Tightly written crime novel with a moving moral compass that unravels satisfyingly. The author does an excellent job of exploring teenagers especially Chloe, whose learning difficulties add to the complexity of the plot.

This is the second book in the Maeve Kerrigan series that I have read and like the first I was gripped from the start. Kerrigan may not stick exactly to the rules and lives for her work but she will not give up until she gets results.

When a young woman with learning difficulties returns home unexpectedly she finds blood over the walls and her mother missing. DS Kerrigan is sent to investigate. A tense and gripping thriller that you won't want to put down.

This is a really well written book that has get me gripped! Every time I reached the end of a chapter to stop reading, I found it really difficult to stop as I needed to find out what happened next.

There are twists and turns in the plot that will keep you guessing right through to the bitter end...

With hindsight, I am probably not best placed to be reviewing this book as I have found out since receiving it that it is book 7 in a series featuring detectives Kerrigan & Derwent and I am very late to the party.

The story in itself I thought was good, with a cast of characters not all that large but sufficient to provide several suspects, all with a credible motive for murder. Although strictly speaking without a body we are subtly reminded throughout that it may not even be a murder enquiry. The dynamic between Kerrigan and her colleagues is interesting but I did feel that I needed to read previous books to really understand why they interacted the way they did and why the new addition to the team was treated with little respect or trust at times. This however is my failing and in no way a reflection of the writer’s ability. I would recommend that anyone considering this book reads the previous titles in order to get the most out of it.

The plot weaves back and forth between suspects, drip feeding new information which made me change my opinion of each character in turn. The Norris family start as good Samaritans, change to be prime suspects, then villains with their treatment of their neighbours which was far from neighbourly - although at times Eleanor Norris made me want to give her a good shake. A couple of the characters I thought were rather stereotypical but not enough to spoil a good tale. Nothing prepared me for some of the revelations towards the end of the story though and my predictions of “whodunnit” (and why) at the start of the book were way off track. Clever writing and plenty of red herrings made sure of that, and I will definitely be seeking out the previous books in the series so I can untangle the detectives’ back story.

This is one of those books you don't want to put down, so much so even starving kids didn't get a look in !
The book revolves around two main women Kate and Maeve the story has your brain synapses pinging with what could possibly happen next, quite often not what you think.
The author draws you in superbly and you will be hooked right to the last page. I would highly recommend this for any crime / murder readers

Once again, I have not been disappointed by Jane Casey; she has delivered and written an excellent book that I really enjoyed. Great story line that is full of suspense and keeps you enthralled. The characters are fantastic and believable; I particularly like the working relationship between Kerrigan and Derwent which comes across as being very genuine. Highly recommended read to anyone and you don't have to have read the previous books in the series as this holds up as a stand-alone however, I would suggest you do as you won't be disappointed.

This is the first book by Jane Casey that I've read and it most definitely won't be my last. This police thriller places its reader straight into the heart of the action from the very first page and then keeps you guessing all the way through. The plot twist and turns and spins the reader around so much, that you simply can't work out what is truth and what is lies. However, it all wraps up very nicely at the end, leaving no loose ends. The book is taken from the view of Detective Maeve Kerrigan who is a great protagonist. I would highly recommend this brilliant police procedural whodunnit.

Many thanks to Netgalley who provided me with this ARC. I chose to read it and give a voluntary and unbiased review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this amazing book

wow where to start...an amazing thriller with so many red herrings, this book kept me guessing right to the end who did it...that doesnt happen very often...

no spoilers but plenty of action that will keep you guessing till the end of the book

will definitely be keeping an eye out for anymore of this authors work

More twists than a serpent at a jive contest! Absolutely loved it! Of particular note (other than the brilliant plot) were the relationships, both professional and personal within the investigating team. Additionally, no techno crutches were used, whichmany writers in this genre like to have in their arsenal. Readers may remember that poorly researched tech and its use in novels is my pet hate. In this novel it was the reverse, the failure of comms out in the sticks (we've all been there)! Best of all was the false ending, just when we thought it had all been explained away there followed a very dark finale, just a few pages but enough to make you think! I was minded of Exodus 34:7 "....visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children".

An interesting story and well written, however it did not resonate with me and I found it difficult to empathise with the main characters, possibly because it is not my usual preferential genre.
Some nice twists but overall it did not fascinate me, however for fans of this genre I am sure you will disagree

This is a seriously twisted police procedural in the Maeve Kerrigan series. In a middle class Putney neighborhood in London, an 18 year old upset Chloe Emery returns home early after visiting her father and his second family. Awaiting her is a scene that bewilders her, the cat has been locked in, and the home is a blood spattered crime scene of murder, but no body. It is assumed her mother, Kate Emery, is the murdered victim whose body was removed. The newly promoted DS Maeve Kerrigan is on the case where nothing is as it seems. The learning challenged Chloe is taken in by neighbour Ollie Norris and his family, he is a member of an evangelical church with a strong emphasis on traditional values and on how a woman's role is to support and obey her husband. Chloe is close to the Norris's 15 year old daughter, Bethany, a strictly brought up and bright girl. Chloe is not talking, and a frustrated Maeve and the police team have to rely on their own investigations that reveal the secret life of Kate and all those she knew.

There are some really compellingly obnoxious characters in the novel that include the violent and hypocritical Ollie, his nasty but charming, good for nothing, brother, Morgan, a scheming, mean, wicked and ghastly stepmother, Belinda, and her spoilt, arrogant, over-privileged and entitled sons. There is the local bad boy, William Turner, with a fearful reputation. Maeve has been burdened with the responsibility of mentoring DC Georgia Shaw, an over confident and irritating woman with her eye on moving up the ladder as fast as possible. Not surprisingly, Maeve does not like Georgia, and it is not long before Georgia's shortcomings in the job become apparent but Maeve continues to support her. Kate's life leads the police down a myriad of confusing paths that make finding the truth ever more elusive. In the meantime, Chloe and Bethany disappear sparking a police hunt.The maverick DI Josh Derwent continues to be an intriguing, complex and close personal friend and professional colleague to Maeve as they find themselves in dangerous territory.

This is an impressively plotted story with a number of red herrings, and packed with a raft of twists. The narrative is gripping, tense and full of suspense. However, it is Jane Casey's expert and skilful characterisations that drives the novel. Even where the characters seem to have little in the way of redeeming features, they are never less than complex and compelling. Maeve's personal life which has been an arid arena since Rob left, has her in limbo as she puts her faith in him returning, her fantasy is cruelly shattered as she becomes aware of the truth. This is a great read that I found entertaining and enjoyable. Highly recommended. Thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.

This is the seventh in a series which I had not read before, although they are definitely ALL now on my 'to read' list. I felt a little that there were backstories I had missed out on but this did not at all detract from the complex and intricate plot which was gradually unravelled by the protagonists. Super read, not superficial like some of this genre can be. Excellent.

Well I wouldn't normally start reading a series at book 7 but I'm glad I read this as it was great. The blurb totally hooked me and I took the chance that it would work as a standalone. I really liked Maeve and Derwent and while I did feel it would have been good to have known more of their back story, the author gave us enough to make sense of their relationship. There was not a dull moment in the whole book and there was plenty that I didn't see coming.
I have some knowledge now that may spoil the earlier books for me, but this was so good that I feel compelled to read them. Highly recommended but best advice would be to read the earlier books first.

The research and procedural knowledge showed through from the start and helped in no small way to bring this complicated but never confusing story to life.
I thought the. timing was excellent and great characterisation too. My first Jane Casey so I will be looking for more from her. Preferably with Maeve Kerrigan and Derwent in again. I've not given up my hopes for a romantic partnership there!!

Let the Dead Speak Jane Casey

It’s so good to be in the company of Maeve Kerrigan once more, she feels like an old friend. ‘Let the Dead Speak’ can easily stand alone but the reading experience is all the richer for knowing the detective inside out. Her ex, Rob who flat she is still iiving in; her close colleague Derwent, and prickly new girl on the team, Georgia all contribute to the depth of the writing.

In this book we have the most exquisitely complex of dark situations to tease out, an empty house where a mother, Kate Emery, should be, a daughter, Chloe, who can’t communicate as well as one might hope, and blood, well a lot of blood, all over the walls, ceilings and floor. Nobody could survive so much blood loss, but – there is no body.

Chloe is besties with Bethany, whose parents, are chillingly godly. Their church is of a little known sect, they spout the bible and cleanse the evil in a huge font. Of course they offer Chloe a place to stay, as she doesn’t want to go back to her father, Kate’s ex. From then on the tension is never allowed to drop, a sniffer dog does his duty, but perhaps the police are barking up the wrong tree. Kerrigan is like a dog with a bone herself, she won’t let up, she has intuition that serves her well. Action, reaction, interviews formal and more casual all yield up answers to questions you might imagine need answering. As a reader you fell part of it all and are respected for also having an imagination; which is why Jane Casey is so successful and appreciated. A tricky, teasey tale, that never disappoints, right up to the last few lines.

This is the seventh book in the Maeve Kerrigan Series. I got this on Netgalley and had to get it since I have been wanting to start this series. I loved this book and will now start at book one. This is going to be a fantastic series. I think this book can be read as a stand alone. I was never lost in the story. This book had me hooked from the very beginning to the end. The book was full of twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. The storyline was fabulous and it would make a wonderful movie. What appears at first to be a classic case of a bloody and vicious murder turns into much more. Child abuse, fraud, blackmail, all appear as the plot unfolds.

Chloe leaves early from her Father's house, to return home to her Mother Kate's. She is offered a lift from the station by her friend Bethany's father. Chloe opens her front door and finds before her a scene of carnage. Blood splatters the walls and carpet. When DS Maeve Kerrigan arrives at the scene, Chloe is immediately removed from the house, deep in shock, she is sent across the road to stay with her religious neighbours the Norris's. With her colleague Josh Derwent to assist, Maeve begins a thorough search of the bloodied house.
It is clearly the scene of a horrific murder. But where on earth is Kate's body? And more importantly who has killed her? This is what Maeve and her team has to find out.

I thought the characters were very well developed. I really liked Maeve Kerrigan. She is good at her job, she works well with her colleagues, but she is a little inclined to rush in without thinking things through. Her role as a mentor to a new graduate recruit was an interesting element of this book, and I enjoyed the development of her working relationship with Josh Derwent. Add to the mix a rookie DC who gets right on Kerrigan's nerves and you have all the perfect ingredients for a brilliantly investigated crime story. I found this to be a very gripping read.

I recommend this book to those that love a great thriller.

I want to thank Netgalley, the publisher and Jane Casey for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Not my usual genre but I enjoyed this book. Would definitely recommend.

this book is seventh in Kerrigan series, but it was my first encounter with Jane Casey’s work, and I definitely will be reading some more of her books. The blurb above, describes this book quite accurate, Chloe comes back home, and finds home full of blood and her mother missing. DI Maeve starts the investigation, and more she digs in, more loose ends she gets.
This novel offers a wide variety of characters to choose from, but main characters are Maeve and Josh. The whole story was told from DI Maeve Kerrigan’s perspective, maybe that’s why characters felt not fully explored. I would’ve liked to read different perspectives of the investigation, I think that would’ve allowed to understand characters better and would’ve make the whole book more appealing. I really liked Josh Derwent’s character, and I think Maeve was missing some qualities, like ability to fight well or great insight into the issues, to be the main lead in this book. On the other hand, the lack of those abilities, made her more relatable and believable.
What I really enjoyed, was the narrative of this novel. The investigation was riveting, with steady flow of twists and turns, which kept me intrigued and the suspense going and I couldn’t wait to find out, what will happen next. I really loved, that almost in every chapter, author very smartly revealed some new clues, and constantly kept the action going not to bore the reader, and that steady built up suspense was a great transition between the chapters. I really liked the way author portrayed police work in this book; it was not over the top and was really believable. Being a Londoner, author portrayed the places and atmosphere really accurately, and for me it was a real pleasure to read it.
The writing style used in this novel is easy to read and the language not complicated, with decent chapter length which didn’t make the book boring. The ending of the book had a great new twist, and left me confused and intrigued all over again. So, to conclude, this book had an exciting plot with lots of twists and turns along the way and I quite enjoyed it, I hope you will too.

I loved this book from start to finish. Have read more in the series and have enjoyed them also. The characters are great and actually like them. Look forward to any more by this author. Definately recommend *****