I really enjoyed this, though it turns out it's a series with the same female police detective lead, so I can go back and catch up. That being said, I didn't feel I was missing essential information; the book stands alone but does refer to past events, so it will be interesting to find out what went on before I met the central characters.
The plotting was tight and I liked the writing style; the author knows how to spin a yarn and I didn't see the twist coming. Lots of nicely dislikeable villains here and interesting police dynamics too. If you like crime fiction, especially with strong female protagonists, this is well worth a try.

Let the Dead Speak is actually the seventh Maeve Kerrigan book, and true to form the first I have read. Thankfully it mostly works well as a stand alone book but I did feel I would have benefitted from knowing more about the history of Maeve and her fellow officers, particularly Josh Derwent, so if possible I would recommend reading the books in order if you can. However, this is still a fantastically gripping novel and has persuaded me to read the rest of the series.
The mystery itself rests on the copious amount of blood discovered by Chloe Emery in her home. The police quickly determine that this much blood loss has to mean a murder, and yet there is no body. Chloe's mum, Kate is missing so is she the victim and how are the police going to investigate when it seems that everybody they speak to is holding something back? Let the Dead Speak is a terrific police procedural for anybody who enjoys a thriller with a compelling mystery. It combines a strong plot with complex and well-drawn characters - the investigators and those under suspicion. Although the story has an intriguing premise it is this sharp characterisation that for me really made the story. The intricacies of the various relationships in the book give it a real heart. Some of the characters are immensely unlikeable but nevertheless still interesting, and even those who are more sympathetic are still flawed and multidimensional. Some of my suspicions were realised but part of the fun of reading a thriller is being proven right and there were still plenty of twists I was surprised by. I'm delighted to have been introduced to Maeve Kerrigan and knowing I now have six more books featuring her is an extra treat.
Many thanks to the publishers, Harper Collins UK for my advance copy received from Netgalley in return for this review.

An interesting twist on the usual murder novels. The plot moves along at a pace and although I have not read any other books in this series it did not detract from the book itself.

Even though this is the seventh novel in the series, it is my first Jane Casey book – which I enjoyed thoroughly. In fact I went back to download, one by one, the other six books!

The story grabs you immediately and the twists and secrets keep you engaged, going at a good pace, whilst feeling plausible and believable throughout.
I would definitely recommend.

A reasonably gripping UK-based police procedural, a little bit formulaic at times, but with a definite twist as a finale

This is the latest part of a series of novels concerning the same main characters, and as such, there were many references (and scenarios) relating to actions / events in the preceding novel(s) – but this did not majorly detract from the flow of the story – if anything, I am now thinking of acquiring some of the earlier work.

My only slight criticism, is that I felt the book was just a tad too long, leading me to a sense of – what can go wrong with this investigation now – but overall, a good and exciting piece of work.

Jane Casey is not an author that I am familiar with but, having just finished "Let The Dead Speak", that will all change.

The story was easy to get into and was not that easy to predict the wrong-doers, with clues and red herrings running through.

The story demanded to be read in as short a time period as possible and I ended up reading it in 3 days. Numerous chapters finished as "cliffhangers" leading to the usual "one more chapter..." situation.

all in all a very good and entertainment story.

There is a bloody murder scene without a body leading to a complex twisting tale of love, hate and betrayal. This is the seventh book in the Maeve Kerrigan series and they keep getting better, if that’s possible. This is another compulsive, page turner from Jane Casey, gripping from the first word to the last.

Thanks to Net Galley & Harper Collins for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
18 year old Chloe returns home from being at her Dads to find the house where she lives with her mum covered in blood, pooled on the carpet, splashed on the walls throughout the house and her mother Kate is missing, everything points to Kate being murdered, though the police are baffled, where is the body?
Detective Sergeant Maeve Kerrigan and her colleagues begin the search for Kate's murderer. There are a few of the neighbours who need to be questioned , Mr Norris who gave Chloe a lift home from the station, his brother Morgan is also a person of interest and William Turner with previous history with the police.
Everyone seems to be hiding something when interviewed. Chloe and the Norris's daughter Bethany are also secretive and unhelpful to the police when questioned and then the two teenagers go missing. The story picks up pace here and Chloe is also found murdered. Bethany refuses to talk to the police, Emily is found alive. There are a lot of twists and turns and 3 murders have been committed.
Will DS Kerrigan and her team be able to tie all the ends together, is Bethany as innocent as she seems.
This is the first book I have read by this author and will definitely read more - well deserving 4 stars.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I wasn't that keen on Maeve I think I have missed out by not reading the other books in the series and may have a warmer feeling towards her if I had.The story was a twisty one with plenty to keep me interested but I wished I'd made more of a connection with the lead character I found her a bit dull and that took the edge off for me, but we are all different others may like her more than I did or feel it is not so important .Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the first time I've read a Jane Casey novel, but it won't be my last. I was gripped from the very beginning to the end. When I didn't have the time to sit and read, I still found myself thinking about the characters and couldn't wait to pick it up. I know that this is Book 7 of A Maeve Kerrigan crime thriller, and I thought that I might have a problem with not reading the others, but it holds it's own as a "Stand Alone Book". The plot is thick with dark secrets, murder, (with no body), religious fanaticism and twists around every corner. I certainly recommend this book and I shall definitely be reading the first six in this fantastic series.

My first thought for this book was why had I not read a Jane Casey book book before? The second was finding more hat she had written.
This strong,well written book had pace and gripped me from the first page. It is a book that is written in such a way you convince yourself that you know who has done what. Totally wrong on many counts.
The characters are so well written and the twists and turns unexpected and enlightening but then they are not as Jane Casey has you totally fooled right until the last page.
Thanks for the opportunity to review this book and to jump in to the Maeves world. It won't be my only read by this author

The most gripping read I've had in ages - I couldn't put this book down! Read in 0ne (long!) sitting. DS Kerrigan is an engaging and original character who pulls the narrative along like turbulence behind a jet. No spoilers, but although I guessed some of the mystery quite early it was complex enough to hold many secrets while avoiding the sort of surprises that feel like cheating. I'm heading off now to find more of these - there are hints that this may be part of a series. I really hope so!

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.

Extremely grateful to NetGalley for allowing the opportuntiy to read and review this book pre - publication.
This is my first introduction to this author and the main characters within the book, although I believe this is indeed the seventh book in a series. Not having read any of the previous ones in no way detracted from this experience although there is obviously history between some of the main police characters.
This story involves a murder.... only there is no body at the scene !
As the gripping story evolves, it turns out that very few of the characters are actually what hey initially appear to be. Found the plot and twists made for a thoroughly enjoyable read and difficult to put down.
I have not been paid for this pre - publication review, but would have no hesitation in recommending this book to fans of this genre of book.
Think I've found myself a new author and will be going online to purchase others in the series for my upcoming holiday.

Two dysfunctional families living on the same street, surely something had to go wrong...
Chloe returned home early from a trip to see her father but as she opened the door she didn't find her mum, all she found was blood, lots of blood. Neighbours Oliver, Eleanor and daughter Bethany took Chloe to there home whilst the Police try to find out what happened to Chloe's mother.
This is complex and twisty...just how I like...A Police procedural showing the workings of the minds of the police and throws in some of the background to their lives, this only adds to the book. My favourite character was Josh Derwent, not the main character, unusual I know but I also liked Maeve Kerrigan, intriguing woman. This is the 7th in this series but I think it's possible to read this as a stand alone.
Thoroughly enjoyable read and highly recommended

I love the Maeve Kerrigan books and Let the Dead Speak was no exception. With twists and turns it's impossible to predict the endings, Jane Casey gets right down to the nitty gritty of everyday life, with a down to earth detective whose tenacity never wavers.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Collins and Jane Casey for the eARC of this fantastic book. The Maeve Kerrigan series has become one of my favorites and each book just gets better and better. I would give this one a 5+, it's the best one yet.
One of the reasons these books are so good, besides the stellar stories, is the relationship between Kerrigan and Derwent. It's a love/hate one, funny and surprisingly sexy.
Along with many other female readers, I have a crush on Derwent and if I can't have him, I hope that they will eventually get together, but not till the last of the series, please.
Chloe comes home from a stay at her dad's to find her mother gone and the house full of blood. When Maeve and Derwent investigate, their conclusion is this is a murder investigation, but no matter how much effort they put into looking, they cannot find the body.
What follows is my ideal police procedural/mystery: a baffling case, some creepy characters and a few excellent twists that keep you riveted. I can't recommend this book highly enough, absolutely loved it!

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.

When eighteen-year-old Chloe Emery returns to her West London home she finds her mother missing, the house covered in blood. Everything points to murder, except for one thing: there's no sign of the body.

London detective Maeve Kerrigan and the homicide team turn their attention to the neighbours. The ultra-religious Norrises are acting suspiciously; their teenage daughter and Chloe Emery definitely have something to hide. Then there's William Turner, once accused of stabbing a schoolmate and the neighborhood's favorite criminal. Is he merely a scapegoat, or is there more behind the charismatic facade?

As a body fails to materialize, Maeve must piece together a patchwork of testimonies and accusations. Who is lying, and who is not? And soon Maeve starts to realize that not only will the answer lead to Kate Emery, but more lives may hang in the balance.

This is a good murder mystery, and from someone who that hasn't read any of the previous series, it was easy to pick up on the long-term characters and also the new characters for this story, there are plenty of twists and turns in the storyline to keep you guessing, with an abundance suspect it keeps you guessing until the end.

Well written and with a good plot, recommended read.

I quite like crime novels and I was anticipating that this one might be a little different

It wasn't totally different than other detective style books, the main character leads a lonely life, there is friction with colleagues, the story has some obvious elements to it.

The plot is a good one, I did work out some parts of it, at the same time there were some complete surprises too. The characters were well written and the description of the environment worked well for me.

It follows the story of Chloe who comes home to her Mums, from her Fathers (Chloe's parents are divorced). On arriving back in town, it is teeming with rain, her neighbour spots her and gives her a lift home. Chloe forgets her bag in his car and he brings it round. When he see inside Chloe's mums house, he rings the police and take Chloe over to his place.

The story then shifts to the perspective of the Detective Sergeant involved in the case and how she and her colleagues gather the evidence and sift through all the clues to try to solve the case before anyone else disappears, or dies.

I would specifically recommend this book to both my Father and my Mother-in-Law. I do know that they both would enjoy this tale as they both like(d) crime novels, so I will see about finding a paperback copy for my Mother-in-Law.