#ClassMurder by Leigh Russell blog tour @noexitpress @LeighRussell

Today, I’m delighted to be taking part in the Class Murder by Leigh Russell blog tour, the tenth book in the Geraldine Steel series.

BLURB

‘UNMISSABLE’ – LEE CHILD * ‘A RARE TALENT’ – DAILY MAIL * ‘BRILLIANT’ – JEFFREY DEAVER

With so many potential victims to choose from, there would be many deaths. He was spoiled for choice, really, but he was determined to take his time and select his targets carefully. Only by controlling his feelings could he maintain his success. He smiled to himself. If he was clever, he would never have to stop. And he was clever. He was very clever. Far too clever to be caught.

Geraldine Steel is reunited with her former sergeant, Ian Peterson.

When two people are murdered, their only connection lies buried in the past. As police search for the elusive killer, another body is discovered. Pursuing her first investigation in York, Geraldine Steel struggles to solve the baffling case. How can she expose the killer, and rescue her shattered reputation, when all the witnesses are being murdered?

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 and Deadly Alibi

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Leigh Russell is the author of the internationally bestselling Geraldine Steel series: Cut Short, Road Closed, Dead End, Death Bed, Stop Dead, Fatal Act, Killer Plan, Murder Ring, Deadly Alibi and Class Murder. The series has sold over a million copies worldwide. Cut Short was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association (CWA) John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award, and Leigh has been longlisted for the CWA Dagger in the Library Award. Her books have been #1 on Amazon Kindle and iTunes with Stop Dead and Murder Ring selected as finalists for The People’s Book Prize. Leigh is chair of the CWA’s Debut Dagger Award judging panel and is a Royal Literary Fellow. Leigh studied at the University of Kent, gaining a Masters degree in English and American Literature. She is married with two daughters and a granddaughter, and lives in London.

TEN THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY RESEARCH

WHILE WRITING THE GERALDINE STEEL SERIES

1. A body farm had problems because it was visible from the air
2. If people touch, fabric traces show when the contact took place
3. One London police station serves homemade banana bread
4. The bats in the Seychelles are gigantic and noisy
5. In Jorvik the face on one figure is reconstructed from a Viking
6. The murder squad in Spain are called Mossos d’Escadros
7. Analysis can identify exactly where traces of soil originated
8. Enough gas in the air can catch fire when a light is turned on
9. Banana boxes are used by market traders as they’re strong
10. Breath leaves DNA revealing hair and eye colour and gender

MY THOUGHTS

Class Murder is the tenth novel in the Geraldine Steel series by Leigh Russell and I can’t believe that I have only discovered this series now. I started reading this book during my lunch break at work and I did not want to put it down, if I could have stayed reading all afternoon I would have.

Geraldine has recently relocated to York after she was forced into a position to leave the Metropolitan Police in London. She knows that she has no chance of promotion and is now working alongside her old colleague, DI Ian Peterson, but their roles have switched. As she is beginning to adjust to her new life in York, she is thrown into a murder investigation when a young woman is found dead. And soon more bodies begin to turn up, but the suspect continues to evade them and the police come under fire from the media. As the investigation progresses a link emerges that binds the victims together. Could the killer be specifically targeting people, and if so, why? Are there more victims on their hit-list to come?

When I first started reading this book, I really found the reversal of roles between Geraldine and Ian an interesting idea. I was curious to see how this would work out between them and if there would be any tensions from Geraldine’s side, as she is the one who is now taking orders. It left me wondering how Geraldine would get on working up in York and if, whether or not, she would stay to stick it out. I’m intrigued to see where this will go in future books, and I hope that there are still more to come.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book, and I’m sure that I’ll return to previous books in the series as Leigh raised plenty of questions about Geraldine’s life which I want to find out more about. Geraldine is definitely the kind of officer who you would want working on your case, she is determined to see results and she is willing to put all other matters aside, including her own family who become increasingly frustrated with this idea.

The plot of the novel was engaging, although it is primarily told from Geraldine’s viewpoint Leigh also writes from the minds of the characters who are being targeted. She also tells the story from the viewpoint of the killer who remains in the shadows. When it becomes clear that the killer is targeting them they come together to try and work out who it is that is behind this and what they can do to try and protect themselves. This is where the tension in the novel escalates as they begin to fear for their lives. And under immense strain, they begin to make rash decisions.

Leigh’s writing is highly engaging, she pulls you into the story without effort. Class Murder was a really enjoyable read. Thank you to Anne Cater for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and to No Exit Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the book to read.

Publisher: No Exit Press

Publication date: 7th December 2017

Print length: 320 pages

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