I had no idea this was part of a series of books, although certain references made me check this out, and I will go back and read the previous books in the Maeve Kerrigan series. It worked well as a standalone too.
A breathtaking thriller featuring a very strong female lead. Strong because she is clever, empathetic and part of the team. And enough of a maverick to be deserving of a series of books.

Here we have a cut and dried case with a known serial killer being released because of a mistrial. Kerrigan is assigned to the case with her colleague, DI Josh Derwent. There seems to be something between the two of them which causes an interesting dynamic. Both have distinct policing styles and recognise the other's strengths. Maeve digs away looking at all angles and previously overlooked crimes that may be linked. I thought I knew where this was going but was shocked by the outcome. Like Maeve's colleagues, I was only halfway there. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. An explosive outcome and surprise to the very end. #netgalley #cruel-acts

This is the eighth book in the series featuring DS Maeve Kerrigan, Maeve and DI Josh Derwent are called upon to reinvestigate a case, Leo Stone, who was convicted and given a life sentence for the murder of two women, is released from prison after a miscarriage of justice. He is still claiming his innocence so it is up to Maeve and Josh to determine whether he is guilty or not. Maeve is the only person not convinced that Stone did murder the women. She investigates another case of a young woman who disappeared at the same time as the other two and is sure that Stone is responsible for that. None of her colleagues agree with her but when another woman goes missing when Stone is in custody, all of the investigation is in doubt. This is a plot full of suspense, lots of suspects and plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. An excellent series of books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I finished Cruel Acts at 1 in the morning in a tiny, ancient holiday cottage with a downstairs bathroom and was genuinely scared to go downstairs in the dark to go to the loo... which shows a. what a wimp I am, and b. how utterly chilling Cruel Acts is.

Leo Stone, the 'White Knight' killer has been convicted of abducting and murdering two young women. Both disappeared almost in plain sight, their bodies discovered on a nature reserve months later. One family believe in Stone's innocence, the other his guilt, the family of a third disappeared young woman wait for answers; an inconclusive smear of blood means the police haven't pursued Stone for her murder. But when it's discovered that the jury had googled Stone and found out about his previous convictions, the trial is declared flawed and he is freed pending a new trial. Enter Derwent and Kerrigan to look for new, more compelling evidence. Also enter Stone's charismatic son who believes in his father's innocence and his equally charismatic lawyer.

Maeve is instantly drawn to the unsolved case of Rachel Healy, convinced that the new evidence they need is there, and after she messes up and is pulled off the main case she concentrates on that, increasingly isolating herself and attracting all the wrong kind of attention.

The joy in Casey's books are a mixture of the taut plotting, the twisty turns she hurtles the reader through, the spot on characterisation and the relationship between Derwent and Maeve. Derwent remains as irrepressibly, unrepentantly alpha male as always, probably unbearable in real life, utterly beguiling in fiction. Maeve, whose detective instincts clearly have completely deserted her in her personal life, manages to wander into several dangerous situations on her own, allows the poisonous Georgia to out manoeuvre her yet again and continues to misread Derwent. I do love a bit of unresolved sexual tension and here it's entwined with a deep, genuine friendship which makes their interactions a joy to read.

I've loved all of the Maeve Kerrigan books and Cruel Acts is completely worth the nearly two year wait. If you haven't discovered this series yet then you have a treat in store.

difficulties. But they called him a serial killer too, because he murdered them and everyone heaved a sigh of relief when he went down for life. Then one of the jurors self-published his story of the trial which explained how he and another juror had looked up Stone's history and found a trail of violence. After that, he explained, they knew that Stone was guilty. The juror got two months for contempt of court and Stone was released on bail pending a retrial.

DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent were charged with taking a second look at the case to see that all the ducks were in a row. There was no suggestion that the original investigation was sub standard, but the defence had had chance to see what the prosecution had up it's sleeve and it was worth seeing if there was anything else which could prove useful - and Maeve Kerrigan excels at finding what others have missed.

The families of Stone's victims are split of whether or not Stone is guilty and whilst it might look as though Derwent and Kerrigan are there to paper over the cracks and make the case look good in the limited time that's available, that's not how Kerrigan works and it's not long before the new investigation is moving in an entirely different way.

Kerrigan is just beginning to get over the loss of the love of her life - Rob - who has apparently moved on the another woman who is expecting his child. She's had to move out of Rob's flat and she's now renting Derwent's flat, which is enough to fuel more gossip, but Kerrigan's used to that now.

I've been looking forward to Cruel Acts for a while. I'd set a couple of days aside to enjoy it and I'd even tempted fate by buying an audio download (which I funded myself) so that I had the best of all worlds. I could read Jane Casey's exquisite prose and listen to Caroline Lennon reading it. Was I tempting fate, or could anything be better?

The simple answer was that it couldn't be bettered. I listened to the book twice: once to find out what happened and the next time to see how Casey did it and it came out as five stars on both listenings. There's more tension in the relationship between Kerrigan and Derwent - this time with explosive consequences and I can't wait to find out what happens next. It's a cracking series - one of my favourites at the moment and this one doesn't let the series down in any way. Highly recommended.

You'll be best starting at the beginning of the series if you want to get the best out of the books, but they all read perfectly well as standalones.

I'm a complete fan of Jane Casey's writing. I love her Young Adult books and I adore her Maeve Kerrigan series. Jane is one of those writers that manages too keep her series fresh and relevant and in Cruel Acts she does that with aplomb.

n Cruel Acts, Maeve runs a gamut of emotions and her position with in the investigation team goes from being the respected, lead detective to plummeting to a peripheral role, which leaves her angry and frustrated.

A convicted serial killer is about to be released pending investigation following inconsitencies and breaches at his first trial. While almost certian he is guilty, the team have to re-investigate the case from scratch.. However, one of the victim's is being overlooked and Maeve, despite instructions from her bosses, is loathe to let this vicitm's death go unpunished.

It is this dogged determination for justice, that makes Maeve so appealing as a character,

but what really enhances her, is the dynamics between her and her DI Josh Derwent. The two make an improbable team, with a frisson of 'somethin' thrown in, yet somehow they rub along nicely together, complementing each other even as Derwent annoys the hll out of her.

Casey offers us a range of suspects, each one beautifully written, each one convincing, yet very different. And just when you think you might have it sussed and know whether Stone is innocent or not, Casey throws something else in the ring.

The plot is pacy, with some 'hold your breath and don't let go' moments as well as some 'aww' ones and a few, "Really?... that just happened?' ones.

All in all, you couldn't ask for more. A brilliant female protagonist with strenths and vulnerabilities ... Fab! Fab! Fab!

Number 8 in the Maeve Kerrigan series and I loved it. I'd only ever read the first one previously and you could definitely read this as a stand alone but I will be going back to read the ones in between for sure. The author gets the exact right balance of focus between the crime and the personal lives of the investigators, and the police procedural is so believable. A great series.

Hadn't read anything by Jane Casey before and i was a bit apprehensive starting this book as i had read online that her books are in series but there was no need as the book was fantastic. The introduction of new characters throughout the book made it all the more appealing as you didn't know for definite who had actually murdered all the women. Really enjoyed this book and will be looking up Jane Casey for the future.

A police procedural drama with twists and turns which take you on a thrilling read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent investigate when Leo Stone's murder conviction for murdering two women is quashed due to jury irregularities during the trial. He is released from prison and another woman disappears in similar circumstances to the previous two. Is Leo Stone the killer he is thought to be or is he being used as a scapegoat?

I've read the last three books in this series fairly close together as I was conscious of this latest one being released this month. The case itself is more interesting than some of the previous ones, but it seems to take a backseat to personal and professional rivalries. With this book I've found myself reversing my previous position and now find myself on the side of #TeamDerwent. He's infuriating in many ways but he obviously cares for Maeve a great deal, the signs of which she refuses to see as anything more than his mercurial character. She doesn't actually talk to him to find out what is going on, just assumes she knows, reacts accordingly, and makes things worse. Some of the scenes between them in this book practically smoulder with chemistry, plus I'm not a big fan of the new man in her life. Will have to wait and see what the next in the series brings.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, HarperCollins UK, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

This is an excellent police procedural in the Maeve Kerrigan series. A compelling plot with good character development and authentic characters. Jane Casey never disappoints. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC. Reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and Facebook.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and it was an enjoyable read. The plot moves along at a good pace, it is well written and there are sections of real tension and drama, where I found myself holding my breath.
I was slightly irritated by the odd relationship between Maeve and her senior colleague Derwent, I wasn’t sure where that was going, if anywhere. Perhaps that was explored in more depth in a previous book.
There were a few surprising twists and turns, all of which were well executed and timed.
The characterisation was excellent, and the scenes with the serial killer in prison were chillingly described and all too believable.
My only criticism is that the ending was disappointing, it felt rather weak, and did not really tie up all the loose ends of the story. But perhaps there is a sequel yet to come, in which case I shall look out for it and definitely read it!
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advance copy.

A convicted serial killer of women, Leo Stone, is released on appeal. DS Maeve Kerrigan and colleagues are called in to reinvestigate. Another woman goes missing. Is Stone the guilty man? What cruel acts ended the life of the women?

An absorbing, fast-paced police procedural with well drawn characters and a sympathetic lead. Though eighth in a series it works well as a standalone novel. The plot made for some uncomfortable reading though.

With thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC.

Leo Stone has been released on appeal from his sentence for multiple murders.
DS Maeve Kerrigan alongside her boss DI Josh Derwent are tasked with re-examining the evidence for the upcoming retrial.

Straightforward? Not likely.

More murders occur, is it Stone or a copycat?
Twisted family secrets are slowly revealed.
Can Kerrigan beat the clock to get to the bottom of everything and potentially save more innocent lives?

An excellent book that had me racing through the pages with that feeling of "just one more chapter."

Maeve Kerrigan is a brilliant and totally believable character, her relationship with DI Derwent is intriguing and captivating.

Time to go back and read some more of these.

I love this series and this may be the best one yet. The interplay between Kerrigan and Derwent is so believable and laugh out loud funny at times. Very convincing police politics too.
The story itself was very clever with believable twists and turns and genuine surprise at the end on at least two fronts. It kept me up very late last night to finish it. Looking forward to the next one...

The latest book in the Maeve Kerrigan series finds her once again with DI Josh Derwent as they look into murders committed a year ago after Leo Stone the original suspect is released from prison after new evidence comes to light proving his supposed innocence.When a another woman disappears in similar circumstances is Stone back to haunt them again or is there another killer out there ?As always with Jane Casey's books it is well written and bounds along at a good pace while keeping you guessing just who is the culprit and the love/hate relationship with Maeve and Derwent is again to the fore and makes for a cracking sideshow to the main story.In my opinion this book can be read as a stand alone book,but why would you not want to read this superb series of books ? 5 stars all the way.

Cruel Acts by Jane Casey
Although this is the 8th in the series about Detective Sergeant Maeve Kerrigan I have, so far, not read any of the previous books. Having read this book I am determined to correct this oversight. The book reads well as a standalone and is an authentically written crime novel. I found the detail and the way in which the characters were written compelling and engaging.
In this story they have to reinvestigate the sentencing of murderer Leo Stone when it seems he has been the victim of a miscarriage of justice. Maeve’s superior, Josh Derwent seems convinced of Leo’s guilt but the more she investigates the less convinced Maeve becomes. Then another victim dies in what appears to be a copycat killing whilst Leo Stone is on bail. Leo however has a cast iron alibi so who is the actual murderer? You are gripped throughout and fully engaged with the mystery. This book is a welcome addition to the crime genre. Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

Jane Casey has a gift for storytelling. Her DS Maeve Kerrigan series is a firm favourite of mine and Cruel Acts does not disappoint. A notorious serial killer is released from prison on a technicality. Derwent and Kerrigan are tasked with re-investigating the case in order to convict him a second time as soon as possible. As they probe further into the investigation the evidence isn't stacking up. Could an innocent man have been wrongly convicted? If so, who is the real killer? Nothing is what it seems. I loved this book, bring on the next Ms Casey! Thank you Netgalley for my advanced copy.

Great story of an an investigation into Leo Stone by DS Maeve Kerrigan . He is claiming a miscarriage of justice because of a pathologist ‘s mistakes when he has cancer..
The dynamics in the police station are very realistic. Georgia is desperate to be like Maeve which leads to difficulties in the investigation.
The relationship between Leo and his son Kelly Lambert adds interest to the story and makes Leo seem innocent.
The relationship between Kerrigan and Derwent is complicated and well written .
Enjoyable read and would definitely read mor if Jane Casey’s writing.

What a great book that I could not put down until I had completed reading it.
Leo Stone is getting a retrial he claimed his innocence al the way through the first trial - the question is guilty or innocent? He certainly is a creepy fellow makes the hairs on your back tingle in trepidation. DS Maeve Kerrigan is on the team to gather new evidence and she is a very likable character who stands no nonsense, even from her partner in crime Derwent. Very early on we meet his son and his lawyer who are both handsome and cause Maeve issues. The characters are superb and the life in the police station comes across as so real, backstabbing all the way. The acts were truly cruel acts of murder and descriptions made them very clear.
Fantastic book and although it is 8th in the series it is a fully stand alone story.
Bring on more Jane Casey as you write so well...

This is a really good crime fiction book. DS Maeve Kerrigan is looking into the deaths of two (possibly three) women after Leo Stone, man suspected of murdering them, is released in the hope of finding new evidence to put him back in prison.

It is full of twists as you follow Maeve and her colleague DI Josh Derwent. I thought I had it sussed about halfway through but it went another direction. This is the eighth book in the Maeve Kerrigan series but only the first I've read. After seeing how well written this book is, and the fact I loved the characters, I'm definitely going back to read the rest!