Evil Impulse

DI Geraldine Steel #15

by Leigh Russell

The new novel in the million-copy selling Detective Geraldine Steel series

Living with her colleague and long time love interest, Detective Inspector Ian Peterson, it seems that Geraldine Steel has finally found happiness. But life is never that simple.

As a psychopath starts killing random women on the streets of York, Geraldine is abducted by a drugs syndicate who have been threatening her sister. Geraldine has everything to fight for, and her life is on the line...

For fans of Martina Cole, Mel Sherratt and LJ Ross

'Unmissable' - Lee Child

'Leigh Russell is a brilliant talent in the thriller field' - Jeffery Deaver

'A rare talent' - Daily Mail

Look out for more DI Geraldine Steel investigations in Cut Short, Road Closed, Dead End, Death Bed, Stop Dead, Fatal Act, Killer Plan, Murder Ring, Deadly Alibi, Class Murder, Death Rope, Rogue Killer and Deathly Affair, plus the special Christmas short story, Killer Christmas

Don't miss the DI Ian Peterson series: Cold Sacrifice, Race to Death and Blood Axe

Genres: Crime

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2021

About the author

Leigh 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.

Reviews

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Oldcastle Books for an advance copy of Evil Impulse, the fifteenth novel to feature DS Geraldine Steel of the York Police.

Geraldine has found happiness now that she is living with DI Ian Peterson but with a killer on the streets murdering seemingly unrelated women life is busy. And then Geraldine is kidnapped by a gang with an interest in her sister, former addict, Helena Blake.

I enjoyed Evil Impulse which has an interesting plot and a few tense moments. I like a police procedural and this is a good example as the detectives chase down leads and game out potential motives and suspects. I did guess the killer’s identity almost immediately, but it was still interesting to see the way the plot unfolded and all the twists that got them there. It held my attention throughout. I must admit that the kidnapping had me baffled. I can see the point of it as a plot device as it leads to drama in Geraldine’s life but in terms of a storyline it goes nowhere and I don’t understand what the kidnappers really wanted. Although having said that it was a tense few pages.

The rather unexcitable Geraldine is all over the place emotionally in this novel. She’s angry with Ian and his actions and unable to see her situation clearly and logically. It’s a bit of a surprise for long term readers, but I enjoyed her bitterness, which seems natural to me, although I’m not sure what that says about me! I’m not quite sure what the clever thinking Geraldine sees in Ian as he’s limited in his thinking and rather narrow minded in his attitudes, but as he’s the love of her life we’ll just have to live with him.

Evil Impulse is a good read. 3.5*

[Andrew Nattrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geraldine is now in York on the plus side she is now living with her longtime friend Ian Peterson and should be happy however she has also been demoted so not everything running as smoothly as it should be.

Oh yes and there is also the not so small matter of a crazed psychopath going round York on a killing spree.

And as if that was not enough for our Geraldine she also finds herself abducted and bundled into the back of a van by a drugs gang. Is she now out of her depth? What do these people want from her?

On top of all this she also has worries with regard to her twin sister Helena..
Fast paced with lots of twists and turns this rollercoaster of a ride will keep you hooked to the very end.
Cannot wait for the next instalment deep cover as there are some issues that still need to be resolved and hopefully they will be…

[Lynsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This instalment of the Geraldine Steele series is just as good as all the previous ones! It’s well paced, has red herrings and twists galore, keeps your attention and sucks you right into its pages.

We find Geraldine at long last finding a bit of happiness. She has moved in with Ian, her work colleague, and her relationship with her twin sister is back on track. This is the 15th book in the series but you can read it as a stand-alone as all plot lines from previous books are well explained and absorbed. I can’t quite believe we are at 15 books already! Professional wise there has been a body found in the River Ouse and a young run away. Are the two cases interlinked and if so how?

I really did enjoy this outing for Geraldine. Sometimes I was screaming in my head going why are you being so stupid?! By the end of the book I was beginning to give up on her but then twist and it’s all good! Thank god I didn’t need to throw this across the room in disgust. 👍 The setting of York is also something that I enjoy as I have spent many a Saturday afternoon traipsing round the cobbled streets and shops. It makes visualising the plot so much easier when you can see in your head why that location etc was used.

This is a series that I thoroughly recommend and this outing was great! I hope you give it a try.

[Ivana Richards · Rating 2 out of 5]

This only really deserves 1.5 stars. After 15 books I remain convinced that Russell could be a great author, if she had a publisher that bothered to edit / proofread properly. She doesn't, so we get more of the usual nonsense in this one that has littered all her others. During the pointless abduction, her hands are tied on pg 77, yet by 78 they are handcuffed; ch 14 is set on Friday, yet ch 15 is back to Thursday; on pg 104, the 2nd body is found "in the early hours of Saturday morning", pg 144 it was Sunday morning and it's back to being Saturday on 157. Even the location of the 2nd body changes from being the Livewire Club (144) to the Livewire Bar (257). There are others - the bit with the hat is particularly silly ( pg 266). This kind of stupidity should all have been picked up before publishing, yet NoExit Press assure me Leigh Russell books are carefully proofed, which is highly doubtful, to say the least.

[Thebooktrail]

See the literary locations in this story

These books set in York really are part of a fantastic crime series. If you haven't discovered them, it'd be a good idea to go to a bookshop and buy them. A great collection with interesting characters and the setting of York is always good - very different to the big cities where crime fiction series are usually set.

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am shocked to realise I have been reading this series since its inception in 2009. It has now been going 12 years and in my opinion still has legs to run with. Not every book has been perfect but I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and still love the characters (even though I Geraldine has become somewhat lacking in confidence since her demotion). Gerladine is working the case following a number of murders of women all seemingly unrelated. The case itself I thought was a little slow in pace and although reasonably engaging I just felt lit lacked it’s normal sparkle.
I feel like some of it is Geraldine herself. Her relationship with Ian is up and down all the time, add to that the pressures of her sister Helena her mood is seemingly always down. I think this maybe felt a little too much like Geraldine was slightly chaotic and that’s not really what I associate with her as a character. The one thing I really liked was the ending and I feel like there will be more linked to Helena in the next book. Still a great series but this particular book wasn’t as good as some of the others in this series.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

So pleased to find that Geraldine and Ian have finally got together after Geraldine's move to York. They work well together but will it be all plain sailing.?. They want to keep their relationship from the rest of the team although rumours do seem to be circulating. The journey to find who murdered two women is long and arduous, with very few clues. to go on. Geraldine is also having personal problems from her past that get out of hand. I love the writing style of Leigh Russell, I always know that I'm in for a brilliant read.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now the fifteenth adventure for DS Geraldine Steel, and the series remains as interesting and fresh as ever. In the past Geraldine's life has been a bit up and down, finding out she was adopted and helping her newly discovered birth sister escape the clutches of a drug dealer which led to her getting demoted from the rank of Detective Inspector to Sergeant as a result. She moved to York and found herself working for her former sergeant, Ian Petersen, now a DI and a man she has secretly been in love with for a long time. Ian has now moved into her flat but Geraldine is still reluctant to make the relationship public, particularly at work where she has a good DCI in Eileen Duncan and has made friends. The story begins with a gory description of a woman’s murder. It’s very messy and the killer vows to use suffocation next time. And there will be a next time. In a York canal an early morning walker spots a woman’s body. Police initially think she may have fallen in drunk but find no bag or belongings with which to make an identification. Alarmingly the post mortem reveals she died many hours before she entered the water and was suffocated. Meanwhile a woman is watching her husband meeting with other women and knows she must put a stop to his evil compulsions. Finally the detectives identify the woman in the canal and immediately suspect her husband as a teenager goes missing and they fear for her safety. In the middle of all this Geraldine finds herself abducted, hooded and thrown in a van. The men who work for a drugs gang try to blackmail her into working for them, threatening her sister’s life if she does not comply. Stupidly she at first tries to hide the truth from Ian, and even when she does finally admit what happened, she begs him to keep quiet to give her enough time to warn her sister. Ian agrees to give her one week. She’s not thinking rationally and certainly not like a police office. Does she not realize after last time complying in anyway with these criminals will mean she gets sacked and a lengthy prison sentence? Oh Geraldine, how will you get yourself out of this one? Thank goodness she now has Ian on her side. There is plenty of action and a great twisty plot as more suspects emerge and Geraldine tries to help hunt a clever and resourceful killer while dealing with her own personal nightmare. There’s even a happy ending this time for some in this series which never shows any sign of flagging or getting stale. I look forward to many more stories to come! 5*

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nerve-twisting tour de force that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, Leigh Russell’s latest Detective Geraldine Steel thriller is a terrifying page-turner by this superb crime writer.

For the first time in a very long while, Detective Geraldine Steel is happy. Now living with her colleague and long-time love interest Detective Inspector Ian Peterson, Geraldine cannot remember a time when things had been going so well for her. However, Geraldine knows that she should not let down her guard just yet because one never knows what hidden dangers lurk in the shadows as she soon discovers when an evil psychopath begins to haunt the streets of York killing random women. Geraldine vows to do whatever it takes to stop more women from dying at the hands of this evil killer, however, little does she realise that she is soon about to be up to her eyeballs in jeopardy and danger when she is abducted!

The drugs syndicate that has long threatened her sister has now come for her and Geraldine finds herself completely and utterly powerless and at the mercy of these dangerous criminals! Will Geraldine manage to emerge from this terrifying situation unscathed? Has her freedom been lost forever? Or will she be able to outsmart her dangerous kidnappers and continue to fight for justice? With her life on the line and everything to play for, the stakes have never been higher for Geraldine. Is she strong enough to defeat her evil captors? Or has Geraldine got herself involved in a fight she simply cannot win?

Leigh Russell ups the ante and keeps her readers absolutely glued to the pages of her latest Geraldine Steel thriller, Evil Impulse. Packed with non-stop action, nail-biting tension and heart-pounding suspense, Evil Impulse is a highly charged crime thriller where the pace never flags and the twists and turns come so thick and fast readers will simply not see them coming.

Leigh Russell pulls out all the stops in the latest Geraldine Steel novel Evil Impulse and has penned a superb thriller readers will thoroughly enjoy.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Wow... are we really at book 15 of this series! And with no signs of flagging. Probably cos the author does like to mix things up every so often, which you will only really appreciate if you start from the beginning and read in order. That said, the main story is self-contained so, at a push, you could read this stand alone.
Geraldine and Ian are now an item. Not officially though, despite her colleagues accusations of such. In this book things get very evil very quickly and very close to home for Geraldine as she is personally affected by a gang with interests in her sister... This means that the York Police's investigation of a spate of murders of women becomes a tad overshadowed by her personal shenanigans.
I am not the biggest fan of too much personal stuff taking over the main crime being investigated but, on the other hand, the police do have lives of their own and in Geraldine's case, her life is larger than some as she has recently found. Her sister Helena has run her a bit ragged of late so it is easy to see the frustration she causes certain people in this episode.
Pacing is good and the story is well plotted and executed. I did guess a few things early but that didn't really mar my enjoyment too much as I did have fun following all the twists and turns as they occurred.
And oh my... Geraldine and Ian - I alternate between wanting to bang their heads together and tell them to forget it all. Chalk and Cheese but there's a connection and they've already been round the houses a few times. But then, if it was all roses in their garden it wouldn't be as much fun...
All in all a worthy addition to one of my favourite series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Honestmamreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Evil Impulse is the latest instalment in the bestselling DI Geraldine Steel series. I love reading a series of books, I always feel more familiar with the characters involved and am more invested in the storyline.

In this case Geraldine is tasked to find out who is behind the murder of a body found washed up in the river. There are more bodies turning up and it is a matter of urgency that Geraldine and her crew solve the case.

When Zoe a 13-year-old goes missing, could it be linked to the spate of murders? Or is this another case altogether.

Not only does Geraldine have to deal with keeping the streets serial killer safe, but she has family life issues to contend with. Her twin sister who we have met in previous books causes a bit of a stir for Geraldine. This causes a strain on the newly fledged relationship that is forming between her and Detective Ian Peterson. Could this mean the end of a brand-new love affair?

Leigh Russell hooks us in with her writing, she builds up the tension just enough to keep us wanting more. Interspersed into the narrative are chapters from the killer’s perspective. And Russell drips feed just enough clues for us to be on the edge of our seats.

What I enjoyed in this story was Russell’s observations of how people are in the world we live in. There are bodies turning up and the people that we meet seem to have no sympathy and are inconvenienced at having their businesses shut for a few days, or their kitchen rebuild is put on hold. It highlights how self-obsessed we are becoming.

As always Leigh Russell has written an edge of your seat thriller, that will keep you guessing. Evil Impulse is another great instalment in a well established series

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Evil Impulse is the fifteenth 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…

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inside view of a detective police officer's life, because even if they risk their lives for others everyday, they still have their own secrets and life.
This is the story of Geraldine Steel, she is a great detective but a very secretive person, this book will not only be based in a very interesting book but a closure in Geraldine’s past.
This book is part of a series, you can read it as standalone, there are some little pieces of Geraldine’s past told, you’ll not feel lost but you will want to dig deeper in her past, believe me.
As always, Geraldine is a great detective and this case will not be easy, some women are appearing dead and it seems that there’s not a connection between them. So, who would want to kill them?
But Geraldine is not an easy character to like as a person, she is secretive and super protective with her personal life, would seem acceptable, but her boyfriend is living with her and no one in her job knows! Then we have the relation between her and her twin sister, she doesn’t seem the same person, really, you only want to kill her!! But if you knew a little about her background, you’ll understand her fear and need to protect her, possibly that’s why she is so good at her job, the need to protect the ones that doesn’t have anyone.
I really enjoyed this case, it shows the reader the dark side of the marriage, what really hides behind closed doors…
Ready to discover “Evil Impulse”?

[Pat Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a long running series of books featuring Detective Geraldine Steel and seems to have mixed reviews. I must admit that I haven’t read all the books in the series but I enjoyed Evil Impulse. In this book we find Geraldine living with her colleague and long time love Detective Inspector Ian Peterson but she is keeping their relationship a secret from their colleagues. Her happiness is soon shattered as there is a killer loose on the streets of York murdering unrelated young women, Geraldine finds herself then abducted by the drugs syndicate that has threatened Helena, Geraldine’s twin sister and ex drug addict. They threaten to harm Helena if Geraldine doesn’t do what they want. She tries to hide it from Ian but then finally admits to him what is happening. She wants to go see Helena and warn her but Ian takes matters into his own hands when Geraldine is thrown into a prison cell after having drugs planted in her home, he goes to see Helena and persuades her to change her identity and move away. When Geraldine discovers what he has done behind her back she ends up breaking off their relationship. Evil Impulse has an interesting plot. I love the location of York, which is local to me, and all the twists and turns of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75* an enjoyable read.
#15 in the Geraldine Steel mysteries.
A new author to me.
I feel that it reads well as a stand-alone. There’s enough detail given to fill in the relevant background story. The glossary is a useful addition.
It’s on the cosier end of the scale.
Good pace which kept my attention.
The story is told from various points of view, Bella, Zoe, Geraldine, and the killer.
Both Bella and Zoe are extremely irritating characters, and got me riled. Even Geraldine is being unreasonable towards Ian.
Ariadne is a bit of a pathetic desperado. The killer is full of their own self importance thinking that they are cleverer than the police, so joined the irritating character list. I would prefer to have a character that I really engaged with.
It had me checking out the dictionary function on the kindle at regular intervals, but not enough to stop my reading flow
It felt like too many implausible actions going on by police officers, then adding in the secret romance too.
There’s always lots going to keep the interest going.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley, Old castle Books and the author for this ARC of Evil Impulse.
This is the fifteenth novel to feature DS Geraldine Steel of the York Police.
Leigh Russell is the foremost writer of crime fiction. she is, in my humble opinion, the world authority on detection, and has exceptional insights into police investigation procedures. Her plots are truly exemplary. She brilliantly directs the evidence.Leigh always spends months researching her books, with ferocious grit. she has the best credentials to write extraordinary well, capturing the reader in thrilling tense situations. No need to expand on this novel; it has been copiously detailed by some of the best reviewers. These ferocious literary crime critics have extolled her crime writing for decades.Get your copy now, before it is sold out. This review is honest, unbiased and true. What more can I possibly say?

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley , Oldcastle Books and the author for this ARC of Evil Impulse, the fifteenth book in the Geraldine Steel series. You know it’s a good read when you find yourself shouting at the characters in your head! . This is a brilliant series and shows how real life and family loyalties can clash with a police career. It opens with the grisly discovery of a body by the river in York and with Geraldine and Ian living together. The main plot is excellent and although we are given many possible culprits to choose from along the way the actual villain and their justification for their acts was a surprise
I’ve followed this series from the beginning and for me the subplot has been brilliant. One can’t help but applaud and sympathise with Geraldine and in this vein I was delighted by the ending.
Looking forward to seeing what comes next for her in number 16

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evil Impulse is #15 in the Geraldine Steel series and finally Geraldine and Ian are a couple….

But there’s always a spanner in the works….

Here, York police are investigating a spate of murders, all the while Geraldine is dealing with her sister and her problems,

This is a police procedural with a strong central character in Geraldine Steel, she’s committed to her job, but also to her family and personal life, so you get crime fiction and a family drama. It’s well paced with marvellously well rounded characters and a clever plot make this another thriller of a read from Leigh Russell.

Thank you to Random Things Tours for the opportunity to be part of this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of Evil Impulse.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifteenth instalment of this compulsive detective series, not counting her three appearances in the DI Ian Peterson series and one Christmas Special short story in 2017. The author also has another mystery series of three books the Lucy Hall series. Pretty good going for someone who made her writing debut in 2009. I've read them all and followed Geraldine Steel from the very beginning. Having followed the life of this detective for so long, Evil Impulse had quite an impact for me as a reader, because it reached a pivotable point in Steel's life for more reasons than one.
There is plenty going on in this book, with a serial killer on the loose, a missing girl, and Geraldine Steel gets kidnapped by a drug gang. One thing I know for sure, having read this one, book sixteen is going to be interesting.

[Steve Russell · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is possibly the worst book, so far. It's repetitive to the point of distraction re: Geraldine's sisters, Helena is a self centred depressing recovering, ungrateful junkie. Celia is really the Saint of Kent, who doesn't deserve to put up with Geraldine, who seems to think she is the only one with feelings. Ian has suddenly gone from being a detective inspector to a bigoted neanderthal, incapable of any logical or objective thinking. As for Geraldine's kidnap, we'll what a non event that was. Never explored. The attitude of the ACU plod was laughable. When G was thinking of resigning and returning to Kent, I thought good, maybe the next books will be better. We can only hope.

[Bev.proffitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Think im going to re-read this series from book one cut short right up to evil impulse

I'm normally a huge fan of Leigh Russell and the Geraldine Steele series but for some reason this book just didn't quite grab me the way the other books had .I was really excited that another book had been written but when I got down to reading it I found it quite tedious and rather hard to get involved in . So therefore im willing to try again but only after I've re-read the series just to see if I'm being a little bit unfair in my review .

[Martha Brindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leigh Russell never disappoints with this series featuring Detective Geraldine Steel. The plot is very interesting and there are new characters to get acquainted with. There are plenty surprises and tension, centred around Geraldine's kidnapping, as well as a good steady pace. A good stand alone too with enough background information for new readers. It's another winner for the author and one of my favourites. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Tracey Honeyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well not one of the greatest in the series but still a decent read and will read future ones. The main storyline of the murders was written well, with as you would expect all the clues tying together nicely at the end. However what happened to Susan? Nothing was ever said about Susan. Not sure there was any need for the undercurrent of the personal story and was it believable? The jury is still out on that one for me.

[Melanie Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve followed this series since the very beginning and have watched Geraldine go through many highs and lows.
This is another excellent thrilling ride, albeit on a rollercoaster which takes the reader through a gripping case while Geraldine goes through a really gut wrenching personal trauma. Long may this series continue!

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally enjoy the DI Geraldine Steele series but I found this one a little too predictable. Half of the book was made up of Geraldine’s personal story which made the main storyline suffer to the point it was predictable and rushed

Thank you to NetGalley and Oldcastle Books for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

[ron harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

These DI Geraldine Steel books are always enjoyable to read and with great storyline.
Geraldine is chasing a serial killer, fending off drug dealers, locked up in a cell, busy book but well worth the read.

[Dawn Marsanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Leigh Russell.
Not sure this is my favourite of the series.
An easy engaging read, but the ending left a few details unanswered.
I'm a stickler for detail, so this was a niggle for me.
Will continue to read any future novels by this author.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard police procedural- I liked the unexpected twist at the end that pulled the plot strands together, but the process of getting there was laboured and I think the novel got bogged down in the middle. I would also like to have been told what happened to Susan.

[BARBARA D HILL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite up to the previous high quality excitement I've come to expect from the series to date.
Nothing really to make this episode a page turner.
Only really comes to life in the last few pages and even then a very predictable outcome.
Sorry Leigh but not your best,fingers crossed for No.16.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main mystery was okay, if a little obvious. I found the relationship between Geraldine and Ian tedious and hard to understand why they were together. The storyline with her sister was unbelievable and I hope that is the last we will see of her. Definitely not the best in the series.