Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Jane Casey’s The Outsider is a riveting addition to the crime thriller genre, showcasing her talent for creating suspenseful and intricately plotted narratives. As a book reviewer who values originality and well-crafted plots, I found this novel to be an exceptional read.

This story centers around Rob Langton, an undercover police officer assigned to infiltrate the Carter family, a seemingly respectable household with dark secrets. Rob’s mission is to gather evidence against Geraint Carter, the family’s patriarch, who is suspected of orchestrating a series of violent crimes. As Rob delves deeper into the Carters’ world, he uncovers a web of deceit and danger that threatens not only his mission but also his life.

Casey excels in creating complex and believable characters. Rob Langton is a nuanced protagonist, grappling with the ethical dilemmas of his undercover role. His internal conflicts and the tension between his professional duties and personal morals add depth to his character. The Carters, particularly Geraint, are portrayed with chilling realism, making them formidable and memorable antagonists.

Casey’s writing is engaging and evocative. She skillfully builds tension and maintains a fast-paced narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Her descriptive prose brings the settings and characters to life, immersing readers in the story’s atmosphere. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, enhancing the authenticity of the characters’ interactions.

The Outsider explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the moral complexities of undercover work. It delves into the psychological impact of living a double life and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of justice. The novel also touches on contemporary social issues, adding a layer of relevance and depth to the story.

The Outsider is a compelling and thought-provoking thriller that will appeal to fans of crime fiction and psychological suspense. Jane Casey has crafted a story that is thrilling and emotionally resonant, with a plot full of unexpected twists and turns. This book is a testament to her skill as a storyteller and is highly recommended for readers who appreciate a blend of intense action and psychological depth.

Publisher: Harper 360

Rating: 3.5/5 ★ 

The Outsider follows the investigation into a brutal murder that shakes a small community. As the detective in charge digs deeper, she uncovers unexpected connections and dark secrets about the people involved. The story is filled with twists and turns, keeping the reader on edge as the investigation unfolds. With a complex cast of characters, including a determined lead investigator grappling with her own past, the novel explores the fine line between guilt and innocence. As the mystery grows more tangled, the suspense intensifies, leading to a shocking conclusion.
The Outsider by Jane Casey was a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat read from start to finish. The story follows the investigation of a shocking murder, and right from the beginning, the tension is palpable. What really drew me in was the main character, the detective in charge of the case. She’s strong, intelligent, and determined, but also has her own complicated past, which adds an extra layer of depth to the story.
The pacing of the book is perfect — it builds slowly at first, letting the suspense creep in, but before you know it, you’re completely hooked. Jane Casey does an incredible job of weaving together different plotlines, keeping you guessing and second-guessing who’s involved. I loved how the author kept revealing twists that made me rethink everything I thought I knew about the case. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a new revelation would completely change the direction of the story.
What I also really enjoyed was the way the characters were developed. They felt real, with their own flaws and motivations, and I found myself invested in their fates as the mystery unraveled. There were so many layers to the plot, and the emotional stakes were just as high as the mystery itself.
Overall, The Outsider is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you enjoy a well-crafted crime story with plenty of twists and complex characters, I highly recommend giving this one a read. It’s suspenseful, intelligent, and will definitely leave you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page.

Favorite Quote: 

"trust is a fragile thing. It takes years to build and only a moment to shatter."

I throughly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, and held my attention. I finished this book in less than 2 days. The family was very dysfunctional, and some of them very unlikable. Just like any other family IRL. Amazing, action packed novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

A very tense thriller about an undercover cop infiltrating a dysfunctional mob family run by a wealthy man who wants to cement his place among the ultra-wealthy class of right-wing British oligarchs by organizing a terrorist attack that will be blamed on Muslim immigrants, furthering their goals. There's a bit of a "succession" vibe in the family as the cop becomes an all-around helper at the mansion, and on the part of the cop, there's a long-running relationship drama with Maeve Kerrigan, who has been the protagonist of the series, with this cop as an ex who remains attached.

It's well paced and will please series fans as well as people who like reading slightly soapy dramas about mobsters and wealthy villains. Not entirely my cuppa tea, but I am sure it will hit the spot for most readers.

Fast paced thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat! This book was filled with the secrets, the lies, the thrills we look for! Great read! I will be reading more of Jane Casey's books!

Love this series! And how clever to have a story that centers on Rob as the main character but still include Josh and Maeve! It answers a lot of questions from Rob and Maeve’s previous relationship. The only thing that bothered me, is the end of the last Maeve book didn’t really seem to gel with what was going on here so you are not sure about the timing.

Rob is working undercover with Opal to bring down a crime family. There is a lot of tension as he tries to get in their good graces while still knowing who to trust. The Carter patriarch is up to some anti Semetic plots which is hard to read about, but Rob has a part to play while trying to also be a cop.

The wrap up was satisfying with a some surprises as well. I will be waiting anxiously for the next Maeve/Josh book in the series. Thank you Net Galley, the publisher and the author for the ARC to read and review.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
This book started out slow but was fast paced middle to end. Undercover Rob is working to bring down the Carter family, They have a beautiful home but not a beautiful family. Dangerous criminals must be stopped. Can he do it?

This novel showcases Rob Langton, DS Maeve Kerrigan’s ex, who was on his third major investigation as an undercover policeman, currently identifying as Mark Howell and reporting to Opal Gilroy.

His job was to infiltrate the Carter crime family, which he was able to do after serendipitously saving patriarch Geraint Carter’s life following a heart attack. Geraint then offered him a job as a right-hand man, which was a great way to get on the inside, but extremely dangerous for Mark; he knew the slightest slip-up or lapse of trust could cause him to lose his life.

Mark quickly discovered that Geraint was up to more than just the “usual” crimes of money laundering, protection rackets, and murder; he was a committed white nationalist. He had a plan to stir up anti-immigrant sentiment by staging a false flag operation that he could blame on Muslims and gain support for discriminatory measures or better yet, forced eviction.

To Geraint and the three like-minded very wealthy men who are conspiring with him, any deaths they caused would be immaterial; they believed the only way to defeat Muslims was ‘to use their own violence against them.” [The irony of *whose* violence it was, was lost on Geraint and his pals.]

The group had been building up to this moment by funding right-wing politicians across the UK and Europe, as well as buying up regional newspapers and radio and television stations that would bruit their agenda. In addition, they were setting up online discussion sites that operated as “safe spaces to say and hear the unthinkable,” as Mark’s boss Opal put it. She averred, “. . . it’s a tried and tested way of shifting public opinion.” They magnified low-level annoyances to make them major grievances, creating a community that could speak up without being censured but rather be lauded as “honest” and “patriotic.”

Opal told Mark:

“Sadly, there are quite a lot of racist people out there. And there are more people who are just disappointed in their lives and wish things were different. They’re sitting ducks. You sell them a dream where all the money stops draining away from them and starts filling their pockets instead. It’s impossible to counter a dream with reality. The truth doesn’t seem like a very appealing alternative to being told your problems aren’t your fault.”

Geraint made Mark a part of his plans for causing carnage, and Mark had to stop it somehow. But he was watched constantly, he had no way to warn Opal, and time was running out.

Evaluation: This novel will be welcome on at least one level to fans of DC Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent. The story not only explains a lot about what happened to Maeve and Rob, but provides insight into the partnership of Maeve and Josh. As for the crime portion of the story, it is sufficiently full of tension to keep readers turning the pages.

rob was working under cover tokeeping tab on mob boss named geraint. geraint is a racist who doesn't like muslims in his country.rob make geraint think he is doing what he want ,but rob is reporting back to his boss. while living with the family he uncovers horrable plans of terrorism. thank you net gally for the arc.

This is my first Jane Casey book and won’t be my last. A fast- paced thriller about a police officer who infiltrates a crime family. Great read that opens the door to more stories about this character. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

I really enjoyed reading this, it had that crime thriller element that I was looking for and was engaged with the overall feel. The characters were really well done and was invested in the story going on. I loved that it was about a family and how one person is going to destroy them. Jane Casey has a strong writing style and glad I got to read this.

Another stellar thriller of a book by the masterful Jane Casey. Rob, a secondary character, in her Maeve books becomes the main and is quickly involved in the shenanigans of a crime family. Taut, expertly written. Not to be missed.