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!

OK, I’ve just binge read the whole series in like…3 weeks. Help! Obsessed. I can’t wait for the next week…rubs hands at thought of this/Strike next year

And it’s strange because I really didn’t like book 1 that much but persevered. The writing was sketchy and the characterisation weak, but that has improved a lot over time. Maeve wasn’t even particularly likeable, most of the time complaining about people having more money than her! When Derwent was introduced it was like everything made sense. This is totally a two-hander.

I really didn’t get along with the audiobook narrator - her voice seemed too dry and cynical, not lively enough, for 28 year old Maeve at the start of the series, so being curled up on the sofa it was…

I think a clean shaven Tom Hardy, mid-late 30s, is perfect for Derwent. 😍 Something about the fact that he’s occasionally described as looking very boyish makes sense.

I recently finished the DI Callanach series by Helen Fields, which is fantastic in different ways. Sure, it’s wildly unrealistic (how many brutal serial killers could there possibly be in Edinburgh within the space of a few years??) but the plots are less ‘safe’ and predictable than Casey, the will-they won’t they romance is done well, andthe secondary characterisation is superb, particularly of other police officers, acquaintances and victims. I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook version narrated by Robin Laing, as the different Scottish and French accents are really brought to life. And the series is also stuck on a cliffhanger…argh!

This series is definitely one that gets better over time. I liked but didn’t love the first book but thought I would give it another try given the rave reviews on here, and thought books 2 and 3 were much better then really enjoyed book 4 and it’s stayed really good since then.

@Prrambulate welcome! Nice to have another big fan on the thread! Tom Hardy is a good notion… in my head Josh is a bit darker and more broody? Still can’t work out who I would have playing him!

I’ve read the first 3 DI Callanach ones - think they are great but I had to pause there as couldn’t cope with another will-they-won’t-they and didn’t want to get too invested 😂.

I have high hopes that Strike 8 will be out this year, but am stressed at no publication date!

I need the next Strike! Looking forward to Jackson Brodie next month.
The Burning just read as too long to me but I liked it. I do agree the series picks up after that. I like 2 and 3 but it’s really great from book 4.
i’ll have to investigate Helen Fields.
Having loved the Beck TV series, I’m just reading the first in the series Roseanna and it’s excellent. But very different.
also reading Sharp Glass by Sarah Hilary and it’s definitely twisty! Can’t tell where it’s going and that’s a good thing. Intriguing.
I’ve now read the Robin Lyon trilogy by Lucie Whitehouse in the right order and can recommend doing that! If you like Maeve and Ruth Galloway, you’ll like these.

Thank you 🙂

Yes you are right, he does have a dark and brooding vibe…well if you have ideas feel free to share them!

Haha yes that sensible if you don’t want to invest in another will-they won’t-they dynamic, and the Callanach one is pretty intense…three similar series on the go is probably a bit much, but I love it.

Ooh it would be amazing if we got another Strike this year. It’s great when book release dates become like events, with all the build up and anticipation, almost as good as the actual release. I was raring to go outside my local Waterstones for The Running Grave, and they looked confused when I walked in and asked for a copy at 9am…said they hadn’t unpacked the boxes yet 👿 I was like hello?? How? Was tempted to get stuck in with a Stanley knife.

thanks for the recommendation! @WendyWebersdrugget

They hadn’t unpacked the boxes???!
insane!

I know! They looked completely nonplussed by my entrance, and were just doing random admin.

I had only a few hours of my 2 year old being in nursery, and had planned my coffee, cake and Galbraith morning for a whole month…luckily I managed to source it from WHSmith down the road 😁

How about a clean shaven Aiden Turner for Josh?

Haven’t heard of that series, going to download now!

@Prrambulate Exactly the same thing happened to me with The Running Grave at Waterstones, and they basically told me to go away.

So I scoured the city and ended up at the dodgiest of WH Smith's, where they had copies on display before 10am.

I won't be buying Strike 8 from Waterstones in protest at their casual neglect of their Galbraithian duties.

Do you think some employees are on a JKR go-slow?

Wouldn't surprise me. If you use an independent bookshop they can often order a book to arrive on release day.

It does sound suspicious.

That’s interesting. Yes they told me to come back around midday…

Recently created - if anyone wants to join the new Maeve Kerrigan subreddit, please do!

In case it’s of interest, Woman’s Hour had an item on women and crime fiction this morning - interviewing Jane Casey. No revelations but fun to listen to!
I’m reading the sequel to Jo Callaghan’s In the. Blink of An Eye at the moment - it’s the one with an AI detective mentioned in the interview. The sequel is Leave No Trace and it’s pretty good so far.

Ooh, thanks for that, @WendyWebersdrugget - will have a listen.

All 11 of the Maeve Kerrigan books are 99p today on kindle, if anyone’s looking to top up their collection!

Looks like some titles have changed so check carefully if you already have it.

Ignore me, I'm wrong. Just can't remember the name The Kill.

Thanks for the Robin Lyons recommendation, I've read all 3 this week, just what I was looking for!

Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed them!

I now have the new Jackson Brodie on my kindle and looking forward to reading it over the long weekend.

I read it yesterday. It's very good and quite funny in places: a lot lighter than KA's usual style.