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DS Ian Peterson #3
Blood Axe
'Leigh Russell is one to watch' - LEE CHILD
DI Ian Peterson investigates a series of gruesome and brutal murders. With a madman on the loose attacking women with a deadly, but unusual weapon, all of York is on alert. As the body count rises, the case demands all of Ian's ingenuity, because the seemingly random murders are all but clueless.
DI Ian Peterson investigates a series of gruesome and brutal murders. With a madman on the loose attacking women with a deadly, but unusual weapon, all of York is on alert. As the body count rises, the case demands all of Ian's ingenuity, because the seemingly random murders are all but clueless.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2015
33 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Russell
68 books333 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 46 reviews
January 6, 2019
A serial killer with a Viking fantasy life and an axe strikes in York and Peterson and his team struggle to find evidence to lead them in the right direction. For such brutal murders the pace of the investigation and the book overall is definitely somewhat lacking. Not her best book.
January 17, 2019
WARNING FOR SLIGHT SPOILERS
It all starts very unthreateningly, when a replica Viking battle-axe is stolen during a semi-comic re-enactment of a Dark Ages battle in the grounds of Clifford’s Tower in the grand old city of York. It’s not the kind of thing that would normally require the deductive skills of an experienced copper like DI Ian Peterson, and in truth, he treats the whole thing light-heartedly.
Peterson is a relatively recent arrival in York, having relocated from Kent to obtain his much sought-for promotion, but while he himself is intrigued by the ancient city, and determined to try and enjoy its many olde worlde treasures, his wife Beverly isn’t quite as sold. She feels a long way from home, she misses her family and friends, and although she and Peterson have been together for quite a while now, she is increasingly uninterested in his job and shows progressively less concern for the responsibilities it demands of him. At present, the duo are living an uneasy kind of truce, though to be fair, this isn’t helped by Peterson’s workaholic nature. Even when there is relatively little for him to investigate, he manages to spend many, many hours at the office, dotting every i and crossing every t.
So, imagine the domestic strife that will ensue when a series of horrific murders suddenly commences. And by horrific, I mean horrific.
Yes, York, that handsome, atmospheric town in the scenic Yorkshire wolds, famous for its history, its archaeology, its excellent shopping, and its fine, old-fashioned English cuisine, is suddenly the hub of a bloody murder spree, wherein the victims – who’ve apparently been chosen indiscriminately – are literally axed to death.
Peterson, acting under the orders of the fearsome DCI Eileen Bullock, is immediately assigned to the case, and tackles it in his usual workmanlike way, aided and abetted by his trusty sidekick, Ted Birling, but impeded a little bit by the impulsive and somewhat overconfident Naomi. The problem though, is not Peterson’s hit-and-miss colleagues, but the killer, who despite his ferocity, comes and goes like a ghost, leaving scarcely a clue and not pursuing any pattern that even hints at his motivation.
In this regard, we readers are one or two steps ahead of Peterson, because we at least have the ‘pleasure’ of witnessing these graphic crimes, on each occasion slipping into the mind of a complete lunatic, who prowls the city’s byways after dark acting out an insane Viking fantasy in which murder and pillage are the only items of interest and where every stranger on the street is fair game. And no, just in case you’ve got a weak stomach, we are not spared the actual destruction that inevitably follows: the swinging of the mighty axe, the sundering of skulls, the lopping of limbs.
This is grim and grisly stuff, which unsurprisingly leads to a frenzy in the once-happy city, increasing Peterson’s workload to the point where it almost breaks him. Even though he makes the connection to the stolen axe at the beginning, and works with helpful staff at the Jorvik Centre, like Ralph Grey and Sophie James, to establish that he’s following a latter-day Norseman, there are so few real leads that – if for no other reason than to keep his spirits up – he consults with former boss and ace detective in her own right, DI Geraldine Steel.
Many crime fans will recognise this name, Steel having been Peterson’s mentor during a former series of books, in which she was the star of the show and he her humble sergeant. However, this is only really a guest-appearance. Blood Axe is very firmly a DI Peterson investigation, and one he’s soon under intolerable pressure to wrap up, not just to save further innocent bodies from the Viking axe – the severed corpses don’t half stack up in this one! – but also to save his own job, and maybe even his marriage, because it’s anyone’s guess how long the self-centred Beverly is going to tolerate the continued absence of her husband in what, at times, seems like a completely futile quest …
One of the most refreshing aspects of the DI Ian Peterson novels is the nature of the hero. Yes, these are solid police procedurals, but Peterson is quite different from the norm. He’s not moody, he’s not a drinker, he’s not damaged in some mysterious, indefinable way which no doubt will all come out eventually. In truth, he’s an everyman, a copper’s copper, one of those methodical, hardworking detectives who most likely account for the majority of real-life CID officers in the UK and are almost routinely classified as ‘married to the job’.
In Peterson’s case, this hasn’t entirely been to his advantage. For example, he doesn’t have much time for romance or even a social life. So, while he’s sharp-eyed and deeply analytical, his people skills are not the best; he’s awkward in his dealings with the public, he handles suspects and witnesses brusquely, he’s not much fun at parties, and most discomfortingly of all for the reader, he has no clue that his marriage is going downhill fast, even though it’s happening right under his nose.
His wife, Bev, is being neglected on an epic scale. That said, she’s a none-too-sympathetic character in my eyes; she surely knew what she was getting into when she married a copper, and it can hardly have escaped her notice that an axe-murderer is prowling York, and that her husband is charged with capturing him – though this unreasonableness on Bev’s part does serve the useful purpose of making our harassed hero even more vulnerable and appealing.
The story itself runs convincingly and at pace, Peterson and his team working their way with much frustration through a complex web of misleading information, making repeated false starts, heading down blind alleys and the like, while confronted by a range of ‘persons of interest’ and falling out among themselves as to which of these is the most viable – and all of this amid the chaos of bereaved and very credibly distraught relatives, and of course a growing media panic.
It’s all quite effective and believable, the lovely city of York in virtual lockdown by the end of the book, its tourism-based economy seriously imperilled.
And it’s easy to see how that could happen. Any kind of serial killer is a genuine nightmare, not just for the police but for the general population of whichever area is being terrorised, but an axe-murderer who seemingly picks his targets at random has got to be the most awful creature of all. With real-life cases of this sort – the Mad Axeman of New Orleans and the Cleveland Torso Murderer – you only need to look at the newspaper reports of the time to see what a devastating effect they had on local communities, and how people literally would not leave their homes day or night, keeping doors and windows closed and locked despite stifling summer heat.
In the case of York, a great setting for all kinds of reasons, not least its quaintness, and which is rarely the stamping ground of maniacs even in crime fiction, it is all the more portentous – because this scenic old city wasn’t always quaint. In the Dark Ages, when York was called Jorvik, it was the Viking capital of Northumbria, and the city is alive even today with memories of that wild, barbarous breed, who saw war, conquest and the ruthless killing of their foes as the surest way to reach Valhalla. In fact, the 10th century Viking warlord, Eric Bloodaxe – and he wasn’t given that name because of his meek and retiring nature – ruled twice from York as King of Northumbria.
Leigh Russell plays this card very nicely indeed, not delving too deeply into Viking culture or mythology – after all, this is the Viking world as perceived by someone who’s mentally ill – though during those brief interludes when we’re on the road with the killer, we wield our axe with pride, view the local population as sheep waiting to be sheared, and enjoy the violence of our attacks as much, if not more so, than we do the acquisition of our victims’ wealth.
The book first caught my eye because of this unusual premise. In truth, I wasn’t initially sure that it would work – bringing Northman-style violence to a modern UK city – but the moment I got into it, I lost all qualms. This is heady stuff, very scary in parts and also pretty gory. But it makes for a damn good, and I have to say, quite easy and straightforward read. It also ends on a big, unexpected twist, so it comes highly recommended for all fans of murder mysteries and police procedurals.
It all starts very unthreateningly, when a replica Viking battle-axe is stolen during a semi-comic re-enactment of a Dark Ages battle in the grounds of Clifford’s Tower in the grand old city of York. It’s not the kind of thing that would normally require the deductive skills of an experienced copper like DI Ian Peterson, and in truth, he treats the whole thing light-heartedly.
Peterson is a relatively recent arrival in York, having relocated from Kent to obtain his much sought-for promotion, but while he himself is intrigued by the ancient city, and determined to try and enjoy its many olde worlde treasures, his wife Beverly isn’t quite as sold. She feels a long way from home, she misses her family and friends, and although she and Peterson have been together for quite a while now, she is increasingly uninterested in his job and shows progressively less concern for the responsibilities it demands of him. At present, the duo are living an uneasy kind of truce, though to be fair, this isn’t helped by Peterson’s workaholic nature. Even when there is relatively little for him to investigate, he manages to spend many, many hours at the office, dotting every i and crossing every t.
So, imagine the domestic strife that will ensue when a series of horrific murders suddenly commences. And by horrific, I mean horrific.
Yes, York, that handsome, atmospheric town in the scenic Yorkshire wolds, famous for its history, its archaeology, its excellent shopping, and its fine, old-fashioned English cuisine, is suddenly the hub of a bloody murder spree, wherein the victims – who’ve apparently been chosen indiscriminately – are literally axed to death.
Peterson, acting under the orders of the fearsome DCI Eileen Bullock, is immediately assigned to the case, and tackles it in his usual workmanlike way, aided and abetted by his trusty sidekick, Ted Birling, but impeded a little bit by the impulsive and somewhat overconfident Naomi. The problem though, is not Peterson’s hit-and-miss colleagues, but the killer, who despite his ferocity, comes and goes like a ghost, leaving scarcely a clue and not pursuing any pattern that even hints at his motivation.
In this regard, we readers are one or two steps ahead of Peterson, because we at least have the ‘pleasure’ of witnessing these graphic crimes, on each occasion slipping into the mind of a complete lunatic, who prowls the city’s byways after dark acting out an insane Viking fantasy in which murder and pillage are the only items of interest and where every stranger on the street is fair game. And no, just in case you’ve got a weak stomach, we are not spared the actual destruction that inevitably follows: the swinging of the mighty axe, the sundering of skulls, the lopping of limbs.
This is grim and grisly stuff, which unsurprisingly leads to a frenzy in the once-happy city, increasing Peterson’s workload to the point where it almost breaks him. Even though he makes the connection to the stolen axe at the beginning, and works with helpful staff at the Jorvik Centre, like Ralph Grey and Sophie James, to establish that he’s following a latter-day Norseman, there are so few real leads that – if for no other reason than to keep his spirits up – he consults with former boss and ace detective in her own right, DI Geraldine Steel.
Many crime fans will recognise this name, Steel having been Peterson’s mentor during a former series of books, in which she was the star of the show and he her humble sergeant. However, this is only really a guest-appearance. Blood Axe is very firmly a DI Peterson investigation, and one he’s soon under intolerable pressure to wrap up, not just to save further innocent bodies from the Viking axe – the severed corpses don’t half stack up in this one! – but also to save his own job, and maybe even his marriage, because it’s anyone’s guess how long the self-centred Beverly is going to tolerate the continued absence of her husband in what, at times, seems like a completely futile quest …
One of the most refreshing aspects of the DI Ian Peterson novels is the nature of the hero. Yes, these are solid police procedurals, but Peterson is quite different from the norm. He’s not moody, he’s not a drinker, he’s not damaged in some mysterious, indefinable way which no doubt will all come out eventually. In truth, he’s an everyman, a copper’s copper, one of those methodical, hardworking detectives who most likely account for the majority of real-life CID officers in the UK and are almost routinely classified as ‘married to the job’.
In Peterson’s case, this hasn’t entirely been to his advantage. For example, he doesn’t have much time for romance or even a social life. So, while he’s sharp-eyed and deeply analytical, his people skills are not the best; he’s awkward in his dealings with the public, he handles suspects and witnesses brusquely, he’s not much fun at parties, and most discomfortingly of all for the reader, he has no clue that his marriage is going downhill fast, even though it’s happening right under his nose.
His wife, Bev, is being neglected on an epic scale. That said, she’s a none-too-sympathetic character in my eyes; she surely knew what she was getting into when she married a copper, and it can hardly have escaped her notice that an axe-murderer is prowling York, and that her husband is charged with capturing him – though this unreasonableness on Bev’s part does serve the useful purpose of making our harassed hero even more vulnerable and appealing.
The story itself runs convincingly and at pace, Peterson and his team working their way with much frustration through a complex web of misleading information, making repeated false starts, heading down blind alleys and the like, while confronted by a range of ‘persons of interest’ and falling out among themselves as to which of these is the most viable – and all of this amid the chaos of bereaved and very credibly distraught relatives, and of course a growing media panic.
It’s all quite effective and believable, the lovely city of York in virtual lockdown by the end of the book, its tourism-based economy seriously imperilled.
And it’s easy to see how that could happen. Any kind of serial killer is a genuine nightmare, not just for the police but for the general population of whichever area is being terrorised, but an axe-murderer who seemingly picks his targets at random has got to be the most awful creature of all. With real-life cases of this sort – the Mad Axeman of New Orleans and the Cleveland Torso Murderer – you only need to look at the newspaper reports of the time to see what a devastating effect they had on local communities, and how people literally would not leave their homes day or night, keeping doors and windows closed and locked despite stifling summer heat.
In the case of York, a great setting for all kinds of reasons, not least its quaintness, and which is rarely the stamping ground of maniacs even in crime fiction, it is all the more portentous – because this scenic old city wasn’t always quaint. In the Dark Ages, when York was called Jorvik, it was the Viking capital of Northumbria, and the city is alive even today with memories of that wild, barbarous breed, who saw war, conquest and the ruthless killing of their foes as the surest way to reach Valhalla. In fact, the 10th century Viking warlord, Eric Bloodaxe – and he wasn’t given that name because of his meek and retiring nature – ruled twice from York as King of Northumbria.
Leigh Russell plays this card very nicely indeed, not delving too deeply into Viking culture or mythology – after all, this is the Viking world as perceived by someone who’s mentally ill – though during those brief interludes when we’re on the road with the killer, we wield our axe with pride, view the local population as sheep waiting to be sheared, and enjoy the violence of our attacks as much, if not more so, than we do the acquisition of our victims’ wealth.
The book first caught my eye because of this unusual premise. In truth, I wasn’t initially sure that it would work – bringing Northman-style violence to a modern UK city – but the moment I got into it, I lost all qualms. This is heady stuff, very scary in parts and also pretty gory. But it makes for a damn good, and I have to say, quite easy and straightforward read. It also ends on a big, unexpected twist, so it comes highly recommended for all fans of murder mysteries and police procedurals.
June 5, 2022
A good read with a final twist
November 9, 2015
Time taken to read - 2 days
Publisher - No Exit Press
Pages - 317 (proof copy)
Blurb from Goodreads
Blood Axe is the latest crime novel by bestselling author, Leigh Russell. 'Silently dipping his oars in the water he made his escape. It was a weary journey, with few spoils to show for it. Next time he would do better. He looked back over his shoulder. The bridge had disappeared, swallowed up by the darkness. From its walkway he too had become invisible. Only the bloody body of a woman showed he had been roaming the streets that night.' DI Ian Peterson investigates a series of gruesome and brutal murders in York. As the body count mounts, the case demands all Ian's ingenuity, because these are murders seemingly committed at random, and this is a killer who leaves no clues. If you love Jeffery Deaver or Lee Child, you’ll love Leigh Russell!
My Review
Firsty, on the page across from the opening of the story is a glossary of acronyms, I love this. There are so many books that have them and even if it tells you early on, sometimes you forget what they stand for, this aids the reader and enjoyment of the story, well it did for me.
The tale opens with the warrior, on the look for his target, any target that meets the requirements - with his axe. He finds a target and launches a brutal attack before carefully and silently slipping into the darkness, leaving blood and horror in his wake. DI Ian Peterson is on the case, soon another body is found and it becomes clear someone needs to stop this maniac and soon. Whilst dealing with a killer and trying to discover a motive, Paterson is having some marital troubles to contend with also. Can he find and stop this killer whilst simultaneously managing his personal life or will it all prove too much for DI Peterson?
I have read a few books from Russell although they have been the Steel series, whilst this is the third in the DI Peterson series I don't think I am at a loss starting here. The chapters alternate between the killer and his hunt to the police and their investigation. It works well and the story runs smoothly, the murder weapon is an axe so if you have a weak stomach this may be a tad much for you, it is not overly gory however I feel an fyi is warranted.
The pace is well set, you not only have the investigation, the murder and any related characters linked to both you also have the personal side of DI Peterson. Moving to a new town has strained his relationship and from the off you pick up on that. It gives insight into what goes on out with a serious police investigation and what officers have to contend with and still remain focused. It doesn't detract from the story, in fact I think it helps to give more connection to your characters. There are some twists and shocks along the way which just gave some more oomph to the story I feel. 4/5 for me this time, I must say I have enjoyed this book the most of all the ones I have read & may even seek out the earlier ones in the series. Thanks to RealReaders for offering me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review, this book is available to buy now from all good retailers.
Publisher - No Exit Press
Pages - 317 (proof copy)
Blurb from Goodreads
Blood Axe is the latest crime novel by bestselling author, Leigh Russell. 'Silently dipping his oars in the water he made his escape. It was a weary journey, with few spoils to show for it. Next time he would do better. He looked back over his shoulder. The bridge had disappeared, swallowed up by the darkness. From its walkway he too had become invisible. Only the bloody body of a woman showed he had been roaming the streets that night.' DI Ian Peterson investigates a series of gruesome and brutal murders in York. As the body count mounts, the case demands all Ian's ingenuity, because these are murders seemingly committed at random, and this is a killer who leaves no clues. If you love Jeffery Deaver or Lee Child, you’ll love Leigh Russell!
My Review
Firsty, on the page across from the opening of the story is a glossary of acronyms, I love this. There are so many books that have them and even if it tells you early on, sometimes you forget what they stand for, this aids the reader and enjoyment of the story, well it did for me.
The tale opens with the warrior, on the look for his target, any target that meets the requirements - with his axe. He finds a target and launches a brutal attack before carefully and silently slipping into the darkness, leaving blood and horror in his wake. DI Ian Peterson is on the case, soon another body is found and it becomes clear someone needs to stop this maniac and soon. Whilst dealing with a killer and trying to discover a motive, Paterson is having some marital troubles to contend with also. Can he find and stop this killer whilst simultaneously managing his personal life or will it all prove too much for DI Peterson?
I have read a few books from Russell although they have been the Steel series, whilst this is the third in the DI Peterson series I don't think I am at a loss starting here. The chapters alternate between the killer and his hunt to the police and their investigation. It works well and the story runs smoothly, the murder weapon is an axe so if you have a weak stomach this may be a tad much for you, it is not overly gory however I feel an fyi is warranted.
The pace is well set, you not only have the investigation, the murder and any related characters linked to both you also have the personal side of DI Peterson. Moving to a new town has strained his relationship and from the off you pick up on that. It gives insight into what goes on out with a serious police investigation and what officers have to contend with and still remain focused. It doesn't detract from the story, in fact I think it helps to give more connection to your characters. There are some twists and shocks along the way which just gave some more oomph to the story I feel. 4/5 for me this time, I must say I have enjoyed this book the most of all the ones I have read & may even seek out the earlier ones in the series. Thanks to RealReaders for offering me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review, this book is available to buy now from all good retailers.
August 15, 2024
It's no secret that me and this series haven't got on so far. When I picked up this book my expectations were low abd some how I was still disappointed. The ageism in this book was utterly blatant. Every single one of the characters under the age of 30 was slagged off in one way or another. I was intrigued by the plot but the writing let it down. It could've been so good.
November 22, 2015
I've read several Leigh Russell stories before so I knew what to expect, with a killer, a puzzle, the detectives lives, the victims stories and a good storyline that's easy to read, and this followed a similar pattern.
This is the third book in the Detective Inspector Ian Peterson series and we get to know more about him, this thoughts and feelings and his increasing marriage problems. He's intelligent and caring and I really liked him as a main character as he tries to discover why anyone would kill random people who seem unconnected.
With a Viking theme throughout, the story moved along at a swift pace and interspersed with the murder investigation were the killer's thoughts which made for chilling reading.
Overall a good read which I enjoyed.
This is the third book in the Detective Inspector Ian Peterson series and we get to know more about him, this thoughts and feelings and his increasing marriage problems. He's intelligent and caring and I really liked him as a main character as he tries to discover why anyone would kill random people who seem unconnected.
With a Viking theme throughout, the story moved along at a swift pace and interspersed with the murder investigation were the killer's thoughts which made for chilling reading.
Overall a good read which I enjoyed.
February 6, 2017
There's a crazy killer with an axe running round York and DI Ian Peterson and his team need to catch him before the body count rises even more. Loved this mostly because it's set in one of my favourite cities but also thanks to the brilliant writing.
December 12, 2015
Review to follow
July 17, 2019
2.5 *
On the whole I enjoyed the story of this book, but I found issue with the writing. There were a lot of stones unturned in the investigation (at times the officers spent hours looking at CCTV,but at other times it was completely neglected,quite early it was known the escape of route of the killer yet it was never searched or staked out,and there were repetitive conversations) rendering aspects unrealistic. Outside of the investigation, the way Ian felt about his marriage also changed sentence by sentence - if this had been acknowledged by the narrator & woven into Ian’s questioning of his marriage and his own happiness,then it would have been understandable,but it never was.
Ok for an easy ready on holiday,but not the strongest or most accomplished crime I’ve read.
On the whole I enjoyed the story of this book, but I found issue with the writing. There were a lot of stones unturned in the investigation (at times the officers spent hours looking at CCTV,but at other times it was completely neglected,quite early it was known the escape of route of the killer yet it was never searched or staked out,and there were repetitive conversations) rendering aspects unrealistic. Outside of the investigation, the way Ian felt about his marriage also changed sentence by sentence - if this had been acknowledged by the narrator & woven into Ian’s questioning of his marriage and his own happiness,then it would have been understandable,but it never was.
Ok for an easy ready on holiday,but not the strongest or most accomplished crime I’ve read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2020
A book that has and holds your attention from the start is not overly common. Many are slow burners, some start well then fade., but this book is gripping from start to end (and as usual I never guessed the killer.)
A madman is terrorising a town by killing people with an axe. Suspicion falls on a few people as the team led by Detective Ian Peterson try to find the killer before another victim is taken.
I love the short chapters, I loved the characters although I was a bit disappointed when Ians wife left him near the end, I loved the story, the style and flow. In fact for me there's nothing to dislike.
A madman is terrorising a town by killing people with an axe. Suspicion falls on a few people as the team led by Detective Ian Peterson try to find the killer before another victim is taken.
I love the short chapters, I loved the characters although I was a bit disappointed when Ians wife left him near the end, I loved the story, the style and flow. In fact for me there's nothing to dislike.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2022
Apparently the author is a best selling author who has been short-listed for awards but if this book is typical I just do not understand her popularity. The writing style is plodding with lots of short sentences and the characters are lifeless. The writing is sloppy - the author confuses which victims display evidence and she writes as though characters are drunk when in fact they have not yet reached the pub! As for the plot...
This is a police procedural set in York where a maniac is on the the loose killing people with an axe. I finished the book because I wanted to see who would be unmasked as the murderer but to be honest the reveal was hardly a surprise.
This is a police procedural set in York where a maniac is on the the loose killing people with an axe. I finished the book because I wanted to see who would be unmasked as the murderer but to be honest the reveal was hardly a surprise.
December 28, 2022
The third (and final?) in the DI Peterson spin off series sees him and his team investigating a series of brutal axe attacks in and around York with seemingly no connection between the victims.
Much like the previous two, this is good, solid, uncomplicated crime fiction with a good mix of likable and unlikable characters. Peterson's home life is still a strong sub-story and he continues to battle with a work-wife balance. A couple of decent twists (one of which I saw coming) and an ending that wasn't drawn out meant that I felt I enjoyed this one slightly more than the other two. Definitely one to recommend.
Much like the previous two, this is good, solid, uncomplicated crime fiction with a good mix of likable and unlikable characters. Peterson's home life is still a strong sub-story and he continues to battle with a work-wife balance. A couple of decent twists (one of which I saw coming) and an ending that wasn't drawn out meant that I felt I enjoyed this one slightly more than the other two. Definitely one to recommend.
September 24, 2019
An excellent easy read this is the third DI Peterson book. Now living in York with an unhappy wife who clearly doesn’t understand that he doesn’t have a 9 to 5 job, he has to find out who is murdering people with an axe. This is an enjoyable mystery with believable characters, a good plot and a couple of surprises.
January 9, 2025
Warning, slight spoiler
I enjoyed the writing and was fine with the story up until they arrested someone who had a middle name that had Viking connections. The team had very little clue what to do up until they were handed the murder weapon and therefore DNA
Frankly I lost interest at that point.
I enjoyed the writing and was fine with the story up until they arrested someone who had a middle name that had Viking connections. The team had very little clue what to do up until they were handed the murder weapon and therefore DNA
Frankly I lost interest at that point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2020
An interesting plot with some good characters, though the book suffers somewhat from bad editing every now and again. I've enjoyed the Ian Peterson set, and now need to read the Geraldine Steel series.
March 13, 2024
A girl is brutally killed with a replica Viking axe in York. Ian Peterson leads the investigation while dealing with relationship problems with his wife. More murders follow. Found a little slow but a surprising twist at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2017
No thanks
Interesting but not gripping .predictable in places but I was surprised by the culprits identity. However not sure if I will read any more in the series
Interesting but not gripping .predictable in places but I was surprised by the culprits identity. However not sure if I will read any more in the series
December 22, 2017
DS Peterson is tracking down a killer with an unusual weapon and a strange motive.
March 20, 2018
Still a very good series but I felt the narrative on a few occasions was a bit stilted.
July 25, 2018
Another good read, this series gets better and better
February 9, 2019
I like Leigh Russell but this was a huge disappointment. The plot was ridiculous.
October 12, 2019
Average
Easy enough book to read but just average. Wouldn't entice me to read anymore books from the DS Peterson series.
Easy enough book to read but just average. Wouldn't entice me to read anymore books from the DS Peterson series.
June 26, 2020
Not memorable but passes the time
November 8, 2024
This is the third book about DI Ian Patterson i have read,I love reading a series of books you really get to know the characters it kept me interested and wanting more.
May 26, 2021
I was looking forward to the 3rd book in the Ian Peterson, having read the first 2 books and I was not disappointed! With a fantastic story which keeps you interested from the very first chapter and as always, there is a fantastic twist at the end! :)
November 4, 2021
Is this the last of the DS Ian Peterson series? An easy quick read, a little gruesome in places. I am still not a fan of the wife character, really doesn't add anything to the story line for me. I may give the DI Geraldine Steel series ago.
November 20, 2015
4.5
Posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015...
I read my first Leigh Russell novel, Race to Death, back in October last year and have been hooked on her writing ever since. This meant I couldn’t resist the chance to read the next book in the Ian Peterson Murder Investigation series and Blood Axe did not disappoint. With a brutal axe murderer, sinister twists and a whodunit difficult to predict, Blood Axe has become my favourite book in the series and I am once again left craving more from this exciting author.
An axe goes missing at the JORVIK Viking Festival in York but little are the residents of the city to know that it will become the weapon of choice for some pretty gruesome murders. The book early on takes us to the scene of the murder of a sixteen year old girl. It’s bloody and pretty graphic and sends shockwaves throughout York. From the start, even though any obvious suspects are limited and discovering the murderer feels almost an impossible task, it’s made all the more fun for guessing at and I always love following the murders along with Leigh’s books and trying to predict the next twist because she always writes them so finely – the entertainment for me is in knowing that I’m not going to have things figured out. Leigh will always spring another surprise or two.
The narrative is crisp and clear – the various police procedures were delivered to feel very well researched but also appear uncomplicated and easy for the reader to sink their teeth into. This was also helped by the brief glossary of acronyms at the beginning of the book which helps rid any possible confusion at some of the police terms. What I love about Leigh’s books and in particular the DI Ian Peterson series is how as a reader, I always feel like a real life witness to the investigation and the back and forth of eliminating suspects and eventually reaching the correct conclusion. Thankfully for the people involved in this novel, Ian and his team are better at solving the mysteries than I am and the particular resolution to the whodunit in Blood Axe was one I hadn’t been expecting.
Ian is a likeable character in this series and I like him more with each book, despite him not being the most vocal of characters or the best with his words when he uses them. He does appear a bit awkward at times, especially early on when he seems like he doesn’t really know how to speak to young women at all, or even women of any age given his distant relationship with his wife Bev. But that is kind of his charm as he feels genuine and realistic – working on his cases with a refreshing honesty and very capable at his job too. Though Bev’s motives were the one aspect of Blood Axe not hard to see, I liked the change in dynamics between the two of them and found the way things worked out between them highly satisfying.
I loved the mystery in this novel and found it even more interesting than the previous books – though I was a big fan of those too! The style Blood Axe is told in meant in between a few chapters of the investigation, we got to read a bit of the murderer and their thought processes and they were a fascinating, if not weird, character to hear from. It was very chilling hearing from such an original character and seeing the way they were thinking, and constantly plotting. These chapters were perfectly interspersed between the investigation chapters and made the plot multi-dimensional and captivating. Whilst I found the second book in this series, Race to Death, a bit of a slow-burner, my attention was grabbed right from the beginning of Blood Axe and it did not let me go – I started and finished the book in one go.
I left Blood Axe very, very eager for the next book in this series and have already prepared myself to be virtually clueless the whole way through. Blood Axe was edgy and intriguing and the pacing kept me on my toes throughout, always in anticipation of a little bit more information and something to help me work the mystery out, or steer me well off track. This series has fast become one of my favourite crime series and I can no longer think of York without thinking of Leigh Russell’s gripping, atmospheric novels. Blood Axe was faultlessly entertaining and I can’t wait to see what’s to come next…
(review copy)
March 18, 2016
This is the third DI Ian Peterson murder investigation - I haven't read the others and it did not affect my enjoyment or understanding of this novel so they can be read as stand alone books.
The story is set in York, which is recalled in vivid detail with close reference real places and street names. Having been on a trip there very recently, I found this interesting but again, it wouldn't matter if you had never been! Russell's description makes it easy to feel as if you are there and easy to visualise the places he talks about.
York is experiencing a series of brutal murders....seemingly random murders, with a weapon that appears to be made of iron or steel and by a killer who leaves no clues.......
The opening chapter is rather surreal. It is filled with Viking imagery (appropriate for York!) about a murderous warrior. It's clear from the outset this is the anonymous voice of the murderer responsible for the incredibly violent attacks that are discovered throughout the novel and the fact that the chapters written in his voice are so different from the style of the rest of the book is effective. These brief carefully dispersed ramblings read like something from "Game of Thrones" and are a contrast from the rest of the realistic, ordinary narrative of a contemporary crime thriller. Russell has captured the character of a deluded, dangerous, unhinged mind. The character is completely caught up in a world of fantasy, so convinced he his a Viking warrior it is as if he is possessed and this makes him even more threatening and unpredictable. His overwhelming sense of "purpose" and "quest" make him an alarming force of which there is no knowing how far he may go.
The crimes are brutal. Bodies hacked to death with an axe, skulls sliced in two, decapitations ..it's a grisly list and the violent attacks are savage. The attacks appear premeditated but at the same time, the work of a crazy mind.
Ian Peterson is a well crafted, likeable character towards whom I felt respectful. He is a workaholic but he is intuitive, experienced, perceptive and a good judge of character. He has a considered response to situations and people and an eye for details which are sometimes missed by his colleagues. He is alert to the most subtle reactions of his suspects and victims. Sometimes he appears overbearing, for example, when interviewing Gary, the victim's boyfriend, he set out to intimidate him "in the hope that fear would loosen his tongue" but I did not find it aggressive, gratuitous or egotistical in the way some DI's can be portrayed to be as a "loveable rogue"or slightly lawless in their approach to solving the case. When they interview Zoe, a friend of the victim, the other officers believe the 16 year old's account, claiming she is brave but Peterson's controversial response is that it is "disingenuous" and she has no idea of the trouble she is causing in order to "protect herself from getting into trouble with her mother." You will have to read on yourself to see who is right!
This would make a fantastic TV series. It reads like one. There are all the key ingredients for a great thriller - an axe wielding madman enjoying a killing spree, suspicious boyfriends and stepfathers, accusations of rape and a media frenzy. There are plenty of unforeseen twists and a great, suitably appropriate, climatic ending. Russell draws all the different threads of the story together well and has produced a novel with convincing characters and a realistic feel. I would recommend!
The story is set in York, which is recalled in vivid detail with close reference real places and street names. Having been on a trip there very recently, I found this interesting but again, it wouldn't matter if you had never been! Russell's description makes it easy to feel as if you are there and easy to visualise the places he talks about.
York is experiencing a series of brutal murders....seemingly random murders, with a weapon that appears to be made of iron or steel and by a killer who leaves no clues.......
The opening chapter is rather surreal. It is filled with Viking imagery (appropriate for York!) about a murderous warrior. It's clear from the outset this is the anonymous voice of the murderer responsible for the incredibly violent attacks that are discovered throughout the novel and the fact that the chapters written in his voice are so different from the style of the rest of the book is effective. These brief carefully dispersed ramblings read like something from "Game of Thrones" and are a contrast from the rest of the realistic, ordinary narrative of a contemporary crime thriller. Russell has captured the character of a deluded, dangerous, unhinged mind. The character is completely caught up in a world of fantasy, so convinced he his a Viking warrior it is as if he is possessed and this makes him even more threatening and unpredictable. His overwhelming sense of "purpose" and "quest" make him an alarming force of which there is no knowing how far he may go.
The crimes are brutal. Bodies hacked to death with an axe, skulls sliced in two, decapitations ..it's a grisly list and the violent attacks are savage. The attacks appear premeditated but at the same time, the work of a crazy mind.
Ian Peterson is a well crafted, likeable character towards whom I felt respectful. He is a workaholic but he is intuitive, experienced, perceptive and a good judge of character. He has a considered response to situations and people and an eye for details which are sometimes missed by his colleagues. He is alert to the most subtle reactions of his suspects and victims. Sometimes he appears overbearing, for example, when interviewing Gary, the victim's boyfriend, he set out to intimidate him "in the hope that fear would loosen his tongue" but I did not find it aggressive, gratuitous or egotistical in the way some DI's can be portrayed to be as a "loveable rogue"or slightly lawless in their approach to solving the case. When they interview Zoe, a friend of the victim, the other officers believe the 16 year old's account, claiming she is brave but Peterson's controversial response is that it is "disingenuous" and she has no idea of the trouble she is causing in order to "protect herself from getting into trouble with her mother." You will have to read on yourself to see who is right!
This would make a fantastic TV series. It reads like one. There are all the key ingredients for a great thriller - an axe wielding madman enjoying a killing spree, suspicious boyfriends and stepfathers, accusations of rape and a media frenzy. There are plenty of unforeseen twists and a great, suitably appropriate, climatic ending. Russell draws all the different threads of the story together well and has produced a novel with convincing characters and a realistic feel. I would recommend!
September 14, 2016
DI Ian Peterson returns in Blood Axe, the new thriller from Leigh Russell. Having enjoyed his previous outing (Race to Death) where Peterson and his wife were put through serious trials as the hunt for a murderer unfolded I was keen to see what lay ahead. Suffice to say I was not prepared for an adversary like the ‘Hunter’ that appears in Blood Axe.
I am always keen to avoid spoilers but as the book description (above) refers to ‘a series of brutal axe murders’ I am on reasonably safe ground to discuss a little bit about the murders in Blood Axe. An axe wielding killer is stalking his prey around the city streets, his victims appear random and robbery does not appear to be a motive as money is not taken from a victim’s purse. But the nature of the killings gives the police some major cause for concern – axe attacks are brutal and bloody and this killer seems to have no qualms about unleashing murderous fury on his victims.
With no real leads or clues to pursue the pressure soon descends upon the investigative team, headed up by DI Ian Peterson. We see how Peterson handles working with a younger colleague who he feels is not as committed to the job as Peterson was himself. Added friction is raised when allegations made by a young witness seem unlikely to Peterson but his colleague is more inclined to take the allegations on good faith. Conflict within the investigative team and also for Peterson further problems are arising at home as his wife struggles to adapt to life in York and becomes increasingly frustrated by Peterson’s long working days.
I believe that the success of an ongoing series depends upon a strong supporting cast to back-up the lead character and Leigh Russell is developing exactly that. The interplay between the police characters shows how they struggle to maintain morale when faced with an investigation which seems to be going nowhere. In Blood Axe we also get to ‘ride along’ with the killer as he stalks his next victim, we get an insight into the thought process of the hunt and it is a disturbing distorted reality we see.
I actually visited York a few weeks ago and this added an extra level of enjoyment to my reading of Blood Axe. I could clearly imagine the narrow York streets that the Hunter crept down as he stalked his prey, Leigh Russell captures the feeling of the city brilliantly and it let me immerse myself into the story.
Blood Axe is an entertaining murder mystery with a twist that few will see coming. Fans of Leigh’s previous books will be pleased with a cameo from Peterson’s old boss Geraldine Steel. New readers have an atmospheric read to enjoy and a cast of characters you will want to read more of.
I am always keen to avoid spoilers but as the book description (above) refers to ‘a series of brutal axe murders’ I am on reasonably safe ground to discuss a little bit about the murders in Blood Axe. An axe wielding killer is stalking his prey around the city streets, his victims appear random and robbery does not appear to be a motive as money is not taken from a victim’s purse. But the nature of the killings gives the police some major cause for concern – axe attacks are brutal and bloody and this killer seems to have no qualms about unleashing murderous fury on his victims.
With no real leads or clues to pursue the pressure soon descends upon the investigative team, headed up by DI Ian Peterson. We see how Peterson handles working with a younger colleague who he feels is not as committed to the job as Peterson was himself. Added friction is raised when allegations made by a young witness seem unlikely to Peterson but his colleague is more inclined to take the allegations on good faith. Conflict within the investigative team and also for Peterson further problems are arising at home as his wife struggles to adapt to life in York and becomes increasingly frustrated by Peterson’s long working days.
I believe that the success of an ongoing series depends upon a strong supporting cast to back-up the lead character and Leigh Russell is developing exactly that. The interplay between the police characters shows how they struggle to maintain morale when faced with an investigation which seems to be going nowhere. In Blood Axe we also get to ‘ride along’ with the killer as he stalks his next victim, we get an insight into the thought process of the hunt and it is a disturbing distorted reality we see.
I actually visited York a few weeks ago and this added an extra level of enjoyment to my reading of Blood Axe. I could clearly imagine the narrow York streets that the Hunter crept down as he stalked his prey, Leigh Russell captures the feeling of the city brilliantly and it let me immerse myself into the story.
Blood Axe is an entertaining murder mystery with a twist that few will see coming. Fans of Leigh’s previous books will be pleased with a cameo from Peterson’s old boss Geraldine Steel. New readers have an atmospheric read to enjoy and a cast of characters you will want to read more of.
December 1, 2015
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
Detective crime novels are not always my go-to-place for a read as usually prefer books slightly less sinister, but Leigh Russell's peaked my interest so decided I was going to get stuck in.
This was actually pretty brilliant as crime novels go. Part of the Ian Peterson Murder Investigation series, Blood Axe can still be read as a stand-alone and I know this as this is my first Ian Peterson read. It works because every murder investigation is different, making each book a whole different story. In this case there is a brutal axe murderer on the loose and time is running out as ever before the murderer strikes again.
Blood Axe is such a convincing crime novel. Leigh writes with fantastic attention to detail that you can easily imagine it happening on a real crime investigation. I think this is what made the story so compelling as it felt realistic, it was also clear and understandable for those of us not privy to the inner workings of these investigations.
What I also liked about Blood Axe was that the detective wasn't your stereotypical moody guy who drinks a lot. Yes he has some home problems, but I was pleased to see that this wasn't the central focus of the book. I found then that I actually liked Ian. I was on his side the whole way through and wanted things to work in his favour. This was so refreshing compared to other crime novels that I have read.
Another thing that usually puts me off these types of novels is that they can be pretty predictable, but not Blood Axe. Leigh very cleverly and totally misleads the reader. I will be very surprised if any one managed to guess who the culprit was before the end.
So my verdict for my first Ian Peterson novel, pretty impressed. Blood Axe is definitely one of the most unpredictable crime novels I have read to date. Gripping and realistic in its delivery, you will speed through this.
Detective crime novels are not always my go-to-place for a read as usually prefer books slightly less sinister, but Leigh Russell's peaked my interest so decided I was going to get stuck in.
This was actually pretty brilliant as crime novels go. Part of the Ian Peterson Murder Investigation series, Blood Axe can still be read as a stand-alone and I know this as this is my first Ian Peterson read. It works because every murder investigation is different, making each book a whole different story. In this case there is a brutal axe murderer on the loose and time is running out as ever before the murderer strikes again.
Blood Axe is such a convincing crime novel. Leigh writes with fantastic attention to detail that you can easily imagine it happening on a real crime investigation. I think this is what made the story so compelling as it felt realistic, it was also clear and understandable for those of us not privy to the inner workings of these investigations.
What I also liked about Blood Axe was that the detective wasn't your stereotypical moody guy who drinks a lot. Yes he has some home problems, but I was pleased to see that this wasn't the central focus of the book. I found then that I actually liked Ian. I was on his side the whole way through and wanted things to work in his favour. This was so refreshing compared to other crime novels that I have read.
Another thing that usually puts me off these types of novels is that they can be pretty predictable, but not Blood Axe. Leigh very cleverly and totally misleads the reader. I will be very surprised if any one managed to guess who the culprit was before the end.
So my verdict for my first Ian Peterson novel, pretty impressed. Blood Axe is definitely one of the most unpredictable crime novels I have read to date. Gripping and realistic in its delivery, you will speed through this.
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