A clever and somewhat original novel. Well written with relatable characters and a fast paced plot line that will keep you guessing until the very last page

This is my first time reading Jane Casey but it will not be my last! Let the Dead speak is the 7th book in the Maeve Kerrigan series but worked perfectly as a stand alone novel for me. I did not feel as if I was missing anything by not having read the first 6 books in this series. Having said that, I will definitely be going back and reading the previous books! I love a good mystery and this one was done brilliantly. There are several possible suspects. All of them could have committed murder. At differing points during the novel, I thought I knew who the killer was and why. Casey kept me guessing up until the end. I found her story to be intricately woven.

Let the dead speak begins when Chloe arrives home to find blood in her West London home. Her Mother is missing but the amount of blood found at the scene leaves police to believe that her Mother, Kate is no longer alive. She has been given a ride home by her ultra-religious neighbor, Oliver "Ollie" Norris who also enters the home after her realizes that Chloe has left her bag in his car. Chloe had abruptly left her father's home after an "incident" and fight with her step-mother. Why did she come home so early and why did someone leave water for the cat?

Maeve Kerrigan is called in to investigate and quickly begins interviewing Chloe, the neighbors, and Maeve's ex-husband's family. It is quickly evident that there is more going on in this story than meets the eye. The Norris family is creepy and weird. Their 15 year old daughter, Bethany has a close relationship with 18 year old Chloe. Maeve attempts to get Chloe to answers questions and it becomes evident that Chloe has some "learning" difficulties and is not also not being forth-coming about why she left her father's home. Oliver and his brother Morgan are not likable and both come off as bullies. Oliver wants everyone to think he is nice but he quickly shows his true colors. Morgan is nasty from the get-go and high on the suspect list. Oliver is quick to point his finger at a troubled young man in the neighborhood. Could he have been the killer?

As the investigations continues, relationships, secret relationships, motivations and assaults become know. Questions remain and as the investigation continues both Bethany and Chloe disappear. Where are the girls? Have they been kidnapped? Have they run away? Is the same person responsible for their disappearance as the person who "murdered" Chloe's mother?

I wont say anything else about the plot except that this book was a very enjoyable read. I was captivated from page one when Chloe entered the home and was very happy with the revelations during the epilogue. 4.5 stars because I enjoyed the story so much. There are plot twists and turns. They all seem plausible and were pulled off brilliantly. This book is not overly thought provoking but it is extremely enjoyable. Anyone who loves a good mystery will enjoy this book. I was not disappointed (and neither will you be!).

I received a copy of this book form St. Martins Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant book. Could not put it down. Gripped from start to end.

This series has become one of my favorites and Let the Dead Speak has lived up to what I've come to expect from Jane Casey.

There were elements of this that I was able to guess, but what I can never figure out is how the pieces fit together. That's part of what I love the most about this series; so many threads to follow that even if you figure out one part, there's still so many surprises left. This one was surprising right up until the last couple of chapters.

The other thing I love most about this series is Maeve herself. Tough and flawed but not frustratingly so. She's sculpted with a realness I appreciate, and done so without any usual clichés. I enjoy her relationship to her job and to the team, it never feels hokey or trite.

My only complaint is the wait I'll have to endure for the next one. (There better be a next one).

Are there any authors that you just have to read their new books the minute they come out? That is how I feel about Jane Casey. I want her books the day they come out so when Let the Dead Speak came out in Europe before the USA, I was devastated. Luckily the awesome publisher saw fit to alleviate my agony with a digital advanced copy and it did not disappoint.
When Chloe arrives home early from her dad's she finds her house covered in blood and her mom missing. There is so much blood, something bad must have happened but there is no body to help DS Maeve Kerrigan discover what happened. Suspects include the ultra religious neighbors across the street and neighbor Will Turner who was once accused of stabbing a classmate, but is it even possible to solve this case without a body?
Jane Casey has done it again with this gripping thriller. You think you have solved the case more than once only to have the story throw new twists and turns at you. I love the her main characters Kerrigan is the hard working detective who is married to the job and Derwent is the cheeky detective that you are surprised more suspects don't punch. They are the perfect team . If you love police procedurals or murder mysteries you are going to love the new book in the Maeve Kerrigan series. *I wouldn't recommend these books to the ultra sensitive. Casey keeps it real.

Chloe Emery arrives home to find blood everywhere. Her mother's blood. While police investigate the supposed (as there is no body) murder, Chloe stays across the street with her best friend Bethany Norris. The Norris family is a disfunctional family hiding behind the guise of fundamentalism. Kerrigan and Derwant are on the case and flesh out each lead to nowhere. Then Chloe and Bethany disappear. Where did they go and why? So many suspect and so very little time. This was my favorite installment by far. I loved the twists and turns. Just when it looked like we know who did it, the author takes us on a totally different path.

Jane Casey has written another wonderful book in the Maeve Kerrigan detective series. Unlike many books that are part of a long-running series, the reader will have no problem digging in and understanding the dynamics. Casey is skilled in adding a line or two which sum up the backgrounds of the characters to ensure the reader is up to speed.

I must admit that I have read every entry in the series and loved this one. Maeve has gained both maturity and a promotion. She is asked to solve a crime with lots of blood and no body. Again, she is with Josh Derwent (definite tension there, great set-up for the future) trying to piece the puzzle together.
She has also been given a new member of the team to deal with, the inept Georgia.

There are several characters around whom the situation swirls, but just the right number, well-developed, to allow the reader the excitement of guessing the villain and the motivation. A body does finally turn up, but it is that of the daughter of the supposedly missing corpse, young Chloe.

She has been staying with "righteous" neighbors, connected to an Evangelical church, and I think the reader can guess...perhaps, not so honorable.

When the team finds Kate, it is very different from what was expected...she is very much alive and designed her disappearance. I will not be a spoiler, but it is a great and satisfying ending, gives us good closure and eager anticipation for the next Casey/Kerrigan book. I really enjoyed it.

Jane Casey's Let the Dead Speak is the 7th in her series featuring Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent. Casey is one of my favorites in the crime/police procedural genre, and I've followed this series from the beginning.

Maeve is now a Detective Sergeant, and the new position involves some changes in the way she approaches her job. Derwent, too, has some changes, but in his personal life.

I like that Una Burt is not as much of an antagonist as she has sometimes been in the past; she does her best to exercise some control over Derwent without it seeming like a personal vendetta. Maeve is beginning to appreciate Burt's support.

I was a little disappointed to see less of the personal subplots that have previously been an important part of this series; they have added depth and intriguing layers to the previous books. There is an implication that the subplot involving Derwent's personal life is going to continue to influence the novels, but it is only a brief mention. And is Rob completely out of the picture?

Both Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent have evolved throughout the seven books, but does anyone else miss Derwent's irascible, brash, and frequently boorish behavior? He's calmed down--oh, he is still politically incorrect and sexist, but it almost seems like an effort. Previously he has thoroughly enjoyed his own offensive behavior.

I'm not going into the plot, the various blurbs do that quite well, but as usual, Casey manages to keep the reader a little off-balance, suspecting first one person, then another. The reader has to wait, learning with Maeve and Derwent as they interview and investigate. You might twig to certain clues or comments...and still not piece everything together properly.

And now the long wait for the next book.

Read in June; blog review scheduled for July

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press

Police Procedural. July 25, 2017. Print length: 352 pages.

One of the better books I've read so far this year. The story line is complex without being complicated. I read about half the book in my first sitting and couldn't wait to pick it back up. This book will stay with me for a while.

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