Stop Dead

When a successful businessman is brutally murdered, the police suspect his glamorous wife and her young lover. Then the victim’s business partner suffers the same gruesome fate and when yet another body is discovered, seemingly unrelated to the first two, the police are baffled. The only clue is DNA that leads them to two women: one dead, the other in prison.

With a steady stream of bodies arriving at the morgue, can DI Geraldine Steel find the killer before the killer stages another deadly attack?

Leigh Russell studied at the University of Kent gaining a Masters degree in English and American literature. A secondary school teacher, specialising in supporting pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties as well as teaching English, Leigh Russell is married with two daughters and lives in Hertfordshire. Her first novel,
Cut Short
, was published in 2009, followed by
Road Closed
in 2010,
Dead End
in 2011 and
Death Bed
in 2012.

‘Taut and compelling’ –
Peter James

‘Earlier books by Russell have marked her out as one of the most able practitioners in the current field and this latest entry for her doughty policewoman continues the momentum’
–
Barry Forshaw
, Crime Time

‘Death Bed is a marvellous entry in this highly acclaimed series’
–
Lizzie Hayes,
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’
–
Helen Hunt
, 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* ’
–
Amanda Gillies
, Eurocrime

‘The story itself was as usual a good one, and the descriptive gruesomeness of some scenes was brilliant. 4* ’
–
Best Crime Books

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

‘I could not put this book down’
–
Ann Marie Muldoon
, Newbooks magazine

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

‘An encounter that will take them into the darkest recesses of the human psyche’
–
Barry Forshaw
, 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’
–
Amanda Gillies
, Eurocrime

‘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’
–
Mike Stafford
,
bookgeeks.co.uk

‘a macabre read, full of enthralling characters and gruesome details which kept me glued from first page to last’
–
GS
,
www.crimesquad.com

‘cleverly thought out, gripping and convincing… I couldn’t put this book down… can’t wait for the next Geraldine Steel story to come out’
–
Helen M Hunt
,
bookersatz.blogspot.com

‘a series that can rival other major crime writers out there… Can’t wait for the next one!’
–
Best Books to Read

‘A well-written, soundly plotted, psychologically acute story’
–
Marcel Berlins
, The Times

‘Well-written and absorbing right from the get-go… with an exhilarating climax that you don’t see coming’
–
Amanda Gillies
,
eurocrime.co.uk

‘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’
–
Marj Stuart
, San Francisco Book Review

‘perfect character building… cleverly written… can’t wait for the next one’
–
bestbookstoread.co.uk

‘New star of crime fiction, Leigh Russell’s chilling psychological thriller is terrific & 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’
–
Sam Millar
, New York Journal of Books

‘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’
-
Mark Campbell
, 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
,
itsacrime.typepad.com

‘Simply awesome! This debut novel by Leigh Russell will take your breath away’
–
Amanda C M Gillies
,
eurocrime.co.uk

‘an excellent book…Truly a great start for new mystery author Leigh Russell‘
–
Michael Lipkin
, New York Journal of Books

Cut Short
is a book I had to read in one sitting… excellent new series’
–
Beth
, Murder by Type

‘a surefire hit - a taut, slick, easy to read thriller ’
–
Melanie Dakin
, Watford Observer

‘a pretty fine police procedural, with a convincing if disconcerting feel of contemporary Britain’
-
PPO Kane
, The Compulsive Reader

‘Cut Short featured in one of Eurocrime’s reviewers’ Top Reads for 2009’
–
Amanda Gillies
, Eurocrime

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

‘well written debut psychological thriller’
–
stopyourekillingme.com

‘gritty and totally addictive debut novel’
-
Sam Millar
, New York Journal of Books

‘If you’re a real fan of police procedurals, you’ll probably enjoy this read’
–
Claudette C. Smith
, Sacramento Book Review

‘’I found Cut Short to be a fantastic read, taking me only days to finish. I thought it to be well-written and well-paced, with a fresh batch of intriguing characters to go along with a fresh tight plot’
–
James Garcia Jr
., Dance on Fire

‘Leigh Russell may look like your everyday school teacher, but unlike most other English tutors she is also a bestselling crime writer’
–
Tori Giglio
, Bushey News

‘an excellent story, skilfully built and well told’
–
Sue Magee
,
www.thebookbag.co.uk

‘intelligently written, gripping crime fiction’
–
Helen M. Hunt
, Bookersatz Blogspot

‘I look forward to the second book in the series’
–
Nayu’s Reading Corner

‘a very excellent book!’
–
The Book Buff Blog

‘a wonderful series’
–
Clarissa Draper
,
clarissadraper.blogspot.com

‘difficult to put down’
–
Calum
, The Secret Writer

Also by Leigh Russell

Cut Short

Road Closed

Dead End

Death Bed

Dedicated to,
Michael, Jo and Phill

I would like to thank Dr Leonard Russell for his expert medical help, my brilliant editor Keshini, my advisors on the Metropolitan Police for their time and consideration, and all the wonderful team at No Exit Press.

S
he dashed across the cold kitchen floor. The sound of his feet pounded in her ears as he raced down the stairs. It wouldn’t be long before he caught up with her. Her thoughts spun wildly. She had to get away. Hide somewhere. Anywhere. As the back door swung shut behind her, the evening air felt cool on her tears. She stared around in terror at the darkness, searching for somewhere to hide. The garden was overgrown with scratchy brambles. Frantically she ran across the weedy lawn, the dry grass prickly beneath her bare feet, forcing her muscles to keep going, faster and faster. Any second now he would emerge through the door behind her.

She darted into the shed. Bent almost double, she struggled to catch her breath. Her chest was burning. Her lungs felt as though they would burst. She was drowning. As her breathing slowed, she became aware that her legs ached painfully from running. They were shaking so violently she could barely stand.

He burst in, slamming the door against the shed wall. With a roar he launched himself at her, dragging her onto the ground. She hit her head as she fell, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was that he was there. She grappled feebly with him, but was no match for his vigorous assault. It was happening again and she was powerless to stop him.

Over his shoulder, through her tears she saw a figure hovering in the doorway, one hand raised in a futile gesture. But there was no point calling out for help. Scrabbling on the ground, her fingers closed on the handle of something very heavy. In that instant, she knew what she had to do. With a surge of adrenaline she raised the hammer as high as she could and swung it down.

There was a loud crack, like a window breaking, and he slumped forwards. Whimpering, she struggled out from beneath him. It wasn’t easy. His inert body weighed down on her, but she managed to crawl free. Groaning, he rolled away from her, onto his back, exposing his genitals. Yelling in fear and ecstasy she raised the hammer again.

A
my glanced fearfully at her watch.