An older married couple have been found dead, twenty years after their young daughter went missing. As Kerrigan and Derwent investigate, the complexities of the Marshall family come to light.

A Stranger in the Family is an excellent addition to the Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey. As always, I devoured this book in a matter of days, gripped by Casey’s ability to weave an intricate web of mystery. The case itself was fascinating, as nothing was as it seems. I was genuinely surprised by the twists, but as with her previous works, Casey has a way of making crime books about more than just a whodunnit as we investigate why people do the things they do, as the boundaries of wrong and right shift constantly.

What has had me hooked to this series from the start are the characters. We have watched Maeve (and Derwent, and Liv (and even Georgia!)) grow and change over the course of 11 books. This latest addition to the series sees Maeve and Derwent reeling from the events of The Close, as their feelings for each other are closer to the surface than ever. I will readily admit I am team Mosh (or Daeve? Maevent??) and this book had me !!!! All I can say is please bring book 12 as soon as possible.

This is a must-read for fans of the series, and for fans of insightful crime novels which take a deeper look at the genre, with rich character studies and vivid storytelling.

If there's one author that can drag me away from the Romance bubble I'm happily wallowing in it's without doubt crime author Jane Casey, But for readers not already in the know, that's also because she's been giving us the longest slow burn, enemies to friends to 'just do it for God's sake' relationship for years, with her tension filled pairing of DS Maeve Kerrigan and her alpha male boss DI Joss Derwent. In the last book, that balance nearly tipped and we're all here for this latest book to see exactly what happens (and I know exactly what I want to happen #TeamDerwent here).

'Kerwent' aside, Jane Casey also writes the most engaging and thrilling crime novels, which are always compelling reads and this book was no exception. It opens with the disappearance of a troubled, adopted, nine year old girl called Rosalie Marshall, who appears to have vanished into thin air. Fast forward 16 years and her adopted parents are found dead in what initially appears to be a murder-suicide. Maeve and Josh are called in to investigate and the case becomes far from straightforward.

What follows is part cold case looking at the initial disappearance and the identified possible suspects, interspersed with the contemporary investigation to try and uncover any links between the two. Rosalie's disappearance was something of a cause célèbre as her adopted mother was a celebrity who courted controversy, not least because of her views on adoption and what makes a mother. Claiming ' love isn't about blood, but care, kindness and guidance' seemed to be at odds with the miserable life she offered Rosalie, though her 'blood' children definitely faired better. What emerges is a picture of a dysfunctional family that produces enough red herrings and red flags to totally muddy the waters for both lines of enquiry.

It's a totally engrossing mystery and I changed my mind several times as to who might have been responsible, but each time my theory was blown out of the water by the next turn in the plot. The reveal when it came was not what I expected, and certainly not the why. So I definitely recommend this and particularly for other police procedural lovers, as with this one I felt we got to know the supporting team a lot better as well as viewing the behind the scenes machinations.

Ah, I guess you're still waiting for me to address the elephant(s) left in the room - Maeve and Josh. What can I say without spoilers. Well Josh was being Josh in all his obstinate, dominant glory but with more introspection and vulnerability, and Maeve is as close as she's ever been to vocally expressing her true feelings. We're tripping over romance tropes, the forbidden workplace relationship, the miscommunication, even a one bed scene (not offering any context just to further tempt you). There's also an Epilogue, and oh my God, what an epilogue, my heart can't stand to wait at least another year for an update. For Maeve and Josh lovers, this has to be read. Can I also say to Ms Casey, if you ever want to switch genre then romance readers will welcome you with open arms because you certainly know how to ramp up the sexual tension.

A Humdinger of a Book !! One of the best, if not the best, of the Maeve Kerrigan series so far.

The crime centers around the death of Helen and Bruce Marshall who are found death in their beds. Is it murder ? Is it related to the disappearance of their adopted daughter Rosalie who was never found ?

"That's all very well", I hear you cry. "What about Maeve and Josh ???" Well Maeve and Josh are back working together again, having been kept part by their boss Una Burt for reasons unknown to herself. The sexual tension simmers and bubbles and crackles throughout the entire investigation and all I will say is that fans of this series are in for a treat with this book !!!!

I highly recommend "A Stranger In The Family. Jane Casey is the Queen of Underlying Tension (it could make an interesting T shirt) A Gazillion Stars !! Unfortunately I am only allowed give it 5. !!

This is one of the most enjoyable series in contemporary crime fiction, not only because of the excellent writing and intriguing plots but because of the delicious relationship between Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent! In the eleventh instalment a couple whose daughter died years ago are found dead in an apparent murder/suicide. But, of course, things are not what they seem and a number of secrets have been kept all this time. Wonderful!

Jane Casey cannot write these books quick enough!!

Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent are back in another action packed story with the usual ‘will they won’t they’ thrown away in making it an unmissable read.

They attend an incident which at first glance appears to be a murder-suicide but after a bit of investigation it becomes apparent that it was murder. The case deepens when it is quickly revealed that the victims are already known to the Police as their young daughter vanished from their house one night, some 16 years ago. Maeve and Josh are convinced that the double murders are connected to the disappearance of their daughter.

Absolutely fantastic book!!! And to end the book with an epilogue like that, not sure how I will last until the next one!!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I’ve read all these books and have loved them but this is the best one yet! Really interesting and exciting! Brilliant!

A young girl, Rosalie goes missing from her home in Richmond and is never found. Some years later her parents are found dead in bed, one suffocated and one shot. A typical murder suicide. Had the intervening years since Rosalie disappeared finally taken its toll on the couple? Or was there something more sinister at play here? Up steps Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent, the detectives trying to understand what had happened. Maeve soon notices something amiss and sets in motion a chain of events that would lead to discovering lies, deception, danger and murder. As they delve into the past, they have more questions than answers and find themselves not only in danger but also fighting their own personal emotions. I loved this involved story that explored many complex relationships and questioned why people harm others both physically and emotionally. Maeve and Josh are great characters and together with their back stories make for an interesting side story. I do hope we can read more of this pair of likeable detectives.

I love a good mystery and Stranger In The Family is that, essentially it's a mystery. Rosalie Marshall is 9 years old when one night she's snatched from her house and never seen again. Her adopted parents, Helena and Bruce at first garner sympathy and then suspicion. Their lives are upended and they never recover from that night particularly Helena who attempts suicide leaving her compromised cognitively. Fast forward more than a decade later and DS Maeve Kerrigan and DCI Josh Derwent are called to a murder-suicide. It's Bruce and Helena Marshall. What looks Initially straightforward soon turns out to be murder. Who would murder two helpless elderly people and why? Maeve believes if she solves the disappearance of Rosalie all the pieces will fall into place. Her most pressing issue is her growing attraction to Josh and the complications that arise from that. I read this book in two sittings, I loved it. Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy.

Another fantastic book in the brilliant Detective Maeve Kerrigan series.
Nine year old Rosalie disappeared 16 years previously and not a trace of her has ever been found. Suddenly the murder of her adoptive parents brings her disappearance back to the surface and a whole lot of lies and surprises too.

Quite a lot of characters and maybe some were more forgettable than others, to the point that I couldn’t exactly remember certain ones when I needed to.

As always alongside the crime scene are Maeve and Josh Derwent and their will they won’t they relationship. It kept me gripped and eager to know what would happen with them.

I loved the ending. The epilogue ruined that. Why?
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Rosalie Marshall was nine years old when she disappeared from her bed in the middle of the night.
Sixteen years later her adoptive parents are found dead. Suicide or murder?
DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent are called in to solve both the murders and the whereabouts of Rosie - dead or alive.
Who is lying and who knows the answers to the secrets.

Another great book in the Maeve and Josh series. Plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader gripped. The story centres around two events set sixteen years apart and how they both affect the same family. It’s been left on a real cliffhanger and I can’t wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book and author/series. If you haven’t read any of this series you are in for a treat.

Jane Casey’s A Stranger In the Family is, apparently the 11th book in Maeve Kerrigan police procedural series. By the time, I had finished this I was kicking myself for having managed to overlook this series for so long.
At the end of the school summer holidays, Helena Marshall wakes up early one morning. She checks on her two sons Ivo and Magnus, but she doesn’t check on her ‘adopted’ daughter, nine years old Rosalie. The reasons for this are not clear at the beginning of this very involved story. If only Helena had gone to check, things may have been very different, because that night Rosalie disappears from her bed and is never seen again.
Cut to 16 years later and Helena and Bruce are found dead, side by side in their bedroom. At first, the reasoning is a murder-suicide, particularly as the family was torn asunder by Rosalie’s disappearance. However, a different conclusion is drawn by Maeve Kerrigan and her SIO Josh Derwent. As they probe deeper into the Marshall family, they start to uncover a tissue of lies and betrayals and a tortuous convoluted plot.
Although I would say this could be read as a standalone, some of the dynamics and interplay between Maeve and Josh did confuse me as I hadn’t read the previous books in the series.
In saying that, the characterisation and the plot are both excellent and it all ends on a cliffhanger. I will definitely read more of this series
My thanks to NetGalley, Jane Casey, and Harper Collins for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

When nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall vanished from her bed one summer night, her disappearance tore her family apart.

Now, sixteen years later, her mother Helena is found dead, her husband by her side. It looks like a straightforward murder-suicide but DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent soon discover nothing about this case is straightforward.

The Marshalls have been keeping secrets. And someone is prepared to kill to hide the truth. Until Maeve finds out what happened to Rosalie, no one will be safe . . .

I devoured this book in two sittings, the story gripped me and wouldn’t let go. I’ve read most of the Maeve Kerrigan series and it’s one of the best thrillers I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I'm a huge fan of Maeve and Josh, and this book didn't disappoint.
Investigating a double murder of an elderly couple, the case of the couple's adopted young daughter who went missing 16 years ago appears to be linked.
An excellent twisting storyline follows.
Although the crimes are solved, the book finishes on a cliffhanger for Maeve and Josh fans. Can't wait to read the next one!

Having read the 10th book in this series I found the complicated relationship between Maeve and Josh more interesting and understandable.. Maeve, as ever, is obviously struggling after previous problems in the course of her job.
The death of a couple whose daughter had disappeared without trace 16 years before makes Maeve think there is more to their death and that knowing what happened to their daughter is integral to solving this case.
They are a close team and relationships within the team affects the case and how they all work together.
Quite a page turner! 3 1/2 stars for me!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Jane Casey/HarperCollins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Klaxon alert!
Calling all Kerwent fans! Kerwent fans! This is the book for you, "A Stranger In The Family", is the eleventh book in the epic DS Maeve Kerrigan detective series, which is going from strength to strength in every outing. And this time around, oh goodness Kerwent fans, there are SCENES! Scenes! And, for someone who claims that she cannot stand all of those "Will they/won't they", storylines, I am utterly enthralled by Maeve and Derwent's relationship.
Ok, now that we have that important aspect out of the way, we can get onto the main body of the review.
Our story commences with the disappearance of Rosalie Marshall, a young 9 year old girl. And then we advance 16 years to the murders of her parents. As a result, we have two events to be investigated simultaneously as Rosalie's disappearance was never resolved.
While, this might sound farfetched, the storytelling is so skillful that the reader is drawn into the tale from the opening page. We become enmeshed in the dual investigations, jumping from timelines and perspectives as we gradually grow to an understanding.
Now, this is the 11th novel and there is no issue in diving straight into the series. Casey is an experienced author and crafts her tales with sufficient information fir all readers to follow the storyline without providing any spoilers (but still wheting your appetite, if you have not read the previous novels). And, I really recommend that you do read the stories - not only are they worth reading (book one is good and becomes brilliant as the series progresses), but also funny, with unusual investigation and a joy to read.
As for the final paragraph, in "A Stranger In The Family", it was an absolute cliffhanger and had me rapidly tapping my e-reader, muttering feverishly, "There must be more ... there MUST BE!"

I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘A Stranger In The Family’, book 11 in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series written by Jane Casey, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent are called to the home of Helena Marshall and her husband Bruce when their carer finds them dead in bed. It looks like a simple case of murder/suicide but things don’t add up and they have to consider if it’s a double murder. Maeve and Josh learn that the Marshall’s nine-year-old adopted daughter Rosalie disappeared from their home sixteen years previously and until they find her they won’t know whether this has anything to do with the murders.

‘A Stranger In The Family’ is the latest thriller in this very exciting series that’s gripped me from the start despite finding the first couple of pages slightly confusing with the timeline. There’s plenty of suspense, drama and intrigue, and the relationship between Maeve and Josh has kept me enthralled as to whether they’ll finally admit the feelings they have for each other that everyone else in their police department seems to knows about. There’s some nicely described characters, some of them suspects and some not, and a plot that throws up numerous twists and turns until the final exciting chapters that have shocked and surprised me in equal measure. But the final pages leave the story wide open with the unexplained cliffhanger – what has happened to Josh? I’m not going to be able to stop thinking of this until I can get to read book number 12.

Oh wow, what a ride! I love Maeve and her colleagues and have eagerly followed them throughout this series of books, but the plot here is an absolute belter. This follows two dramatic events sixteen years apart that affect the same family and what connects them. Some seriously unforgettable characters in this book. Honestly can’t wait for the next book.

This was the first book of this series that I have read. But I didn't find that I struggled to follow the story or development of the main characters.
I really enjoyed this book and the crime element of it, also bringing a past unsolved crime connected to the present day crime.
My first read by this author but definitely won't be the last.
I found this storyline very clever and dark. I was sucked in and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Especially on those cliffhanger chapters.

Maeve Kerrigan book 11....Nine year old Roasalie Marshall disappears from her home, fast forward 16 years and her mother and father are found dead in what appears to be murder - suicide, but is it? To find out all of the secrets that have been kept Meave must first find out what happened to Rosalie all those years ago. Such a great set of characters and the plot is dynamite!!! Twists and turns on every page, such an ending too. Each book brings new details about the people that inhabit the pages, fantastic!