This was incredibly slow paced for me. I do think I was at a disadvantage being new to the series. I really didn't understand the relationships and didn't really connect with any of the characters. Not for me.

I have not read any of the Maeve Kerrigan series prior to this novel, #9 in the series. However, you can read this story as a stand alone. I will definitely be backtracking and reading the previous #1-8. Maeve Kerrigan works as a detective in London, along with her colleague Josh Derwent. Making a hard job more complicated is the obvious feelings these two have for each other. Although they certainly try not to acknowledge it or act on it! They are investigating a sordid murder where female body parts are washing up on the shores of the riverbed at low tide. Gruesome. Who is this poor woman? What happened to her? There is a series of excellent twists and turns that will keep you guessing. In the mood for a fun and intelligent thriller? Yes, I recommend The Cutting Place by Jane Casey. Even better, start at #1 like I should have! Happy reading!

(AKA) SILENT KILL
DS Maeve Kerrigan and her team are called to investigate when assorted body parts are found. There is no identification, no clues, and this may not even be the original crime scene.

Identifying the victim is almost a story in itself. What Kerrigan discovers is that the victim was a journalist working on exposing a story that would become a shocking scandal. What she has discovered is an exclusive gentleman's club. The journalist, going undercover, goes missing. Only her bones have been found.

What goes on behind the closed doors of the club is darker than anyone can even imagine. Kerrigan is keeping her own secrets close to the vest.

This crime fiction/police procedural in which the emphasis is on the procedures used by the police in solving the crime. Not for the feint-of-heart, this novel covers the METOO movement, rape, assault, illegal drugs, bribery, blackmail ... and multiple murders. It's a dark and gritty story filled with convoluted dealings. Surprising twists pop up keeping the reader riveted to the pages. The characters are solidly drawn ... showing growth and maturity since the first of this series was published. Although 9th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone.

Many thanks to the author / HarperCollins Pubishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I didn't realize this was a series when I request to read and review but I still very much enjoyed it. It was quick paced with lots of action that kept me intrigued the whole way through.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for this eARC of The Cutting Place.

I’ve never read a Jane Casey book before, but I love traditional British detective novels, so I snapped this one up. It’s a bit long, but I was completely caught up in the story. I plan on adding her to my go-to-authors list!

After the death of a young journalist, DI Maeve Kerrigan and her partner, Josh Derwent, begin an investigation that will take them into the world of the wealthy and privileged, leading them to a private social club shrouded in secrecy. Meanwhile, Maeve is enjoying the company of a new and very attentive boyfriend, while she is also hiding a secret from her partner. All of this is about to collide.

The Cutting Place is the ninth book in the Maeve Kerrigan series and it is an excellent book - a stellar police procedural with a well-conceived plot and characters. Although there are several story lines, they are expertly interwoven together to make a thoroughly enjoyable and riveting story. I particularly liked the relationship between Maeve and Josh, as well as the dialogue between the various characters. It is a suspenseful, entertaining, and enjoyable read.

This is the first book I’ve read by Jane Casey. Now this author is definitely on my radar and I’m looking forward to spending more time with Maeve Kerrigan and her team.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

This is another great novel in the Maeve Kerrigan series. The action is non-stop, and the ending is unexpected. I love Maeve and can't wait until the next book comes out!

Maeve Kerrigan’s newest case takes her into the world of privilege she has only glimpsed in papers and magazines. She is investigating the death of a young woman found in pieces. A variety of characters inhabit this mystery and the going looks tough. To say money has its privileges cones full force and its seems money will carry the day until a conversation with a painter brings the walls in and the killer out. Alongside the murder Maeve must endure a revelation of a highly personal nature and leaves her bruised on the outside and emotionally. Happy reading

The Cutting Place is the 9th installment in the bestselling Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey. Maeve and Derwent are investigating the murder of a girl whose body has been cut into pieces and thrown into the river. Once identified as a journalist who was on the verge of releasing a story on a men’s only club that has had some nefarious activities among their wealthy members, the detectives set about to find out just why the journalist was murdered and who murdered her.

The setting is in London, which adds some charm to the novel. Maeve and Derwent are unique characters, and while there are times when they don’t get along really well, they seem to be a good team. They care about and look out for each other, and in most circumstances are good for each other.

There are some sub-plots in this novel which are interesting, and further help develop the characters. Maeve has a new boyfriend, Seth, and Derwent is not thrilled that they are dating. One of the suspects turns out to have ties to Derwent, and Maeve knows all about it but has kept it from Derwent for some time. It all sounds like a mess, and is, but for some reason the novel flows and everything comes out in a well-written story that is easy to follow and keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

Previous fans of this series will want to pick this novel up immediately. It can be read as a standalone, however, so it is good for first-time readers, too. The previous books in the series will be ones that readers will read to catch up on Maeve’s and Derwent’s history.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeant Meave Kerrigan and Detective Inspector Josh Derwent return in the ninth book in this exceptional series by award winning Irish author Jane Casey. .When body parts are found washed up on the banks of the Thames, a DNA match is made to Paige Kerrigan, a journalist who was working on a story about sinister goings-on at the secretive, by invitation only, all male, Chiron Club. Did the Club or it's members have anything to do with Page's death and dismemberment?

As Maeve begins her investigation into the Club, trouble is brewing in her personal life. Her friends and colleagues , especially Josh, don't seem to like her boyfriend, Seth. But, "[w]hat sort of girlfriend complained that her boyfriend wanted to spend the evening with her? What sort of person was so ungrateful for love and devotion?" she asks herself. Has Seth changed her for the worse as her friends claim? How will her relationship with Seth affect her relationship with Josh?

Casey is a spellbinding storyteller, who skillfully weaves together the investigation of Paige's murder with several subplots to create a strong, character-driven tale of secrets kept, crimes committed, and discoveries made. The relationship between Maeve and Josh is at once simple and complex, and may it never change! If you haven't read this series yet, do yourself a favor and start now. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Jane Casey, HarperCollons Publishing, Ltd., and NetGalley for the ARC of The Cutting Place in return for this honest review.

Thank you NetGalley publisher & Author for this gifted book.

Summary
You've got to be in the club to know the truth.
Everyone's heard the rumours about elite gentlemen's clubs, where the champagne flows freely, the parties are the height of decadence . . . and the secrets are darker than you could possibly imagine.

Review
This book is full of intense, dark, twisted, suspense.
I loved the relationship between the two characters DI Josh Derwent & Maeve.
Thus writing was brilliant. Very well done by Casey.

Overall- Great Boom

I like this series with police detective Maeve Kerrigan and her partner, Josh Derwent. In this one, Maeve has a new boyfriend who is too good to be true. I had my suspicions when he had her eating puffed rice, cashew butter protein bars and spicy chickpeas for snacks (yuck), doing yoga classes and not going out with her friends. He had trouble written all over him in my opinion.

This involves the discovery of a woman's body parts in the river. It turns out to belong an investigative reporter who is looking into the inner workings of a rich men's social club. As Maeve investigates she discovers a great deal of illegal and immoral activities. It's a peek into the life of rich and famous.

It also leads to the discovery of a big secret Maeve has been keeping from Derwent. I found it quite unforgivable and didn't buy any of her reasons for doing it. Luckily, Derwent is more forgiving than I am because he comes through for Maeve in a big way.

I really like this captivating series and really enjoyed the blurb at the end by the author. It turns out she belongs to two book clubs (you have to love that) and thanks a special support team of talented writers. It made her more special to me. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

The Cutting Place (Maeve Kerrigan #9)
My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

I discovered Jane Casey in 2014 when I read The Burning, the first in the Maeve Kerrigan series. If you're a fan of UK-based mysteries and thrillers (think Tana French), you have nine new books featuring Detective Constable now Detective Sergeant Maeve Kerrigan to look forward to.

An interesting story line, well-drawn characters, and good writing draws the reader in for the ride in this intense police procedural/psychological thriller. The Cutting Place goes on sale on September 3, 2020.

View all my reviews at Good Reads

THE STORY: Pieces of a body are found along the Thames. The London police go to work attempting to determine the identity using DNA. The body is that of a journalist who appears to have been working on a piece about criminal activities at a elite Men's Club that could explode in the media. DS Kerrigan vows to follow up on the young woman's investigation. Unfortunately all this leads to more tension with her partner, DI Josh Derwent when his son becomes a suspect.
Told in the first person by DS Maeve Kerrigan, the story is interspersed with vaguely remembered events concerning an unnamed person beginning two years earlier.

Things get more uncomfortable as the story progresses and a parallel element involving Maeve and her boyfriend is disturbing.

FIRST LINE: "For a few moments, it was the quietest place in London."

WHAT I THOUGHT: Maeve is a smart woman but she shares the problems all women encounter in the world. It makes her really relatable as well as vulnerable. And even though violence happens, the reader can feel safe in this author's hands.

Although there are lots of British terms that may not be unfamiliar, most are explained or can be googled. Actually that's part of the fun!

Finally there's something that ends every chapter that forces the reader to turn the page and stay up beyond bedtime.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED but you really should start at the beginning!

Disclaimer: A copy of The Cutting Place was provided to me by HarperCollins/Net Galley for an honest review.

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (September 3, 2020)
ISBN-10: 0008149089
ISBN-13: 978-0008149086

THE AUTHOR: Jane Casey is an Irish-born author of crime novels. She was born in Dublin in 1977 and grew up in Castleknock, 8 km (5 mi) west of the center of Dublin. She studied English at Jesus College, Oxford.

I guess I’m part of the minority, but I wasn’t really impressed with this book. Major portions of the plot just seemed to come out of the blue and did not fit with the rest of the book. That being said, The Cutting Place is part of a series, so if you’ve read the books leading up to this one, you might have information that I’m missing. As a stand-alone read, I wouldn’t recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I should start by saying I'm a lover of Maeve Kerrigan and this book did not disappoint. I appreciate Jane Casey's ability to bring me along for the ride without leaving me feeling like I've gotten behind a slow car or the journey is just too long. In fact, it is just the opposite, she always manages to leave me wanting more. I admit to struggling a little with the domestic abuse situation but I have to own that may be a "me issue" instead of a storyline issue. I think instinctively, as a woman, I want to believe a strong woman would never let something like that to her and the reality is, it happens to strong women every day. The plot holds its own from beginning to end and will not disappoint anyone who enjoys good police procedurals and with great characters.

The latest from Jane Casey kept me guessing as she wove multiple threads together. Enjoyable police procedural that centers on murder detective DS Maeve Kerrigan, While this is book 9 of an ongoing series, I had no trouble jumping in as my first time with DS Kerrigan and this works as a stand-alone. Me, I'll definitely look for earlier books in this series to read.

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers.for providing access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.

The Cutting Place
by Jane Casey
HarperCollins Publishers
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
HarperCollins
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 03 Sep 2020 | Archive Date 29 Dec 2020

This is book 9 in the series and since I haven't read the others I feel like I am missing the background information. Good book! Thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins Publishers for the ARC.
4 star

The Cutting Place by Jane Casey was decent. I think since I didn't read the previous books with these characters I missed a lot of background. It was your typical "who done it" type of crime novel. There was chemistry between the two main characters who work together. I hope in future novels they end up together!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for review.

A young woman's dismembered body is found along the banks of the Thames, and detectives Kerrigan and Derwent are assigned the case.

At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like this one. The secret club that has a hold on its posh members didn't really appeal to me as a mystery. What I did like very much about this book was Maeve's personal story.

Maeve has ended up with a boyfriend- the defense lawyer from the last book. I wasn't impressed by him in that book, but Maeve apparently was and they've been dating for a while. Josh Derwent is still together with Melissa and her son Thomas who were introduced in "After the Fire". I've been resisting the Maeve-Josh connection for quite some time, but their relationship is part of what I love about these books and I'm afraid I'm ending up shipping them after all and even though I should know better. Things change for both Josh and Maeve in this story and I'm curious to see how new characters who have been introduced will further change their relationship.

One thing- I've read three of these books in a row in a catching-up binge. Maeve has to fight for her life at the end of all of these books, and she always needs help to be rescued. I'd like to see her save herself, although Casey can certainly write a suspenseful scene.

DS Maeve Kerrigan is determined to find out who is responsible for the death and dismemberment of a young journalist. At the time of her death, Paige Hargreaves was investigating the Chiron Club, an elite men's club with rich and powerful members.

There is a reason that elite men's clubs so frequently make suspenseful plots: exclusiveness, secrecy, the wealth, power and privilege of members, the connections and pressure members are able to apply, and frequently, the abuse of women. Whether organized like the Chiron Club, or less organized like Jeffrey Epstein's friends, power and influence make the news.

Jane Casey's Kerrigan/Derwent series is one of the best crime series around, and the relationship of DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent combined with excellent plotting keep this series in my top five favorite in the crime/police procedural genre.


Each of the books can be read as a standalone, but beginning with the first book allows the pleasure of watching the bickering relationship between Maeve and Josh develop into a trusting partnership. Not always an agreeable one, frequently fraught with different opinions, but when it comes down to it, the partners come through for each other.

Maybe all that needs to be said about Jane Casey's The Cutting Place is that Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent are back. (The Cutting Place did have a surprise for me. Something I didn't expect.)

Start at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end, but don't miss this series!

Read in June; blog review scheduled for Aug. 4.

NetGalley/HarperCollins
Police Procedural/Crime. Sept. 3, 2020. Print length: 400 pages.