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Maeve Kerrigan #10
The Close
At first glance, Jellicoe Close seems to be a perfect suburban street – well-kept houses with pristine lawns, neighbours chatting over garden fences, children playing together.
But there are dark secrets behind the neat front doors, hidden dangers that include a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing.
It’s up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to uncover the truth. Posing as a couple, they move into the Close, blurring the lines between professional and personal as never before.
And while Maeve and Josh try to gather the evidence they need, they have no idea of the danger they face – because someone in Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind.
But there are dark secrets behind the neat front doors, hidden dangers that include a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing.
It’s up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to uncover the truth. Posing as a couple, they move into the Close, blurring the lines between professional and personal as never before.
And while Maeve and Josh try to gather the evidence they need, they have no idea of the danger they face – because someone in Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2023
About the author
Jane Casey
35 books2,340 followersShe studied English at Jesus College, Oxford, followed by an mPhil in Anglo-Irish Literature at Trinity College, Dublin
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December 2, 2022
In book# 10, Maeve Kerrigan is investigating the murder of a surgeon in a hospital car park, until she and her colleague Josh Derwent are ordered to go undercover as house and dog sitters in Jellicoe Close, in a traditional English village. They’re living in fake domestic bliss, something which is almost certain to create sexual tensions.
Though on the face of it Jellicoe Close appears to be idyllic, nestled in a pretty little country village, suburbia at its best, Maeve and Josh are here to investigate the suspicious death of a skeletal young man, who had numerous injuries covering his body. They believe that one of the houses in Jellicoe Close is being used to temporarily house vulnerable young adults who are at serious risk of abuse.
This is a tightly knit community, with well kept houses and perfectly manicured lawns, neighbours chatting over the fence, kids playing happily in the street, but of course it has its fair share of nosy neighbours and gossips, but it’s not going to be that easy to crack this case. People are wary and aren’t always prepared to reveal others secrets. And trust me, there are plenty of secrets to be uncovered!
This was such an engaging plot with characters that I’m sure we all recognise, so naturally I was swiftly turning the pages, keen to find out what happened next. Jane Casey writes particularly well, and seems to avoid the clichés that are often present in most police procedurals. Another winner for Ms Casey.
*I was invited to read The Close by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Though on the face of it Jellicoe Close appears to be idyllic, nestled in a pretty little country village, suburbia at its best, Maeve and Josh are here to investigate the suspicious death of a skeletal young man, who had numerous injuries covering his body. They believe that one of the houses in Jellicoe Close is being used to temporarily house vulnerable young adults who are at serious risk of abuse.
This is a tightly knit community, with well kept houses and perfectly manicured lawns, neighbours chatting over the fence, kids playing happily in the street, but of course it has its fair share of nosy neighbours and gossips, but it’s not going to be that easy to crack this case. People are wary and aren’t always prepared to reveal others secrets. And trust me, there are plenty of secrets to be uncovered!
This was such an engaging plot with characters that I’m sure we all recognise, so naturally I was swiftly turning the pages, keen to find out what happened next. Jane Casey writes particularly well, and seems to avoid the clichés that are often present in most police procedurals. Another winner for Ms Casey.
*I was invited to read The Close by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
November 4, 2022
Thank you Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
One sentence review: Half Kerrwent (Maeve Kerr + Josh Derwent) romance, half police procedural, all the vibes
SYNOPSIS
DS Maeve Kerr and DI Josh Derwent go undercover as a couple to get to the bottom of a missing person's case.
MY OPINION
Oh. my. I scrummed louder than I've ever scrummed before while reading this. I felt like I was 12 years old again reading Twilight for the first time; Kerrwent's chemistry had me in a TIZZY 😂 I'm not afraid to admit it!! Tbh I didn't even care about the crimes being committed... I was just there for the Kerrwent vibes.
With that in mind, I (shockingly) wouldn't recommend this as a standalone. To really get the most out of Kerrwent, you need to at least read the previous two books (I'm saying this because those are the only other two I've read LOL). Otherwise you might be impartial to their "relationship" or annoyed that this book is chock full of domestic Kerrwent scenes while the two criminal cases take a backseat. Arguably, there are a lot of filler scenes to build up the tension between Kerrwent (as if it wasn't tense enough??) which may seem unnecessary to a first-time reader. BUT, if you're balls deep in this series, then this is a MUST.
Ya'll may have seen me begging for a Kerrwent kiss in my reviews from books #8 & #9. Now I'm not one to kiss and tell... so you'll have to read it yourself to find out 🫣
I clued into who the unnamed narrator was pretty early, but I appreciate that the author threw in a couple of curveballs near the end that had me second-guessing myself. Which is silly because when am I ever wrong??? (obvious sarcasm) Anyways, Maeve did have her detective dumbass moments – can detectives please stop heading out into heavily wooded areas without cell phones or basic protection?? Tysm.
Anyways, this was a solid and enjoyable read. I am definitely looking forward to #11 because I stan Kerrwent.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: solid suspense and sexual tension (this is a rare time where I don't mind it), decent writing, the cases were quite juicy but I was really just here for Kerrwent, some good jokey jokes
Cons: objectively a lot of filler scenes with Maeve describing her day or domestic events with Josh that may not matter to a first-time reader of the series
One sentence review: Half Kerrwent (Maeve Kerr + Josh Derwent) romance, half police procedural, all the vibes
SYNOPSIS
DS Maeve Kerr and DI Josh Derwent go undercover as a couple to get to the bottom of a missing person's case.
MY OPINION
Oh. my. I scrummed louder than I've ever scrummed before while reading this. I felt like I was 12 years old again reading Twilight for the first time; Kerrwent's chemistry had me in a TIZZY 😂 I'm not afraid to admit it!! Tbh I didn't even care about the crimes being committed... I was just there for the Kerrwent vibes.
With that in mind, I (shockingly) wouldn't recommend this as a standalone. To really get the most out of Kerrwent, you need to at least read the previous two books (I'm saying this because those are the only other two I've read LOL). Otherwise you might be impartial to their "relationship" or annoyed that this book is chock full of domestic Kerrwent scenes while the two criminal cases take a backseat. Arguably, there are a lot of filler scenes to build up the tension between Kerrwent (as if it wasn't tense enough??) which may seem unnecessary to a first-time reader. BUT, if you're balls deep in this series, then this is a MUST.
Ya'll may have seen me begging for a Kerrwent kiss in my reviews from books #8 & #9. Now I'm not one to kiss and tell... so you'll have to read it yourself to find out 🫣
I clued into who the unnamed narrator was pretty early, but I appreciate that the author threw in a couple of curveballs near the end that had me second-guessing myself. Which is silly because when am I ever wrong??? (obvious sarcasm) Anyways, Maeve did have her detective dumbass moments – can detectives please stop heading out into heavily wooded areas without cell phones or basic protection?? Tysm.
Anyways, this was a solid and enjoyable read. I am definitely looking forward to #11 because I stan Kerrwent.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: solid suspense and sexual tension (this is a rare time where I don't mind it), decent writing, the cases were quite juicy but I was really just here for Kerrwent, some good jokey jokes
Cons: objectively a lot of filler scenes with Maeve describing her day or domestic events with Josh that may not matter to a first-time reader of the series
December 4, 2022
This is the latest in Jane Casey's terrific DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent series, and it has more than one murder mystery to be solved. At a hospital car park, 34 year old consultant Dr Hassan Dawoud is discovered murdered in his car, it's a murder inquiry that Maeve is struggling to lead, the trauma of previous events have left her sluggish, she has mostly recovered physically, although still getting excruciating headaches, but mentally and emotionally, she cannot put her past as a domestic violence victim behind her. Needless to say, this does not escape the sharp eyed Derwent, and when a pressurising and politically sensitive investigation which requires the police to go undercover at Jellicoe Close, Josh persuades Maeve to pose with him as a couple housesitting the home, and taking care of chaotic dog, Pippin, belonging to a academic.
33 year old Davy Bidwell was a vulnerable adult with learning difficulties who was found dead, his body showing multiple fractures, he was physically battered, and had missing and broken teeth. No-one knows what happened to him, but his last known residing place was as a lodger with Judy Thwaites at Jellicoe Close, where in the last 6 years, others too have disappeared. At first glance, the place is a seemingly idyllic neighbourhood with an apparently small and perfect community, but scratch the surface and it does not take long for the dark undercurrents to emerge and the cracks to appear. For Maeve, she has the added pressure of running a murder investigation from afar, fortunately DC Georgia Shaw is showing real signs of development. In the meantime, Maeve's new role seems to be just what she needed to help her move on, as she and Josh watch and mix with a community during a summer of hot, sweltering days and oppressive nights, where danger and murder lurk.
At long last in the series, Casey addresses the long running sparks and tensions in Maeve and Josh Derwent's personal relationship as they pretend to be a couple, living in such close proximity to each other in the house. There are developments but there are still matters that require resolution that have me hugely anticipating future books in the series! This is a hugely entertaining and suspenseful read, I was completely immersed in the developing relationship angles, and the skilfully interspersed murder and crime mysteries within. The many fans of this brilliant series will likely adore this addition, and I think it may even entice new readers too. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
33 year old Davy Bidwell was a vulnerable adult with learning difficulties who was found dead, his body showing multiple fractures, he was physically battered, and had missing and broken teeth. No-one knows what happened to him, but his last known residing place was as a lodger with Judy Thwaites at Jellicoe Close, where in the last 6 years, others too have disappeared. At first glance, the place is a seemingly idyllic neighbourhood with an apparently small and perfect community, but scratch the surface and it does not take long for the dark undercurrents to emerge and the cracks to appear. For Maeve, she has the added pressure of running a murder investigation from afar, fortunately DC Georgia Shaw is showing real signs of development. In the meantime, Maeve's new role seems to be just what she needed to help her move on, as she and Josh watch and mix with a community during a summer of hot, sweltering days and oppressive nights, where danger and murder lurk.
At long last in the series, Casey addresses the long running sparks and tensions in Maeve and Josh Derwent's personal relationship as they pretend to be a couple, living in such close proximity to each other in the house. There are developments but there are still matters that require resolution that have me hugely anticipating future books in the series! This is a hugely entertaining and suspenseful read, I was completely immersed in the developing relationship angles, and the skilfully interspersed murder and crime mysteries within. The many fans of this brilliant series will likely adore this addition, and I think it may even entice new readers too. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
April 18, 2023
EXCERPT: All murder investigations were different and yet all of them began the same way, at least for me: standing in silence near a body, trying to catch the faintest echo of what had happened. Sometimes the air still vibrated with violence and high emotion, and sometimes the silence was empty. It was a habit I kept to myself, but one that reminded me of the fundamental truth: this was more than a job. Someone's life had been ended too soon. Finding out who had done it, and why, was my duty.
ABOUT 'THE CLOSE': At first glance, Jellicoe Close seems to be a perfect suburban street – well-kept houses with pristine lawns, neighbours chatting over garden fences, children playing together.
But there are dark secrets behind the neat front doors, hidden dangers that include a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing.
It’s up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to uncover the truth. Posing as a couple, they move into the Close, blurring the lines between professional and personal as never before.
And while Maeve and Josh try to gather the evidence they need, they have no idea of the danger they face – because someone in Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind.
MY THOUGHTS: I am a late comer to Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan series, and I have a lot of books to catch up on. If The Close is any indication of the quality of the series, I am in for a wonderful reading experience.
This is #10 in the series, but it reads easily as a stand-alone with only a few references to events in past books, and these are well explained.
I really enjoyed the characters in The Close. Maeve has suffered a recent traumatic event and, although she keeps telling everyone she is fine, she definitely isn't operating with her normal flair and passion.
Josh Derwent, Maeve's boss, good looking, confident almost to the point of arrogance, is concerned about her. To him, Maeve is only a shell of her former self. When an opportunity arises for Josh and Maeve to take on an undercover job posing as a dog-sitting couple in a human trafficking case, Josh pressures Maeve into taking it.
On the surface, Maeve and Josh don't appear to get on, but underneath they have a deep respect for one another. But what is living in close quarters and posing as a newly loved-up couple going to do to that relationship?
There are some interesting characters resident in the Close. There is Gillian, an elderly woman with dementia, who is terrified of 'the devil'. Is it just her dementia talking, or does someone pose a threat to her life? Ruth, a complainer, and her overly-friendly husband, Alan. Judy is the local do-gooder. She volunteers at charity shops, and takes in the homeless. If something is going on, Judy's involved. There's a neurotic housewife, and another undergoing IVF; a couple of sports-mad husbands, a single antique dealer, Gillian's son and caregiver, and an assortment of children.
There's a lot more going on in The Close than is at first apparent and, despite Maeve and Josh's intention to not get involved in any crime other than the one they are investigating, fate and their natural instincts work against them.
The Close is a fast paced police procedural with an intriguing and complex plot, and interesting characters that I read in little more than 24 hours. Once I got into the last third, I simply couldn't put The Close down. The further the story progressed, the tenser it got. I can't wait for the next in this series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I: @janecaseyauthor @harpercollinsuk
T: @JaneCaseyAuthor @HarperCollinsUK
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #friendship
#murdermystery #policeprocedural #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Jane Casey, a former editor, is married to a criminal barrister who ensures her writing is realistic and as accurate as possible. Born in Dublin, Jane now lives in southwest London with her husband and two children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Close by Jane Casey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'THE CLOSE': At first glance, Jellicoe Close seems to be a perfect suburban street – well-kept houses with pristine lawns, neighbours chatting over garden fences, children playing together.
But there are dark secrets behind the neat front doors, hidden dangers that include a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing.
It’s up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to uncover the truth. Posing as a couple, they move into the Close, blurring the lines between professional and personal as never before.
And while Maeve and Josh try to gather the evidence they need, they have no idea of the danger they face – because someone in Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind.
MY THOUGHTS: I am a late comer to Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan series, and I have a lot of books to catch up on. If The Close is any indication of the quality of the series, I am in for a wonderful reading experience.
This is #10 in the series, but it reads easily as a stand-alone with only a few references to events in past books, and these are well explained.
I really enjoyed the characters in The Close. Maeve has suffered a recent traumatic event and, although she keeps telling everyone she is fine, she definitely isn't operating with her normal flair and passion.
Josh Derwent, Maeve's boss, good looking, confident almost to the point of arrogance, is concerned about her. To him, Maeve is only a shell of her former self. When an opportunity arises for Josh and Maeve to take on an undercover job posing as a dog-sitting couple in a human trafficking case, Josh pressures Maeve into taking it.
On the surface, Maeve and Josh don't appear to get on, but underneath they have a deep respect for one another. But what is living in close quarters and posing as a newly loved-up couple going to do to that relationship?
There are some interesting characters resident in the Close. There is Gillian, an elderly woman with dementia, who is terrified of 'the devil'. Is it just her dementia talking, or does someone pose a threat to her life? Ruth, a complainer, and her overly-friendly husband, Alan. Judy is the local do-gooder. She volunteers at charity shops, and takes in the homeless. If something is going on, Judy's involved. There's a neurotic housewife, and another undergoing IVF; a couple of sports-mad husbands, a single antique dealer, Gillian's son and caregiver, and an assortment of children.
There's a lot more going on in The Close than is at first apparent and, despite Maeve and Josh's intention to not get involved in any crime other than the one they are investigating, fate and their natural instincts work against them.
The Close is a fast paced police procedural with an intriguing and complex plot, and interesting characters that I read in little more than 24 hours. Once I got into the last third, I simply couldn't put The Close down. The further the story progressed, the tenser it got. I can't wait for the next in this series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I: @janecaseyauthor @harpercollinsuk
T: @JaneCaseyAuthor @HarperCollinsUK
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #friendship
#murdermystery #policeprocedural #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Jane Casey, a former editor, is married to a criminal barrister who ensures her writing is realistic and as accurate as possible. Born in Dublin, Jane now lives in southwest London with her husband and two children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Close by Jane Casey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 14, 2022
4.5 rounded up
Maeve Kerrigan #10
DS Maeve Kerrigan and DC Georgia Shaw observe the body slumped half in and half out of the BMW sports car in the hospital car park. The victim is Dr Hassan Dawoud and after extensive enquiries his killer remains elusive. As if a hard to solve a murder isn’t enough the team are instructed by the Mayors office to look into the death of a vulnerable adult, Davy Bidwell, discovered in a derelict house in Acton. Davy’s family believe Judy Thwaites, who Davy lodges with for a few days, is exploiting vulnerable people. An undercover operation is planned and DI Josh Derwent insists Maeve works with him on this. So the pair arrive at Jellicoe Close, West Idleford as a couple and dog sitters for a very lively pooch! Such a cute dog!
There’s so much to praise in this immersive novel. First of all, Derwent and Maeve! I love the sparky banter, some is very funny and well, I won’t spoil it for readers but it is crackling with tension! These two are such great characters and the pages are never dull when they’re on them. Georgia really grows on you in this one too.
Secondly, it’s a fantastic portrait of the neighbourhood and the neighbours, it becomes clear that something very dark is lurking at its heart. At the very least this lot are harbouring secrets, the dynamics are certainly intriguing and yet it’s obvious there’s more……. Maybe it’s a conspiracy or is it pure evil? Josh and Maeve are closely observing them all and it’s a fascinating unfolding situation with some startling discoveries.
Thirdly, this novel has multiple layers and yet it all blends together with the tentacles of the surveillance operation spreading far and wide into areas that are truly shocking. The pressure, including high pressure, builds on several fronts building in intensity. The tension at times is sky high, there are creepy claustrophobic moments which raises the hairs on your arms and sends prickles down the back of your neck and spine. The revelations are such a surprise as your suspicion antenna has twitched in other directions - well played! I love the ultimate end, I’m so intrigued and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that number 11 is underway as my breath is baited!
Finally, I haven’t read all the series but I have read the last few and although it’s not vital to have read number nine it does help you to understand some of the things that are mentioned in this one. This is another cracking read from Jane Casey and one I can recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/ HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Maeve Kerrigan #10
DS Maeve Kerrigan and DC Georgia Shaw observe the body slumped half in and half out of the BMW sports car in the hospital car park. The victim is Dr Hassan Dawoud and after extensive enquiries his killer remains elusive. As if a hard to solve a murder isn’t enough the team are instructed by the Mayors office to look into the death of a vulnerable adult, Davy Bidwell, discovered in a derelict house in Acton. Davy’s family believe Judy Thwaites, who Davy lodges with for a few days, is exploiting vulnerable people. An undercover operation is planned and DI Josh Derwent insists Maeve works with him on this. So the pair arrive at Jellicoe Close, West Idleford as a couple and dog sitters for a very lively pooch! Such a cute dog!
There’s so much to praise in this immersive novel. First of all, Derwent and Maeve! I love the sparky banter, some is very funny and well, I won’t spoil it for readers but it is crackling with tension! These two are such great characters and the pages are never dull when they’re on them. Georgia really grows on you in this one too.
Secondly, it’s a fantastic portrait of the neighbourhood and the neighbours, it becomes clear that something very dark is lurking at its heart. At the very least this lot are harbouring secrets, the dynamics are certainly intriguing and yet it’s obvious there’s more……. Maybe it’s a conspiracy or is it pure evil? Josh and Maeve are closely observing them all and it’s a fascinating unfolding situation with some startling discoveries.
Thirdly, this novel has multiple layers and yet it all blends together with the tentacles of the surveillance operation spreading far and wide into areas that are truly shocking. The pressure, including high pressure, builds on several fronts building in intensity. The tension at times is sky high, there are creepy claustrophobic moments which raises the hairs on your arms and sends prickles down the back of your neck and spine. The revelations are such a surprise as your suspicion antenna has twitched in other directions - well played! I love the ultimate end, I’m so intrigued and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that number 11 is underway as my breath is baited!
Finally, I haven’t read all the series but I have read the last few and although it’s not vital to have read number nine it does help you to understand some of the things that are mentioned in this one. This is another cracking read from Jane Casey and one I can recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/ HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 12, 2023
The latest book in the Maeve Kerrigan series and it is gripping, oozing with all kinds of tension and hard to put down. I have not read all the books in this series, just enough to have wet my whistle and have me wanting to read more!
In this book there is not one but two cases to solve. Dr Hassan Dawoud has been found murdered in his car. Maeve, who is not quite at her best yet begins to investigate before she and DI Josh Derwent are tasked with posing as a couple while house and dog sitting. While there they will investigate the death of an emaciated young man. The man was found with horrible injuries and his last known residence was in a home on Jellicoe Close. Jellicoe Close looks like a pristine street with nice homes, friendly neighbors, and happy children. But there are secrets on this street...
As I mentioned tensions mount in this book and some of the tension is between Maeve and Josh. They have engaging and fun banter. There has always been a spark there, will it ignite in this book?
I enjoyed this book and the cases. I enjoyed the character development and how everything unfolded. I also appreciate that Jane Casey writes her characters with flaws. It makes them feel more real and fleshed out. I also like that she has Maeve still coping with events in the past book. In the beginning interrogation scene, we see her stumble a little. This felt realistic and believable. I have only read a few books in this series, and I am kicking myself for missing so many. I will make it a priority to fix that!
Suspenseful, gripping, full of tension and well written!
#TheClose #NetGalley #JaneCasey
Thank you to Harper 360, HarperCollins and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
In this book there is not one but two cases to solve. Dr Hassan Dawoud has been found murdered in his car. Maeve, who is not quite at her best yet begins to investigate before she and DI Josh Derwent are tasked with posing as a couple while house and dog sitting. While there they will investigate the death of an emaciated young man. The man was found with horrible injuries and his last known residence was in a home on Jellicoe Close. Jellicoe Close looks like a pristine street with nice homes, friendly neighbors, and happy children. But there are secrets on this street...
As I mentioned tensions mount in this book and some of the tension is between Maeve and Josh. They have engaging and fun banter. There has always been a spark there, will it ignite in this book?
I enjoyed this book and the cases. I enjoyed the character development and how everything unfolded. I also appreciate that Jane Casey writes her characters with flaws. It makes them feel more real and fleshed out. I also like that she has Maeve still coping with events in the past book. In the beginning interrogation scene, we see her stumble a little. This felt realistic and believable. I have only read a few books in this series, and I am kicking myself for missing so many. I will make it a priority to fix that!
Suspenseful, gripping, full of tension and well written!
#TheClose #NetGalley #JaneCasey
Thank you to Harper 360, HarperCollins and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
March 1, 2023
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!!!! (In Aus). I love this series!!
Book 10 in the Maeve Kerrigan series and did we get what we've all been waiting years for? 🤐 not telling.
Maeve and Derwent are posing as a couple and living at Jellicoe Close to perform surveillance on neighbours and find out what really happened to a young boy who turned up dead.
The Close is basically a police procedural crossed with a fake dating romance (if couples end up together EVERY time in romance books, I wouldn't know and this doesn't mean they do here and it doesn't mean they don't either). I loved the mix of genres and all the suspense.
This book probably won't work for you if you haven't read the earlier books in the series. But if you have, make sure you have time to binge it in one sitting - you'll want to 😍
The "new" characters were not likeable but it didn't change how I felt about it - I literally only cared about Maeve and Derwent.
Expected Publication Date: 2 March 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Book 10 in the Maeve Kerrigan series and did we get what we've all been waiting years for? 🤐 not telling.
Maeve and Derwent are posing as a couple and living at Jellicoe Close to perform surveillance on neighbours and find out what really happened to a young boy who turned up dead.
The Close is basically a police procedural crossed with a fake dating romance (if couples end up together EVERY time in romance books, I wouldn't know and this doesn't mean they do here and it doesn't mean they don't either). I loved the mix of genres and all the suspense.
This book probably won't work for you if you haven't read the earlier books in the series. But if you have, make sure you have time to binge it in one sitting - you'll want to 😍
The "new" characters were not likeable but it didn't change how I felt about it - I literally only cared about Maeve and Derwent.
Expected Publication Date: 2 March 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 19, 2023
Having read The Killing Kind and loving it, I was happy to be approved for The Close. Sadly, it was a DNF at about 30%.
No matter how many books I read, I will never ever read a book with a male on the cover without his shirt on and covered with tattoos. And while Josh Derwent probably had no tattoos, and the cover of the book is quite nice, I couldn’t escape the feeling that this book is more about the sexual tension between Maeve and Josh than anything else. There is a suspicious death; a young man is found dead in his car and his husband is a suspect but he has a strong alibi. Maeve has to find out what happened, along with her younger colleague Georgia. Maeve isn’t doing a lot more than worrying about Georgia, whether she’s up to the task or not. Only a day into the case, and Maeve and Josh have to go undercover in Jellicoe Close because there is another suspicious death.
So now we have Maeve who’s worrying about Georgia and Josh who’s worrying about his marriage and his feelings for Maeve. And a street full of people who made it their hobby to know everything about the neighbours, without knowing that one of them may be a killer.
Too many names… there are so many names of potential suspects, the book could have done with a list. And a map, to better understand who’s living where. I lost track soon and that didn’t make reading this book easier. And then the tension between Maeve and Josh which felt more as two teenagers with too many hormones than two adults who apparently been like this for nine books already. I like it when there is a certain chemistry between characters, and it can add a lot to a story, but in this case it took over the story.
This will not withhold me from trying another book by Jane Casey but I will not be running to the bookstore for any more books in this series.
I can understand why this series is so popular, but it’s just not to my taste.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for this review copy.
No matter how many books I read, I will never ever read a book with a male on the cover without his shirt on and covered with tattoos. And while Josh Derwent probably had no tattoos, and the cover of the book is quite nice, I couldn’t escape the feeling that this book is more about the sexual tension between Maeve and Josh than anything else. There is a suspicious death; a young man is found dead in his car and his husband is a suspect but he has a strong alibi. Maeve has to find out what happened, along with her younger colleague Georgia. Maeve isn’t doing a lot more than worrying about Georgia, whether she’s up to the task or not. Only a day into the case, and Maeve and Josh have to go undercover in Jellicoe Close because there is another suspicious death.
So now we have Maeve who’s worrying about Georgia and Josh who’s worrying about his marriage and his feelings for Maeve. And a street full of people who made it their hobby to know everything about the neighbours, without knowing that one of them may be a killer.
Too many names… there are so many names of potential suspects, the book could have done with a list. And a map, to better understand who’s living where. I lost track soon and that didn’t make reading this book easier. And then the tension between Maeve and Josh which felt more as two teenagers with too many hormones than two adults who apparently been like this for nine books already. I like it when there is a certain chemistry between characters, and it can add a lot to a story, but in this case it took over the story.
This will not withhold me from trying another book by Jane Casey but I will not be running to the bookstore for any more books in this series.
I can understand why this series is so popular, but it’s just not to my taste.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for this review copy.
February 15, 2023
Why oh why does a really good crime thriller have to get tangled up with relationship problems???
I loved the first half of this book. It is gritty and had me hooked. Then it went off the boil and the last half of this book was all about the love interests of the two main characters. I can deal with a crime thriller with a touch of romance but when the romance takes over the story I soon lost interest. So disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
I loved the first half of this book. It is gritty and had me hooked. Then it went off the boil and the last half of this book was all about the love interests of the two main characters. I can deal with a crime thriller with a touch of romance but when the romance takes over the story I soon lost interest. So disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
October 10, 2023
4 / 5 stars
This book is juicy almost like Louisa Scarr’s series but on steroids. You kind of have everything, police procedure, murder investigation, under cover investigation two deprived human beings that have a lot of internalised issues like we do portrayed. Although this was my first book of the series, I’m definitely joining the ride on this one!
DS Maeve Kerrigan is thrust into action solving a murder of a doctor found outside of the hospital car park. Whilst leading and investigating the case, she’s also agreed to go undercover with her boss DI Josh Derwent to investigate their neighbours and potential conspiracy of human slave trafficking. There is reason to believe one of the neighbours are using their homes to target vulnerable young adults.
If books could generate electricity this book was sparking up between Josh and Maeve having to work undercover and pretend to be a couple even though Josh is taken and has a young son, which is almost like the Louisa Scarrs Butler and West! But in all fairness, this has way more events occurring way more police procedures. I’m surprised at how well I understood the characters and who was who considering this is the first book I’ve read in the series and this is the 10th instalment. Kinda excited to see where this series goes, now that Scarr has ended the Butler and West series!
This book is juicy almost like Louisa Scarr’s series but on steroids. You kind of have everything, police procedure, murder investigation, under cover investigation two deprived human beings that have a lot of internalised issues like we do portrayed. Although this was my first book of the series, I’m definitely joining the ride on this one!
DS Maeve Kerrigan is thrust into action solving a murder of a doctor found outside of the hospital car park. Whilst leading and investigating the case, she’s also agreed to go undercover with her boss DI Josh Derwent to investigate their neighbours and potential conspiracy of human slave trafficking. There is reason to believe one of the neighbours are using their homes to target vulnerable young adults.
If books could generate electricity this book was sparking up between Josh and Maeve having to work undercover and pretend to be a couple even though Josh is taken and has a young son, which is almost like the Louisa Scarrs Butler and West! But in all fairness, this has way more events occurring way more police procedures. I’m surprised at how well I understood the characters and who was who considering this is the first book I’ve read in the series and this is the 10th instalment. Kinda excited to see where this series goes, now that Scarr has ended the Butler and West series!
April 19, 2023
I used to love this series because it used to be about crime. Now it is about the deeply uncomfortable relationship between Maeve, who has turned into a pathetic needy sub-1950s woman who must have a man to be complete and yet can't find or keep one, and her boss Josh, who has turned into her stalker and repetitive sexual harasser, which she seems to find both repellent and attractive simultaneously. I was never one of Josh's legions of fans since sexual harassers have never attracted me - odd, I know - and I said books ago that I really hoped Casey would pull back from trying to portray this abusive relationship as romantic or titillating, but I fear my hopes have finally been destroyed. The vision of Josh forcing his physical attentions on a traumatised survivor of domestic abuse, which is sadly what the once-fun Maeve has become, in the pretence of it being necessary for work nauseates me. And I don't want to read hundreds more pages of it. I'm abandoning the book at 15% and the series at book 10. Thanks for the good times, Maeve - I hope you get over your sick obsession with your revolting boss some day, make a complaint and have him thrown out of the Met, but I won't be around to find out.
Want to read
July 13, 2022I’m having Derwent withdrawal so can’t wait.
March 17, 2023
“The Close” is the tenth novel in the DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent series and having read a few of these books already, I knew exactly the top class police procedural/thriller I’d be getting from Jane Casey and as expected, it was as professional as anticipated. There were two interesting crimes to solve in this book; the death of a consultant found dead in his car in a hospital car park and the suspicious death of a thirty three year old man who, from his remains of his body, suffered terribly before he died. The latter investigation takes Maeve and Josh undercover to Jellicoe Close, to monitor a neighbour who housed the young man prior to his death. Obviously, living as a couple and not colleagues, brings its own sexual tensions and the flirting, the will they/won’t they at the same time as keeping the investigation professional, has the reader simmering with expectation. The suspense escalates towards the denouement and all in all, I was kept thoroughly entertained from start to finish.
The author’s character development is second to none and it’s impossible to not immediately entwine yourself in the lives of the protagonists. “The Close” can easily work as a one off mystery but already being familiar with Maeve, made this book all the more intriguing (and smouldering!)
#TheClose - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The author’s character development is second to none and it’s impossible to not immediately entwine yourself in the lives of the protagonists. “The Close” can easily work as a one off mystery but already being familiar with Maeve, made this book all the more intriguing (and smouldering!)
#TheClose - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 25, 2023
Maeve Kerrigan #10
At first glance, Jellicoe Close seems to be a perfect suburban street - well-kept houses with pristine lawns, neighbours chatting over garden fences, children playing together. But there are dark secrets behind the neat front doors, hidden dangers that include ruthless criminals who will stop at nothing. It's up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to uncover the truth. Posing as a couple they move into the Close, blurring the lines between professional and personal as never before.
This story has everything I like in a book - it's thrilling, mysterious, filled with suspense, and has a little bit of romance thrown into the mix. The characters are well rounded. While still working on the case of Dr Hassan Dawoud's murder, Maeve is seconded to work undercover with her boss, Josh, at Jellicoe Close. This is a twisted. gripping read that has a plot within a plot, and I couldn't stop turning the pages. Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #JaneCasey for my ARC of #TheClose in exchange for an honest review.
At first glance, Jellicoe Close seems to be a perfect suburban street - well-kept houses with pristine lawns, neighbours chatting over garden fences, children playing together. But there are dark secrets behind the neat front doors, hidden dangers that include ruthless criminals who will stop at nothing. It's up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to uncover the truth. Posing as a couple they move into the Close, blurring the lines between professional and personal as never before.
This story has everything I like in a book - it's thrilling, mysterious, filled with suspense, and has a little bit of romance thrown into the mix. The characters are well rounded. While still working on the case of Dr Hassan Dawoud's murder, Maeve is seconded to work undercover with her boss, Josh, at Jellicoe Close. This is a twisted. gripping read that has a plot within a plot, and I couldn't stop turning the pages. Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #JaneCasey for my ARC of #TheClose in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2023
I've read one book by Jane Casey before - The Killing Kind, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so was excited to see a new offering.
My only worry was that The Close is book 10 of a series that i knew nothing about involving Mauve Kerrigan and I was starting at the end. No need to worry, it can easily be read as a one off, and I now want to read all the other nine before it. Although it does give away a little of her back story it is enough to get you intrigued and if you have read the previous 9, I know you will enjoy this one.
I've already ordered the first one in the series on my Audible account so after I've caught up with a couple of other audio books that I need to review, this one will be right up there.
In this book Mauve goes undercover with her boss DI Josh Derwent and moves into a house together in Jellicoe Close to try and uncover the truth. A really interesting book, with some great characters and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
A big thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and Netgalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.
My only worry was that The Close is book 10 of a series that i knew nothing about involving Mauve Kerrigan and I was starting at the end. No need to worry, it can easily be read as a one off, and I now want to read all the other nine before it. Although it does give away a little of her back story it is enough to get you intrigued and if you have read the previous 9, I know you will enjoy this one.
I've already ordered the first one in the series on my Audible account so after I've caught up with a couple of other audio books that I need to review, this one will be right up there.
In this book Mauve goes undercover with her boss DI Josh Derwent and moves into a house together in Jellicoe Close to try and uncover the truth. A really interesting book, with some great characters and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
A big thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and Netgalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 27, 2022
What a tease Jane Casey is! This is the book that fans of Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent have been waiting for since about book 3. Casey ramps up the sexual tension but still leaves us wanting more...
There's enough of a crime element to keep things ticking over nicely but really this is a book that is centred on that crucial push-pull relationship that makes this series so riveting.
Definitely not the place to start if you haven't read this series before as there's a lot of past history sitting behind this story, but a must-read for fans - and the nail-biting wait for the next book starts here!
Huge thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC via NetGalley
There's enough of a crime element to keep things ticking over nicely but really this is a book that is centred on that crucial push-pull relationship that makes this series so riveting.
Definitely not the place to start if you haven't read this series before as there's a lot of past history sitting behind this story, but a must-read for fans - and the nail-biting wait for the next book starts here!
Huge thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC via NetGalley
April 20, 2023
If you didn’t yet know, I’m not one for romance in my crime fiction. I most definitely despise the whole “will they, won’t they”. Yet somehow, when it comes to Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent, those dislikes go right out the window. You can’t possibly understand how giddy I became when I realised they would be spending an awful lot of time together in this latest addition to the Kerrigan series.
Odd things might be happening at Jellicoe Close. But without proof, there’s nothing that can be done. it’s up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to find something, and the only way that can be done is to somehow integrate themselves into this suburban street’s community. Posing as a happy couple, they move into one of the residents’ houses, ostensibly to do a bit of dog-sitting.
There’s a whole lot of “wanting what you can’t have” in this story, in more ways than one. As it happens, the residents on this street are hiding quite a few things, and the neighbours are always watching. Gossip is rife. Maeve and Josh can’t afford to relax for a single second, for fear they’ll be found out for what they really are, and their purpose in the Close. Lines are blurred, and as far as the whole “will they, won’t they” it’s all just a massive tease, and I couldn’t have been more invested if I tried. Obviously you’ll have to read for yourself to discover what happens, but I will say that the level of intensity has definitely left me wanting more.
That whole part of the story had me so enthralled that I almost forgot there was a mystery to solve. I could have quite happily read 400 pages of Maeve and Josh in domestic bliss. But there are things to uncover in this seemingly perfect street. Once again, it goes to show that you never know what goes on behind closed doors. An affluent neighbourhood with well-kept houses and pristine gardens doesn’t at all mean danger and evil isn’t lurking around every corner. Many a skeleton is hiding in various closets. Some a bit more obvious than others. Each one of them horrific in their own way. As much as the neighbours think they know, there’s an awful lot they’ve missed.
Will Maeve and Josh be able to come to grips with what’s happening in Jellicoe Close? Maeve isn’t exactly herself, struggling with events from her past. It’s almost as if she’s fading away, going through the motions in a half-assed kind of way, delegating a lot more than she normally would, and wondering if she’ll ever be happy again. Something, or someone, needs to shake her back to herself. There’s a lot you can say about Josh Derwent, but he does notice things, and he knows Maeve needs a change. Personally, I’ve been Team Derwent from the start, but I know there are those who really don’t like him. All I can say is, you may catch some glimpses of a very different Derwent, and maybe he’ll win you over. Cookies for Georgia, who wasn’t nearly as annoying as she was at the start. And major bonus points for Pippin and the huge Derwent crush!
‘The Close‘ is the tenth book in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series. Yes, you should read them all and most definitely yes, you should start at the beginning. You’ll never be able to appreciate the relationship between Maeve and Josh otherwise. ‘The Close‘ is as brilliant as its predecessors, if not even more so. This is one of my favourite series and it just seems to be getting better and better. Sure, in this one I was more absorbed in the Maeve/Josh shenanigans, but that was down to me entirely. Jane Casey found the perfect balance between their relationship and the crimes that needed investigating. ‘The Close‘ will have you hooked from start to finish. It’s addictive, absorbing, titillating, intense and I have no idea how I’m going to wait for the next instalment. Recommended!
Odd things might be happening at Jellicoe Close. But without proof, there’s nothing that can be done. it’s up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to find something, and the only way that can be done is to somehow integrate themselves into this suburban street’s community. Posing as a happy couple, they move into one of the residents’ houses, ostensibly to do a bit of dog-sitting.
There’s a whole lot of “wanting what you can’t have” in this story, in more ways than one. As it happens, the residents on this street are hiding quite a few things, and the neighbours are always watching. Gossip is rife. Maeve and Josh can’t afford to relax for a single second, for fear they’ll be found out for what they really are, and their purpose in the Close. Lines are blurred, and as far as the whole “will they, won’t they” it’s all just a massive tease, and I couldn’t have been more invested if I tried. Obviously you’ll have to read for yourself to discover what happens, but I will say that the level of intensity has definitely left me wanting more.
That whole part of the story had me so enthralled that I almost forgot there was a mystery to solve. I could have quite happily read 400 pages of Maeve and Josh in domestic bliss. But there are things to uncover in this seemingly perfect street. Once again, it goes to show that you never know what goes on behind closed doors. An affluent neighbourhood with well-kept houses and pristine gardens doesn’t at all mean danger and evil isn’t lurking around every corner. Many a skeleton is hiding in various closets. Some a bit more obvious than others. Each one of them horrific in their own way. As much as the neighbours think they know, there’s an awful lot they’ve missed.
Will Maeve and Josh be able to come to grips with what’s happening in Jellicoe Close? Maeve isn’t exactly herself, struggling with events from her past. It’s almost as if she’s fading away, going through the motions in a half-assed kind of way, delegating a lot more than she normally would, and wondering if she’ll ever be happy again. Something, or someone, needs to shake her back to herself. There’s a lot you can say about Josh Derwent, but he does notice things, and he knows Maeve needs a change. Personally, I’ve been Team Derwent from the start, but I know there are those who really don’t like him. All I can say is, you may catch some glimpses of a very different Derwent, and maybe he’ll win you over. Cookies for Georgia, who wasn’t nearly as annoying as she was at the start. And major bonus points for Pippin and the huge Derwent crush!
‘The Close‘ is the tenth book in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series. Yes, you should read them all and most definitely yes, you should start at the beginning. You’ll never be able to appreciate the relationship between Maeve and Josh otherwise. ‘The Close‘ is as brilliant as its predecessors, if not even more so. This is one of my favourite series and it just seems to be getting better and better. Sure, in this one I was more absorbed in the Maeve/Josh shenanigans, but that was down to me entirely. Jane Casey found the perfect balance between their relationship and the crimes that needed investigating. ‘The Close‘ will have you hooked from start to finish. It’s addictive, absorbing, titillating, intense and I have no idea how I’m going to wait for the next instalment. Recommended!
September 22, 2023
I've only read a few of the Maeve Kerrigan series and have enjoyed them to an extent that I was thrilled to see the latest in my local library.
This was certainly a more character driven plot as Maeve and DI Josh Derwent are tasked with an undercover role.
There's an underlying tension as it's clear that there's history between the pair.
Maybe if I had read all the previous novels, then I might have enjoyed this aspect of the story more as the investigation seems to take a bit of a sideline.
This was certainly a more character driven plot as Maeve and DI Josh Derwent are tasked with an undercover role.
There's an underlying tension as it's clear that there's history between the pair.
Maybe if I had read all the previous novels, then I might have enjoyed this aspect of the story more as the investigation seems to take a bit of a sideline.
April 15, 2023
Kurgunun polisiye kısmı da gayet iyi olsa da sadece Maeve ve Derwent ilişkisini okusam yeter bana 🤭😌
March 14, 2023
There is a lot wrong with this book, but Derwent trying to “help” Maeve recover from her trauma by making physical advances really takes the cake 🤢
April 5, 2023
Sadly, I was extremely disappointed in this latest Maeve Kerrigan. I am a huge fan of the series and have been waiting breathlessly for three years. But this was not worth the wait.
The only way I can describe it is forced and cringe-worthy. I only skimmed past a certain point because it was just too painfully bad. I wouldn't even know where to start with how wildly this goes off the rails--characters, plot, writing--they're all out of synch with the way this series has been written.
Worst of all is the way she handles the fact that this is someone recovering from a horrible incident of domestic abuse. This makes the book go from just bad to plain offensive. It's really hard to believe the same person who wrote The Cutting Place wrote this.
I adore Jane Casey and can only hope this was an aberration and the series gets back on track with the next book.
The only way I can describe it is forced and cringe-worthy. I only skimmed past a certain point because it was just too painfully bad. I wouldn't even know where to start with how wildly this goes off the rails--characters, plot, writing--they're all out of synch with the way this series has been written.
Worst of all is the way she handles the fact that this is someone recovering from a horrible incident of domestic abuse. This makes the book go from just bad to plain offensive. It's really hard to believe the same person who wrote The Cutting Place wrote this.
I adore Jane Casey and can only hope this was an aberration and the series gets back on track with the next book.
January 24, 2023
I have no doubt that Jane Casey devotees will give this book 5 stars so I'd better admit that this is only my third Maeve Kerrigan novel. I know all about the "Kerrwent" situation though due to other fans posting. So I have to make a second confession - I really couldn't care less whether they got together. I know I'm bad, I've not a romantic bone in my body etc etc. Truth is that the whole on again/off again romance drives me nuts, very much like it does with the Strike series by JKR. Its also the reason I knocked a star off. It just takes up too much of the book for me. Personal taste folks.
Apart from that I thoroughly enjoyed it. There's no particularly gory scenes, which I also find gratuitous on occasion. The story doesn't involve one crime but several and Maeve is a great character who brings just enough of her personal life to bear on the cases (excepting the Derwent nonsense).
The Close deals with some serious issues of child abuse, domestic violence and abuse if vulnerable persons. Jane Casey doesn't shy away from tackling subjects such as this and she's good at it. What I also like a lot is her dialogue. It's so easy to read and the characters speak so naturally. That's a talent for an author of crime thrillers that can come across as procedural handbooks in some cases.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable read and I'll definitely read more (whilst skipping through the romance bits).
Apart from that I thoroughly enjoyed it. There's no particularly gory scenes, which I also find gratuitous on occasion. The story doesn't involve one crime but several and Maeve is a great character who brings just enough of her personal life to bear on the cases (excepting the Derwent nonsense).
The Close deals with some serious issues of child abuse, domestic violence and abuse if vulnerable persons. Jane Casey doesn't shy away from tackling subjects such as this and she's good at it. What I also like a lot is her dialogue. It's so easy to read and the characters speak so naturally. That's a talent for an author of crime thrillers that can come across as procedural handbooks in some cases.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable read and I'll definitely read more (whilst skipping through the romance bits).
March 3, 2023
Not the book it was hyped to be
Spoiler
As always, Jane Casey’s writing was great. However, the crime stories felt forced and the lead up to the “will they won’t they” over the last 10 years was left unfulfilled.
If there wasn’t going to be a resolve in that situation, I would have at least preferred a better story line.
I’m a huge fan of Jane Casey- but this was a bit of a let down.
Spoiler
As always, Jane Casey’s writing was great. However, the crime stories felt forced and the lead up to the “will they won’t they” over the last 10 years was left unfulfilled.
If there wasn’t going to be a resolve in that situation, I would have at least preferred a better story line.
I’m a huge fan of Jane Casey- but this was a bit of a let down.
April 4, 2023
Really well done. Having loved all the previous ones,I was a bit wary of the premise here (I don´t read romance, and too many series are ruined by being more romance than crime) but I was pleasantly surprised.
There are three main mysteries/crime here,and if the investigation/s seems a bit low key a,and somewhat predictable,it´s no mean feat to keep all those lines running,and solve them seamlessly.
As for the interaction between the two main characters, it was very deftly done. It reminded me of Jill McGown´s Lloyd and Hill series,a sadly underrated great mystery author of a splendid series.
For those who are tired of Rowling´s handling of a similar situation (I am, and stopped reading the series because of it),don´t worry.
If I wrote more about the non crime part, it´s because I know many readers were worried about this, as I was and also because the mysteries/crimes take second seat to the interaction between the two MCs. As for the worries,no need.Casey is one of the best "new" figures in mystery fiction,so I hope the next one will be pure crime.
There are three main mysteries/crime here,and if the investigation/s seems a bit low key a,and somewhat predictable,it´s no mean feat to keep all those lines running,and solve them seamlessly.
As for the interaction between the two main characters, it was very deftly done. It reminded me of Jill McGown´s Lloyd and Hill series,a sadly underrated great mystery author of a splendid series.
For those who are tired of Rowling´s handling of a similar situation (I am, and stopped reading the series because of it),don´t worry.
If I wrote more about the non crime part, it´s because I know many readers were worried about this, as I was and also because the mysteries/crimes take second seat to the interaction between the two MCs. As for the worries,no need.Casey is one of the best "new" figures in mystery fiction,so I hope the next one will be pure crime.
May 10, 2024
Okurluğundan editörlüğüne, oradan çevirmenliğine
July 10, 2023
I have loved this series since the beginning, but I found this book painful to read.
If you are pining for a romance between Maeve and Josh, you’ll probably love it. If, like me, you enjoy Josh as a character but also find him to be a conceited and competitive sexist pig who does not for one second see Maeve as an equal, you might not like it as much. He’s not right for her, no matter how fit and physically attractive he is. (I'm also someone who preferred Mulder and Scully as coworkers, not lovers.)
As to the mystery – wait, there was a mystery? Okay, there are three mysteries, but none is remarkable. I guessed one murderer from the very beginning; the others, honestly, just weren’t that interesting.
This is not so much a police procedural as it is an overwrought romance novel. I'm still hoping for Rob to return and shake things up. Josh is her boss and needs to leave Maeve alone.
If you are pining for a romance between Maeve and Josh, you’ll probably love it. If, like me, you enjoy Josh as a character but also find him to be a conceited and competitive sexist pig who does not for one second see Maeve as an equal, you might not like it as much. He’s not right for her, no matter how fit and physically attractive he is. (I'm also someone who preferred Mulder and Scully as coworkers, not lovers.)
As to the mystery – wait, there was a mystery? Okay, there are three mysteries, but none is remarkable. I guessed one murderer from the very beginning; the others, honestly, just weren’t that interesting.
This is not so much a police procedural as it is an overwrought romance novel. I'm still hoping for Rob to return and shake things up. Josh is her boss and needs to leave Maeve alone.
November 7, 2023
Ya valla yazıklar olsun. Bir okuyucuya bu kadar çile çektirilir mi ya... Bu saçma sapan kurgulanamayışına ne diyeyim. Herkes aynı şeyi bekliyor, sen yazmamak için mi direniyorsun, yazmayı mı beceremiyorsun anlamadım. Valla böyle bir kurguda da böyle garip şeyler yazdın ya tebrik ederim. Polisiye kısımları fena olmasa da ne bu karakterler ya? Cidden iyice canım sıkılıyor ki bazı şeyler gerçekten mantıksız, asla oturtamıyorum kurguya.
October 22, 2023
I'd never read anything by this author before this book and it's #10 in a series about modern-day London police detective Maeve Kerrigan. Since, apparently, each book features a different crime and/or mystery, I didn't have any problems getting into the story. And anything I needed to know about Maeve as a person was either mentioned or implied within the pages. Now, why did I begin with the latest book of the series? Well, that would be because it was the one on sale and me and bargains are big friends.
This was a pretty good police procedural. And there were actually three crimes to unravel. Two of them in the area outside London where Maeve and a fellow police detective went under cover and a third one that she had had to leave behind in the hands of London-based detectives while consulting with them via texts and emails. As usual, I didn't manage to solve all the mysteries. Let's face it, even the NYT Connections Word Game causes me problems. Bright or not bulb in chandeliers, etc.
Will I go back and check out #1-9 in the series? Maybe, if at a reduced price or if borrowed. That sounds like damning with faint praise, but I did enjoy this one. I just don't like going back in time in a chronological series. Onward and upward for me.
This was a pretty good police procedural. And there were actually three crimes to unravel. Two of them in the area outside London where Maeve and a fellow police detective went under cover and a third one that she had had to leave behind in the hands of London-based detectives while consulting with them via texts and emails. As usual, I didn't manage to solve all the mysteries. Let's face it, even the NYT Connections Word Game causes me problems. Bright or not bulb in chandeliers, etc.
Will I go back and check out #1-9 in the series? Maybe, if at a reduced price or if borrowed. That sounds like damning with faint praise, but I did enjoy this one. I just don't like going back in time in a chronological series. Onward and upward for me.
February 12, 2023
3 Nov 2022: Review to come once I collect my thoughts to be coherent because it’s JUST THAT FREAKING GOOD!
**UPDATE**
After an excruciating three year wait, Maeve and Josh are back, and boy, is it hot in here? And I’m not talking about the London heatwave they're escaping. *fans self*
The Close, the tenth instalment of the sublime DS Maeve Kerrigan series has the spotlight firmly on Maeve and DI Josh Derwent's personal and professional relationship. Jane Casey takes a romance genre trope - fake dating - by having them go undercover as a couple to investigate people trafficking.
Pressure from the mayor's office has the team assigned to Jellicoe Close in the home counties to conduct surveillance into the death of a vulnerable man.
With Maeve struggling in the aftermath of an attack by her ex-boyfriend, Josh urges her to join him so she can have a break, leaving a much improved DC Georgia Shaw in London to conduct the legwork of her current case. Josh is very keen for Maeve to go, and is even cagier than normal while still mother henning her - he can easily spot that she’s experiencing PTSD with a lack of focus for her job.
The Close takes a huge leap forward into answering the 'will they, won't they?' question, along with highlighting the potential fallout. I am now DYING for the next book as this book brings up as much new questions as it does resolve others.
This book is very much for the fans. While you can read it as a standalone, you’ll find at least reading the previous book, The Cutting Place would allow you to drink in the developments of Maeve and Josh’s partnership. But honestly I think you should start from the beginning to get its full deliciousness.
The Close should cement Jane Casey's status as one of the world's top crime writers. This book has it all - a compelling mystery set in suburbia, and, at its heart, lead characters with banter, astute detecting, and explosive chemistry, which keeps me coming back for more. This series is the best police procedural out there.
Run now and pre-order yourself a copy. If you like audiobooks I can tell you that Caroline Lennon is one of the best narrators who won’t let your reading experience down.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC (no way I could wait until March, after this release was delayed from May last year). I have pre-ordered my own copy.
**UPDATE**
After an excruciating three year wait, Maeve and Josh are back, and boy, is it hot in here? And I’m not talking about the London heatwave they're escaping. *fans self*
The Close, the tenth instalment of the sublime DS Maeve Kerrigan series has the spotlight firmly on Maeve and DI Josh Derwent's personal and professional relationship. Jane Casey takes a romance genre trope - fake dating - by having them go undercover as a couple to investigate people trafficking.
Pressure from the mayor's office has the team assigned to Jellicoe Close in the home counties to conduct surveillance into the death of a vulnerable man.
With Maeve struggling in the aftermath of an attack by her ex-boyfriend, Josh urges her to join him so she can have a break, leaving a much improved DC Georgia Shaw in London to conduct the legwork of her current case. Josh is very keen for Maeve to go, and is even cagier than normal while still mother henning her - he can easily spot that she’s experiencing PTSD with a lack of focus for her job.
The Close takes a huge leap forward into answering the 'will they, won't they?' question, along with highlighting the potential fallout. I am now DYING for the next book as this book brings up as much new questions as it does resolve others.
This book is very much for the fans. While you can read it as a standalone, you’ll find at least reading the previous book, The Cutting Place would allow you to drink in the developments of Maeve and Josh’s partnership. But honestly I think you should start from the beginning to get its full deliciousness.
The Close should cement Jane Casey's status as one of the world's top crime writers. This book has it all - a compelling mystery set in suburbia, and, at its heart, lead characters with banter, astute detecting, and explosive chemistry, which keeps me coming back for more. This series is the best police procedural out there.
Run now and pre-order yourself a copy. If you like audiobooks I can tell you that Caroline Lennon is one of the best narrators who won’t let your reading experience down.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC (no way I could wait until March, after this release was delayed from May last year). I have pre-ordered my own copy.
November 23, 2022
This is my second Maeve Kerrigan book and I am now going to go back and start from the first one!
I feel like having read book 9 really helped me to understand the complex relationship dynamic between Josh and Maeve. I am convinced that reading the others will add even more depth. Plus I need some Kerrigan/Derwent content while I wait for book 11...
Georgia as a character is really developed in this book and she is growing on me more and more. All of the other characters felt really well developed too.
I need more Maeve and Josh in my life though!
Great fast paced writing, engaging plot and characters who feel so authentic. I did guess one outcome but, for some reason, it doesn't bother me as much as in other crime books. Maybe because of the character storylines that run alongside the main plot?
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.
I feel like having read book 9 really helped me to understand the complex relationship dynamic between Josh and Maeve. I am convinced that reading the others will add even more depth. Plus I need some Kerrigan/Derwent content while I wait for book 11...
Georgia as a character is really developed in this book and she is growing on me more and more. All of the other characters felt really well developed too.
I need more Maeve and Josh in my life though!
Great fast paced writing, engaging plot and characters who feel so authentic. I did guess one outcome but, for some reason, it doesn't bother me as much as in other crime books. Maybe because of the character storylines that run alongside the main plot?
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.
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