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!

@WhatHaveIDone21 yes, the tv plot is pretty close to books, some nuances different. I loved both the tv series and the books, in different ways

I’m so delighted to have found this thread. I’ve just finished The Kill and I’m about to start After the Fire. I’m dying over Rob! How could he 😡. When should I read The Outsider? 🙏

Oh welcome @dickdarstardlymuttley ! Lucky you only being half way through the series!

I think you have to wait a bit for the outsider - at be least until after the cutting place - but probably best after The Close I think. Enjoy. Think I might settle in for a re-read.

Thank you 🙏 it’s such an addictive series!

I remember discovering The Outsider is after The Close and before A Stranger in the Family. (I couldn’t work it out for a while but that does make more sense.)

https://podfollow.com/quick-book-reviews This is a nice interview with Jane Casey. No spoilers. There’s an Irish podcast called natter that had an interview with her. I also liked the one they did with with Liz Nugent.
i finished the Lucy Golden series and now can’t wait for the next one. That’s the downside to finding a series I like! I haven’t tried Donna Leon yet, but sounds promising.

Very late to the discussion here. I spent the last 2 months re-reading and savoring the entire series at a snail's pace, to get ready for TSR. I just finished TSR a day ago and have been thinking about it non-stop ever since. Where do I start? I wasn't much invested in the murder investigation even though it kept me guessing... But, at this stage in the series, I think most of us who are still into it are here for Maeve and Josh. I wanted to throttle Josh for being a jerk to Maeve for most of the book until his reasoning was revealed at which point I smacked my head wondering how I didn't realize it's classic Josh.
I thought the Melissa plotline was a natural progression for her character. I found her actions believable.
And Maeve - just wow! I thought her character showed a lot of maturity and vulnerability in this book.. Dealing with the punches, trying to do the right thing and standing up for her own happiness at the end. ♥️♥️♥️
I absolutely loved how things came together in the last few chapters.. JC's masterful in her writing - it's such a huge step for them (and for the slow burn fans) ... she infused it with effortless banter and a sense of love and passion that's so them. Unlike some of the readers here, I actually thought the scene where Josh removes his watch and seems too casual was just perfect. I think for me, rereading the older books just before this drove home how far Maeve's come and how brave she was in the earlier scene where she lists all these reasons why only he can make her happy. Josh knew she was anxious and asking her so casually to take her clothes off was his way of showing "it's me". I thought it was like all the other times he challenged her to do something - it's a language she understands.🤷🏻‍♀️
And the ending😍😍.. It was just perfect... the tone, the lightness and their happiness was so tangible. After all these years and what they've been through, Maeve and Josh absolutely deserve a happy ending.
I've been in a happy cloud since I finished it. I can't wait for to see what happens next and I really really hope that JC doesn't throw any more hurdles in their path. 🤞🏼

Oh my word. I have just finished Let the dead speak. The last chapter….Rob 🫣 I can’t wait to read The Close now.

Not my favourite - too much emoting and not enough detection. The title did give away too much (I'd already guessed by the reveal) and the Melissa thing I jumped on in the first chapter. I did miss one element of how the main crime was done though.

I miss strong Meave, I hope we get her back next book. We saw a glimpse at the end though which was perfect. Did love that ending. Now, who will leave the team?

spotted this on the Jane Casey instagram
and thought of you all! Can now wait for this after the latest Strike totally failed at wish fulfilment

I’ve spent the whole summer immersed in Brunetti - I think on my book 16 of 32 now. Haven’t even read the new strike! Looking forward to another Maeve

Good news! I like the caption. It’s due 2027 though.
there’s a standalone (non-Maeve) next year, which I’m looking forward to. I think it’s set in Ireland.

@brieliever i LOVE Donna Leon! Total comfort read. Another one where increasingly care less about the crime - read for the snippets of Venetian atmosphere. I’ve definitely not read the last few though, that’s a nice remindeder to hunt them out.

There’s a lovely Donna Leon biography too

I’ve never read any of those - I’ll put them on the list of books to try!
I’m looking forward to the new Time Police (Jodi Taylor) early next month.
I re-read The Killing Kind recently because I finally caught up with the TV series. The book and the series are really quite different - I prefer the book but the lead actors in the adaptation are very good.

I’m v late to this as I decided to re-read the whole series and then listen to the entire series before reading TSD. I have to say - underwhelming for me. Lots of “telling not showing” and reliance on explanatory dialogue. The Melissa plot was obvious from the first reference to why Josh was still at home. The murder investigation was too full of superficial characters with absolutely mad lives.

I think those kind of “locked room” mysteries are too unrealistic for what has previously been a good police procedural - it’s reminded me of why I went off Sophie Hannah once she got into “this impossible crime will be so mysterious for 25 chapters then will all be explained by the unrealistic villain at the end!”. Or that vibe towards the end “Maeve knows whodunnit but is refusing to show her hand until everyone is all gathered together”. Cartoonish, in a way? Agh, I don’t know. Maybe I would have liked it more if I hadn’t just re-read the whole series. mind you, it was a book that had to do a lot to carry the series forward as there was a lot to tie up/gloss over so that hopefully they can get on with crime fighting.

I hope that I’m so late to this that my sniping won’t ruin anyone’s enjoyment. I’m sorry in advance if I’ve annoyed anyone. But I wanted to discuss with someone/anyone who might have also had their doubts about this one!

also, agree that title choice was a bit bizarre!