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!

Cara Hunter, Claire Allan and Catherine Ryan Howard were all authors I started reading around the same time as Jane Casey. Cara Hunter is probably the closest in style.

Definitely ! They would get on with the case to escape the boys posturing. Probably some sympathetic conversations down the pub too.

Nothing wrong with a bit of fanfic, I used to read loads. I know of at least one person (not 50 shades!) who became a published author after learning his trade off it and a lot of the stuff is very enjoyable. And some is toe curling bad...

Maybe JFK and Jane Casey would write a scene for comic relief where they meet....

JFK! Now that would be interesting! 😂

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'll have a look.

I was exactly the same! Except I went a bit further, and actually started writing some Strike fanfic, having written nothing since my schooldays. I'm blaming it on lockdown madness.

I've converted some of my Strike fanfic wiring mates to Jane Casey, and one has even gone so far as to suggest writing a crossover, so maybe one day it will happen...

Oh @MissdeeVine think I might be a fan of your work, if the user name tracks!! Sorry if that’s a bit stalkerish - I’ve read almost everything on there and if it’s you they are particularly memorable because of the Wimsey connection - love Gaudy Night! Anyway if you or anyone would grace us with a crossover then I would be well pleased!

Not stalker-ish at all - I generally use this name for Strike and Kerrigan stuff. And yes, I adore Gaudy Night.

I'm not writing at the moment but I'll suggest that someone give a crossover a try. I can't see Derwent and Strike getting on very well 😁

I’ve just downloaded the first few Strike books after the recommendations on here.

Good recommendation, what site do you use?

Enjoy @TheSnowyOwl , interested in what you think!

Well, I think you are in for a treat 😊

@Binglebong do you mean which fanfic site? I read and write on AO3: An Archive of Our Own, but only Robert Galbraith. I should check out the Maeve Kerrigan fanfic on there.

I just finished The Burning last night as it was on offer last night . Do you really like these books cos I thought it was predictable as sin. Could spot the murderer a mile off and all the flirty patter was cheesy as hell! Oh well different strokes

The Burning is good but they get better and better.
gaudy Night is one of my all-time favourite novels.
in terms of mash-ups there was a moment on that Norfolk beach where I hoped the stranger in the distance was wearing a cloak. Cathbad would love Maeve!

@neverforgetsolange so I had to get to the third one before I was totally hooked.

Thank you and I’ll come back to let you know.

@WendyWebersdrugget Oh, Wendy! We know each other!

I thought as much! 😉

Can I jump back on with another question about ASITF (finished my re-read now.... not obsessed me...oh no 😊).

Can anyone help me understand this bit (chapter 10) - what was Josh getting at? Is he implying that Maeve can't cope on her own? Or is it Melissa? Now that I've finally realised that everything he says is deliberate I'm dying to understand it 😬

Yes! I totally agree with you. I have become a bit fed up of the will they/wont they stuff and wish the focus would go back to the crimes. I thought the last two were really disappointing from that point of view.

Omg thanks for posting the link to The Close short story!!! I have been dying to read that!!!

Ok devotees, I’m back reading the lot again as I had forgotten some bits - my brain must be fried as I only reread the series last year 🙄.

From my calculations Maeve is now 42. In the first book set in 2010, she is 28. Am I wrong?

and from reading the intro about Josh, in ha ok 2, it seems he is a few years older - I thought about 6-8 years, which means he is now nearly 50😱. Is it not about time they just got on with it? I remember back to being 42 and I was way more decisive than Maeve.

Also, Josh is made out to be unattractive in his first appearance but then becomes more attractive- I don’t know how anyone could go from a relationship with Rob to being in love with Josh (as Josh initially appears).

I think Maeve is 28 or 29 when they first meet and Josh is 36 but I gave up trying to follow the timeline after that. I’m assuming Maeve is in her early 30s now. Early references to Josh’s appearance are less flattering but Maeve doesn’t like him at all to start off with!
I’m sure it’s time she works towards her detective inspector exams or whatever it is you have to do to be a DI?!

@WendyWebersdrugget - yes I think it’s funny that she is not a DI or a DCI by now. She has so much promise at 28 🤔

I think it all depends on when the later books are set. The adventures are either all quite close together over about 5 years or the characters are older than I thought!