Deadly Alibi: A DI Geraldine Steel Mystery

In Russell’s clever ninth puzzler featuring Det. Insp. Geraldine Steel (after Murder Ring), Steel faces a difficult murder case and personal problems that threaten her peace of mind and possibly her future with the North London police. When the beaten body of Jamie Cordwell turns up in a trash bin, her husband, Chris Cordwell, becomes the prime suspect. Louise Marshall, the woman Chris was having an affair with, tells Steel over the phone that she can alibi her lover, but then she disappears. This complication leads to Louise’s husband becoming a suspect. Meanwhile, Steel must deal with the death of her birth mother, Milly Blake, whom she barely knew, and the discovery that she has a twin sister, Helena Blake, who has drug problems. As the suspense builds, Russell offers a wickedly tantalizing clue about the identity of the killer. Readers will find this a nice addition to this solid procedural series. (Sept.)