#BlogTour ‘Deadly Revenge’ by Leigh Russell

About the book…

When a hysterical mother reports her baby’s sudden disappearance, suspicion immediately falls on the absent husband.

But Detective Geraldine Steel’s gut instinct tells her this case is not as simple as her colleagues think…

Complications in the mother’s life begin to surface, including her relationship with her controlling father, a controversial political figure.

As the police investigate, their attempt to find the missing infant grows ever more urgent .
Steel is forced to suspect everyone associated with the family – and when a body is discovered, matters take a deadly turn.

Huge thanks to the awesome Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for the blogtour invite, and No Exit Press for the gifted review copy of ‘Deadly Revenge’ which is available now!

This is a short, bittersweet novel which uses the central crime as a framewrok to explore modern motherhood, and the fraught relationships between mother and daughter.

The cyclic nature of recognising and perpetuating abuse from one generation to the next is kickstarted with a prologue introducing protagonist Jessica, a 25 year old woman with an 8 month old daughter, Daisy. This immediately sets the scene for everything that follows, her relationship with her husband, Jason is violent, abusive and trapping.

Jessica knows this and is able to see the progression of her falling into the same trap that her mother did-adoration turned to disgust, humiliation, isolation and abuse, her self determination is based in the development of her child and protecting her from this malign influence in her life. She seems unable to help herself, however, she is able to go to any lengths to protect Daisy-does this include murder?

The tear stained and highly emotive appeal to the police to find her missing baby is what brings her into Geraldine’s orbit. A bloody sheet in the child’s cot, a missing father who and the background of social unrest intensifies Geraldine’s own personal situation. Currently trying to track down her birth mother, an overarching storyline from earlier in the series, she juxtaposes her own circumstances with her current, secret, relationship with one of her own superior officers.

The personal and the professional, especialy in terms of accountability, often overlap for Geraldine-she is putting up with behaviour that whilst not abusive, definitely is leaving her feeling like she needs to stand up for herself, whilst listening to colleagues -and even Jessica’s own family-running her down.

On paper Jessica should have everything -a well off family who provide her with everything she needs, a husband and a child. But paper is flamable, and reality is 3D. Things are very rarely what they seem and there are a myriad shades of grey between life and expectation of a life.

Daisy’s disappearance is the catalyst for revealtions which are brutally real, the underlying concerns of the community in which she lives are being swept away with the cover all phrase from her councillor grandfather ‘budget cuts’.

This has led to closing of libraries, homeless shelters and community focus points for isolated parents is the kindling to the spark of crime and murder. But who will take responsibility and who, ultimately, will pay the price?

Another excellent instalment into Geraldine’s series, it is absolutely fine to jump on in  with ‘Deadly Revenge’, or go back to the very beginning. Whichever way you choose, you will be in for a treat.

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.

Twitter @LeighRussell @noexitpress @RandomTTours

Links-http://leighrussell.co.uk/