Leigh Russell is the author of twenty-seven published novels. Her work comprises the internationally bestselling Geraldine Steel series of crime thrillers (No Exit Press), which has sold well over a million copies, the Lucy Hall mystery series (Thomas & Mercer), and two standalone domestic noir thrillers, The Adulterer’s Wife and Suspicion (Bloodhound Books).

Leigh’s books have been shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association’s New Blood Dagger Award, long listed for the CWA Dagger in the Library Award, and she has twice been a finalist for the People’s Book Award. Her books have additionally been selected as a Best Fiction Book of the year by the Miami Examiner, voted Best Crime Fiction Book of the Year in Crime Time, and a Top Read on Eurocrime, among other accolades.

Leigh studied at the University of Kent, where she gained a Masters degree in English. She has a Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties from the British Dyslexia Association, and a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. For many years she taught English at secondary school, specialising for fifteen years in supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties.

Committed to supporting new writers, Leigh judges several writing competitions, including serving as Chair of the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger judges. She also runs the CWA critiquing service, and is a Royal Literary Fellow.

Leigh is married, has two daughters, and one granddaughter, and lives in North West London.

2021 sees the publication of her first dystopian novel, and her first historical novel, in addition to two further titles in her continuing successful Geraldine Steel crime series.

Rachel’s Story was published by Bloodhound Books in April, and the historical novel, Abigail of Venice, in October.