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Stop Dead: A crime thriller packed with suspense (A DI Geraldine Steel Thriller Book 5) Kindle Edition

4.1 out of 5 stars 2,952 ratings

Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel returns in the fifth in the series, facing a case of grisly murder in London

When a successful businessman is the victim of a vicious murder, all evidence points to his wife and her young lover.

But then the victim's business partner suffers a similarly brutal fate and when yet another body is discovered, seemingly unrelated, the police are baffled.

The only clue is DNA that leads them to two women: one dead, the other in prison.

With rumours growing of a serial killer in the city, the pressure to solve the case is high.

But can Geraldine find the killer before there's yet another deadly attack?

'Stop Dead kept throwing in twists right up until the end' Lucy Conlon, Crime Fiction Lover

''Stop Dead' is a whodunit of the highest order'Crimesquad

'Russell's books just keep on getting better and this one is by far her best.'Euro Crime

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There are 23 books in this series.

In this series (23 books)

Kindle Edition

Product description

Review

As in her previous work, Russell delivers highly efficient prose, achieving the momentum of such earlier books as Cut Short. --Crime Time

A well written, a well-researched, and a well-constructed whodunit...A character with a lot more to tell, and one we will be happy to journey with for many books to come. Highly recommended. --Mystery People

About the Author

Leigh Russell studied at the University of Kent, gaining a Masters degree in English. For many years a secondary school English teacher, she is a creative writing tutor for adults. She is married, has two daughters, and lives in North West London. Her first novel, Cut Short, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award in 2010. This was followed by Road Closed, Dead End, Death Bed, Stop Dead and Fatal Act, in the Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel series. Cold Sacrifice is the first title in a spin off series featuring Geraldine Steel's sergeant, Ian Peterson.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AAH7YIY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ No Exit Press (22 May 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 873 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 385 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 2,952 ratings

About the author

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Leigh Russell
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Leigh Russell has sold over a million crime fiction novels. Her Geraldine Steel titles published by No Exit Press have appeared on many bestseller lists, and reached #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, and her books have been optioned by major television production company Avalon Television. She chairs the CWA Debut Dagger Award judges and is a Consultant Royal Literary Fellow.

Leigh has also written stand alone thrillers, a dystopian novel, and a historical novel for Bloodhound Books, and the Lucy Hall international mystery series published by Thomas and Mercer.

Find out more about Leigh on her website http://www.leighrussell.co.uk where news, reviews and interviews are posted, with a schedule of Leigh's appearances. You can contact Leigh via her website, where you can subscribe to her newsletter and follow her on Twitter and facebook.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
2,952 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this crime thriller engaging, with a storyline that keeps them guessing until the end and is not easy to put down once started. The book receives positive feedback for its readability and enjoyment, with customers loving the Geraldine Steel series. The character development and forensic accuracy receive mixed reviews, with some finding the characters wooden and the forensics unconvincing. The pacing receives negative feedback, with one customer describing it as a slow slog.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

177 customers mention ‘Readability’166 positive11 negative

Customers find the book to be a brilliant and exciting read, with many enjoying the whole series.

"...Is it this one, or that one, or maybe there's two of them. Good read. One of those page turners." Read more

"All the books in Geraldine Steel series where a good read, I enjoyed them all and would recommend them" Read more

"...The book was really well paced and what I enjoy is hat it shows the frustrating side to policing, not everything is neat and instantly solvable as..." Read more

"...Others I've read featuring Geraldine Steel have been well-written and an easy read, even if some characters don't grab me and demand to be life-long..." Read more

68 customers mention ‘Storyline’51 positive17 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, which unfolds in a way that keeps them gripped and guessing until the very end, with plots taking unexpected twists and turns.

"So many twists and turns. Is it this one, or that one, or maybe there's two of them. Good read. One of those page turners." Read more

"...I've really enjoyed this series of books which have just the right balance of suspense and character back-story...." Read more

"...The plot was OK but there was a terrible error. The victim has hairs from a suspect caught in a ring...." Read more

"An enjoyable book with a few twists and turns. Appeared to be a rushed ending with a few loose ends...." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the DI Geraldine Steel series, with one customer noting that DI Steel remains capable at the helm.

"Another good Geraldine Steel story. I have read most but not necessarily in order...." Read more

"...Love this Geraldine Steel series and this book certainly carries on the fabulous insight she gives to the characters as well as the storyline itself..." Read more

"Really enjoying the DI Geraldine Steel series, working my way through them. Easy reading, have loved all the storylines so far." Read more

"I really enjoy the DI Geraldine Steel series and this one didn't disappoint...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Difficulty to put down’5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book difficult to put down once started, with one customer noting it's not too complicated.

"...the frustrating side to policing, not everything is neat and instantly solvable as is so often shown in other books...." Read more

"Good read not too complicated ideal for reading on train etc like the theme and characters would recommended to adults hope more to come" Read more

"Brilliant book. One I found hard to put down. Many twists and turns, causing you to be lead up many a garden path." Read more

"A very good read, not easy to put down once started. I have read the first book in this series which I enjoyed and I have two more..." Read more

27 customers mention ‘Character development’15 positive12 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them real while others describe them as one-dimensional and wooden.

"...I love the main character, she is believable and has flaws and as this is a series, you know her background which is simmering...." Read more

"...as in the previous book and, again, there was no fleshing out of Geraldine's character...." Read more

"...of books which have just the right balance of suspense and character back-story. I look forward to the next in the series." Read more

"...This is such a pity as I feel the writer has become lazy. The characters are wooden and this reader did not have any investment in Geraldine...." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Forensic accuracy’7 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the forensic accuracy of the book, with some praising the great detective work while others find the forensics unconvincing.

"...book was really well paced and what I enjoy is hat it shows the frustrating side to policing, not everything is neat and instantly solvable as is so..." Read more

"...title felt over long with extraneous detail and some of the forensics didn't convince...." Read more

"Yet again Leigh Russel creates a mix of hard hitting police action, suspense and genuine human pain...." Read more

"Nice to see a woman leading the investigation. I found it annoying in some places because the plot was slow." Read more

26 customers mention ‘Pacing’3 positive23 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book unsatisfactory, with one describing it as a slow slog and another noting excessive jargon.

"...It was difficult to see the relevance of some of the sub plots, and the final clues as to the identity of the killer were tenuous." Read more

"...The plot was all over the place, just too many twists and turns with no logic...." Read more

"...twists and turns, but then it all just fizzled away with no explanation whatsoever as to why the murderer had chosen her victims - the fact that the..." Read more

"...second half as there were several proof reading errors - even some words omitted and in one instance there was two 'll' at the end of the line which..." Read more

i have not actually finished reading this book, a ...
5 out of 5 stars
i have not actually finished reading this book, a ...
i have not actually finished reading this book, a few pages to go yet, but gave 5 stars, i am really enjoying it up till now, regards, Elizabeth, x
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2024
    So many twists and turns. Is it this one, or that one, or maybe there's two of them. Good read. One of those page turners.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 February 2024
    All the books in Geraldine Steel series where a good read, I enjoyed them all and would recommend them
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 December 2012
    I have read all the other books in this series and was not disappointed in this book at all.

    The book was really well paced and what I enjoy is hat it shows the frustrating side to policing, not everything is neat and instantly solvable as is so often shown in other books.

    I love the main character, she is believable and has flaws and as this is a series, you know her background which is simmering.

    All I can say is roll on the next book :)
    11 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 November 2019
    I'm beginning to see a pattern with several thriller series that I'm catching up with. I didn't come to this one when it first appeared and was keen to see what I'd missed. Others I've read featuring Geraldine Steel have been well-written and an easy read, even if some characters don't grab me and demand to be life-long chums. This third title felt over long with extraneous detail and some of the forensics didn't convince.
    The common thread I'm finding by digging back through earlier series by successful authors is that they can be inconsistent. Every title isn't a blockbuster that is gripping and a must read. Yet the publicity machine behind them attaches the same headline names to the blurb for each book. This encourages the reader to believe that every book has the same merit as the one they may have sampled.
    I've no doubt that as with other series that I've read, the next more modern Geraldine Steel offering will be back to the sparkling level of the first book.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 January 2017
    Once again we meet Geraldine Steel now settled in her flat in Islington - well almost. She is slowly getting used to her new colleagues but keeps most of them at arms length with the exception of Sam, her sergeant. When restaurant owner Patrick is killed his wife Amy and her young lover, Guy, are suspected but with three more gruesome murders they are soon eliminated. So...just who wants these men dead? With seemingly nothing to connect these four men, Geraldine and Sam have their work cut out, but of course they triumph in the end.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2013
    DI Geraldine Steel investigates another grisly murder committed in strange circumstances. The perpetrator manages to evade detection and kills again...... any more would spoil the story!
    Geraldine's personal story continues to intrigue, bubbling under the surface as she is absorbed by her work.
    I've really enjoyed this series of books which have just the right balance of suspense and character back-story. I look forward to the next in the series.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 January 2013
    An enjoyable book with a few twists and turns. Appeared to be a rushed ending with a few loose ends.
    It was difficult to see the relevance of some of the sub plots, and the final clues as to the identity of the killer were tenuous.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 February 2019
    An extremely easy to read exciting case for Geraldine. Settling into a new life is pretty difficult without a tricky murder, but Geraldine knuckles down and trusts her senses. I am finding the characters are becoming acquaintances and friends, and I'm really looking forward to our next case, not that I would have been much help with this one!! Highly recommended .

Top reviews from other countries

  • crini
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good entertainment
    Reviewed in Germany on 24 August 2013
    After a hard day in the office, I found myself looking forward to the train journey home to continue reading this book. I am now going to see what else Leigh Russell has written.
  • kat
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on 24 February 2018
    good writer, read all her books so far, but prefer M.A. Comley better
  • Marion
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
    Reviewed in Spain on 1 April 2015
    The storyline was good but not exceptional. Plenty of characters and a little intrigue. Would recommend this book for fans of detective fiction.
  • Dilhani Guemon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dili Guemon
    Reviewed in France on 22 March 2015
    Another great detective adventure that Captured me from start to finish. This story had many twists and I was wondering how they will ever catch this killer. Very Well done.
  • tbc
    4.0 out of 5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed the look into London police work. Characters were well scetched to allow the story to flow against a background of city living across different social levels. This is my first introduction to Geraldine and I found her police work very interesting but felt sad for her isolated personal life. Perhaps too true to life!
    Reviewed in Australia on 5 June 2017
    I found the introduction of minor characters by name with no initial context unusual but grew used to the style and the story moved at a good ,well balanced pace.

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