I need to talk about Maeve Kerrigan - includes The Secret Room[SPOILERS] *Title edited by MNHQ*

[Zitouna]

Following recommendations from on here I’ve just read the whole Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey over the Christmas holidays, and need to talk about my latest obsession!

has anyone else read them all? Happy to try and discuss without spoilers if people haven’t. They are basically brilliant police procedurals with a lot of character-driven background stuff - there are 10 main books, plus a few shorter spin offs set in the same world. The next one is out in March and I’d like to fill the gap with chat if possible!

Thoughts/predictions from me: Hoping beyond hope that the relationship stuff is resolved at least a bit in the next one, but predict more angst before it is. It might sort of ‘end’ the series - but then Casey could continue a series of the spin offs instead.

I had a question on chronology if anyone has read them all- wondering whether The Outsider (Rob spin off) is supposed to come before or after The Close? I think it matters for the relationship arc, and I can’t decide!

Hi, yes, I love them too, eagerly waiting for the next one! The Outsider is definitely before The Close; it's sometime mid-series. I went back to check and ended up reading the whole series again!
The Outsider happens at the same time as The Kill (number 5 in the series I think)

I adore these novels, glad to find fellow aficionados!

Yay so pleased there are other fans!

So @StellaAndCrow i have been pondering this and Maeve mentions you-know-who going down for GBH in The Outsider, so it must be after The Cutting Place where that happens, at least. But agree it could be before The Close.

It’s so filmable - I’ve been pondering who would play them in a TV series, am a bit stuck on Rich Madden for Derwent, tho is perhaps not craggy enough. No idea for Maeve.

I read them all in December after seeing a recommendation here. Was so pleased to find a new series!

I'm so glad someone recommended these on The Running Grave thread and thank you for starting this one OP. I am always bereft when I finish a Strike novel.
I'm currently on The Cutting Place and have binged read all of them since December.
I can't believe how Rob has turned out so far and I'm still unsure what to make of the Maeve-Derwent relationship. Can't picture them ever getting together even though he's always her Knight in shining armour!
Still a couple of books to go though so who knows!

I had no idea there was a Rob spin off! Thank you!

I think it was me that recommended them on the first thread, although there were probably a few of us! So happy everybody is enjoying them, they are really great!

I've just read an ARC of A Stranger in the Family, and I think it might be quite divisive amongst some fans. I loved it though 😁

I am a fan of the series and have read them all to date. Interesting to know the new 1 is decisive, am looking forward to its release

I'm a bit late to the party but have just finished and loved this series. I now need a new series to start on - I saw a thread recently with loads of similar recommendations but can't find it anywhere. Can anyone remember what the thread was called?

Or of course, let me know and recommendations. Have read all the Peter May, Peter Robinson, the Roy Grace novels (can't remember author) the Simon Serralier novels. Also quite like Nordic stuff, loved the Camilla Lackberg series.

(Edited as Nordic autocorrected to Norwich, which is not nearly as moody and dramatic)

not Sure if this link will work for everyone, but Jane Casey did a short story for those who had pre-ordered a hard copy of the next one. Very pleasing for Kerriwent fans!

https://harpercollins.co.uk/pages/the-dirty-dancing-experience-by-jane-casey

I love this series!

@Zitouna thank you so much for sharing the link. What a lovely short story. Looking forward to the new release, the suspense of will the won't they 🫣

@Zitouna thank you for starting this thread and sharing that story. It was fab and I wish it had been a chapter in the book.

I am obsessed with this series but have no one in RL to talk to about them.

I only started them last year and finished the Close this week. I’m can’t bloody wait for the new book. But I’m also sad already that it is the last one (for now hopefully) and I won’t know what to do with myself when it’s finished.

I didn’t know about the spin-offs though, so thank you all so much I have those to look forward to.

I’m listening to the Audible versions and the narrator is fantastic. Each character has such a distinct voice and personality and she is doing the new one too thank goodness.

I have never guessed the whodunnits in any of the crimes so I’ve loved the suspense, but I also love the will they/won’t they. I remember being in book 2 or 3 and saw something about Kerriwent and I was so shocked - Josh was such a tosser. Now I would give anything for a chapter from his perspective to find out how he really feels about Maeve.

At the risk of spoilers I still haven’t recovered from a certain hair washing scene 🤤 and I was in tears for most of the Cutting Edge 🥹. As for The Close 🔥🪭

I have pre-ordered the new book and have a feeling I’ll be locking myself away to finish it. I’m a bit worried about it being divisive - I too don’t know where it can go in terms of their relationship but then I never imagined Rob’s storyline so anything could happen 😬.

jane Casey confirmed on twitter recently that she is writing the next one, to be out next year. She said something like “where will-they-won’t-they becomes life or death” 😱

I love this series! I didn't know about The Outsider, is it ebook only?

I am ambivalent about where I want the relationship to go as I think if it ends up with them getting together then she will have to end the series - can't see it working beyond that - and I don't want it to end!

🥹 well I suppose at least it means they are still both in it by then and their chemistry is still in play. I started following Jane Casey on Instagram but I've re setup my Twitter account today just to follow her and binge on all the book hints 😊.

I've been spending too much time imagining who would play Josh and Maeve too. For Maeve I've only come up with Hayley Atwell so far, but it needs to be someone who can do tall, tough and beautiful.

Now Josh, mmmm. Richard Madden would definitely be both sexy and glower-y enough. I've also seen Matthew Goode and Tom Hardy suggested online. Both perfectly acceptable I reckon. What about a young(er) Daniel Craig maybe? I'm never quite sure if Josh is supposed to be classically handsome.

Bit left field as she's not an actress but I was thinking Sheryl Crow in her 90s heyday would look a bit like maeve!

Oh Sheryl Crow is an excellent likeness! I couldn't believe how much she's changed recently, but you are right her 90s look is ideal for Maeve - off duty anyway.

My obsession is continuing and to fill the time before the 14th I got the ebook version of The Outsider. Even though it is about Rob, for any Kerriwent fans it is an absolute must-read and clears up so much. I wish I had read it before The Close.

A Stranger In The Family came out 2 days ago and now it’s midnight and I stayed up because I’ve just finished it. OMGGGGG. Loved it.

Epilogue made me throw my kindle across the room though

Also just finished!!! There’s another one out next year, so I mean, it can’t be…

SPOILER ALERT

couldnt she just let them be happy…

I also read the outsider as I needed a kerrigan fix and now I get why Rob left! It explained a lot.
I thought the killing kind was good even though it wasn't Maeve.
I'm only on the first few chapters of a stranger in the family. Trying to savour it lol.

I tried to savour it then ended up letting my DC have unlimited screen time and put themselves to bed and stayed up until
midnight reading it

I discovered this series a few weeks ago and have read them all apart from A stranger in the family - am currently a few chapters in! I desperately want them to get together and love all the scenes when Josh saves her. My favourite was the whole Seth situation. Proper knight in shining armour!

I also almost threw the kindle across the room. But it was very good.