This is a really good police procedural. I need to now go and buy all the previous books in the series. Maeve Kerrigan is a fantastic creation and I love her relationships with the other police characters; very believable. I honestly had no idea who the killer was. Brilliant plotting.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read Cruel Acts by Jane Casey earlier than its release. Thank you to Jane for such a fabulous, enthralling book.

I haven’t had the pleasure of reading previous books including detective Maeve Kerrigan. While I became aware of missing backgrounds to her and her partner Josh Derwent, this did not impair my enjoyment of the characters involved in this book, which I read quite happily as a stand alone.

Detectives Kerrigan and Derwent are tasked with revisiting the case of Leo Stone who was previously found guilty of murdering two women. One of the jurors wrote about him finding out about Stone’s previous crimes from social media while the case was ongoing, thereby denying Stone a fair trial, allowing him to leave prison while a retrial is planned. While carrying out their new interviews, Kerrigan becomes convinced that there is another victim who hasn’t been identified. Her partner does not support this view, which leads to Kerrigan working individually and making some poor judgement errors. While it seems at the beginning of the book they are looking for more evidence to put Stone back in prison where he belongs, as the book continues more questions over his guilt come to the surface.

Cruel Acts is well named, so don’t be surprised by the details of the extremely cruel, dark and disturbing crimes. I challenge any reader not to fall in love with Maeve just a little by the end of the book. She is a very well rounded character, not just sugar and spice but sparky and spiky at times. The book is well plotted, full of suspense and tension.

Well I am going to find the previous seven books in the series. Enjoy reading this fabulous crime thriller. You won’t be disappointed.

This is the 8th book in the Maeve Kerrigan series and in this we find she is called upon to re-examine the case against Leo Stone who had had his conviction of murdering two women set aside pending a retrial. So Maeve and Josh Darwin get to reinterview witnesses and question whether the disappearance of another young woman should be included. Is it only Maeve that is concerned for ‘Rachel Healey’ disappearance – it would appear so?

A couple of obvious statements next. Part of the enjoyment of books that form a series is that you are already aware of the characteristics of the main protagonists – their background and their histories. So it is like meeting up with an old friend. That said, you cannot then complain if they act just like they always did. Maeve is Maeve, Josh is Josh. Now I am not saying that they irritate me because they do not seem to move on in their relationship – but I would probably say ‘Oh no’ if it went the predictable ‘love in’ scene with them. Can’t have it both ways eh?

Second thing: If I pick up a Sherlock Holmes book; surely I must expect certain things 1) Dr Watson, 2) the violin and pipe and 3) the nature of his investigative talents.

So it is with the Maeve Kerrigan series. The title Cruel Acts says it all really. The crimes really do involve cruel, extremely cruel, acts. These are not golden age of detective fiction novels; they are this specific genre. So, yes it is grisly and not for the faint-hearted; and yes, it is fairly predictable but nevertheless it is exactly what it says on the tin. A good plot, with good characters, acting in a way I would expect them to with a few twists and turns (and some surprises) and that equals ‘A blinking good read. Thanks Jane.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

From a cut and dried police case to serious doubts about whether the right man really was behind bars, this crime thriller makes uncomfortable reading about how easily you accept preconceived stereotypes.. Add to the mix workplace jealousies, complex hierarchical work relationships and where boundaries lie between colleagues and the relationships that play out between them, makes a good book that goes beyond the crime thriller edges.

Homicide Detective Maeve Kerrigan's latest case revolves around a series of women abducted and murdered by the White Knight, Leo Stone. When Leo's appeal is upheld leading to his release from prison, Maeve and her partner, DI Joshua Derwent, are tasked with re-examining the evidence, provoking questions of further victims who may have been overlooked. Has the White Knight struck again when another woman goes missing in similar circumstances?

I was really excited to see that Casey has published another novel in the Maeve Kerrigan series after loving the previous installment. As someone who was only introduced to the series late on (and yet to catch up on all previous installments), it is surprising to me how quickly I have fallen in love with Maeve Kerrigan's world. Her latest publication sees Maeve re-investigating a series of murders, which until now had been purportedly solved with Leo Stone behind bars for the murder of two young women. However, with the release of a tell-all book from the original jury, the original case against Leo looks increasingly fragile, as an appeal against his conviction is upheld. As Maeve discovers more about the case, it seems clear to her that other victims may have been overlooked. Despite some doubts voiced by her superiors, Maeve is determined to correct the mistakes her predecessors made in ignoring a possible link to a third missing woman. While an investigation of a serial murderer of women is far from unique in crime fiction, Cruel Acts is truly an engaging mystery with many surprise revelations and brims with authenticity, and I genuinely found it to breathe new life into the genre for me.

While Cruel Acts is a brilliant feat of plotting, with a clever and engrossing mystery at its heart, Casey's novels are not just merely excellent crime fiction. What keeps me coming back is the excellently drawn character portraits of Maeve, a prickly and ambitious young woman trying to succeed in a male dominated industry where she faces being undermined by her superiors and challenged by a jealous junior colleague. Alongside this, I continue to be quite frankly a bit obsessed with the fascinating and compelling depiction of work politics and professional clashes in this team of homicide investigators. Maeve's relationship with her coworker, Josh, as always, remains a highlight in Cruel Acts. Josh and Maeve are genuinely a joy to read about; they have come a long way and I hope there's still more to come! Now, firmly friends and confidants, Josh tries to push Maeve towards a social life now that she has started to get over her recent break-up. As you might expect, Maeve is not entirely happy with Josh's intrusiveness. While I was perhaps hoping for their friendship to develop further into a more concrete romance in this one, prepare yourself for a lot more sexual tension and teasing. It is one of the most delicious slow-burn romances I have ever come across in the genre. However, I really hope there's more tangible movement in the next book as I am firmly on board with this romance and I am getting impatient.

I always look forward to the next instalment in the Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey. As a character, Maeve is portrayed as personable, hard-working and determined but also fallible, vulnerable and human. In all honesty, I feel that she and I would be friends in real life. Aside from Maeve, I also love the character of Josh Derwent, even though he comes across as obnoxious, controlling and stubborn.

In this book, Maeve and her colleagues are re-investigating a series of murders after the man convicted is released. Kerrigan once again proves herself to be skilled detective, overcoming various obstacles including hostile witnesses and colleagues.

We also catch a glimpse of Maeve’s private life and this makes her all the more relatable.

Jane Casey’s books are enjoyable to read and are very well-written. The wait between them is almost tortuous!

5 Stars from me!

I haven't read anything by Jane Casey before so I had no idea what to expect from Cruel Acts and I was very pleasantly surprised by this dark and nasty little tale.

Cruel Acts is aptly named and packed full with deeply disturbing characters and a very clever plot. Balanced by some genuinely pleasant interactions between Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent who make for a pretty much perfect leading pair.

Even though this is book 8 it worked very well as a standalone (or could equally have been book 1 as it so obviously begged to be part of series) which is of huge testament to the skills of Jane Casey.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cruel Acts and look forward to enjoying the series from book 1. 

Synopsis: From award-winning author Jane Casey comes another powerful Maeve Kerrigan crime thriller which will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page!Leo Stone is a killer. A year ago, he was convicted of murdering two women and sentenced to life without parole. But now, a juror from his trial has revealed the jury was prejudiced, and a retrial is called.Detectives Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent are tasked with re-examining the evidence. Before long, they uncover links between Stone and a possible third victim.But with Stone behind bars, a fourth woman disappears in similar circumstances. Is there a copycat killer out there, or have they been wrong about Stone from the start? And will Maeve discover the truth before another innocent victim is killed?

Cruel Acts is a good police procedural thriller. Slightly slow in some places but enjoyable just the same. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and the author for the chance to review.

This is another really strong book in the Maeve Kerrigan series. In this story, Maeve and her colleague Josh Derwent are tasked with reinvestigating historic crimes of a murderer who has now had his conviction quashed due to an error with the original trial. When a new crime is committed, they face an uphill battle to link this to the originals and solve the case.

I’ve not read the full series of books (that’s good news, it means I get to go back and fill in the gaps) but this can easily be read as a stand-alone. There’s brief references to prior stories, but nothing that would ruin your enjoyment of this one (or spoil a previous one). The plot cracks along at pace, the characters and dialogue are great and it’s a page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It took me a while to get into this book and did consider giving up, but I'm glad I persevered as once it got going I couldn't put it down. Maeve and Derwent make a great team. It took me right until the end to figure out who was actually doing the killings and why. A family of secrets but who is guilty!!

Although this is the 8th book in this series, this book can be read as a stand-alone. Having said that I will be reading earlier books in the series. Maeve Kerrigan is an officer with a conscience who is more interested in bringing justice for the dead and answers for the bereaved than in her own career. Josh Derwent doesn’t like to be crossed, he embarrasses Maeve but obviously cares about her. This makes a refreshing read. Maeve is a complex character well portrayed and the plot is well crafted making this a real page turner.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Jane Casey/Harper Collins for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the first book I've read from this author but it certainly won't be the last. Although there are previous books in this series you don't need to have read them to enjoy this one.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the story has enough twists and turns to keep you interested right til the end.

Great book and I would easily recommend it.

I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Cruel Acts’ by Jane Casey in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Leo Stone is in prison for the murder of Sara Grey and Willa Howard. On appealing against his conviction he’s released from prison while awaiting a retrial as weaknesses have been found in the prosecution’s case against him. DI Josh Derwent is tasked with re-investigating Stone and brings in DS Maeve Kerrigan who has the reputation of finding clues that nobody else has unearthed. Maeve is also interested in learning what happened to Rachel Healy who disappeared around the same time as the two women. Was Stone responsible for what happened to all three women?

‘Cruel Acts’ is a amazing novel with all the ingredients to make it a sensational police thriller. It has a complex and macabre plot, suspense, excitement, a number of suspects, twists and turns and a horrifying conclusion. I love the character of Maeve Kerrigan whose instinct leads her to make the right decisions despite the evidence pointing elsewhere. Jane Casey has a fantastic way of writing, showing her phenomenal ability in bringing together intrigue and suspense. I was gripped from page one and couldn’t stop reading until I’d discovered the truth. I’d give more than five stars if I could, it’s absolutely brilliant!

I was recommended to this author by a friend and really enjoyed my introduction to Jane Casey's writing and her heroine Maeve. It has all the elements I enjoy in a good detective novel, suspense, human interest, good background detail of the individual characters and a satisfactory conclusion. I can't wait to read more of Maeve's adventures.

It's a joy to read Jane Casey's latest addition to the DS Maeve Kerrigan of the London Met police series, which has become a favourite of mine. A major reason for that is the often spiky but close and complex relationship between Maeve and her partner and superior, DI Josh Derwent. Josh has no qualms about picking on her personal life, she has none since her break up with Rob Langton. She has been struggling to get over it, pouring all her energies into the job, a job she has a real talent for, although Josh keeps niggling at her to find a life outside of it. Maeve and Josh find themselves re-investigating an old case, that of Leo Stone, when his conviction and sentencing for life, for the killing of two women, Sarah Grey and Willa Howard, is overturned when a juror reveals the jury was prejudiced. With a retrial coming up, it is down to Maeve and Josh to sift through the evidence and determine whether Stone is indeed guilty.

For Josh, its straightforward, their job is simply to reinforce the findings of the original police inquiry headed by DCI Whitlock, but Maeve is not so convinced of Stone's guilt and more open minded. She hones in on another missing woman, Rachel Healey, who is likely to have been another victim of Stone's, but the police failed to find evidence or her body. Despite the scepticism from the rest of the police, Maeve feels Rachel deserves justice and should not just be forgotten. However, Maeve and Josh find their inquiries derailed when another woman, teacher Tessa Marsh, goes missing in a manner that eerily echoes that of Stone's original victims. With Stone out on bail, but with an ironclad alibi, is there a copycat killer on the loose? Maeve and Josh find themselves with the most twisted of investigations, shifting from one direction to another as Maeve chips away, uncovering surprising leads, as it turns out there are more victims than they could ever have imagined.

Casey writes a riveting and beautifully plotted addition to her enthralling DS Kerrigan series, packed with suspense and tension, so much so that once you begin reading, it is hard to stop until you come to the end. The characters and their development are brilliant, and the relationships in the police team feel realistic, with the politics and rivalries, especially that of the ambitious and jealous DC Georgia Shaw and her below the radar machinations to discredit Maeve. This is a hugely compelling read, it is crime fiction that stands out. Fans of Jane Casey will love it, as indeed will those who have yet to discover Maeve Kerrigan. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.

This was a brilliant read and was so exciting that I now absolutely must go out and investigate the other 7 books in the Maeve Kerrigan series. It is well written and has sufficient pace and tension to keep you reading. I ignored my work and practically everything else in order to carry on reading so that I could finish this book in (almost) one sitting. Jane Casey has produced a plot that was not predictable and that was cleverly crafted to feel realistic and as if you were actually there, taking part in the events that unfolded. The beginning gets you hooked straightaway and wanting to know more about the small boy huddled in a room cuddling his dead mother and how this one event links to the rest of the unfolding storyline. I was emotionally invested in the characters Maeve and Derwent and all supporting cast. I wanted to read on but at the same time didn't want the book to end which is always a sign of a good book and which is why I'm off soon to purchase books 1-7 in the series! If you love crime thrillers without gore, and a plot line that stands up to scrutiny, then this is a book you will enjoy reading. I am sure all Jane Casey fans will not be disappointed.
Thank you to Jane Casey, Netgalley and HarperCollins for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.

I hadn't read any of Jane Casey's books before this one. Cruel Acts is the eighth in a series of police procedurals involving DS Maeve Kerrigan. She is an interesting character with not much of a personal life and a spiky relationship with her colleague Josh Derwent. They have been asked to investigate the case of Leo Stone convicted for the murder of two young women. He has been let out on appeal following the publication of a book by a juror telling of how the jury had looked him up online and discovered he was a baddy and had let that influence their decision of guilty. Immediately they find themselves in difficulty as they come into conflict with both families of the dead women. Maeve is also obsessed about finding out more about another woman who she believes to have been a victim of Stone's. Meanwhile another young woman goes missing.

This is a really good police procedural. There's a lot going on with relationships inside the police, ambitious colleagues that sort of thing and the final outcome is a bit of a surprise. I really enjoyed this and will be looking out for more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for an advance copy of Cruel Acts, the eighth police procedural to feature DS Maeve Kerrigan of the Met.

Maeve and her boss, DI Josh Derwent are asked to re-investigate the case of Leo Stone who was convicted of two murders but released on appeal after a year in prison. Derwent and his superiors see it as a case of confirming their evidence for the retrial, Maeve isn’t so sure and becomes preoccupied with a potential third victim whose body was never found.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cruel Acts which had me gripped from start to finish. It is not a high octane, action packed thriller, although it has its moments, but rather, an intense investigation with plenty of twists and turns, false starts and blind alleys. Told in the first person from Maeve’s point of view it has an absorbing, detailed plot which gives the reader a good view of the crimes and the politics involved in solving them and allows room for reader speculation. I was amazed at how it turns out, not least because there are no early hints. Is it fair to keep information hidden? I say yes because it surprises the reader and is a fair imitation of real life investigation.

Maeve Kerrigan can be a difficult character to like at times. She is a clear eyed investigator who often produces the forward momentum in the investigation but she’s very uptight and has no sense of humour. The number of times I wanted to say “lighten up” or “get over yourself” is beyond counting. Still, I enjoyed her interactions with Derwent and her thoughts on life, hers in particular.

Cruel Acts is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Usually i am not a big fan of crime books but this book intrigued me.

All the different twists and turns really keeps you wanting to read more.

A real good book.

I have really enjoyed this series and this latest installment is just as good, The story is set around the release from prison of Leo Stone, a man convicted of the murder of two women. A juror has written a book admitting that a group of them read about Stone’s violent past on the internet and were convinced of his guilt from this point forwards. Kerrigan and Derwent are asked to take another look at the case before it goes to retrial. The story is quite violent and disturbing in parts, more so than other books in the series. What really makes these books, though, is the combatant relationship between the two detectives. They bicker and squabble but always care very deeply about each other, I like the fact that no one is without flaws.
This book is highly recommended but it would be worth reading the whole series to fully enjoy the developing character.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.