The Close
by Jane Casey
I thoroughly enjoyed The Close. I enjoyed how it had it all. Murder, mystery, love of sorts, humor, and everyone is suspect in one wild little town known as n Jellico Close. It kept me fueled as I read this one as fast as I could. I do highly recommend it.

Part of a series, but it worked fine to read as a stand alone. Two detectives, with sexual tension are assigned to watch a neighborhood, that seems quiet on the outside but houses a lot of criminal activity, murder, sexual abuse, domestic violence and abuse of disabled people. One of them was working on a case, that I actually found more interesting at the start of the book and at the end of the book. It was overall a good book but at times all the neighbors blended into a few characters and there were a lot of details that could have been left out to make it a tighter story

Wow, I just don’t get the love for this that other reviewers are showering on it. I have to admit that I dint finish the book. I found the romance (?) between the two protagonists to be tedious and the book too slow to get my attention.

How many deviant adults can live in one small cul de sac outside London? Apparently several in book number ten in the Maeve Kerrigan detective series. Josh and Maeve are sent by the mayor to live together and work undercover on Jellico Close to investigate the mysterious death of her assistant's brother-in-law. Author Jane Casey weaves together the romantic tension between Josh and Maeve with their work investigating the neighbors, some who are quirky and others who they discover are evil. Dementia, domestic violence, and human slavery all are worked into the plot. The Close can be read as a standalone novel, but readers who want to learn Maeve's backstory will be eager to go back to the beginning of the series.

This is my first read for Jane Casey and I loved it! Two agents going undercover in a sleepy neighborhood to uncover a serial killer was a great premise and the story had suspense, murder, mystery, and an impossible romance. Recommended for mystery and crime lovers. I will be reading more of this series. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the tenth novel in the Maeve Kerrigan crime series, which is one of my favorites. Jane Casey’s writing is a cut above the usual crime series.

As this installment begins, DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent are tasked with undercover surveillance outside of London, posing as a couple who are dog sitting in a house on Jellicoe Close, in the suburb of West Idleford. They are particularly focused on the house across the street, where Judy Thwaites lives. She occasionally hosts vulnerable males on their way from a residential home to independent living. One of them, Davy Bidwell, was found dead in an abandoned house four months earlier. He was severely undernourished, and showed signs of recent and not-so-recent fractures. More importantly, he was the brother-in-law of Rula Jacques, the mayor’s right-hand woman, and she was demanding answers.

The neighborhood, which seemed at first glance like an idyllic community, turned out to be a network of complex people with a number of problems and secrets, who we get to know as Maeve and Josh do. Under the surface, as Maeve found, “there was danger, jagged reefs under calm water.”

Besides the surveillance though, Maeve and Josh had their own issues to work through. Maeve was recovering (or more to the point, not recovering) from a toxic relationship that involved domestic violence. Josh had a partner, Melissa, who had a son, Thomas. Josh was devoted to Thomas and made a commitment to him that he would always be there for him, no matter what happened between him and Melissa.

But between Maeve and Josh, there had always been some attraction, and the effort to maintain a professional distance while living together was another challenge in the case. As Maeve reflected about Josh, “ He was my boss, my landlord, my friend. And, currently, he was my problem.”

Maeve and Josh’s arrival in Jellicoe Close and their efforts to get to know the residents catalyzes the unraveling of the residents' secrets. Maeve in particular, as an attractive young woman, is in danger.

Evaluation: Jane Casey’s writing skill is impressive, putting us right inside Maeve’s head with remarkable ease and intimacy. She also spotlights abuse of and violence towards women with sensitivity and awareness of the complex array of factors that lead to women getting into bad situations. The murder team as a whole is a mix of deeply layered characters who seem quintessentially human; you feel as if you have met all of them before. As usual, I can’t wait to see what happens next to the recurring characters.

Really good, solid on all fronts. The story was gripping and I couldn't predict where it would go next. I'd love to read more from this author.

The Close by Jane Casey is part of the Maeve Kerrigan series. I was excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint. I became a fan of Jane Casey by accident and just love her books and characters. The cover drew me in too!

DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent go undercover in the small town of Jellicoe Close to uncover if something sinister is happening. They pose as a couple dog-sitting. I was so nervous the whole time about the dog, Pippin, and wanting to make sure nothing would happen to it!!

The other crime is about a surgeon found murdered in his car near the hospital. I loved that two crimes were happening that were so different and that Maeve was trying to work on both. I never was able to guess who was involved in either case.

Maeve is such a great character; she is flawed and real. Josh is complex and fun to read.

The Close has suspense, mystery, and complex characters. The story also shows the sexual tension between Maeve and Josh and how they navigate their friendship while being in close quarters during the investigation.

More of this series, please! I rate this a 5 out of 5 stars. I really like these characters, the storyline, and the author's writing style.

#TheClose #NetGalley @Harper360 @JaneCaseyAuthor

A respected surgeon is found in front of his hospital, bludgeoned to death in his car. There are no clues, his partner has an airtight alibi and DS Maeve Kerrigan is frustrated. She’s also still recovering from the emotional trauma of an assault so when she’s recruited for an unusual surveillance assignment, she nearly refuses. But the case, the sad and lonely death of a disabled man and the suspected link to trafficking, draws her in. She and DI Josh Derwent pose as a couple dog sitting on Jellicoe Close, a small street in the countryside, not densely settled enough for a more standard surveillance van. While the pair concentrates on one resident, Maeve finds other disturbing, possible crimes in what looks like a peaceful neighborhood. And Maeve and Josh soon discover that pretending to be a loving, passionate couple can lead to interesting complications.

I can’t say it better than best-selling author Marian Keyes “If you haven’t read Jane Casey, start immediately.” The Close is jam packed with mystery. While Maeve works remotely on the surgeon’s murder, she also deals with a peeping Tom, sexual abuse, drugs, death, romance and more. This thriller is impossible to put down, well-written, fast-paced and with characters you want to know even better. I can’t wait to read what Jane Casey writes next! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper 360 and Jane Casey for this ARC.

DS Maeve Kerrigan returns and DI Josh Derwent are investigating the residents of Jellicoe Close, a neighborhood that seems like a bastion of normality, civility and friendliness, but in reality hides a person who is willing to do anything and stop anyone who stands in their way. Casey’s Kerrigan novels never fail to excite and entertain

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, serial killer, A great who done it, and a few crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!