Cut Short (DI Geraldine Steel, No. 1) [Paperback]

Leigh Russell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2009

D.S. Geraldine Steel expects the quiet town of Woolsmarsh to be dull. She quickly discovers she is wrong. The park is a place where children play, friends sit and gossip, people walk their dogs, or take a short cut to avoid the streets. But in the shadows a predator prowls, hunting for victims. A woman sees the killer and comes forward as a witness-someone whom the killer must stop at all costs. For D.S. Geraldine Steel, it is a race against time to find the killer before he strikes again, as public pressure mounts with the growing death toll.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. This tense and compelling narrative introduces an extraordinary new mystery protagonist. Escaping a failed relationship, Det. Insp. Geraldine Steel moves to a smaller town, which she hopes will have smaller problems. Instead she's put in charge of investigating a young woman's brutal murder. Her co-workers are alternately supportive and cynical, skeptical of her quick rise to the top, but Geraldine doesn't have time to worry about that when two more young women are found dead in the same manner and location and the prime suspect is eliminated. Geraldine's hunt for the severely disturbed killer soon makes her a target. A wide variety of characters come seamlessly together to advance the fast-paced, twisty narrative. 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. (Jan.)
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Review

"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, author, Roadside Crosses

"This tense and compelling narrative introduces an extraordinary new mystery protagonist. . . . 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 starred review 

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: No Exit Press (August 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842432710
• ISBN-13: 978-1842432716
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 1 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #898,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Leigh Russell is an English teacher.
CUT SHORT (2009), the first in her series of British crime thrillers featuring Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel, was shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writers Association New Blood Dagger Award for Best First Novel. Described as "a stylish, top-of-the-line crime tale" by Jeffery Deaver, it was well reviewed in the UK and the US and quickly became a bestseller.
ROAD CLOSED (2010)received glowing reviews in the UK and the US and also quickly became a bestseller. Reviews can be seen on the publisher's website
http://www.noexit.co.uk/titles.php/itemcode/526
and there is more information about Leigh Russell on her author page at
http://www.noexit.co.uk/authorpages/author.php?authorcode=72
DEAD END is published in 2011.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "He was playing hide and seek. And when he found me... he was going to kill me." March 5, 2010

By Luan Gaines HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel leaves her old life behind when she relocates to a rural area, including a failed romance. Expecting her job to be less stressful as a part of the mobile Murder Investigation Team in Woolmarsh, Steel has barely gotten settled when a shocking murder sends the team into action. Under the stewardship of DCI Kathryn Gordon, Steel is conscious of her role as a senior detective, the majority of the team being male. But Geraldine is a go-getter, which certainly has contributed to the demise of her relationship; in essence, Geraldine is married to the job. Mostly, that's a safe place for this driven protagonist, her single-minded attention to detail the reason for her success. The loneliness that Steel suffers along the way is the price she is willing to pay.

The strangulation murder of a helpless young girl in Woolmarsh Park creates havoc in the neighborhood, the police- or "filth" as some choose to call the authorities- are determined to turn over every rock to find this killer. While Russell's driven Detective Inspector reflects a serious work ethic and the tedium of real investigation, it is the killer who brings another level of horror to this tale. Living in his own universe, with a twisted and disturbed perspective of the world, the killer is compulsive, increasingly violent and comfortable with being overlooked by passersby, a quality that allows him to pass, unnoticed, sneaking up behind helpless victims, overpowering them as he snuffs out their lives. A faceless murderer nobody remembers- the murder squad is frustrated at every turn, unable to find any links to identify a suspect as one murder after another terrifies the public.

The supporting characters are quirky, part of the fabric of this quietly stunning thriller, a young Detective Sergeant who sees more than Steel is prepared to deal with, a sleazy boyfriend who beats his girlfriend but stops short of murder and a helpful school teacher whose brush with the killer puts her in grave danger. As the body count rises, Geraldine reverts to her instinct for detail, the odd fact that will lead her directly to the demented killer, perhaps even make her his next victim. A grim and satisfying read, starring a great protagonist. Luan Gaines/2010.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "The force won't tolerate maverick officers." April 16, 2011

By Patto TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The hunt for a serial killer is on in the small town of Woolsmarsh. The Incident Room is full of detectives eager for a quick arrest. But Geraldine Steel, recently promoted to Detective Inspector, has been warned by her superior to play it by the book. She has a reputation for being something of a maverick. Not a team player.

Geraldine combines a strong intuitive streak with a workaholic temperament. She's often still on the case while the rest of the team is sleeping. She'll show up at work in the middle of the night to take one more look at the transcripts of phone messages and interviews, searching for a missed clue.

Both the leader of the investigation and the main character are female, which allows the author to explore the challenges women face dealing with brutal crimes and a brutal job.

The plot moves right along, with an interesting twist at the end.

I found Cut Short an absorbing read. I wouldn't consider it in a league with Ruth Rendell's psychological thrillers (as the jacket copy suggests). But if you'd enjoy a fast-paced police procedural featuring a woman police officer in a contemporary British setting, Cut Short might be just the thing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read April 1, 2011

By Noir Fan

Format:Paperback

Bought this after seeing crime writer Sam Millar's review of it on New York Journal of Books, a while back. Just got round to reading it. Very fast thriller, and a great, original character. The writing is very strong, and Geraldine Steel is an an arresting female lead (sorry about the pun). Highly recommended. Great for a plane journey.