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!

No, @Atlantic252, what was that? A spoof story?

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea Jane posted it on insta

I have attached a screenshot but it may take a while to be approved

Ha ha - now that’s a plot twist no-one saw coming !

I laughed out loud. It’s very wrong but still funny!

Hahaha! Excellent.

To be fair, a lot of things are starting to make sense! 😂 by the way, Jane Casey recommended ‘The Seventh Body by Catherine Kirwan. I haven’t quite finished it but I’m really enjoying it. It has a definite Kerrigan vibe but set in Cork and I like the dynamic between the two female detectives.

There is a plot summary in the Times today….

Right, I'm restarting the audiobooks from book one in preparation.

Btw if you love Maeve you will also love the Lucy Golden series and probably the Cormac Reilly series too, thank me later!

I saw that plot summary (Jane posted it too) and it gave a bit too much away I thought ☹️.

But otherwise does the build-up to release day seem a little bit subdued this time? I remember for ASITF Jane was posting about lots of events and taking about signing pre-order copies etc.

I’m not sure it means anything except maybe they felt ASITF needed more publicity. But I want my daily fix of something Maeve-related the anticipation is so strong 😂. To fill the void I’ve been going back over Jane’s previous posts with photos and quotes trying to guess what they mean 😬 (while still not wanting spoilers 🫣)

@Atlantic252 maybe it’s because the last one left the reader in suspense so it’s a captive audience?!
The advance reviews have been very positive on the whole and I’m looking forward to it. (I agree that review was a bit spoilery though.)
Currently reading The Clues in the Fjord by Satu Ramo - detective novel set in the west of Iceland. It’s very good - thanks go to @FortunataTagnips for that one! Definitely twisty and another strong female detective. I must try the Lucy Golden ones at some point.

Very good point @WendyWebersdrugget although it’s not as if Maeve’s fans wouldn’t have wanted it anyway 🙄(without the epilogue I mean). I’m so excited and know I’ll be bereft when I’ve finished it, but also sort of glad to have a longer Maeve break after this. There are so many good recommendations on this thread and others that I’m dying to get stuck into.

But I’m still not sure I’ll find a world that’s as addictive or emotive as Maeve’s.

@Atlantic252 I know exactly what will happen - I’ll practically inhale book 12 on first reading and then have to go back and read it again! I also have a lot of books piling up to be read after. I fear going to work really gets in the way of reading…😂

Ditch the work, @WendyWebersdrugget, and dedicate your life to reading! You know it’s for the best…

@WendyWebersdruggetthanks for sharing that but I think it gives your Instagram name; I reported it but you might be able to edit it quicker.

I love that reel - doesn’t Jane have a lovely speaking voice. But what the heck is the hole punch about 😳. It must be crime related or else some in-joke in the book. She also posted a blooper reel on BlueSky 😂

@FortunataTagnipsagree about books before work 😂. And @WendyWebersdruggetI’ll be the exact same - I’ll want to reread multiple times before I get it out of my system. It took ages to recover from ASITF and the ratings for TSR are much higher 🤩

Thanks @Atlantic252 I’m so inept!
You may have seen JC has posted another review (not at all spoilery!) on Instagram.
incidentally, do you think the new book will fill in gaps in the 8 months between the end of After the Fire and Let the dead speak? Because I have to say the first meeting between Maeve and Josh in the latter is quite weird considering he’s only been away 2 weeks! She seems to think it’s because she’s promoted and so is more independent of him - and that may be all it is. And he isn’t that impressed with Georgia.

Mmm that would be amazing @WendyWebersdrugget I’m not sure if Jane would go back that far - but she did have that post about behind-the-scenes moments so maybe 🤞. I remember thinking things were already sounding rocky with Melissa when Josh moaned about the cushions. And then at the end of LTDS he said the ‘I made a mistake’ hidden statement. It would be amazing to know if he was ever really loved up with Melissa and coming into work on cloud nine. Or if it was rocky from day one.

I do feel sorry for Melissa and it’s a bit of a red flag how Josh stayed in love with Maeve while in a relationship with her. But I still want to see what Josh and Maeve would be like as a couple.

I see some people have got their hard copies early - do you think we need to avoid Jane’s socials for the next few days in case people post spoilers ☹️

@Atlantic252 there is the conversation in the car where Josh admits he’s terrified something will happen to Melissa and Thomas because of what he sees in his job and he’s aware not talking about work is a barrier to their relationship. But maybe that’s only half the story as yes, there’s that veiled comment later on. So it’s all quite murky - especially as we only know what Maeve knows/tells us and Josh is presumably keeping a lot back.
I’m hoping no spoilers. Book 12 is supposed to be properly twisty, which is how I like my crime fiction!

Oh @WendyWebersdruggetthat really got to me when I read it - it was one of the few times I felt like Josh really opened up completely to Maeve - I do hope we get more deep insights like this in TSR. And more snogging of course 😂 (sorry lowering the tone 🫣).

My hard copy arrived today and I asked DH to hide it. I’m torn but I think I’ll prefer to hold on for the audio version on Thursday. I can remember exactly where I was when I first heard the twisty/gaspy bits from previous books and I think they’ll always stick with me because of that.

Ive just ordered the audio version. Very excited.

@Atlantic252 that’s very restrained! Looking forward to my kindle copy appearing overnight. And will try not to react too loudly to any twists or shocks while on the tube!

I’m on midnight countdown here for the kindle version. Tho a bit worried that if I start it I’ll just stay up all night…

I've saved an audible credit to buy it in the morning. It's been a long time coming!

No sign of my audible version yet but I think last time it came at 8am 🙄.

But Happy publication day everyone! Whatever happens to Maeve or Josh I just hope we all love the book 🤞.