Leigh Russell is the author of the Geraldine Steel series. The series has sold over a million copies worldwide. Cut Short was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award, and Leigh has been longlisted for the CWA Dagger in the Library Award. Leigh is chair of the CWA's Debut Dagger Award judging panel and is a Royal Literary Fellow. Leigh studied at the University of Kent, gaining a Masters degree. She lives in London.