The Close

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I have read by Jane Casey. I also see this is the 10th book in the series Maeve Kerrigan. But I had no problems at all with not having read any other books in this series. The only problem is now I want to go back and read 1-9. Where I live I can totally relate to the neighborhood in this story. Jane Casey has written the neighbors so well. You can see yourself living on this street. I also love the relationship that is going on between Maueve and Josh. The tension and vibes are so well written you feel them. I love the way Jane Casey has the murders unfold too. I will be reading more by Jane Casey!

Another delightful Maeve Kerrigan novel. This series is one of my favorites. This time Maeve and Josh are forever to work together undercover for several weeks. So, I got the thrill of watching their evolving relationship while surrounded by 2 interesting cases. Honestly, now I really can’t wait to read the next books this series!

I know Kerrigan fans will be delighted with this book. My only caveat is that it won’t work as a stand-alone. So, go back and read a few before grabbing this winner.

Thank you Netgalley for this fascinating novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for the eARC.
This 10th in the series was one I was very excited to read and had looked forward to so much!
Maeve Kerrigan is looking into the case of a doctor who was found dead in his car by his neighbor, when Josh Derwent tells her they are off to a neighborhood where suspected vulnerable people are housed and sent on.
The simmering attraction between the two, which I love, is ready to boil over and made this mystery
even more exciting. The creeping tension, the terrific writing and the surprising ending had me sad to end the book. I want more!!!
Hopefully the next book is being written right now....can't wait to see how things evolve and the spanner in the works somehow disappears.
Highly recommended - could be read as a standalone, but reading the series in order is great and definitely recommended too!

I have been reading the Maeve Kerrigan series since 2016. Each book is based on a different case Detective Kerrigan is involved in and each will have you on the edge of your seat. You will find yourself rooting for her and becoming attached to the other characters she works with as well. If you love a great detective series, I can't recommend this series enough. And go ahead, start from the beginning!

I would give this book 10 stars instead of 5 if I could. Jane Casey’s characters’ words, actions, thoughts and emotions so believably written that I was hooked immediately. Maeve has two murders on her plate, that of a doctor in London she is working remotely with Georgia and the rest of her team, and that of a mentally challenged man whose last known address was a neat and tidy neighborhood in a smaller village where everyone has neat flowerbeds and enjoy plays and fetes. Maeve and her boss, Josh are tasked with going undercover as a couple dog sitting for a woman who lives across the street from that address, and as they insinuate themselves into the neighborhood they realize not all is as it seems. Georgia’s larger part in this book as Maeve guides her to better her detective skills is a great addition to the story with Maeve’s regular confidant out on maternity leave.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the hours of immense pleasure reading this book gave me, I can’t recommend the book and the series enough to anyone who enjoys smart, well written mysteries.

Wow just wow! This book was amazing from start to finish! There was truly so many twists at every corner, but the author made sure to throw in lots of mystery and left you reading more and more. I love that every aspect of the story was completed and solved. I so wish there was a second book so I could follow more of the Maeve and Derwent story.

It amazes me that there were three mysteries in this book- all of which were connected and each made the story line so intriguing.

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read and review an advanced copy of Jane Casey’s book, ‘The Close’.

DS Maeve Kerrigan is still suffering the ill effects of an abusive relationship when DI Josh Derwent talks her in to going undercover as a couple who are dog-sitting, while they try to determine if an older woman has anything to do with a recent death of the brother-in-law of the mayor’s aide. There is already enough sexual tension between the two detectives, and living together with a whole neighborhood watching requires them to put on a convincing show of affection. What they do not expect is that they are also being stalked.

There are many twists and turns, as they try to fit in while also trying to gather information without being too obvious. When the peaceful neighborhood becomes deadly, they are forced to take chances in order to resolve two cases of murder, all before they become victims themselves.

A great book in the Maeve Kerrigan series with all the storylines and plot twists required in a British police procedural.

And here we go........

Jane Casey, I fell for The Close. Usually, I ain't doin' no Romance. But here, we were dabblin' in it and not necessarily dibblin' in it. And that made all the difference in the world.

Let's start with the dead body found in a hospital parking lot at 2 AM. I can handle that. But a woman leaving the ER simply couldn't. The Metro Police of London arrive and it turns out that she actually knew this man. It was her neighbor, Dr. Hassan Dawoud. Hassan worked at this hospital, but the hours didn't match up. He and his partner, Cameron, had what appeared to be a solid relationship. But eyes suddenly fall on Cameron......continuously.

DS Maeve Kerrigan, a senior officer, has been assigned to this case. She's monitoring her colleague, DC Georgia Shaw who's just getting her sea legs. But the higher-ups have another assignment for Maeve. She's to go undercover with DI Josh Derwent who is one of her supervisors. The two will be a surveillance couple assigned to a home in West Idleford. For all those looky lookers in the neighborhood, Maeve and Josh will be dog-sitting while the owner is out of town for weeks.

What's at the core is some weird goings-on within this cluster of houses. One house, in particular, is being pinpointed as suspicious. A series of men with no family connections have been seen coming and going there.......and then not seen again. Maeve and Josh will portray themselves as a young couple in a relationship. (Tiny embers can be readily seen with the naked eye here.) Their charge is a frisky disobedient pup who adds to some wild ruckus day and night.

We'll meet the neighbors. A group of definite wingnuts with each overflowing with their own set and degree of quirkiness. Who knows what and what is the what?

Jane Casey can ratchet up the tension like a true ace. I enjoyed The Killing Time (2021) in which she spun an intriguing web of a storyline. The Close had some pockets of humor and snarky dialogue which I laughed out loud with. She paints her characters, even the good guys, with flaws and all. Now I'm wondering why I've never jumped into this Maeve Kerrigan Mystery Series before. Well, I'm here now and here is where I'll stay. Bring on the next.......

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and to Jane Casey for the opportunity.

The Close by Jane Casey was riveting and such an addictive read.
I truly enjoyed Casey’s new detective crime thriller.
Tense and exciting. It moves quickly and yet you can not stop reading.
Jane Casey knows how to pace and create continuous action and suspense while at the same time keeping you interested in the characters along the way.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Harper 360 for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

So great to get a new installment with Maeve and Josh! I was reading every second I could get to the end. A few storylines going on and all so good.

I would start this series at the beginning for the best experience but it was so great to see the gang again. Georgia is improving and Una and Josh are working together better than ever.

Maeve and Josh are paired for undercover work and the little village where they are posted really comes alive through dialogue and character descriptions. There is more than meets the eye going on here. Also, the tension between Maeve and Josh is really on display as they have to pose as a couple for a few weeks.

Meanwhile, back in London, Maeve is working remotely to solve another crime that occurred. This story is full of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. I cannot wait for another installment in the series. Thank you Ms Casey, Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC which I really enjoyed.

33 year old Davy Bidwell was a vulnerable adult with learning difficulties who was found dead, his body showing multiple fractures, he was physically battered, and had missing and broken teeth. No-one knows what happened to him, but his last known residing place was as a lodger with Judy Thwaites at Jellicoe Close, where in the last 6 years, others too have disappeared. At first glance, the place is a seemingly idyllic neighbourhood with an apparently small and perfect community, but scratch the surface and it does not take long for the dark undercurrents to emerge and the cracks to appear. For Maeve, she has the added pressure of running a murder investigation from afar, fortunately DC Georgia Shaw is showing real signs of development. In the meantime, Maeve's new role seems to be just what she needed to help her move on, as she and Josh watch and mix with a community during a summer of hot, sweltering days and oppressive nights, where danger and murder lurk.

At long last in the series, Casey addresses the long running sparks and tensions in Maeve and Josh Derwent's personal relationship as they pretend to be a couple, living in such close proximity to each other in the house. There are developments but there are still matters that require resolution that have me hugely anticipating future books in the series! This is a hugely entertaining and suspenseful read, I was completely immersed in the developing relationship angles, and the skilfully interspersed murder and crime mysteries within. The many fans of this brilliant series will likely adore this addition, and I think it may even entice new readers too. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent move into Jellicoe Close in order to uncover the truth about all the dark secrets hiding behind the neat front doors. They are posing as a couple and have no idea of the danger they face because someone in Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind. This is the 10th book in the Maeve Kerrigan series. I have been reading this series from the start and I am really enjoying the entire series. I love all the characters which makes the book even more enjoyable. The book can be read alone but the series is more enjoyable if you read them in order from the beginning. The plot of this book is very different than the ones before as this is the first one that Maeve and Josh have finally done together. The story is told in the first person POV from Maeve so we get a real close picture of things that are happening. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. Read this book and find out all the dark secrets of Jellicoe Close. If you like suspense with your mysteries then you will love this book.

This is my first read in the Maeve Kerrigan thriller series by Jane Casey even though this is her 10th outing! How have I just found this series? Completely grabs you and doesn't let go until the very end. Well developed characters, red herrings abound and steam between the leading characters - this read has it all!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC!