What do you think?
Rate this book
Deadly Will
THE NEXT NOVEL FROM ONE OF THE UK'S FAVOURITE CRIME WRITERS WITH OVER 1.5 MILLION COPIES SOLD.
The body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in the river, but this was no accidental drowning. He was shot before his body entered the water. The police question the dead man's young girlfriend and his two adult children, all of whom are hoping to inherit his fortune. Before the killer is found, the dead man's girlfriend is murdered, and pressure mounts for Geraldine and her team to solve the case.
Geraldine's partner is called away to work undercover. Soon after he leaves, their baby vanishes along with the child minder. Geraldine struggles to focus on the murder investigation while she desperately tries to find her child. Afraid that one of her colleagues may be in contact with the kidnapper, she knows she has to work alone, but time may be running out for her child.
The next thrilling crime investigation, and the 22nd Instalment in the bestselling Geraldine Steel series.
The body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in the river, but this was no accidental drowning. He was shot before his body entered the water. The police question the dead man's young girlfriend and his two adult children, all of whom are hoping to inherit his fortune. Before the killer is found, the dead man's girlfriend is murdered, and pressure mounts for Geraldine and her team to solve the case.
Geraldine's partner is called away to work undercover. Soon after he leaves, their baby vanishes along with the child minder. Geraldine struggles to focus on the murder investigation while she desperately tries to find her child. Afraid that one of her colleagues may be in contact with the kidnapper, she knows she has to work alone, but time may be running out for her child.
The next thrilling crime investigation, and the 22nd Instalment in the bestselling Geraldine Steel series.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2024
52 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Russell
70 books334 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 2, 2025
I didn’t love this book. The storyline didn’t draw me in.
August 13, 2024
This is the 22nd book in this series so if you haven't started it yet, you'll have a lot of catching up to do. I remember working my way through the early books, borrowing from my library, when I played catch-up... Not forgetting the Ian Peterson trio of books that you'll also need to sneak in too... A bit of a marathon... If you are going to play catch-up I'd stop reading this review now as it will contain spoilers for Geraldine's personal life...
So, her first case back post baby and Geraldine is in two minds about it all. It's a scary thing leaving your child with a minder for the first time... quite how scary, she will find out later!
Anyway, in this, her latest book we follow Geraldine's latest case, that of a wealthy businessman whose body was discovered in a river. Initially it could have looked like a drowning but further investigation turns to very foul play. It appears he was shot and was dead before his body hit the water. As with all cases, his family are the first to be both informed and suspected. His young girlfriend whom he hadn't been with long, and his two grown-up children all get questioned. The police have only just started to get to grips with the initial stages of the case when it is blown open when the girlfriend is also killed.
But if that was all Geraldine would have to contend with, it'd be easy but then Ian leaves to go undercover and their baby is taken...
Oh my days does this author put Geraldine through the ringer time and time again. If you have been with this series from the beginning, you'll already know that. Her path to true love and a family, and her career path, have both been rather fraught on occasion. But she is gritty and tenacious and a fighter... even though, on occasion, she doesn't realise that herself.
And the case of the double murder is a bit of a doozy for her to investigate. It held my attention well, had me second and third guessing along the way. As it did Geraldine and her team. With twists and turns aplenty, and a bunch of secrets and lies thrown in for good measure, it's a cracker for Geraldine to try and unpack. To get to the truth. And what a truth!
All in all, even though it's the 22nd book, with all the curve-balls the author throws in to mix up Geraldine's life, it's still as fresh as the first. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So, her first case back post baby and Geraldine is in two minds about it all. It's a scary thing leaving your child with a minder for the first time... quite how scary, she will find out later!
Anyway, in this, her latest book we follow Geraldine's latest case, that of a wealthy businessman whose body was discovered in a river. Initially it could have looked like a drowning but further investigation turns to very foul play. It appears he was shot and was dead before his body hit the water. As with all cases, his family are the first to be both informed and suspected. His young girlfriend whom he hadn't been with long, and his two grown-up children all get questioned. The police have only just started to get to grips with the initial stages of the case when it is blown open when the girlfriend is also killed.
But if that was all Geraldine would have to contend with, it'd be easy but then Ian leaves to go undercover and their baby is taken...
Oh my days does this author put Geraldine through the ringer time and time again. If you have been with this series from the beginning, you'll already know that. Her path to true love and a family, and her career path, have both been rather fraught on occasion. But she is gritty and tenacious and a fighter... even though, on occasion, she doesn't realise that herself.
And the case of the double murder is a bit of a doozy for her to investigate. It held my attention well, had me second and third guessing along the way. As it did Geraldine and her team. With twists and turns aplenty, and a bunch of secrets and lies thrown in for good measure, it's a cracker for Geraldine to try and unpack. To get to the truth. And what a truth!
All in all, even though it's the 22nd book, with all the curve-balls the author throws in to mix up Geraldine's life, it's still as fresh as the first. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
August 30, 2024
This is the author's 22nd novel in the Geraldine Steel series. The novel follows Geraldine's return to work as a Senior Detective Inspector after her maternity leave. She is both reluctant to leave her baby and relieved to get her old life back.
There is a thrilling start to the story which details a murder, and the following pages explains something of the background to this murder and its subsequently linked second murder.
Geraldine and her fellow detectives are focussed on the members of the family of Martin Reed, a rich man who has two grown up children and a young partner. Martin is liked by practically all his acquaintances and family so it is quickly established that his murder must have been prompted by either greed or revenge. Martin had recently changed his Will to benefit his young lover rather than his children who had expected to inherit his not inconsiderable fortune.
The story has various side issues involving a criminal childminder (the stuff of nightmares for parents) and Geraldine's relationship with her partner who is also a detective who works undercover.
This is a fascinating and sometimes chilling mystery which keeps you guessing right to the very end. The characters are believable, and the story line is sufficiently action packed to keep the reader on their toes. I really enjoyed it!
------
Reviewer: Toni Russell
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
There is a thrilling start to the story which details a murder, and the following pages explains something of the background to this murder and its subsequently linked second murder.
Geraldine and her fellow detectives are focussed on the members of the family of Martin Reed, a rich man who has two grown up children and a young partner. Martin is liked by practically all his acquaintances and family so it is quickly established that his murder must have been prompted by either greed or revenge. Martin had recently changed his Will to benefit his young lover rather than his children who had expected to inherit his not inconsiderable fortune.
The story has various side issues involving a criminal childminder (the stuff of nightmares for parents) and Geraldine's relationship with her partner who is also a detective who works undercover.
This is a fascinating and sometimes chilling mystery which keeps you guessing right to the very end. The characters are believable, and the story line is sufficiently action packed to keep the reader on their toes. I really enjoyed it!
------
Reviewer: Toni Russell
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
September 8, 2024
Not too bad, a little silly in places and laughably unbelievable
This is a reasonable novel but some of the storyline gets ludicrously silly in places and anybody with even the most basic knowledge of the legal system in the UK may find it laughably bad!. Compared to the excellent Peter James "Roy Grace" series of crime writing which is realistic and accurate this poor offering is just sadly pulp fiction , ok for some but not for many I would suspect, perhaps it would be wise to get scripts "fact checked" for realism in future novels to increase credibility of the storylines
This is a reasonable novel but some of the storyline gets ludicrously silly in places and anybody with even the most basic knowledge of the legal system in the UK may find it laughably bad!. Compared to the excellent Peter James "Roy Grace" series of crime writing which is realistic and accurate this poor offering is just sadly pulp fiction , ok for some but not for many I would suspect, perhaps it would be wise to get scripts "fact checked" for realism in future novels to increase credibility of the storylines
January 1, 2025
A Real Page Turner
Book 22 in the series and I am still enjoying it. Geraldine is about to return to work after having baby Tom with Ian. She is reluctant to leave the baby but is also keen to start working again. Ian has to go away for a few days working under cover and Geraldine is thrown into a murder case straight away. Then Tom and his childminder go missing and Geraldine doesn't know if she can trust her work colleagues or not. I found this a real page turner and am already looking forward to the next in the series.
Book 22 in the series and I am still enjoying it. Geraldine is about to return to work after having baby Tom with Ian. She is reluctant to leave the baby but is also keen to start working again. Ian has to go away for a few days working under cover and Geraldine is thrown into a murder case straight away. Then Tom and his childminder go missing and Geraldine doesn't know if she can trust her work colleagues or not. I found this a real page turner and am already looking forward to the next in the series.
August 3, 2024
Another excellent read in the Geraldine Steel series which finds Geraldine investigating the body of a man found drowned in a river. The characterisation is excellent as usual but this time Geraldine's baby goes missing and she finds herself struggling as her partner is working undercover and she doesn't know who to trust to help her. Book 22 is as fresh as book 1 in this ever improving series, which is one of my favourites in the crime thriller genre. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
August 15, 2024
The next installment of this excellent Geraldine Steel series. Investigating a body found in the river, her partner going undercover, now her baby is missing along with the nanny. Who can she trust and can she hold it together. Leigh Russell has pulled out the drops on this one. A read in one sitting. Thanks to Bedford Square publishing and Netgalley for this review ARC
December 9, 2025
Another great addition to the series. I've followed Geraldine from the first book and it's like catching up with old friends with each instalment. A great main plot with a host of possible culprits and the subplot continues to delight too.
August 22, 2024
Excellent as always.
Leigh Russell at her best.
Leigh Russell at her best.
September 17, 2024
Formulaic and yet implausible
January 16, 2025
Another quality story in the Geraldine Steel series. A 4+ not quite a 5*
November 29, 2025
A new author for me - a good crime novel with an exciting female lead. In some bits predictable, but very good!
January 13, 2025
Recommend any crime enthusiast should read this book twist and turns throughout absolutely brilliant
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews