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DI Geraldine Steel #8
Murder Ring
The dead body of unassuming David Lester is discovered in a dark side-street, and DI Geraldine Steel is plunged into another murder investigation. The clues mount up along with the suspects, but with the death of another man in inexplicable circumstances, the case becomes increasingly complex. As Geraldine investigates the seemingly unrelated crimes, she makes a shocking discovery about her birth mother.
318 pages, Paperback
First published December 11, 2015
82 people are currently reading
255 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 38 reviews
February 5, 2018
Once again Leigh has written a murder mystery, that will keep her reader's engrossed.
Though this is number 8, in the Geraldine Steel books, it is possible to read it ,as a stand alone book.
Poor David Lester, hard working, and unassuming, has been out celebrating with his staff, when on his way home, a voice calls out to him, he stops and a shot rings out into the darkness, and David hits the floor
While investigating his murder, there is another death, though they seem unrelated, Geraldine knows better than to cast judgement.
As if this wasn't enough, she has to cope with a shocking discovery about her birth mother.
A great read ,for anyone, who likes nothing better than to curl up with a good mystery. Lee Child and Jeffery Deaver, both rate Leigh as " "unmissable "and a "brilliant talent." and they should know.
Though this is number 8, in the Geraldine Steel books, it is possible to read it ,as a stand alone book.
Poor David Lester, hard working, and unassuming, has been out celebrating with his staff, when on his way home, a voice calls out to him, he stops and a shot rings out into the darkness, and David hits the floor
While investigating his murder, there is another death, though they seem unrelated, Geraldine knows better than to cast judgement.
As if this wasn't enough, she has to cope with a shocking discovery about her birth mother.
A great read ,for anyone, who likes nothing better than to curl up with a good mystery. Lee Child and Jeffery Deaver, both rate Leigh as " "unmissable "and a "brilliant talent." and they should know.
December 19, 2015
Murder Ring is the second novel in the Geraldine Steel series that I have read, and, like the first novel, it failed to impress me.
Leigh Russel receives wide acclaim as a writer of crime, but I find her characters, her plots, and the twists and turns in the novels to be contrived and amateurish.
Geraldine Steel is a shallow and not very believable character, who the author struggles to build up by using silly little sub-intrigues, like a colleague who she fancies, but who is killed, or a mother who abandoned her at birth. These little intrigues are poorly handled by the author, and do nothing, in my view, to enhance the main character.
Then there is Sam, the butch lesbian, thrown into the story, but contributing almost nothing to it, save for providing the political correctness for those readers who need it. Sam stumbles irritatingly through the story, making inane comments from time to time, but otherwise only serves to irritate. The author seems to have failed to find something for Sam to do in the plot, so she spends her time suggesting that the two of them should go out for a drink and a meal to talk. Whilst this is meant to add normality to the lives of the two women, it is contrived.
In a similar vein, the new DCI, Adam, seems to have been thrown in to the story to act the bumbling, incompetent foil to Geraldine’s solidity as a police officer and investigator. This is another attempt by the author to build up her poor main character, by showing how much better she is than her boss. It is amateurish and predictable.
The other characters in the story are equally poor. Lenny, the small-time crook and his unintelligent and shallow woman Gina, slot easily into their roles as the low-life elements, but the story of how they robbed and killed two men, is poor in the extreme, and makes poor reading.
Jack and Theo and Rosa too, are poor characters, and their roles are convoluted and messy. To have Jack saved from Adam’s intense drive to find someone guilty because he was found to have been fucking a colleague in the toilet at the time of the murder, is probably the best part of the story.
I can find very little to like about this novel. Much of the prose irritates too. Phrases like ‘it was not far in terms of distance,’ annoy me, and are more simply written as ‘it was not far.’ The definition of ‘far’ is ‘at or to a considerable distance.’
Leigh Russel has built a career for herself as a writer, and clearly appeals to many readers of this genre. I, however, am not one of them, and I will avoid reading her work in future.
Leigh Russel receives wide acclaim as a writer of crime, but I find her characters, her plots, and the twists and turns in the novels to be contrived and amateurish.
Geraldine Steel is a shallow and not very believable character, who the author struggles to build up by using silly little sub-intrigues, like a colleague who she fancies, but who is killed, or a mother who abandoned her at birth. These little intrigues are poorly handled by the author, and do nothing, in my view, to enhance the main character.
Then there is Sam, the butch lesbian, thrown into the story, but contributing almost nothing to it, save for providing the political correctness for those readers who need it. Sam stumbles irritatingly through the story, making inane comments from time to time, but otherwise only serves to irritate. The author seems to have failed to find something for Sam to do in the plot, so she spends her time suggesting that the two of them should go out for a drink and a meal to talk. Whilst this is meant to add normality to the lives of the two women, it is contrived.
In a similar vein, the new DCI, Adam, seems to have been thrown in to the story to act the bumbling, incompetent foil to Geraldine’s solidity as a police officer and investigator. This is another attempt by the author to build up her poor main character, by showing how much better she is than her boss. It is amateurish and predictable.
The other characters in the story are equally poor. Lenny, the small-time crook and his unintelligent and shallow woman Gina, slot easily into their roles as the low-life elements, but the story of how they robbed and killed two men, is poor in the extreme, and makes poor reading.
Jack and Theo and Rosa too, are poor characters, and their roles are convoluted and messy. To have Jack saved from Adam’s intense drive to find someone guilty because he was found to have been fucking a colleague in the toilet at the time of the murder, is probably the best part of the story.
I can find very little to like about this novel. Much of the prose irritates too. Phrases like ‘it was not far in terms of distance,’ annoy me, and are more simply written as ‘it was not far.’ The definition of ‘far’ is ‘at or to a considerable distance.’
Leigh Russel has built a career for herself as a writer, and clearly appeals to many readers of this genre. I, however, am not one of them, and I will avoid reading her work in future.
May 18, 2016
A mahoosive thanks to No Exit Press and Leigh Russell for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I have read by the author, although ashamedly I admit I have a few other of her books waiting patiently on my TBR. #MyBad
The Murder Ring is part of the Geraldine Steel series and I have to say, although it can be read as a stand alone ~ there were times throughout this book where I felt I would have had a better understanding had I read the previous books in the series.
The plot was relatively fast-paced and kept me guessing throughout. The themes of revenge, loss, anger and the past affecting the future were interwoven through the chapters. There were various characters that strengthened the story-line, one such being Sam. I really enjoyed the banter that flowed between Sam and Geraldine despite the seriousness of the case. For me, it made the characters all the more relate-able. There also seemed to be some new characters introduced –the new DCI : Adam Eastwood who sounded like he may have been a bit of ‘eye candy’!! Phwoar!
I have to admit, I was slightly surprised when the murderer was revealed, and if I am honest, I am not sure I found the motivation behind the killing all that believable — but that is just my opinion and it certainly did not take away from the story at all. The author kept me on my toes regardless and so that certainly deserves some recognition, as I usually can figure out the murderer and motivation earlier on in a book!
Would I recommend this book to peeps? You bet your sweet arse I would! In fact, I have added to my Geraldine Steel collection and bought the first few in the series to get me started!! For those of you who are already fans, head over to amazon to grab yourself a copy!
This is the first book I have read by the author, although ashamedly I admit I have a few other of her books waiting patiently on my TBR. #MyBad
The Murder Ring is part of the Geraldine Steel series and I have to say, although it can be read as a stand alone ~ there were times throughout this book where I felt I would have had a better understanding had I read the previous books in the series.
The plot was relatively fast-paced and kept me guessing throughout. The themes of revenge, loss, anger and the past affecting the future were interwoven through the chapters. There were various characters that strengthened the story-line, one such being Sam. I really enjoyed the banter that flowed between Sam and Geraldine despite the seriousness of the case. For me, it made the characters all the more relate-able. There also seemed to be some new characters introduced –the new DCI : Adam Eastwood who sounded like he may have been a bit of ‘eye candy’!! Phwoar!
I have to admit, I was slightly surprised when the murderer was revealed, and if I am honest, I am not sure I found the motivation behind the killing all that believable — but that is just my opinion and it certainly did not take away from the story at all. The author kept me on my toes regardless and so that certainly deserves some recognition, as I usually can figure out the murderer and motivation earlier on in a book!
Would I recommend this book to peeps? You bet your sweet arse I would! In fact, I have added to my Geraldine Steel collection and bought the first few in the series to get me started!! For those of you who are already fans, head over to amazon to grab yourself a copy!
May 16, 2016
First off, although this is book 9 in a series featuring Geraldine Steel, this book could certainly be read as a stand alone. I love this series and Leigh Russell has written a believable and likeable character with Geraldine. However, I have some niggles with the last and current book in that I feel like I am waiting for something to happen on her personal life front. A lot has happened with Geraldine over the last few books and currently it feels like she is in a little bit of a rut. Hopefully the next book will see a change in that. One of the reasons is that Geraldine has been searching for her Birth Mother for some time. This issue is addressed in this latest installment, however by the end of the book there are also additional threads opening up so hopefully this will show us a whole new element to Geraldine in the next installment.
That aside, Geraldine is thrown into a new murder case following the discovery of David Lester's body. When he is found in a side alley it initially seems that it was a mugging gone wrong, however soon becomes apparent that it was no simple robbery. Geraldine's colleague Sam returns as does a new DCI who is looking to solve this case quickly to prove he is the right man for the job. The plot is well paced and as the story progresses we see multiple suspects emerge from the woodwork.
The book is certainly an easy read and the series is still one I thoroughly enjoy. I hope that in future books we get to see a balance between work and personal life as at the moment this is the only element of this book that doesn't feel right. I would also love to see additional characters help add to the team that Geraldine works with. I would definitely recommend this series as I think Gerladine is an interesting and very readable character. I always look forward to what comes next in the series and the same applies now.
That aside, Geraldine is thrown into a new murder case following the discovery of David Lester's body. When he is found in a side alley it initially seems that it was a mugging gone wrong, however soon becomes apparent that it was no simple robbery. Geraldine's colleague Sam returns as does a new DCI who is looking to solve this case quickly to prove he is the right man for the job. The plot is well paced and as the story progresses we see multiple suspects emerge from the woodwork.
The book is certainly an easy read and the series is still one I thoroughly enjoy. I hope that in future books we get to see a balance between work and personal life as at the moment this is the only element of this book that doesn't feel right. I would also love to see additional characters help add to the team that Geraldine works with. I would definitely recommend this series as I think Gerladine is an interesting and very readable character. I always look forward to what comes next in the series and the same applies now.
August 30, 2021
A quite enjoyable book even if it isn't the best in the series.
January 5, 2016
Time taken to read - <7 hours
Pages - 320
Publisher - No Exit Press
Blurb from Goodreads
Hearing footsteps pounding along the street behind him he glanced back, fleetingly worried, then laughed because the street was deserted. All the same, he felt uneasy. Everything looked different in the dark. Then he heard more footsteps approaching, and a hoarse voice called out. Turning his head, he made out a figure hovering in the shadows and as it raised one arm, the barrel of a gun glinted in the moonlight… The dead body of unassuming David Lester is discovered in a dark side-street, and DI Geraldine Steel is plunged into another murder investigation. The clues mount up along with the suspects, but with the death of another man in inexplicable circumstances, the case becomes increasingly complex. As Geraldine investigates the seemingly unrelated crimes, she makes a shocking discovery about her birth mother.
My review
A business man is killed, shot to death and robbed, another body soon turns up and DI Geraldine Steel is on the case. With a new boss and a list of suspects Steel has her work cut out for her, dealing with personal issues and a past that won't go away whilst making sure the team focuses on catching the right guy.
Steel has a lot of issues going on in her personal life, however she does not allow this to cloud her judgment and pushes her colleagues to fully investigate all suspects and evidence. Her new boss has a lot to prove and his character is quite annoying at times as is her colleague Sam who is quick to make assumptions and judge. The pace of the story is relatively fast, a murder occurs within the prologue and the investigation kicks off immediately. We delve into Steels personal life as she has some closure on issues from previous books which opens up a potentially new can of worms. Sorry I know that is a bit vague but I don't do spoiler reviews and feel this needs to have a wee sentence to highlight it is addressed for fans of the previous books.
This is a busy wee book, I have read one or two of this series and whilst you could get away with reading this as a standalone I would suggest reading the others as you get the full picture of current events & characters. The chapters are short & frequent, not everyone will enjoy this style but I personally love it. If you are busy and caught up with life you can sneak in chapters throughout the day, I read this in one sitting though, the old just one more chapter happened. There are twists and turns along the way, themes covering spouse abuse, family secrets, lies, betrayal and jealousy are only a few that are covered. Russell cleverly creates a tale of murder, police investigation and personal issues whilst trying to pursue the truth, uphold the law and fling in some surprises to keep the reader on their toes.
I have previously enjoyed the Steel serious but preferred the Paterson ones, this book I really enjoyed hence firing through it. I look forward to the next in this series and think I will get the ones I have missed so far. 4/5 for me this time, thanks to RealReaders for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Murder ring will be available for purchase from 26/05/16 from all good retailers, published by No Exit Press.
Pages - 320
Publisher - No Exit Press
Blurb from Goodreads
Hearing footsteps pounding along the street behind him he glanced back, fleetingly worried, then laughed because the street was deserted. All the same, he felt uneasy. Everything looked different in the dark. Then he heard more footsteps approaching, and a hoarse voice called out. Turning his head, he made out a figure hovering in the shadows and as it raised one arm, the barrel of a gun glinted in the moonlight… The dead body of unassuming David Lester is discovered in a dark side-street, and DI Geraldine Steel is plunged into another murder investigation. The clues mount up along with the suspects, but with the death of another man in inexplicable circumstances, the case becomes increasingly complex. As Geraldine investigates the seemingly unrelated crimes, she makes a shocking discovery about her birth mother.
My review
A business man is killed, shot to death and robbed, another body soon turns up and DI Geraldine Steel is on the case. With a new boss and a list of suspects Steel has her work cut out for her, dealing with personal issues and a past that won't go away whilst making sure the team focuses on catching the right guy.
Steel has a lot of issues going on in her personal life, however she does not allow this to cloud her judgment and pushes her colleagues to fully investigate all suspects and evidence. Her new boss has a lot to prove and his character is quite annoying at times as is her colleague Sam who is quick to make assumptions and judge. The pace of the story is relatively fast, a murder occurs within the prologue and the investigation kicks off immediately. We delve into Steels personal life as she has some closure on issues from previous books which opens up a potentially new can of worms. Sorry I know that is a bit vague but I don't do spoiler reviews and feel this needs to have a wee sentence to highlight it is addressed for fans of the previous books.
This is a busy wee book, I have read one or two of this series and whilst you could get away with reading this as a standalone I would suggest reading the others as you get the full picture of current events & characters. The chapters are short & frequent, not everyone will enjoy this style but I personally love it. If you are busy and caught up with life you can sneak in chapters throughout the day, I read this in one sitting though, the old just one more chapter happened. There are twists and turns along the way, themes covering spouse abuse, family secrets, lies, betrayal and jealousy are only a few that are covered. Russell cleverly creates a tale of murder, police investigation and personal issues whilst trying to pursue the truth, uphold the law and fling in some surprises to keep the reader on their toes.
I have previously enjoyed the Steel serious but preferred the Paterson ones, this book I really enjoyed hence firing through it. I look forward to the next in this series and think I will get the ones I have missed so far. 4/5 for me this time, thanks to RealReaders for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Murder ring will be available for purchase from 26/05/16 from all good retailers, published by No Exit Press.
January 6, 2016
Murder Ring, by Leigh Russell - 3 stars
I was sent a preview copy of this book by RealReaders, on the understanding that I would write an honest review.
I have read previous novels by Leigh Russell and have to admit that this one was a bit disappointing. Her Detective - Geraldine Steele - has for me become rather unreal, with the conflicts between her personal life and her work as a police officer becoming somewhat extreme. As always with books that are part of a series, the author has to keep in mind the reader who hasn’t read the previous books, whilst continuing the back story of the main characters for those who have. With Geraldine Steele, we have a lover who has been killed, and a birth mother who remains elusive; the new reader has to be introduced to these facts in a way that will not bore those already in the know, and I felt Russell did a pretty good job with this. But…..I just didn’t think the standard of writing was equal to that of her previous books
In this story, the officer in charge of the team is new to the rank and his eagerness to get results, and thereby justify his promotion, seems to put the whole investigation at risk. Several different suspects are arrested, then released when further evidence comes to light, and everyone seems to be becoming mired down in the confusion caused by all the red herrings that are strewn throughout. Yet it is Geraldine Steele who manages to make the necessary connections, by recalling a minor incident earlier in the story and finally realising what that meant.
I see that other reviewers found the story complex and didn’t see the ending but I’m afraid to me it was rather predictable from quite early on and I think perhaps this is what spoiled it for me. I will read the next one, to see if there is a return to form but, if not, that would be the last Leigh Russell book for me. There are just too many excellent authors out there, I’m afraid
I was sent a preview copy of this book by RealReaders, on the understanding that I would write an honest review.
I have read previous novels by Leigh Russell and have to admit that this one was a bit disappointing. Her Detective - Geraldine Steele - has for me become rather unreal, with the conflicts between her personal life and her work as a police officer becoming somewhat extreme. As always with books that are part of a series, the author has to keep in mind the reader who hasn’t read the previous books, whilst continuing the back story of the main characters for those who have. With Geraldine Steele, we have a lover who has been killed, and a birth mother who remains elusive; the new reader has to be introduced to these facts in a way that will not bore those already in the know, and I felt Russell did a pretty good job with this. But…..I just didn’t think the standard of writing was equal to that of her previous books
In this story, the officer in charge of the team is new to the rank and his eagerness to get results, and thereby justify his promotion, seems to put the whole investigation at risk. Several different suspects are arrested, then released when further evidence comes to light, and everyone seems to be becoming mired down in the confusion caused by all the red herrings that are strewn throughout. Yet it is Geraldine Steele who manages to make the necessary connections, by recalling a minor incident earlier in the story and finally realising what that meant.
I see that other reviewers found the story complex and didn’t see the ending but I’m afraid to me it was rather predictable from quite early on and I think perhaps this is what spoiled it for me. I will read the next one, to see if there is a return to form but, if not, that would be the last Leigh Russell book for me. There are just too many excellent authors out there, I’m afraid
December 18, 2015
Leigh Russell does it again, a great plot and plenty of twists and turns what more could you ask for.
DI Geraldine Steel is trying to work out why someone would shoot a man for no apparent reason and why was he not wearing a jacket when he was found. Geraldine's new DCI seems to be pushing her to have someone charged but then there is another murder and although it seems to be unrelated she finds out that the same gun has been used. While all this is happening in her professional life her home life also takes a twist with new information about her elusive birth mother. When the murder weapon is found it seems to bring yet another set of suspects.You are kept guessing untill the very end as the plot twists and turns and you find yourself holding your breath and rushing to finish the book.
I was lucky to get a copy from Real Readers for an honest opinion of the book.
DI Geraldine Steel is trying to work out why someone would shoot a man for no apparent reason and why was he not wearing a jacket when he was found. Geraldine's new DCI seems to be pushing her to have someone charged but then there is another murder and although it seems to be unrelated she finds out that the same gun has been used. While all this is happening in her professional life her home life also takes a twist with new information about her elusive birth mother. When the murder weapon is found it seems to bring yet another set of suspects.You are kept guessing untill the very end as the plot twists and turns and you find yourself holding your breath and rushing to finish the book.
I was lucky to get a copy from Real Readers for an honest opinion of the book.
July 5, 2016
Another great DI Geraldine steel. She is definitely up to her usual great standard. Whilst two murders are being investigated, a valuable ring is missing, Geraldine's own life is in turmoil when contact is made with hr birth mother. Not to be missed.
August 22, 2025
3.5 Stars
Murder Ring is the eighth 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…
Murder Ring is the eighth 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…
October 4, 2019
I'm not a fast reader and indeed I have only been reading books for the last five years or so of my life (on and off) and more seriously in the last year. So a book has to get my attention from the start, a fete which this book succeeded at, easily.
I love a good thriller, and this is a good thriller. The writing is smooth and thoroughly enjoyable, the chapters are short, and the storyline is gripping.
As the story unfolds I was guessing who 'did it', but I didn't suspect the culprit (well one of them) until near the end. Leigh does a superb job of wording the book so that it is totally believable, and unfolds in your mind like a TV drama. One that you can't wait for the next episode. And my page turn was (for me) pretty speedy (especially considering we had a week or more of life hiccups).
This was my first book of the Geraldine Steel series, and I'm not sure where about's in the series it comes, but it certainly won't be my last
I love a good thriller, and this is a good thriller. The writing is smooth and thoroughly enjoyable, the chapters are short, and the storyline is gripping.
As the story unfolds I was guessing who 'did it', but I didn't suspect the culprit (well one of them) until near the end. Leigh does a superb job of wording the book so that it is totally believable, and unfolds in your mind like a TV drama. One that you can't wait for the next episode. And my page turn was (for me) pretty speedy (especially considering we had a week or more of life hiccups).
This was my first book of the Geraldine Steel series, and I'm not sure where about's in the series it comes, but it certainly won't be my last
December 3, 2018
A man on a work’s night out is shot and robbed - an expensive ring he had on him is missing. Within a week or so another man is shot and killed very lose by. Several suspects and no clear motive for either of the killings lead to a frustrating investigation for DI Geraldine Steel. At the same time she’s told that her birth mother wants to make contact after years of refusing to meet. Another fantastic installment in this series.
April 5, 2020
I would give this 3.5 stars so rounded up to 4. The story is well constructed with multiple threads interacting together.
I disliked the senior police officer however, his requests were unreasonable and the push of most characters to we have this suspect so it must be them, only to jump onto the next one was just a bit far fetched.
It’s a story about a mugging that turns into a murder and a ring that gets stolen as part of the mugging.
I disliked the senior police officer however, his requests were unreasonable and the push of most characters to we have this suspect so it must be them, only to jump onto the next one was just a bit far fetched.
It’s a story about a mugging that turns into a murder and a ring that gets stolen as part of the mugging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2017
One of the best from the Geraldine Steel series by one of the best crime writers around. If you haven't read Leigh Russell before, I would recommend you start with 'Cut Short' - her first Geraldine Steel novel.
December 3, 2016
Excellent book I could not leave it down
Excellent book I could not leave it down. As good as all the others. Can not wait to read the new one.
Excellent book I could not leave it down. As good as all the others. Can not wait to read the new one.
August 12, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and will be reading more in this series.
October 16, 2018
Geraldine is investigating a nasty little murder near Oxford street, whilst acclimatising to a new DCI, then her personal life throws up an issue. Interesting crime novel.
February 3, 2019
.I had read this book before but couldn't remember it. No 8 of Geraldine Sreel series. we are finding more about her personal life as the series progresses.
September 27, 2019
Read a few chapters then gave up. Didn't grab me. About a man who is shot because he was bragging about his wife's ring he was getting reset. It is stolen from the dead corpse.
May 7, 2016
This is the 8th book in the DI Geraldine Steel Mystery Series. It is only the 2nd one I have read - I fully intend to rectify this but as far as I can tell, these books work equally well as stand alone crime thrillers.
Geraldine is an appealing character. She is considered, professional, successful but also human; "she had investigated so many murders...she remembered them all." She is also in deep emotional turmoil herself following the death of a colleague in the previous novel. There is a contrast between her personal and professional self. She is able to shut off her personal problems and emotions, focussing so wholly on her work that no one suspects how fragile things behind the facade really are. There is a clever "drip feed" of information about her birth mother -just enough to intrigue the reader but not to distract from the main crime or over complicate the novel with too many contrived sub plots. Russell has established a good balance. The reader is empathetic towards her. She appears to be a hard police woman but has her own weakness and vulnerability. She is lonely, a little isolated and struggling to work through her own grief. She generates sympathy but also interest and respect. The reader wants to learn more about her.
There is clearly a back story with Geraldine which has obviously been gradually established over the previous 7 books but the reader is brought up to speed quickly and neatly with any necessary details. This will not be boring or repetitive for those who have already read the other titles but will probably help refresh everyone's memories over what is important as we move forward into the next "chapter" of Steel's life. As I said, this works as a stand alone novel but actually, I liked Geraldine a lot and would like to learn more about her backstory.
The chapters are short, full of pace and deftly switch between the different characters who are either involved in the investigation or a potential suspect. It is impossible not to be drawn straight into the action and finding yourself turning the pages to find out more about the story line you've left behind or intrigued by the new developments presented from the range of characters and the various subplots which Russell swiftly sets in motion and effectively controls in a way which ensures tension and suspense are well maintained throughout the whole book.
The ending is good. There is a clear resolution and conclusion but also a few seeds are sown for the next instalment. I must admit, I am a little hooked! I didn't solve the crime, I fell for all the red herrings -Russell is too clever for me! My attention was held until the last page and I liked the fact that the revelations were held until the very ending of the book. It's an enjoyable, satisfying, easy read. Russell has clearly researched police procedure well and it is not a gratuitously graphic or violent crime novel. The reader is captivated by the characters - their motivation and deception, the tangled web that people spin through greed and opportunism.
This has all the key aspects of a great detective novel. It has multiple characters who are all authentic and convincing. There is good dialogue, plenty of action, a great pace and the plot is well structured. There are complications and revelations which ensure the reader is kept guessing. It is very readable and written in a very fluent style.
Geraldine is an appealing character. She is considered, professional, successful but also human; "she had investigated so many murders...she remembered them all." She is also in deep emotional turmoil herself following the death of a colleague in the previous novel. There is a contrast between her personal and professional self. She is able to shut off her personal problems and emotions, focussing so wholly on her work that no one suspects how fragile things behind the facade really are. There is a clever "drip feed" of information about her birth mother -just enough to intrigue the reader but not to distract from the main crime or over complicate the novel with too many contrived sub plots. Russell has established a good balance. The reader is empathetic towards her. She appears to be a hard police woman but has her own weakness and vulnerability. She is lonely, a little isolated and struggling to work through her own grief. She generates sympathy but also interest and respect. The reader wants to learn more about her.
There is clearly a back story with Geraldine which has obviously been gradually established over the previous 7 books but the reader is brought up to speed quickly and neatly with any necessary details. This will not be boring or repetitive for those who have already read the other titles but will probably help refresh everyone's memories over what is important as we move forward into the next "chapter" of Steel's life. As I said, this works as a stand alone novel but actually, I liked Geraldine a lot and would like to learn more about her backstory.
The chapters are short, full of pace and deftly switch between the different characters who are either involved in the investigation or a potential suspect. It is impossible not to be drawn straight into the action and finding yourself turning the pages to find out more about the story line you've left behind or intrigued by the new developments presented from the range of characters and the various subplots which Russell swiftly sets in motion and effectively controls in a way which ensures tension and suspense are well maintained throughout the whole book.
The ending is good. There is a clear resolution and conclusion but also a few seeds are sown for the next instalment. I must admit, I am a little hooked! I didn't solve the crime, I fell for all the red herrings -Russell is too clever for me! My attention was held until the last page and I liked the fact that the revelations were held until the very ending of the book. It's an enjoyable, satisfying, easy read. Russell has clearly researched police procedure well and it is not a gratuitously graphic or violent crime novel. The reader is captivated by the characters - their motivation and deception, the tangled web that people spin through greed and opportunism.
This has all the key aspects of a great detective novel. It has multiple characters who are all authentic and convincing. There is good dialogue, plenty of action, a great pace and the plot is well structured. There are complications and revelations which ensure the reader is kept guessing. It is very readable and written in a very fluent style.
December 15, 2015
Usual series rules apply. This can be read as a stand alone as the main story is complete within the book but, as with all series, to get the very best from it, especially with regard to character development, backstory and series arcs, it really is best to have read from the start although I think this is book 8 so you would have a lot of catching up to do!
I have read and enjoyed every one of both this series and Ms Russell's other Ian Peterson series so I went into this book hoping that it would stand up to the previous high standard, I needn't have worried as I soon slipped back into Geraldine's world of crime - a very comfortable feeling indeed.
So, this case has the police running about all over the place chasing their own and their suspects tails! What, on face value, should be a relatively simple crime to solve become more and more convoluted and confusing as the book progresses. We are dragged along with the police down dead end after dead end, thinking we have "got our guy" only to discover the little piece of evidence that blows this theory out of the water and round we all go again!
Yes, they are your bulk standard Police Procedural but they are very good examples of this genre. The characters are all very well defined and each have their own personality, and idiosyncrasies that identify them as their own voice. The relationship between the main characters from the Police is always good in these books and this book was no exception. We meet a new boss and, it is evident that Geraldine and indeed us readers will take a little while to test his mettle. We also get a little more of Geraldine's personal story and just as one door closes on that, another one is slung wide open. Can't say anymore than that - spoilers - but it is the main series arc and we do make progress in this book!
Pacing, as always, is good, the story gets on with it, there are little asides to do with Geraldine and her family, but we soon get back to the action after that respite. Description complements rather than distracts - always a good thing for me as I do find my attention wandering if we get off track too much - all written in the same familiar style that I already get on with. All this meant that I read the book in one day / two sittings.
So, all in all, a great addition to an already well established series. One I am already a big fan of.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I have read and enjoyed every one of both this series and Ms Russell's other Ian Peterson series so I went into this book hoping that it would stand up to the previous high standard, I needn't have worried as I soon slipped back into Geraldine's world of crime - a very comfortable feeling indeed.
So, this case has the police running about all over the place chasing their own and their suspects tails! What, on face value, should be a relatively simple crime to solve become more and more convoluted and confusing as the book progresses. We are dragged along with the police down dead end after dead end, thinking we have "got our guy" only to discover the little piece of evidence that blows this theory out of the water and round we all go again!
Yes, they are your bulk standard Police Procedural but they are very good examples of this genre. The characters are all very well defined and each have their own personality, and idiosyncrasies that identify them as their own voice. The relationship between the main characters from the Police is always good in these books and this book was no exception. We meet a new boss and, it is evident that Geraldine and indeed us readers will take a little while to test his mettle. We also get a little more of Geraldine's personal story and just as one door closes on that, another one is slung wide open. Can't say anymore than that - spoilers - but it is the main series arc and we do make progress in this book!
Pacing, as always, is good, the story gets on with it, there are little asides to do with Geraldine and her family, but we soon get back to the action after that respite. Description complements rather than distracts - always a good thing for me as I do find my attention wandering if we get off track too much - all written in the same familiar style that I already get on with. All this meant that I read the book in one day / two sittings.
So, all in all, a great addition to an already well established series. One I am already a big fan of.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 17, 2016
Well once again, Leigh Russell did not disappoint. I have been a fan of her books ever since she released Cut Short. There is nothing like a good police procedural, and this book was just that.
The story starts with David Lester, on his way home after a works night out. He is murdered and left in a side street near to the pub. DI Geraldine Steel heads up the case as usual and sets about trying to piece together what happened. Just when she thinks she has her suspect, another murder takes place.
I like how the book shows the developing relationships between the staff at the station, after they suffered a recent loss of one of their own. Although this is a continuing series with Geraldine Steel as the main character, you will be fine reading this book as a standalone. I do recommend though that you try all her other books too, and read them in order if you can.
There were so many suspects in the book that it kept you changing your mind on who actually committed the crimes. Was there one killer or two. Who knows? You only actually find out within the last 10 pages which is what I like about a book. I don't like discovering who it was early on.
The other thing I love about Leigh Russell's books are the short chapters in each book. To me, and each reader is different, I love them because I can follow each character easier, without reading long laborious chapters, and then forgetting who the character is and where they fit in, when you finally meet them five chapters later.
Her research into the police procedures has obviously been done well, and I am always very critical in this area.
Again, a great story, and well worth a read. Leigh Russell has now become one of my favourite authors in Police Procedurals.
Thank you to real readers for giving me an ARC copy of this book to review
The story starts with David Lester, on his way home after a works night out. He is murdered and left in a side street near to the pub. DI Geraldine Steel heads up the case as usual and sets about trying to piece together what happened. Just when she thinks she has her suspect, another murder takes place.
I like how the book shows the developing relationships between the staff at the station, after they suffered a recent loss of one of their own. Although this is a continuing series with Geraldine Steel as the main character, you will be fine reading this book as a standalone. I do recommend though that you try all her other books too, and read them in order if you can.
There were so many suspects in the book that it kept you changing your mind on who actually committed the crimes. Was there one killer or two. Who knows? You only actually find out within the last 10 pages which is what I like about a book. I don't like discovering who it was early on.
The other thing I love about Leigh Russell's books are the short chapters in each book. To me, and each reader is different, I love them because I can follow each character easier, without reading long laborious chapters, and then forgetting who the character is and where they fit in, when you finally meet them five chapters later.
Her research into the police procedures has obviously been done well, and I am always very critical in this area.
Again, a great story, and well worth a read. Leigh Russell has now become one of my favourite authors in Police Procedurals.
Thank you to real readers for giving me an ARC copy of this book to review
January 1, 2016
This is a book from a series, I have not read the others, however this can be read as a stand alone as each story is wrapped up. I do think to get the complete picture reading the others in the series would be beneficial, there are quite a few though, I believe, so I think this would take you some time.
Geraldine Steel is the main character, who I think has been in the other books of the series. She is assigned a murder investigation. For me I thought there were too many characters in this book, almost every other chapter there was someone new. I thought that some of the characters were not likable and some were a little annoying.
I thought that this book was a relatively easy and quick read, something though I probably wouldn't have chosen due to the fact I started it mid series. The book was O.K, I have never read a book by Leigh Russell before and to be honest I don't think I would read another. I do normally like crime and thriller books but this one was just not for me. There was a lot in this book about Geraldine, which must be a back story that's being developed throughout the series. In this book there is a lot about her birth mother which we find out. This was something that didn't interest me that much and at times I found it a little confusing. I am guessing that's because I have not read the others in the series.
One thing I would say was good about this was the pace of the story, this kept me interested and I read it in a couple of sittings. The murder investigation quickly becomes a double murder! There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested in this novel, a lot of these I didn't see coming.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
Geraldine Steel is the main character, who I think has been in the other books of the series. She is assigned a murder investigation. For me I thought there were too many characters in this book, almost every other chapter there was someone new. I thought that some of the characters were not likable and some were a little annoying.
I thought that this book was a relatively easy and quick read, something though I probably wouldn't have chosen due to the fact I started it mid series. The book was O.K, I have never read a book by Leigh Russell before and to be honest I don't think I would read another. I do normally like crime and thriller books but this one was just not for me. There was a lot in this book about Geraldine, which must be a back story that's being developed throughout the series. In this book there is a lot about her birth mother which we find out. This was something that didn't interest me that much and at times I found it a little confusing. I am guessing that's because I have not read the others in the series.
One thing I would say was good about this was the pace of the story, this kept me interested and I read it in a couple of sittings. The murder investigation quickly becomes a double murder! There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested in this novel, a lot of these I didn't see coming.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2015
This is a crime novel and another in the series of mysteries involving Geraldine Steel as the lead character. There is a murder investigation that she has been assigned to which very soon becomes a double murder. Red herrings thrive in the murky waters of this novel and the number of suspects arrested grows almost in line with the number of chapters in the book! Apart from trying to solve the seemingly motiveless crimes, Geraldine has to cope with a far from competent new senior officer. She also has the complication of trying to establish who her real mother is (presumably something that has been a running theme in previous Steel mysteries).
I found that this book started really well and certainly has the reader hooked from an early point in the storyline, but there were some inconsistencies in the relationship between Geraldine and her superior in the way they recognised their environment (or not, as the case may be) and the way that the superior seemed to want to wrap the case up so quickly without establishing the evidence (which only Geraldine seemed to recognise) seemed unrealistic even if it would be true that a newcomer would want to get an initial success quickly under their belt.
Altogether though I found this a relatively easy read, something a reader can easily pick up and put down again without losing the thread of the story. The ending was interesting, if a little disappointing. It was good to have so many twists and turns but I found that the level of credulity was being stretched. As a straightforward crime drama that requires little thought though, this is a good book to read.
I found that this book started really well and certainly has the reader hooked from an early point in the storyline, but there were some inconsistencies in the relationship between Geraldine and her superior in the way they recognised their environment (or not, as the case may be) and the way that the superior seemed to want to wrap the case up so quickly without establishing the evidence (which only Geraldine seemed to recognise) seemed unrealistic even if it would be true that a newcomer would want to get an initial success quickly under their belt.
Altogether though I found this a relatively easy read, something a reader can easily pick up and put down again without losing the thread of the story. The ending was interesting, if a little disappointing. It was good to have so many twists and turns but I found that the level of credulity was being stretched. As a straightforward crime drama that requires little thought though, this is a good book to read.
February 16, 2017
This is a standard procedural with a damaged female in the lead but it's worth a read because Geraldine is intriguing. There are some twists and turns to keep you guessing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC- try this one even if you haven't read others in the series if you like British crime novels. It's a fast read.
May 9, 2016
Murder Ring is the 8th book in the Geraldine Steel series and has always Leigh Russell never fails to disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel it can easily be read as a standalone.
The story starts off with a cliffhanger prologue, Then we soon discover the dead body of David Lester after an argument over his wife's wedding ring in DI geraldine steel lastest investigation. Leigh Russell certainly knows hows to draw you in and keep your attention.
There are lots of twists and turns keeping you guessing. I love that this story gives an insight into Geraldine's life getting to know her character more. With a storyline that is woven in with the investigation and secrets from Geraldines past making it a unique story.
Murder Ring will have you guessing until the end, just when you think you know who the murder is another murder takes place. It's not until the very end of the book we find out actually who it is, where the story all ties together.
Geraldine is a likeable character who I can relate to’ Leigh Russell has clearly carried out her research and is portrayed throughout her writing. I am looking forward to reading more of her in this series.
This is a must read for all you Crime fans which I highly recommend giving it 4 stars.
Thank you to No Exit Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review
The story starts off with a cliffhanger prologue, Then we soon discover the dead body of David Lester after an argument over his wife's wedding ring in DI geraldine steel lastest investigation. Leigh Russell certainly knows hows to draw you in and keep your attention.
There are lots of twists and turns keeping you guessing. I love that this story gives an insight into Geraldine's life getting to know her character more. With a storyline that is woven in with the investigation and secrets from Geraldines past making it a unique story.
Murder Ring will have you guessing until the end, just when you think you know who the murder is another murder takes place. It's not until the very end of the book we find out actually who it is, where the story all ties together.
Geraldine is a likeable character who I can relate to’ Leigh Russell has clearly carried out her research and is portrayed throughout her writing. I am looking forward to reading more of her in this series.
This is a must read for all you Crime fans which I highly recommend giving it 4 stars.
Thank you to No Exit Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review
February 15, 2017
Getting bored with this series.
July 24, 2019
I'm becoming increasingly disappointed with the series as it moves on.Not sure whether this is a book about crime or an excuse for an extention of Geraldine's sorry tale of her missing childhood.
We've waited 8 episodes to reach the stage of meeting her mother for the first time and then very unfortunately her death due to untimely illness only to now find there might be an unknown sister who could be her twin.Let's just hope it doesn't take a further 8 books to read she finally meets up with her and moves on with her rather dull social life.
It's very disappointing to think that Geraldine's new boss is so insecure in his new role that he's ready to frame the first suspect who walks through the door without any real evidence to support the charge of murder.Her previous boss wasn't much better with his chauvenistic attitude ,all of which doesn't paint the best picture of DCI's in the Met.Let's just hope his character improves and develops in the next episode,plus the plot is a lot more intriguing in order to make this a better read.
Sorry to sound ultra critical,but Leigh has written better in the earlier episodes.
We've waited 8 episodes to reach the stage of meeting her mother for the first time and then very unfortunately her death due to untimely illness only to now find there might be an unknown sister who could be her twin.Let's just hope it doesn't take a further 8 books to read she finally meets up with her and moves on with her rather dull social life.
It's very disappointing to think that Geraldine's new boss is so insecure in his new role that he's ready to frame the first suspect who walks through the door without any real evidence to support the charge of murder.Her previous boss wasn't much better with his chauvenistic attitude ,all of which doesn't paint the best picture of DCI's in the Met.Let's just hope his character improves and develops in the next episode,plus the plot is a lot more intriguing in order to make this a better read.
Sorry to sound ultra critical,but Leigh has written better in the earlier episodes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2016
Revisiting an author who had previously left me feeling a bit 'meh' a friend recommended this, the 8th in the DI Geraldine Steel series.
The main storyline was engaging enough t begin with, then like many formulaic crime/police novels starts to try a little bit too hard with the twists and turns; some were flagged a mile off, a few had me surprised, I'll admit. It felt as if there was a lot of work put into the back stories of the suspects, which was enjoyable, but they didn't build to a crescendo of excitement and ultimately the end was a bit disappointing.
I like the main protagonist and want to understand her better. She is no Jane Tennyson, but she has her own demon, even if they are demons 'lite' and arguably Geraldine isn't 'damaged' enough as a hero to make this series spectacular.
Overall this is an enjoyable novel, with above-average characterisation, a decent attempt at a whodunnit chase, but tempered by slightly pedestrian dialogue at times and a main character who is likeable but not overly memorable.
The main storyline was engaging enough t begin with, then like many formulaic crime/police novels starts to try a little bit too hard with the twists and turns; some were flagged a mile off, a few had me surprised, I'll admit. It felt as if there was a lot of work put into the back stories of the suspects, which was enjoyable, but they didn't build to a crescendo of excitement and ultimately the end was a bit disappointing.
I like the main protagonist and want to understand her better. She is no Jane Tennyson, but she has her own demon, even if they are demons 'lite' and arguably Geraldine isn't 'damaged' enough as a hero to make this series spectacular.
Overall this is an enjoyable novel, with above-average characterisation, a decent attempt at a whodunnit chase, but tempered by slightly pedestrian dialogue at times and a main character who is likeable but not overly memorable.
January 18, 2016
Received From Real Readers to Review.
It is always good to read a book by an author unknown to me and so I could hardly wait to start Murder Ring by Leigh Russell.
DI Geraldine Steel is investigating the murder of David Lester a married businessman with no enemies. Her new boss DCI Adam Eastwood wants a quick arrest and conviction which leads to the arrest of Lenny a young criminal who has recently been released from prison. but following the death of another man have the police got the wrong man. The clues and suspects grow and interconnect. While investigating the murders Geraldine is also coming to grips with finding and meeting her birth mother.
The first chapter was gripping but after that I was bored. There were too many red herrings and not enough rounded characters. The ending was a disappointment. After reading Linda La Plant and loveing Anna Travis and Jane Tennent I couldn't warm to Geraldine Steel or want to know more about her.
It is always good to read a book by an author unknown to me and so I could hardly wait to start Murder Ring by Leigh Russell.
DI Geraldine Steel is investigating the murder of David Lester a married businessman with no enemies. Her new boss DCI Adam Eastwood wants a quick arrest and conviction which leads to the arrest of Lenny a young criminal who has recently been released from prison. but following the death of another man have the police got the wrong man. The clues and suspects grow and interconnect. While investigating the murders Geraldine is also coming to grips with finding and meeting her birth mother.
The first chapter was gripping but after that I was bored. There were too many red herrings and not enough rounded characters. The ending was a disappointment. After reading Linda La Plant and loveing Anna Travis and Jane Tennent I couldn't warm to Geraldine Steel or want to know more about her.
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