Let the Dead Speak

This is the first book by Jane Casey I have read but it definitely won't be the last. Full of twists and turns with an ending I never imagined.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy.

Chloe, an eighteen year-old, returns early from a visit to stay with her dad and his family, to find her mother missing and the house splashed with blood. Her neighbour who has given her a lift home from the station rings the police. DS Maeve Kerrigan finds herself looking at two dysfunctional families whose lives have become involved. The neighbours accuse one another and Chloe and her friend Bethany refuse to speak. There is no body, yet they have to conclude it’s murder from the amount of blood. It all seems hopeless.

I enjoyed this so much and was impressed enough to have a quick look at what else the author has written. It was only at this point that I realised the book is seventh in a series. To me, that means it’s very well done. It was obvious that there was some back-story with Maeve and her DI but the plot never at any point depends on it. It’s a very twisty and highly exciting story and I enjoyed it very much.

An excellent police procedural novel. There are some stock characters - newly promoted female sergeant, her love/ hate partner, inept rookie _ but they never become too clinched.
The actual plot Is unusual and has many twists and turns along the way. Indeed, the final denouement is kept to the very end, and surprising it is too.
I found it easier to identify with the police. There were some rounded characters and realistic dialogue. The villains were a touch two dimensional but the plot was good enough for me to be carried along with it.
I will surely look for more of Jane Casey's books.

I love the Maeve Kerrigan series and this one is just as good as all the others. The interaction with Josh is superb and very funny at times. How long before they're an item ?
The plot was very well handled, the ending not too obvious and the writing very good indeed. Couldn't put it down and can't wait for the next one.

Sheer addictive entertainment - great characters from victims to perpetrators - a comprehensive psychological depth to all - from the scheming mother trying to look out for her child, to the complexities of abuse of women which is a definite sub theme of this book with its outspoken, brave female detective - giving her new second a chance to figure it out in a wholly male world. We are all exploring police ethos these days and this is a good insight with a great story of who did it. It's more than one perpetrator involved here and not all what it seems to be. Jane Casey is someone I'm pleased to be introduced to and will follow up on - terrific reading, top flight police procedural which is far more than the run-of-the-mill genre piece.

Thank you very much to netgalley for sending me an advance copy of let the dead speak in exchange for an honest review.
I have read all of Jane caseys books to date and I love everyone of them her style of writing draws you in straightaway. I love the maeve Kerrigan books and though the wait seemed to take forever for this book it was well worth waiting for. The story revolves around Kate Emery whose daughter is staying at her dads house for a few days but cuts her visit short to go home to her mother but when she gets there there is blood smeared on the walls etc and though her mother couldn't possibly survive such blood loss her body is missing. It turns into a murder investigation with numerous suspects and maeve Kerrigan who's now a sergeant encounters numerous dead ends. This book will keep you gripped until the very end.

Loved this book and couldn't put it down, a murder scene with no body, dissappearing girls, many suspect people. Kerrigan has her work cut out getting to the bottom of it with her colleagues, one she doesn't take to one she has great banter with so we get to see there characters as the story unravels. A book that definitely drags you in from page one and keeps you there right until the last page

Let the Dead Speak by Jane Casey

This is the latest book in the Maeve Kerrigan series and like all the others it does not fail to please.

Detective Maeve Kerrigan newly promoted and mourning the loss of her relationship with her cheating boyfriend is called upon to lead her team in investigating Chloe Emery’s mother who is missing – her house empty but covered in blood. Has she been murdered; where is the body? The investigation introduces us to the neighbours and their behaviour, who can be trusted, who is honest, and who is lying?

As in most crime novels, the police are under enormous pressure; from the media; from the senior officers; from the general public. Maeve is led by Josh Derwent and theirs is a strange relationship. She is keen to prove worthy of her promotion and at the same time she is irritated by a new member of her team who she does not really trust – is this just paranoia.

I was so happy to read this book and welcomed my reintroduction to Maeve and Derwent. Casey’s characterisations are a joy. How could you not love Maeve who is struggling with lack of sleep and concerns about her ‘new’ tidier image and whether further crimes will be committed on her watch. How could you not fail to admire Derwent, a maverick (don’t do as I do…)? Her portrayal of the different neighbours illustrates Casey’s manipulation of the readers’ expectations. How can you not find the Norrises a bit weird; how can you not worry and ache for Chloe?

I cannot recommend this highly enough. The worst bit of the book? The end – I just wanted to carry on reading it. A very satisfying tale with a well-structured plot and incredible characterisation. If you have not met Maeve Kerrigan before I urge you to remedy this as soon as possible, you will not regret it.

NetGalley supplied this book via Kindle in return for an honest review.

Having read all of Jane Caseys books I was looking forward to this and it did not disappoint. This is an absolute stormer- intelligent, sharp, suspenseful writing that meant I devoured the whole thing in one sitting. I love Maeve, I love Derwent and in this installment I started to love Una as well. More please!

A police storyline with complex characters that do not show their true selves until the end. I enjoyed this book and would like to think it is the first of a series involving DS Maeve Kerrigan and team. Murder, emotions and all other reasons people use to commit crimes are in the storyline of this book together with characters good and bad.. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read.

There is no body, but Detective Maeve Kerrigan is sure a murder has taken place. Chloe Emery returns home to find her mother, Kate, missing and blood all over the house, too much blood for a simple accident. Because there is no body, Maeve and fellow detective Josh Derwent look at the people closest to Kate, beginning with her neighbors. They’re a strange lot, the Norrises act holier than thou, but their teenage daughter is obviously hiding something, could it be murder? Then there’s neighborhood criminal William Turner, who was once accused of stabbing a school friend and who now is the go to person any time something bad happens in the neighborhood. Maeve will have to tease through many layers of lies, secrets and neighborhood gossip to discover what really happened to Kate. Casey is one of my favorite British crime writers, her stories are always exciting without being gory, with intricate mysteries and well drawn characters

Chloe is arriving home earlier than planned from a visit to her dads. When she gets home she doesn't find her mom Kate but an awful lot of blood.

May contain mild spoilers.

This is book seven to feature Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent. I have to say that they are my favourite crime solving duo. As always I'd say to read the series from the beginning. This is so that the reader can get to know both Maeve and Josh and see how their relationship is. They come across as if they really don't like each other but there are undercurrents there. For me I would like to see perhaps a kiss or even a bit more. Would this work out. Only Jane Casey, Maeve and Josh know the answers.

The plot was quite engaging. As always there is plenty going on with lots of twists turns and then twists again. I always the books this series as it progresses I think it gets better.

There isn't really anything I didn't like about this book as I always enjoy them which I do think is down to the two brilliant main characters.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the chance to read and review the book.

Brilliant. Jane Casey is a brilliant crime writer and this book lives up to all its promises. Maeve Kerrigan is at her best as always. A novel with plenty of drama right up until the last page. I would definitely recommend this book and eagerly await another one by this author.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Secondly, what a great book!
How have I never read any Jane Casey books before? Now I have discovered her I will definitely be reading more!
I won't go into the plotline - that is what the description is for - but I will say this:
Let the Dead Speak was gripping, (literally in some parts, my poor Kindle!), the story was tense and well told. The main characters are believable and likeable (the same cannot be said for some of the suspects though!). I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and have been recommending to all.
I am looking forward to reading some more Jane Casey books now....

An excellent extremely readable book full of twists. Jane Casey sets the scene so well and Maeve is a very likable protagonist. I've enjoyed all of the seven books in this series and I guess the wait for number eight starts here. Thoroughly recommended.