DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent are sent on an undercover operation to monitor the goings on in a beautiful suburban street in the height of summer. Their aim is to find evidence of criminal activity within one of the homes, yet they are unprepared for the fact that there is a potential murderer among their new neighbours.

This is so much more than a police procedural novel.

The Close has an incredibly gripping plot that is jam-packed with intriguing storylines. I could barely put it down as I couldn't wait to find out how it would end. The descriptions were written in such a way that painted a clear picture of the characters and their surroundings. Every scene really came to life on the page.

I enjoyed seeing how Maeve and Josh worked together to put on a believable act for their cover story while at the same time investigating their new neighbours. I loved the characters and even though this was my first time meeting them, I felt like I had known them for years through the little glimpses into their pasts.

I am looking forward to seeing where Jane Casey takes this series in the next book as The Close was such a fantastic read.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Despite The Close being book 10 in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey, it is my introduction to the character. And what an intro! The Close is a very clever crime thriller that gave me enough back-story to understand where Maeve is in her life now and definitely made me want to read the preceding books to find out more.

Three crimes and a lot of sexual tension: I really enjoyed the structure of The Close as it felt different to other crime thrillers in the way that it cleverly balances not one, not two, but THREE crime plotlines that our lead character Maeve is directly involved in.

The book starts with Maeve investigating the case of a murdered doctor, but while that’s going on, she is called upon to go undercover with her colleague Josh Derwent (more on that situation in a minute) and while they are undercover, a separate crime is committed, which leads to another investigation. High, page-turning drama all round.

The Close can take the title of the sexiest detective-led thriller I’ve read thanks to the simmering tensions between Maeve and Josh. They have a years-long friendship that The Close gives us snippets about (for those, like me, who don’t know their history). Josh is Maeve’s landlord and boss but they have a strong friendship. Josh is in a relationship and has a stepson, Maeve is single after coming out of an abusive relationship.

So when, undercover, they have to pretend to be a couple living in Jellicoe Close to dog-sit for one of the regular neighbours, the lines between work and reality become very blurred indeed…

I thought all three plotlines had satisfying endings and really liked switching between them to keep the story buzzing along. A highly visceral read – I was equal parts stressed at what was happening in the crime side, the scene-setting was so well done, and wanting Maeve and Josh to just get it on.

It’s great knowing this is an established crime detective series and I will be dipping into Jane Casey’s back catalogue.

A wonderfully written and plotted story by Jane Cassey. An interesting slow burn story that kept my interest throughout. A lot of romance too! I can’t wait to see the progress of the love story in the next book!

I have read all the books in series and i am a big fan of all of em. In this book, there were a lot of characters and also we had two cases. That's why it was a bit difficult to remember all characters's names than the other books but it did not effected my reading. Well, tbh i was more interested about how Josh & Maeve's relationship develop. No spoilers but all i can say is i need a more kitchen scene!! I read it all about 15 hours and i can't help myself wanting more and more! And now i'm looking forward to the 11th book!

The Close
Jane Casey
Publication date: 2nd March

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks a mil Netgalley and publishers HarperCollins aswell as author Jane Casey for the chance to read an advanced copy of the latest in the Maeve Kerrigan series released 2nd March, in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Casey is fast becoming one of my favourite crime writers. I havn't as yet read all of her books, nor have I even read all of the books in the Maeve Kerrigan series, but they can defo be read as a standalone. 'The Close' was book #10 in the series, I've read books #7, #8 and #9 and I'm so glad I did as although this latest could absolutely be read without having read the others, it defo does help to have read some of them to get a little back story and understand the personal relationship between Maeve and Josh Derwent that bit better
...And Oh my this one had some juicy sexual tension between those two lol!

Mix that with some great crime cases to suss out, some pretty decent writing and a fair few humourous moments between Kerrigan/Derwent. Its a fantastic read to get stuck in to.
I flew through it over a few days.

I will defo be eagerly anticipating the next book in the series to see what further developments occur between these two.

The only con I have was it maybe dragged out the case a little longer than needed, though the tension fizzing between the pair kinda balanced that out.

It wasnt my favourite read of the 4 I've read in the series so far but I will most certainly be reading more. I love Janes' writing style and the characters are just brilliant. I cant wait to see what she comes up with next.

Defo recommend.

4 easy stars from me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I never repeat the blurb. Another case for the team but I have to say that this one was a little slow at times...perhaps a little convoluted but an enjoyable read.

The Close by Jane Casey is the tenth book in the Maeve Kerrigan series.
In short, DS Maeve Kerrigan is back and she’s involved in two cases! She’s initially investigating the murder of a doctor, however, she soon finds herself also on a undercover surveillance operation with DI Josh Derwent where they pose as a loved up couple in Jellicoe Close to investigate a possible crime…and the Close seems to have many dark secrets! There’s a lot going on for Maeve!
This is a great series, I’m always confident that the books are going to be a good read, with assured storytelling, vivid characters and perplexing mysteries…The Close is another winner from one of my favourite crime writers.
Big thanks to Jane Casey, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

At times we all make mistakes. For example, I thought I'd read a Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent book before I picked this up. It didn't take long to realise I hadn't. At least I was confident that I'd read something else Jane Casey had written. Looking up some of titles I saw a cover that stood out as being really familiar so I figured I'd read that and just got my wires crossed. Then I looked closer and realised I hadn't. I'd never read any of Casey's works at all it seems. Which is how I ended up reading book ten in an... apparently fourteen story long series. And honestly, looking at it like that it feels as if that should be a huge mistake, but it wasn't. This was a very happy accident. I admit, had I been even slightly more aware of my own reading history there's a fair chance I would've passed over this one, and that would've been a shame. My experience of the series is admittedly only one book, but it feels like one of the best introductory points for me.

So, with that said, I guess it's pretty clear you don't need to have read the previous nine, or thirteen, stories in this series. Yes, there are some references to previous books. They make it fairly clear you missed something jumping in at this point, but they do a good job of telling you enough that there's no need to stop what you're doing and commit to reading the entire history of the characters. This story doesn't exist in a vacuum, but it still works in isolation. It has made me curious for the other books! I do want to know the path that lead these two officers to Jellicoe Close. I'd rather not think about how many more books that's adding to my reading list though, so let's get back to this one.

It opens with a curious dead body, which is probably the kind of reason most people would pick up a book like this. It feels like a nice, meaty case that will have some tantalising dead ends. There's money, some glamour, suggestions of sex and drugs. And fairly quickly that all gets put on the back burner as our heroes rush off to suburbia to dogsit and keep an eye on a little old lady who looks after people. Did I think it was a very strange choice for the story? Yes actually. But this book has already shown I'm a bit of a fool so I'll admit I was mistaken here too, it was a very good choice. Yes, the story loses some intensity, almost becoming a cosy mystery in fact, but it gave the characters so much room to draw me in. I became invested in the investigators in an unexpected way. I felt as if I'd know them for... well, about another dozen stories I guess you could say. Casey clearly knows who her characters are after all this time writing them, and that familiarity shines through. They blend together well and make slipping into their lives so easy, even this far down the road. Once they were set up in Jellicoe Close I felt as if I'd been reading this series from day one.

Of course, Jellicoe Close is where we find the real crime they'll investigate. The cast of characters around the close are vivid and identifiable. They fit together wonderfully and it all just clicks together. But there's an added layer involved. Every so often a few paragraphs switch to the perspective of an unidentified ne'er-do-well. They bring a darkness and mystery to the whole affair. Who are they and how do they fit into everything? Casey does a good job of quietly eliminating a few potential avenues with some clever comments, but she leaves enough doubt that even when I did land on a correct theory I never felt entirely certain. There was room for doubt, and a simple nudge shortly after was enough to make me question my theory. The whole story does a wonderful job of a simple mystery, It doesn't contort to add suspense, everything is there, it's just most of it is hidden in plain sight.

So I'm sold. This book was enjoyable and refreshing. I'm going to be keeping my eyes open for the earlier books, and any subsequent ones too. I want to fill in the gaps. And, Jane Casey is a good writer. Next time I see the name I'll know I've read one of her stories before. And I'll know it was worthwhile. The big difference is that next time I won't be mistaken.

DS Maeve Kerrigan is investigating a murder, until political forces steer her in the direction of another investigation. Both her and her partner, DI Josh Derwent, are going undercover in Jellicoe Close to uncover some dark secrets and another murderer. Except they must behave as a couple and things become interesting.

This was a fabulous police procedural with the twist of the fake dating. It was suspenseful and fast moving and I thoroughly enjoyed the way the author weaved in the main characters' backstories. While I've not read all of the books in this series, I found it easy to pick up and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this gifted review copy.

I love the Maeve Kerrigan series so I’m grateful to the author and Netgalley for the ARC.

There was so much going on in the book, 3 crimes, it felt like Christmas! Even though there was a lot to unpack on the crime side, we got to see Maeve and Josh’s relationship heating up as well, it was such a good blend of personal storylines and crime ones. I really liked all the characters on Jellicoe Close, sometimes I had to think who they all were but it was so nice to have Maeve out of her comfort zone for a bit. I’m hoping there’s more of Maeve and Josh in the next book, I’m already counting the days until we get another installment!

This is the first book I’ve read in this series as I didn’t realize it was a series when I picked it up. It can definitely be read as a standalone and I didn’t feel I was missing anything coming into the series on book 10.

I absolutely loved this book. Two police officers go undercover to catch a criminal. The undercover officers must act as a couple and since there is some tension between them, it’s not easy. I laughed out loud several times with the dialog. I can’t say I’ve done that with other police books. I will definitely be reading more of this series!

I have read most of the Maeve Kerrigan books and I love the character. Being completely honest, I did feel that after the first 6 books I felt like Maeve had ran her course so when I got the opportunity to read this novel I wanted to give her another chance and I am really glad that I read this novel.

There has been a murder of a man, brutally battered and he last resided on Jellicoe Close, over the years some missing people have resided here and its now the polices turn to try and find out what is happening on this street.

Therefore, Maeve and her co-worker Josh who both work for the police and have gone undercover and moved in as a "couple" to Jellicoe Close to try and figure out what is going on with the neighbours who reside here.

I enjoyed reading about Maeve and Josh and how the neighbours on Jellicoe Close acted and rise the suspicions of the police. This novel is quick moving and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Obviously the novel is not as straight forward as that, there is a very tense situation between Maeve and Josh as their attraction to one another is completely seen by the reader. I think that you could read this novel as a standalone but its good to have the back story of what Maeve and Josh have been through together as co-workers.

Thanks to NetGalley, Jane Casey and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

When I requested the The Close I didn’t realise this is the tenth book in the Maeve Kerrigan series, but it can be read as a standalone without too many references to past novels.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of and the dynamics of Josh and Maeve would of made more sense with the knowledge of the previous books but as I said it wasn’t to distracting.
The story is okay with lots of twist and turns and plenty of characters that might be the suspect but I found it didn’t keep my attention as much as I hoped.

The Close is my fist 5⭐️ read of the year. I could not put this down and loved every page!
This is book number 10 in this DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent series. Mauve and Josh have to move into Jellicoe Close and pose as a normal loving couple whilst there to dog sit. Putting themselves amongst the residents gives them the ideal chance to solve this nasty crime. The characters are well written which makes for an interesting read with different couples initially seeming to lead the perfect life but dark secrets are among them all.
I have not read and I don’t know why any of the previous books. A You can definitely read this as a stand-alone as I didn’t feel like there were parts I didn’t understand from what had happened in previous books. The storyline was really good and different to what I’ve read before. I was hoping things developed between Maeve and Josh so that helped a lot with the speed I read this. There were a lot of characters but because they were well developed I didn’t struggle with who was who at all which is rarely the case for me. A really good crime drama read and will look for the previous ones in this series.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Jane Casey's standalone The Killing Kind, I've not read any of her highly acclaimed Maeve Kerrigan series. I've drifted away from Police Crime novels, so it's unlikely I'll ever get around to reading the nine previous books in the series.

DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent are posing as a couple on an undercover surveillance operation. The Close is believed to be a base for some serious crime.

I'm sure long term readers would enjoy it more, there's clearly a depth of character and shared experience within the the writing of these characters.

I enjoyed it, a refreshingly different premise, excellent character writing and quippy humour.

Recommended, and definitely recommended for the long term followers of this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK

EXCERPT: All murder investigations were different and yet all of them began the same way, at least for me: standing in silence near a body, trying to catch the faintest echo of what had happened. Sometimes the air still vibrated with violence and high emotion, and sometimes the silence was empty. It was a habit I kept to myself, but one that reminded me of the fundamental truth: this was more than a job. Someone's life had been ended too soon. Finding out who had done it, and why, was my duty.

ABOUT 'THE CLOSE': At first glance, Jellicoe Close seems to be a perfect suburban street – well-kept houses with pristine lawns, neighbours chatting over garden fences, children playing together.

But there are dark secrets behind the neat front doors, hidden dangers that include a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing.

It’s up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to uncover the truth. Posing as a couple, they move into the Close, blurring the lines between professional and personal as never before.

And while Maeve and Josh try to gather the evidence they need, they have no idea of the danger they face – because someone in Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind.

MY THOUGHTS: I am a late comer to Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan series, and I have a lot of books to catch up on. If The Close is any indication of the quality of the series, I am in for a wonderful reading experience.

This is #10 in the series, but it reads easily as a stand-alone with only a few references to events in past books, and these are well explained.

I really enjoyed the characters in The Close. Maeve has suffered a recent traumatic event and, although she keeps telling everyone she is fine, she definitely isn't operating with her normal flair and passion.

Josh Derwent, Maeve's boss, good looking, confident almost to the point of arrogance, is concerned about her. To him, Maeve is only a shell of her former self. When an opportunity arises for Josh and Maeve to take on an undercover job posing as a dog-sitting couple in a human trafficking case, Josh pressures Maeve into taking it.

On the surface, Maeve and Josh don't appear to get on, but underneath they have a deep respect for one another. But what is living in close quarters and posing as a newly loved-up couple going to do to that relationship?

There are some interesting characters resident in the Close. There is Gillian, an elderly woman with dementia, who is terrified of 'the devil'. Is it just her dementia talking, or does someone pose a threat to her life? Ruth, a complainer, and her overly-friendly husband, Alan. Judy is the local do-gooder. She volunteers at charity shops, and takes in the homeless. If something is going on, Judy's involved. There's a neurotic housewife, and another undergoing IVF; a couple of sports-mad husbands, a single antique dealer, Gillian's son and caregiver, and an assortment of children.

There's a lot more going on in The Close than is at first apparent and, despite Maeve and Josh's intention to not get involved in any crime other than the one they are investigating, fate and their natural instincts work against them.

The Close is a fast paced police procedural with an intriguing and complex plot, and interesting characters that I read in little more than 24 hours. Once I got into the last third, I simply couldn't put The Close down. The further the story progressed, the tenser it got. I can't wait for the next in this series.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

: @janecaseyauthor @harpercollinsuk

T: @JaneCaseyAuthor @HarperCollinsUK

#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #friendship
#murdermystery #policeprocedural #suspense #thriller

THE AUTHOR: Jane Casey, a former editor, is married to a criminal barrister who ensures her writing is realistic and as accurate as possible. Born in Dublin, Jane now lives in southwest London with her husband and two children.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Close by Jane Casey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

The Close is the tenth book in the Maeve Kerrigan series but can easily be read as a standalone as I found out!

The book opens on a murder - a body with rigor mortis found in his own car at the hospital he worked at. DS Maeve Kerrigan is investigating the case when she’s pulled off to go under cover with her DI at Jellicoe close where vulnerable people are being offered shelter by one resident and mysteriously disappearing.

The story is fast paced and there’s a lot of characters to keep track off, but nevertheless I raced through it. The backdrop of the intense heat of the summer aided in making everything feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable.

What made this interesting was the back story of the ‘will they, won’t they between Maeve and Josh. There was certainly some chemistry there that Ruth saw and Josh all but admitted towards the end. This just made for great character development.

I can’t write about this without mentioning Pippin who was a star in his own right! Such a cute little pup!

This was my first Jane Casey book and it won’t be my last.

Summary: Twisty, grippy and funny. Well worth a read and a brilliant addition to the series.
After a long wait, Maeve Kerrigan is back! Woohoo, Maeve, I have missed you.
But is the wait worth it?
(Of course it is!) But let's run through the checklist:
A twisty police procedural storyline - check
Tension - check
Return of our favourite characters - check
Maeve and Josh ... undercover ... as a couple - check, check, check!
Throughout the series, Casey has focused on the careful development of the relationships within the novels. Leading to readers both caring about the characters and avidly following their journey. In particular, the characters of DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent (or Kerrwent, as I like to call them), which is key to the overall story arc. Their initial antagonism has passed and now they are close friends - and possibly more? Casey knows well how to build the perfect 'slow-burn' relationship and the interactions between Maeve and Josh are both funny and sweet. For me, they are the critical element of the plotline with the case coming a close second.
And speaking of second close, there is of course, two cases to be solved.
While dealing with a suspicious death at the hospital, Maeve soon finds herself, re-assigned to an unsolved murder and going undercover to investigate.
The second case, is the one that leads to Maeve and Derwent going undercover.
Both cases are interesting and the undercover investigation does make up the body of the investigation. There are plenty of twists involved and it is a tough case to break. Well worth a read and a brilliant addition to the series.

I do love a Jane Casey book, I always squeal with excitement at the announcement and I can safely say that this is a book that has delivered in every way.

I love the characters that fill the pages of this one. Kerrigan and Derwent are a great pair. The banter between them makes me smile and they really add an element to this book.

This is a read which is filled with mystery and suspense. Murder, possible exploitation of vulnerable people and a very interesting neighbourhood lay central.

I have been completely immersed in this book. It has been an addictive journey and Casey has kept me guessing throughout. I found myself guessing then second guessing as I’ve read this one.

Casey writes in a way, everything has been familiar. I feel as though I’ve watched events play out in front of me. I have really loved the secrets, multiple layers Casey has created and the revelations that unfold.

This is a brilliant read from start to finish. Addictive and completely unputdownable. I have devoured page after page of this one.

A definite for the TBR. I can’t wait for more from this author.

I read and reviewed book 7 in Casey’s Maeve Kerrigan’s series some time ago, enjoyed both, the police-procedural/mystery plot and the characters, and now, after reading book 10, my emotions are pretty similar, although there have been many changes.
First of all, yes, this can be read as a stand-alone, although, of course, much of the background and many of the nuances, especially in the relationship between the two main protagonists, DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent, can only be deduced or guessed at. I don’t think that affects the enjoyment of the part of the plot centred on the investigation, although some new readers seem not to have been too partial to the “romantic” part of the plot. On the other hand, readers who have been eagerly following the series seemed to be very pleased with the turn of events and the fact that the “will they/won’t they” relationship between Kerrigan and Derwent was explored in more detail here. Personally, I didn’t mind it, because it gave me a chance to find out more things about them, especially about Kerrigan, who narrates most of the story in the first person.
We meet Kerrigan when she seems very close to a meltdown. She’s survived a violent relationship although not unscarred, and she keeps denying what is evident to those who know her best. She, who is a brilliant investigator, intuitive, and full of empathy, can hardly function at work and finds it difficult to focus and think clearly. Because of that, and despite her reluctance, she finds herself chosen to participate in a special assignment, where she and Derwent have to pretend to be a couple and infiltrate a small suburban community (the close of the title) to investigate a suspicious death nobody had picked on.
The seemingly idyllic close hides a few things (not solely related to the case that brought them there) and with another case back home also requiring Maeve’s attention, there are plenty of clues, twists, turns, red herrings, and suspects to keep readers guessing. We also have Pippin, a dog with a talent for escapism, a menagerie of characters the protagonists (and the readers) have to get to grips with, emotions and feelings (welcome and unwelcome) between them... And an anonymous and dark character, the other narrator (this time in the third person), whose thoughts and company increase the tension exponentially and make for a very uncomfortable reading experience.
The writing flows well, and although impatient readers might have preferred less time being dedicated to the everyday life at the close, I found that the changes in rhythm and the odd touches of humour worked well as they gave us more time to digest the information and at times created an illusion of domesticity and safety, making us forget the dangers and the menace hiding in plain sight.
I enjoyed the ending and even guessed some of what was going on (although it took me a while, and the author was very good at making us second-guess ourselves), and although some things are left hanging on, I am sure most readers will be happy to carry on reading the next instalments in this series. This is not a cosy read, and although they are not examined in detail or in an explicit manner, some of the subjects discussed in the book (domestic violence, exploitation of vulnerable adults, paedophilia, violence, murder...) can be upsetting, so readers need to be cautious.
In sum, this is a well-written, entertaining, and twisty book, with several solid mysteries, and a good combination of a gripping plot and interesting characters you’ll want to get to know better. I have another one of Casey’s books on my list, and I’m already looking forward to reading it.
I thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with an ARC copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.