case is through.
The opening chapter is brilliantly done, it pulls you into heart stopping scene of cat and mouse and the story goes from there. The killer leaves nothing at the scenes and the police are scrambling around trying to work out who is guilty and grill their suspect. The story then has a bit of a lull, then picks up, then lulls again until the last leg when it kicks up the pace. This was a bit of a let down considering how attention grabbing the opening chapter was however it kept me interested enough to read on.
The story focuses on the relationships within the unit, particularly between Steel and her sergeant Sam Haley. Haley is junior and in parts of the story this is abundantly clear, however she has a good relationship with Steel which drives some of her behavior. Also there were a few situations when I felt their actions and behavior didn't quite fit with the titles of sergeants.
There are lots of questions raised throughout the story but thankfully the author ties doesn't leave you hanging. Overall I liked it but felt some parts dragged and would have enjoyed it more if the pace kept up with how it started and ended. Overall a good 3/5, I have read this author before and would read her again. I think I may snap up the previous books I haven't read, get more of a picture of Steel and the relationship dynamics within the team. Thanks to RealReaders for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, available to buy from May 2014 from all good retailers.
Publisher - No Exit Press
Pages - 319
Source - RealReaders
Blurb from Back cover
A glamorous young TV soap star dies in a car crash. Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is baffled as the driver of the second vehicle miraculously survives - and vanishes. Another young actress is murdered and, once again, the killer mysteriously disappears. Geraldine unwittingly risks her sergeant's life in their struggle to track down a serial killer who leaves no clues.
My Review
Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is on the case, a young actress has died in a car crash yet there is no sign of the other driver. Soon another up and coming star dies and the police realize they have a very crafty murderer to find and one who leaves no traces. In the search for a killer and trying to prevent any further deaths, Steel puts her sergeant at risk and maybe even herself before the case is through.
The opening chapter is brilliantly done, it pulls you into heart stopping scene of cat and mouse and the story goes from there. The killer leaves nothing at the scenes and the police are scrambling around trying to work out who is guilty and grill their suspect. The story then has a bit of a lull, then picks up, then lulls again until the last leg when it kicks up the pace. This was a bit of a let down considering how attention grabbing the opening chapter was however it kept me interested enough to read on.
The story focuses on the relationships within the unit, particularly between Steel and her sergeant Sam Haley. Haley is junior and in parts of the story this is abundantly clear, however she has a good relationship with Steel which drives some of her behavior. Also there were a few situations when I felt their actions and behavior didn't quite fit with the titles of sergeants.
There are lots of questions raised throughout the story but thankfully the author ties doesn't leave you hanging. Overall I liked it but felt some parts dragged and would have enjoyed it more if the pace kept up with how it started and ended. Overall a good 3/5, I have read this author before and would read her again. I think I may snap up the previous books I haven't read, get more of a picture of Steel and the relationship dynamics within the team. Thanks to RealReaders for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, available to buy from May 2014 from all good retailers.
May 7, 2014
I had a dilemma when I received Fatal Act for review from Real Readers. This is the sixth book in the series and I had previously purchased the earlier five books for my Kindle but hadn’t yet got round to reading them. Rather than delay the review of this until I had read the other 5, I decided to just jump in, knowing that I would no doubt be missing a back story. Actually, it didn’t really matter at all that I hadn’t read the previous stories – this can be read as a standalone.
This story begins when Anna Porter, a young actress, is found dead in her Porsche after an apparent collision with a van, however there is no sign of the other driver who has simply vanished. What is initially thought to be a routine traffic accident turns into a suspected murder after further investigations reveal some disturbing facts. When another young actress is later found dead, also in suspicious circumstances, DI Geraldine Steel and her team find themselves looking for a killer who doesn’t leave any clues behind and leaves them struggling to find a suspect.
This is a competently written police procedural mystery. The short chapters make it an easy read and certainly for the first and the final parts of the story, the tension and pace is there. Geraldine seems to be a complicated character; she is good at her job and often acts on instinct even if it means going against her superiors but she is difficult to get to know; she appears to be a loner who prefers to keep her distance. This may well be explained in her history which I have yet to discover.
Although I enjoyed the book, I wasn’t wholly convinced by the professional relationship between Geraldine and her female sergeant Sam Haley. Sam’s attitude seemed a little unrealistic – would a sergeant really behave in such an offhand and sometimes disrespectful manner with their DI?
The plot was cleverly constructed although I did correctly guess the identity of the killer part way through. The book kept my interest even when the story did start to flag a little in the middle but it picked up pace again towards the end. I will get round to reading the previous books in the series and hopefully all will become clear concerning Geraldine’s history and character.
My thanks to Real Readers for the paperback copy to review.
This story begins when Anna Porter, a young actress, is found dead in her Porsche after an apparent collision with a van, however there is no sign of the other driver who has simply vanished. What is initially thought to be a routine traffic accident turns into a suspected murder after further investigations reveal some disturbing facts. When another young actress is later found dead, also in suspicious circumstances, DI Geraldine Steel and her team find themselves looking for a killer who doesn’t leave any clues behind and leaves them struggling to find a suspect.
This is a competently written police procedural mystery. The short chapters make it an easy read and certainly for the first and the final parts of the story, the tension and pace is there. Geraldine seems to be a complicated character; she is good at her job and often acts on instinct even if it means going against her superiors but she is difficult to get to know; she appears to be a loner who prefers to keep her distance. This may well be explained in her history which I have yet to discover.
Although I enjoyed the book, I wasn’t wholly convinced by the professional relationship between Geraldine and her female sergeant Sam Haley. Sam’s attitude seemed a little unrealistic – would a sergeant really behave in such an offhand and sometimes disrespectful manner with their DI?
The plot was cleverly constructed although I did correctly guess the identity of the killer part way through. The book kept my interest even when the story did start to flag a little in the middle but it picked up pace again towards the end. I will get round to reading the previous books in the series and hopefully all will become clear concerning Geraldine’s history and character.
My thanks to Real Readers for the paperback copy to review.
March 14, 2014
I have read all of the books in the Geraldine Steel series and this is the 6th book in the series. The series has changed somewhat with her colleague Ian Peterson leaving Geraldine (and now having his own series of books), and Geraldine relocating to London. This latest book starts off with a particularly exciting scene involving a glamorous young TV star who dies in a fatal road accident. When Geraldine is called in it appears to be a standard collision, except for the fact that the driver of the other vehicle appears to have vanished into thin air.
At first I was completely caught up in the story and it all felt like we were back in the middle of an exciting case. Sadly, a few more chapters in, and it kind of felt like it came to a bit of a standstill. I am most definitely a fan of this series but felt like this book was a little bit safe and it seemed we were veering into familiar territory. There was quite a bit of detail while the officers involved followed the case and we certainly see Geraldine interact with her new colleagues including Nick and Sam. We also see a brief appearance if Ian Peterson, and if I’m honest it felt like Geraldine and him just ‘worked’ and as soon as we went back to present day I found myself feeling uncomfortable again.
I think this latest story (although not a bad read) was a little too predictable and certainly laying too much on the safe side. The series having now split Geraldine and Ian Peterson leaves me still undecided about how well it works. I really enjoyed the last Geraldine Steel book (which didn’t include Ian Peterson, but this one just didn’t sit well with me. I feel like the characters are still finding their feet and I’m hoping that the next instalment feels more right than this one. I am most definitely a fan of these books and think that Leigh Russell is a talented writer. Whether or not the split in the series was a good move or not? I’m still undecided. I can only hope that the next books in the respective series put me right
At first I was completely caught up in the story and it all felt like we were back in the middle of an exciting case. Sadly, a few more chapters in, and it kind of felt like it came to a bit of a standstill. I am most definitely a fan of this series but felt like this book was a little bit safe and it seemed we were veering into familiar territory. There was quite a bit of detail while the officers involved followed the case and we certainly see Geraldine interact with her new colleagues including Nick and Sam. We also see a brief appearance if Ian Peterson, and if I’m honest it felt like Geraldine and him just ‘worked’ and as soon as we went back to present day I found myself feeling uncomfortable again.
I think this latest story (although not a bad read) was a little too predictable and certainly laying too much on the safe side. The series having now split Geraldine and Ian Peterson leaves me still undecided about how well it works. I really enjoyed the last Geraldine Steel book (which didn’t include Ian Peterson, but this one just didn’t sit well with me. I feel like the characters are still finding their feet and I’m hoping that the next instalment feels more right than this one. I am most definitely a fan of these books and think that Leigh Russell is a talented writer. Whether or not the split in the series was a good move or not? I’m still undecided. I can only hope that the next books in the respective series put me right
March 31, 2014
I had never heard of this author before so when I received this book to review it is my kind of genre and I was keen to read it and see what I thought.
The story was about the murders of three individuals all involved in the acting industry and all linked in someway. The lead detective was Geraldine Steel and she was determined to track down the mystery killer that disappeared and left no clues.
There have been several other books written by Leigh Russell involving the same detective, this is the sixth one. I did not find I need to know any back ground or details about Geraldine to read the book, as sometimes in series you feel you do not know enough if you have not read the other books.
The book was very fast paced and easy to read with very short paragraphs and chapters. I enjoyed it and it would make a good holiday read as it is not too complicated and very easy to follow the characters. It did become very obvious to me, probably about a third of the way through who the killer was, which was a bit of a shame as I like to be kept guessing. There was a bit of excitement at the end when he was revealed.
All in all an average easy read, very easy to pick up and put down and get straight back into.
The story was about the murders of three individuals all involved in the acting industry and all linked in someway. The lead detective was Geraldine Steel and she was determined to track down the mystery killer that disappeared and left no clues.
There have been several other books written by Leigh Russell involving the same detective, this is the sixth one. I did not find I need to know any back ground or details about Geraldine to read the book, as sometimes in series you feel you do not know enough if you have not read the other books.
The book was very fast paced and easy to read with very short paragraphs and chapters. I enjoyed it and it would make a good holiday read as it is not too complicated and very easy to follow the characters. It did become very obvious to me, probably about a third of the way through who the killer was, which was a bit of a shame as I like to be kept guessing. There was a bit of excitement at the end when he was revealed.
All in all an average easy read, very easy to pick up and put down and get straight back into.
March 31, 2014
A young actress has died in a car crash but there appears to be no sign of the other driver. Then another actress dies and the police realize they have a murderer to find who leaves no traces.
The story is set around Geraldine Steel and her sergeant Sam Haley. Haley is junior and the reader is told this on lots of occasions, but she has a good relationship with Geraldine.
I have enjoyed all of the Geraldine Steel series, this is the sixth case and this did not disappoint. There were lots of twists and turns – it took me to the end to discover who the killer was.
This kept me gripped until the final page. The series just gets better and better.
Even if the reader has not read any of the other books in the series, they can follow the characters.
Leigh Russell writes well and her short paragraphs keep this story going at a quick pace. This would make a great holiday read to devour in one go on your sunbed.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series already.
March 9, 2023
I have already read the first 5 Geraldine Steel books and sadly, I think this one was my least favourite so far. It is a well written crime thriller, with great detail to police procedures as with all of Leigh Russell's books.
I found this one lacking due to the lack of character development. Geraldine Steel is a great detective and over the previous five books, her private life has been one of the interesting aspects of the stories. Her marriage is to her job and she finds her isolation difficult. This book does little to draw you into her life and I did feel her personal life bits have been done before.
I know Ian Peterson has his own series, which I will get round to reading, however I find his presence a big miss, as Geraldine's London based partner, Sam, doesn't do it for me. I don't find her too likeable.
The crime itself is cleverly pulled off and the suspect list is vast. I wasn't able to guess the ending which is a sign of a good book.
A solid entry into the Geraldine Steel series, if not the best.
I found this one lacking due to the lack of character development. Geraldine Steel is a great detective and over the previous five books, her private life has been one of the interesting aspects of the stories. Her marriage is to her job and she finds her isolation difficult. This book does little to draw you into her life and I did feel her personal life bits have been done before.
I know Ian Peterson has his own series, which I will get round to reading, however I find his presence a big miss, as Geraldine's London based partner, Sam, doesn't do it for me. I don't find her too likeable.
The crime itself is cleverly pulled off and the suspect list is vast. I wasn't able to guess the ending which is a sign of a good book.
A solid entry into the Geraldine Steel series, if not the best.
June 9, 2014
Actress Anna storms out of her house following an argument with her boyfriend. She is pursued by a van which eventually crashes into her. When the police arrive on the scene Anna is dead but not from the injuries sustained in the crash and the van driver has disappeared. Steel and her team delve into the theatrical world to try to find out who the vanishing murderer is and before long another actress is killed.
I think this is the weakest book in the series. The storyline seemed very drawn out and there was a lot of information given more times than was necessary, surly we only need to be told once hat Sam had told Geraldine that the team were unhappy with her lack of delegation.
I think this is the weakest book in the series. The storyline seemed very drawn out and there was a lot of information given more times than was necessary, surly we only need to be told once hat Sam had told Geraldine that the team were unhappy with her lack of delegation.
June 14, 2014
Quick easy read. I guessed the ending early on. Not massively compelling but decided to continue to the end
August 22, 2025
3.5 Stars
Fatal Act is the sixth book in the DI Geraldine Steel series by Leigh Russell. This series is a gripping collection of crime fiction novels that masterfully blends crime & investigation, detective/police procedure, suspense, and thought-provoking themes. With dynamic storytelling and intriguing characters, I was hooked from the get-go.
We follow Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel, who is a fiercely intelligent and deeply empathetic investigator. She is a cleverly crafted and fully realised individual with her own unique quirks and flaws. Ms. Russell beautifully balances Geraldine’s professional brilliance with some vulnerability and personal struggles, making her entirely ‘real’ and ‘relatable’. As the series progresses, we are further drawn into her world, where she pursues justice with unwavering determination, even as she grapples with her own burdens.
Each book in the series could be read as a standalone if you wanted, as each instalment presents a new, chilling case, often delving into the darker corners of human nature. But, having said that, I highly recommend reading the entire series from the beginning, as each instalment helps build a bigger picture of Geraldine Steel’s character, development, backstories, etc. And knowing all of that will definitely enhance your overall reading experience.
f you love stories with the perfect blend of psychological depth, thrilling mysteries, and emotional resonance, then this is definitely a series you will want to dive into.
Happy Reading…
Fatal Act is the sixth book in the DI Geraldine Steel series by Leigh Russell. This series is a gripping collection of crime fiction novels that masterfully blends crime & investigation, detective/police procedure, suspense, and thought-provoking themes. With dynamic storytelling and intriguing characters, I was hooked from the get-go.
We follow Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel, who is a fiercely intelligent and deeply empathetic investigator. She is a cleverly crafted and fully realised individual with her own unique quirks and flaws. Ms. Russell beautifully balances Geraldine’s professional brilliance with some vulnerability and personal struggles, making her entirely ‘real’ and ‘relatable’. As the series progresses, we are further drawn into her world, where she pursues justice with unwavering determination, even as she grapples with her own burdens.
Each book in the series could be read as a standalone if you wanted, as each instalment presents a new, chilling case, often delving into the darker corners of human nature. But, having said that, I highly recommend reading the entire series from the beginning, as each instalment helps build a bigger picture of Geraldine Steel’s character, development, backstories, etc. And knowing all of that will definitely enhance your overall reading experience.
f you love stories with the perfect blend of psychological depth, thrilling mysteries, and emotional resonance, then this is definitely a series you will want to dive into.
Happy Reading…
June 10, 2024
Book six in the Geraldine Steele series begins with a bang as an actress tragically dies in a car crash, however it seems that it wasn't an accident and the person who caused it has seemingly disappeared without trace. Another decent addition to this series as Steele still struggles with her move to London while her sidekick Sam continues to find fault with most things, particularly another member of the team who Steele is getting close to which was an interesting sub plot. Its a solid police procedure story with a few twists, unlikeable characters especially in the acting world and enough to keep the reader guessing
November 29, 2018
A young actress is killed in a car crash after an argument with her boyfriend but he accident isn’t all that it seems. Then another young actress with connections to the first victim is murdered. DI Geraldine Steel and her Sergeant Sam Haley are baffled as the killer has disappeared without a trace in both cases. A complicated case with one obvious suspect but is he too obvious. The investigation ends up with both Sam and Geraldine in danger. Another great story in this series by Leigh Russell.
July 4, 2019
This is the 6th in the series and left me a little disappointed. An interesting start to the story but then it felt like the plot was searching for a direction and never quite found one. The ending was very predictable and a bit of a let down. Not sure why Ian was reintroduced and with Sam being injured towards the end then got the feeling this was another opportunity for yet another introduction of a new character for the next storyline..... I hope not. I look forward to the next episode but hope it gets better as this episode didn't quite reach the heights of the previous 5.
August 9, 2020
An excellent story to get involved in
The first story by Leigh Russell I have read I will definitely read others. The detective Geraldine tried hard to pin the killer and just when it looked hopeless the answer came. But not before putting herself and a colleague in terrible danger.
Three murders connected to a drama school and with one person in the frame but could Geraldine find the killer before he carried out another one.
The first story by Leigh Russell I have read I will definitely read others. The detective Geraldine tried hard to pin the killer and just when it looked hopeless the answer came. But not before putting herself and a colleague in terrible danger.
Three murders connected to a drama school and with one person in the frame but could Geraldine find the killer before he carried out another one.
November 7, 2021
Much as I respect Leigh Russell as a successful writer, I just find myself unable to like her Geraldine Steel character. This is the second of the series that I've tried and she just doesn't gel for me. I have to admit that I failed to finish this book. I guess sometimes you just have to accept that series isn't for you.
November 20, 2022
The best yet in this brilliant series.
A female soap Star is killed in a tragic road accident, The driver of the other vehicle is nowhere to be seen. Geraldine and her team are called in to investigate when everything does not appear to be clean cut. Then a young female is also murdered and again there is no CCTV footage of the killer how can this individual just keep vanishing.
The police have a suspect but the plot thickens when his own son is brutally murdered and once again the killer vanishes.
A great story line with many twists. It is a race against time and will test Geraldine and her team to their very limits with a very dramatic climax..
A female soap Star is killed in a tragic road accident, The driver of the other vehicle is nowhere to be seen. Geraldine and her team are called in to investigate when everything does not appear to be clean cut. Then a young female is also murdered and again there is no CCTV footage of the killer how can this individual just keep vanishing.
The police have a suspect but the plot thickens when his own son is brutally murdered and once again the killer vanishes.
A great story line with many twists. It is a race against time and will test Geraldine and her team to their very limits with a very dramatic climax..
October 25, 2018
Fatal Act by Leigh Russell is book six in the DI Geraldine Steel serious,although this is part of a series this can easily be read as a standalone.I found it to be a well written easy to follow story with not an overly complicated plot.The only downside for me was the attitude of her DS Sam Haley who came across more like a stroppy teenager.Will certainly read the next in the series.
November 30, 2019
Good read
January 20, 2020
I have enjoyed all books in this series, but this one was probably the weakest in story. I do like how the author has weaved a back story through all the books. On to book 7!
May 13, 2022
I love the Geraldine Steele books and found this one was as good as the others. I did guess the killer before the end of the book but it took a while. An excellent read.
August 9, 2023
Nah. Wouldn’t buy another one.
January 15, 2024
Excellent
August 25, 2024
A great read with plenty of twists and turns.
October 12, 2023
6th in the series & these books just keep getting better. love the main character. great storyline.
February 7, 2015
Robbie's Review
Fatal Act, author Leigh Russell's latest entry in her Detective Geraldine Steel mystery series, opens with a homicide. No surprise there, but what is surprising to readers is the murder weapon . . . an old beat up van! When Detective Geraldine Steel and her sergeant, Sam Haley, are called to investigate a fatal car crash, Sam is puzzled and a bit insulted as to why Homicide has been called rather than Traffic to investigate. Geraldine and Sam are even more puzzled when the scant evidence they uncover makes it seem as though the driver of the van disappeared into the night, uninjured in a crash that should have sent him or her to the hospital.
Frustrated by leads that go no where, Geraldine finds herself clashing with her supervisor, Detective Chief Inspector Reg Milton, who pressures her for a quick resolution to the case even though Geraldine doesn't believe his choice for the perp, and the most obvious suspect, is the killer. Meanwhile death strikes again . . . and again. And the only similarity in the murders is the ability of the killer to vanish into thin air!
Fatal Act, like all Leigh Russell's books, is impeccably written. The plot is well-developed but not particularly complex which makes the twist at the end when we find out the identity of the killer all the more shocking. Familiar characters such as Geraldine's cold fish of a sister reappear in this book and even Detective Ian Peterson, who now has his own series, makes a cameo appearance. Although no one can really replace Ian as a partner, Geraldine finds herself appreciating her growing relationship with her sergeant except for Sam's unsolicited advice about men. One of the most intriguing things about this series is the development of Geraldine as a character. She is a strong and dedicated policewoman, yet insecure and unsure in her personal relationships . . . especially with men. Geraldine has terrible luck with men and this book is no exception. She continues to hope for a relationship with her birth mother and suffers from guilt because she allows her job and her sense of duty to come between her and the sister she grew up with and the niece she loves. There is so much conflict in Geraldine's life and Leigh Russell effectively presents this conflict running as an undercurrent to Geraldine's unswerving devotion to finding justice for the dead. Readers who take pride in being able to figure out whodunit before the end of a mystery may find themselves stumped by this one!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book directly from the author. I was not paid to read or review this book. All opinions are my own, and I was never influenced by anything or anyone.
Fatal Act, author Leigh Russell's latest entry in her Detective Geraldine Steel mystery series, opens with a homicide. No surprise there, but what is surprising to readers is the murder weapon . . . an old beat up van! When Detective Geraldine Steel and her sergeant, Sam Haley, are called to investigate a fatal car crash, Sam is puzzled and a bit insulted as to why Homicide has been called rather than Traffic to investigate. Geraldine and Sam are even more puzzled when the scant evidence they uncover makes it seem as though the driver of the van disappeared into the night, uninjured in a crash that should have sent him or her to the hospital.
If Geraldine had been superstitious, she might have been tempted to suppose Anna had been attacked by a supernatural force. Not only had the ghostly driver crashed into Anna's car, he had mysteriously spirited her killer away. The whole scenario was impossible, like a teasing mystery film, only this story had actually happened, and there was no rational explanation for the strange series of events.
Frustrated by leads that go no where, Geraldine finds herself clashing with her supervisor, Detective Chief Inspector Reg Milton, who pressures her for a quick resolution to the case even though Geraldine doesn't believe his choice for the perp, and the most obvious suspect, is the killer. Meanwhile death strikes again . . . and again. And the only similarity in the murders is the ability of the killer to vanish into thin air!
Fatal Act, like all Leigh Russell's books, is impeccably written. The plot is well-developed but not particularly complex which makes the twist at the end when we find out the identity of the killer all the more shocking. Familiar characters such as Geraldine's cold fish of a sister reappear in this book and even Detective Ian Peterson, who now has his own series, makes a cameo appearance. Although no one can really replace Ian as a partner, Geraldine finds herself appreciating her growing relationship with her sergeant except for Sam's unsolicited advice about men. One of the most intriguing things about this series is the development of Geraldine as a character. She is a strong and dedicated policewoman, yet insecure and unsure in her personal relationships . . . especially with men. Geraldine has terrible luck with men and this book is no exception. She continues to hope for a relationship with her birth mother and suffers from guilt because she allows her job and her sense of duty to come between her and the sister she grew up with and the niece she loves. There is so much conflict in Geraldine's life and Leigh Russell effectively presents this conflict running as an undercurrent to Geraldine's unswerving devotion to finding justice for the dead. Readers who take pride in being able to figure out whodunit before the end of a mystery may find themselves stumped by this one!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book directly from the author. I was not paid to read or review this book. All opinions are my own, and I was never influenced by anything or anyone.
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