Blood Axe

BLOOD AXE

Cut Short – CWA Dagger shortlist, #1 iTunes, #1 Women Sleuths Road Closed – #1 Women Sleuths, Top 20 kindle, Top Read Euro Crime, Top 50 iTunes Dead End – #1 Women Sleuths, Top 20 kindle, Top 20 WH Smith's, Top 10 Miami Examiner Death Bed – #1 Women Sleuths, Top 20 WH Smith's Stop Dead – #1 on Amazon Kindle DI Geraldine Steel is a Lovereading Great Female Sleuth

‘Silently dipping his oars in the water he made his escape. It was a weary journey, with few spoils to show for it. Next time he would do better. He looked back over his shoulder. The bridge had disappeared, swallowed up by the darkness. From its walkway he too had become invisible. Only the bloody body of a woman showed he had been roaming the streets that night'

DI Ian Peterson investigates a series of gruesome and brutal murders in York. As the body count mounts, the case demands all Ian's ingenuity, because these are murders seemingly committed at random, and this is a killer who leaves no clues.

About the Author

Leigh Russell studied at the University of Kent, gaining a Master's degree in English. A secondary school English teacher, and guest university lecturer in creative writing, she is married, has two daughters, and lives in North West London. Her first novel, shortlisted for the CWA best first novel award,
Cut Short
, was published in 2009. This was followed by
Road Closed
in 2010,
Dead End
in 2011,
Death Bed
in 2012 and
Stop Dead
in 2013 and
Fatal Act
in 2014. Her first title in the new series starring DI Peterson,
Cold Sacrifice
was also published in 2013 followed by
Race to Death
and
Killer Plan
in 2014.

Critical Acclaim

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR
RACE TO DEATH

‘Unmissable'
–
Lee Child

‘Leigh Russell has become one of the most impressively dependable purveyors of the English police procedural' –
Marcel Berlins,
Times

‘As tense openings go, they don't come much better than this' –
Bookbag

‘If you enjoy a well-written mystery with a well-constructed and thought-out plot line then this is the book for you... it is my BOOK OF THE MONTH' –
Crime Book Club

‘the story unfolds at a great pace and grips until the end'
–
Fiction Is Stranger Than Fact

‘Leigh Russell weaves a fascinating tale that had me completely foxed. Whilst the mystery is tantalising the characters also fascinate, so clearly are they drawn'–
Mystery People

‘Fast-paced and unrelenting, and with more than enough twists to keep the most demanding reader entertained,
Race to Death
certainly doesn't disappoint! 4.5/5*'–
Claire Loves to Read

‘Full of twists, turns and dark secrets. The plot gallops along creating suspense on every page'–
Creuse News

‘Fantastic... I can't wait to read more'–
Book Addict

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR
COLD SACRIFICE

‘A complex mystery rich in characters, this new series promises some interesting times ahead for Ian Peterson' –
Promoting Crime Fiction

‘Russell's story telling was strong enough to keep me enticed right to the very end'–
Lloyd Paige

‘Ian Peterson as a character could potentially be just as good,if not better, than Geraldine Steel'–
Best Crime Books

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR
FATAL ACT

‘a most intriguing and well executed mystery and... an engrossing read'–
Shotsmag

‘the best yet from Leigh Russell – she keeps you guessing all the way through and leaves you wanting more' –
Crime Book Club

‘fantastic. I can't wait to read more' –
Book Addict

‘another fast-paced and complex mystery – a fabulous read'–
Fiction Is Stranger Than Fact

‘a truly great author... enough mystery and drama for the most ardent of mystery fans'–
Bookaholic

‘another corker of a book from Leigh Russell... Russell's talent for writing top-quality crime fiction just keeps on growing...' –
Euro Crime

‘the plot is strong and the writing just flows with style and panache'–
Goodreads

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR
STOP DEAD

‘All the things a mystery should be, intriguing, enthralling, tense and utterly absorbing' –
Best Crime Books

‘Stop Dead
is taut and compelling, stylishly written with a deeply human voice'–
Peter James

‘A definite must read for crime thriller fans everywhere – 5 stars'–
Newbooks Magazine

‘For lovers of crime fiction this is a brilliant, not to be missed, novel'–
Fiction is Stranger Than Fact

‘Geraldine Steel sticks out as a believable copper and
Stop Dead
flows easily'–
Electric Lullaby

‘a well-written, a well-researched, and a well-constructed whodunnit. Highly recommended'
– Mystery People

‘a whodunnit of the highest order. The tightly written plot kept me guessing all the way'
–
Crimesquad

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR
DEATH BED

‘Earlier books have marked her out as one of the most able practitioners in the current field' –
Barry Forshaw
,
Crime Time

‘
Death Bed
is a marvellous entry in this highly acclaimed series'–
Promoting Crime Fiction

‘An innovative and refreshing take on the psychological thriller' –
Books Plus Food

‘Russell's strength as a writer is her ability to portray believable characters'–
Crimesquad

‘A well-written, well-plotted crime novel with fantastic pace and lots of intrigue'–
Bookersatz

‘Truly a great crime thriller' –
Nayu's Reading Corner

‘DEATH BED
is her most exciting and well-written to date. And, as the others are superb, that is really saying something! 5*' –
Euro Crime

‘The story itself was as usual a good one, and the descriptive gruesomeness of some scenes was brilliant' –
Best Crime Books

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR
DEAD END

‘All the ingredients combine to make a tense, clever police whodunnit'–
Marcel Berlins
,
Times

‘I could not put this book down' –
Newbooks Magazine

‘A brilliant talent in the thriller field' –
Jeffery Deaver

‘An encounter that will take readers into the darkest recesses of the human psyche'–
Crime Time

‘Well written and chock full of surprises, this hard-hitting, edge-of-the seat instalment is yet another treat... Geraldine Steel looks set to become a household name. Highly recommended'–
Euro Crime

‘Good, old-fashioned, heart-hammering police thriller... a no-frills delivery of pure excitement' –
SAGA Magazine

‘the critical acclaim heaped on Russell thus far in her literary career is well deserved'–
Bookgeeks

‘a macabre read, full of enthralling characters and gruesome details which kept me glued from first page to last' –
Crimesquad

‘
Dead End
was selected as a Best Fiction Book of 2012' –
Examiner

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR
ROAD CLOSED

‘A well-written, soundly plotted, psychologically acute story'–
Marcel Berlins

‘Well-written and absorbing right from the get-go... with an exhilarating climax that you don't see coming' –
Euro Crime

‘Leigh Russell does a good job of keeping her readers guessing. She also uses a deft hand developing her characters, especially the low-lifes... a good read'–
San Francisco Book Review

‘perfect character building... cleverly written... can't wait for the next one'
–
Best Books to Read

‘New star of crime fiction, Leigh Russell's chilling psychological thriller is terrific and terrifying!' –
Clem Chambers

‘
Road Closed
is a gripping, fast-paced read, pulling you in from the very first tense page and keeping you captivated right to the end with its refreshingly compelling and original narrative' –
New York Journal of Books

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR
CUT SHORT

‘
Cut Short
is a stylish, top-of-the-line crime tale, a seamless blending of psychological sophistication and gritty police procedure. And you're just plain going to love DI Geraldine Steel' –
Jeffery Deaver

‘Russell paints a careful and intriguing portrait of a small British community while developing a compassionate and complex heroine who's sure to win fans'–
Publishers Weekly

‘an excellent debut' –
Crime Time

‘It's an easy read with the strength of the story at its core... If you want to be swept along with the story above all else,
Cut Short
is certainly a novel for you'–
Crimeficreader

‘Simply awesome! This debut novel by Leigh Russell will take your breath away'–
Euro Crime

‘an excellent book...Truly a great start for new mystery author Leigh Russell'–
New York Journal of Books

Cut Short
is a book I had to read in one sitting... excellent new series'–
Murder by Type

‘a sure-fire hit – a taut, slick, easy-to-read thriller' –
Watford Observer

‘fine police procedural, with a convincing if disconcerting feel of contemporary Britain' –
The Compulsive Reader

‘Cut Short
featured in one of Euro Crime's reviewers' Top Reads for 2009'–
Euro Crime

‘
Cut Short
is not a comfortable read, but it is a compelling and important one. Highly recommended' –
Mystery Women

‘gritty and totally addictive debut novel' –
New York Journal of Books