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!

Sorry, just realised I’d missed previous post and should put spoiler on mine! I can ask to delete?
i think the idea is that he knows about how she feels after Evil Seth and wants her not to panic but I agree it is very odd. It’s much less odd after that.

SPOILER (a bit anyway)

The Melissa story line was interesting, I did wonder if that would be the story when we first met her, but then thought I was wrong and just over suspicious.

I’m never sure what I think about Josh. He reminds me a bit too much of the bad boys of my teen mags, or the heroes of the Mills & Boons I read in my late teens, and I was never happy with them at the time, think it was the power imbalance. And I do feel that the narrative around him has changed since we first met him, I can understand why people would re-read the earlier books to see if they read differently now in hindsight.

I didn’t pick up on the significance of the book title as it just dropped on my kindle and just thought ‘yay next book in the series’ without it really registering.

Ohhh so interesting to hear people’s different readings!

I read the post sleeve rolling up as a mix of wanting her to make an active choice - all of a piece withe the keys/opening the door - and then also wanting her to be present and not disassociate? Thinking about it, he’s probably the only person who knows the details of all of her various traumas - not just Seth, but then the stuff around Rob’s last evening too. So perhaps very conscious of wanting her to be proactive? It certainly reads quite starkly tho.

Jane Casey the author was just interviewed on Oliver Callan’s show on RTE Radio 1
Fans might like to listen

Just finished it. Wow! Wasn't expecting that ending! I'll have to re-listen at my leisure now

Jane Casey was also interviewed by her first cousin Pat Kenny on Newstalk yesterday on the book just out.

Oh I didn't know they were cousins! Small world 😁

@deeahgwitch I’ve just listened to that Oliver Callan show and it was lovely! Thanks so much.

lots of fab content but particularly smiled when Jane said that her husband says stuff in the hope it might make it into the book as a Josh-ism, and watching to see if she writes stuff down!

Oh that’s very funny - I shall watch that!
she posted something about him reading the book and making a skwawk noise and I’m pretty sure I know where that was!
i used an audible credit for the book - not finished yet but my goodness Caroline Lennon is good!

Did you read it first and then listen to the Audible, @WendyWebersdrugget ? That’s commitment!

I did! Interesting experiment. I’ve got Lucy Golden lined up next.

SPOILER

I thought he was testing her here like he did in the office but the opposite - so he touched her and she responded in the office, and then when he wasn't touching her she still wanted to go ahead so he knew it was really what would make her happy. He knew he could sweep her off her feet (which was what she wanted) but he didn't want to do that and then for her to regret it.

Can anyone with a paper copy point md towards the chapter where Maeve and Josh have the serious conversation. Not the one in the office after the Christmas party but the one where Josh talks to her about what will happen going forward.

I'm trying not to give spoilers but I want to re-listen to that conversation and thwn re-listen to the conversation in the office after the party

@Vignetta completely agree with that.
thanks for the RTE podcast recommendation - that was a great interview. I’m looking forward to the standalone book next year.

It's chapter 44 - I found it!

Eugh I didn’t love it and I really really wanted to.

Firstly the title gave away too much about the hotel storyline

Secondly I really HATE the trope of women faking male violence. It does nothing for the campaign to get institutions to take male violence against women and girls more seriously. The whole way through I was furious at this.

I didn’t find the Owen matchmaking thing believable. No way would JD of previous books be setting Maeve up.

I feel disappointed!

@brieliever I was unhappy with Melissa’s arc as well for the reasons you mention. There were other ways to split them up

I also felt very uncomfortable with the Melissa story line.

It is uncomfortable reading. I can accept the false accusation idea from a very unhappy and unwell character and initially the system kicks in the way it should. The really uncomfortable part for me was later in the book, especially I think in chapter 51 where Melissa is talking. I’m sure JC will get a lot of questions about this!

Thanks v much to whoever recommended the Lucy Golden books. Read two of them this week!

Need a few more recommendations of female crime writing to tide me over to the next Strike I think. Is Donna Leon too American? I found Karin Slaughter hard to get into.

Oh, Donna Leon books are gorgeous!! Not at all American, they are very atmospheric about Venice. Not so much character investment as with Maeve, but VERY invested in the place.

I’ve started reading the Slow Horses series to tide me over until Strike (having loved the TV shows), plus a bit of vintage Agatha Christie

@brieliever I’ve nearly finished the third Lucy Golden and really love the series so far. But what’s the story behind the bonsai tree? I really want to know!

@Zitouna I didn’t realise the slow horses series was based on books! I loved that - the best thing I’ve watched for a while. Are the books similar to the tv series?

I adored the Slow Horses books. Haven’t seen the show though is it any good?

Yes, the show is excellent