A Stranger in the Family (by Jane Casey) is the eleventh book in the Maeve Kerrigan / Josh Derwent series. I requested it as there's not been much about lately and am extremely relieved I did as I loved it. It was a huge surprise. According to Goodreads I've read the first four books in the series and missed out on reading any since. 

Kerrigan and Derwent have come a long way since then and I was surprised to see there'd been a flirtation and perhaps some feelings on one or both sides. And though the will they / won't they was part of the novel and an element I certainly enjoyed, it doesn't overshadow the investigation at hand.

It won't matter if this is your first book in this series as Casey is obviously well versed at providing context and backstory without belabouring it. It means though I'm unsure now if I want to go back and read books 5-10, though suspect the crimes at their centre would be worth it.

Here we're offered a couple of mysteries for the price of one, though one has led to the other. I was only reading an electronic version so the transition from past to present wasn't entirely clear at the beginning of the book. I hadn't read the blurb so assumed the focus would be on a missing girl, rather than the murder of her parents sixteen years later. Interestingly I'd kinda 'bonded' with Helena in the beginning so was slightly horrified as I learned more about her all of these years later.

It's easy to assume you know where this book is heading. Of course the crimes are linked. But most interesting is the disappearance of nine-year old Rosalie years before. Casey gives us some suspects and motives, and then hints at others in Rosalie's past.

Casey includes a heap of twists along the way here, so it's ultimately hard to work out what direction this book and its investigation will take. I certainly did not guess at the 'who' when they're eventually revealed.

And then we're back to Kerrigan and Derwent. There's certainly an attraction there but he's with someone else. Sort-of. And just when we think there's a resolution... Casey goes and ends this on a huge cliffhanger which has bumped this up to a 4.5 star read for me. Argh! Roll on book 12.

Every mother's worst nightmare . . . When nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall vanished from her bed one summer night, her disappearance tore her family apart. Now, sixteen years later, her mother Helena is found dead, her husband by her side. It looks like a straightforward murder-suicide but DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent soon discover nothing about this case is straight forward.

I really enjoy books by this author and this one was no exception, a continuation in a great series. What is initially thought of as the suicide of a woman and her husband it soon becomes apparent that it is much bigger case for DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent, now with a double murder on their hands to solve. We are also beginning to see the attraction these two detectives really have for each other which is presented realistically and you are taken in by the emotions felt between the two.

Excellent strong characters bring the story to life and once again the housework was left as I immersed myself in the book. Great plot that leads the reader down a path that makes you wonder where it is all going and I really had no idea how this would resolve, this to me is an indicator of a great book. If you have not tried this series I suggest you do as you will not be disappointed. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.

That epilogue!!! Really?!? My god a Stranger in the family was an absolutely captivating and maddening story.

16 years ago Rosalie Marshall disappeared. Now detectives Maeve and Josh have been called to what looks like a murder/suicide of Rosalie’s parents. What happened to Rosalie 16 years ago and who had reason to want her parents dead?
This was a thrilling ride! I really enjoy these kinds of stories and Jane Casey did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the dynamic between Josh and Maeve although I did feel like their relationship did steer things away from the story. Aside from that A Stranger in the House was a really good read and the last 85% had me on the edge of my seat!!

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers Aus for the arc!

A thriller with romantic suspense... a must read for Maeve Kerrigan fans! Maybe wait until closer to the release of book 12 because it's going to be a long and hard wait with that ending 🫣😬😆.

This was a gripping and fast paced crime thriller/police procedural with Maeve and Derwent investigating the murder-suicide of Rosalie's parents. Rosalie herself has been missing for 16 years and her disappearance may be connected with what happened to her parents.

I believe having read The Outsider (stand alone) last month made this even more enjoyable!

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

⚠️ Please check TWs online ⚠️

Jane Casey delivers a masterclass at notching up the tension while balancing a compelling mystery and the personal life of her heroine in the 11th DS Maeve Kerrigan installment, 'A Stranger in the Family'. Maeve and the team, including boss/landlord/friend DI Josh Derwent investigate a double murder with links to an unsolved missing person case 16 years ago. Meanwhile, Maeve grapples with all the potential messy consequences of her and Josh’s clear mutual attraction, something she’s only come to realise in the last book.

The mystery had clever twists and turns that were difficult to guess and had me glued to the page. Most poignant and heartbreaking were the Rosalie chapters. Casey seamlessly balances between the case and the combustable attraction between Maeve and Josh, which makes this series so compelling. Maeve has been oblivious for a long time, so it’s good to see this finally develop. Fraught with tension (and holy smokes, I nearly fainted!), the two dance on the precipice of giving into their feelings. It's raw, extremely messy (yes, agree Liv and Georgia. I really did want to yell at both of them, especially Josh), but very human and also a natural step forward given how their relationship has developed ever since Josh arrived in book two.

With its gripping mystery and the most delicious, sizzling chemistry between these two compelling characters, I consumed this book like the fire that burns between Maeve and Josh. By the final two words, my jaw hit the ground. This is one of the best police procedurals with characters that feel so real I'm always me greedy for more. I cannot wait for book 12! I'm calling this early, but I think this is going to be one of the best crime novels of 2024.

Massive thanks to Harper Collins Australia/Hemlock Press and NetGalley for the ARC. I have pre-ordered my own copy and audiobook.