The Close

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, serial killer, A great who done it, and a few crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

DS Maeve Kerrigan returns and DI Josh Derwent are investigating the residents of Jellicoe Close, a neighborhood that seems like a bastion of normality, civility and friendliness, but in reality hides a person who is willing to do anything and stop anyone who stands in their way. Casey’s Kerrigan novels never fail to excite and entertain

A respected surgeon is found in front of his hospital, bludgeoned to death in his car. There are no clues, his partner has an airtight alibi and DS Maeve Kerrigan is frustrated. She’s also still recovering from the emotional trauma of an assault so when she’s recruited for an unusual surveillance assignment, she nearly refuses. But the case, the sad and lonely death of a disabled man and the suspected link to trafficking, draws her in. She and DI Josh Derwent pose as a couple dog sitting on Jellicoe Close, a small street in the countryside, not densely settled enough for a more standard surveillance van. While the pair concentrates on one resident, Maeve finds other disturbing, possible crimes in what looks like a peaceful neighborhood. And Maeve and Josh soon discover that pretending to be a loving, passionate couple can lead to interesting complications.

I can’t say it better than best-selling author Marian Keyes “If you haven’t read Jane Casey, start immediately.” The Close is jam packed with mystery. While Maeve works remotely on the surgeon’s murder, she also deals with a peeping Tom, sexual abuse, drugs, death, romance and more. This thriller is impossible to put down, well-written, fast-paced and with characters you want to know even better. I can’t wait to read what Jane Casey writes next! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper 360 and Jane Casey for this ARC.

The Close by Jane Casey is part of the Maeve Kerrigan series. I was excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint. I became a fan of Jane Casey by accident and just love her books and characters. The cover drew me in too!

DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent go undercover in the small town of Jellicoe Close to uncover if something sinister is happening. They pose as a couple dog-sitting. I was so nervous the whole time about the dog, Pippin, and wanting to make sure nothing would happen to it!!

The other crime is about a surgeon found murdered in his car near the hospital. I loved that two crimes were happening that were so different and that Maeve was trying to work on both. I never was able to guess who was involved in either case.

Maeve is such a great character; she is flawed and real. Josh is complex and fun to read.

The Close has suspense, mystery, and complex characters. The story also shows the sexual tension between Maeve and Josh and how they navigate their friendship while being in close quarters during the investigation.

More of this series, please! I rate this a 5 out of 5 stars. I really like these characters, the storyline, and the author's writing style.

#TheClose #NetGalley @Harper360 @JaneCaseyAuthor

Really good, solid on all fronts. The story was gripping and I couldn't predict where it would go next. I'd love to read more from this author.

This is the tenth novel in the Maeve Kerrigan crime series, which is one of my favorites. Jane Casey’s writing is a cut above the usual crime series.

As this installment begins, DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent are tasked with undercover surveillance outside of London, posing as a couple who are dog sitting in a house on Jellicoe Close, in the suburb of West Idleford. They are particularly focused on the house across the street, where Judy Thwaites lives. She occasionally hosts vulnerable males on their way from a residential home to independent living. One of them, Davy Bidwell, was found dead in an abandoned house four months earlier. He was severely undernourished, and showed signs of recent and not-so-recent fractures. More importantly, he was the brother-in-law of Rula Jacques, the mayor’s right-hand woman, and she was demanding answers.

The neighborhood, which seemed at first glance like an idyllic community, turned out to be a network of complex people with a number of problems and secrets, who we get to know as Maeve and Josh do. Under the surface, as Maeve found, “there was danger, jagged reefs under calm water.”

Besides the surveillance though, Maeve and Josh had their own issues to work through. Maeve was recovering (or more to the point, not recovering) from a toxic relationship that involved domestic violence. Josh had a partner, Melissa, who had a son, Thomas. Josh was devoted to Thomas and made a commitment to him that he would always be there for him, no matter what happened between him and Melissa.

But between Maeve and Josh, there had always been some attraction, and the effort to maintain a professional distance while living together was another challenge in the case. As Maeve reflected about Josh, “ He was my boss, my landlord, my friend. And, currently, he was my problem.”

Maeve and Josh’s arrival in Jellicoe Close and their efforts to get to know the residents catalyzes the unraveling of the residents' secrets. Maeve in particular, as an attractive young woman, is in danger.

Evaluation: Jane Casey’s writing skill is impressive, putting us right inside Maeve’s head with remarkable ease and intimacy. She also spotlights abuse of and violence towards women with sensitivity and awareness of the complex array of factors that lead to women getting into bad situations. The murder team as a whole is a mix of deeply layered characters who seem quintessentially human; you feel as if you have met all of them before. As usual, I can’t wait to see what happens next to the recurring characters.

This is my first read for Jane Casey and I loved it! Two agents going undercover in a sleepy neighborhood to uncover a serial killer was a great premise and the story had suspense, murder, mystery, and an impossible romance. Recommended for mystery and crime lovers. I will be reading more of this series. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

How many deviant adults can live in one small cul de sac outside London? Apparently several in book number ten in the Maeve Kerrigan detective series. Josh and Maeve are sent by the mayor to live together and work undercover on Jellico Close to investigate the mysterious death of her assistant's brother-in-law. Author Jane Casey weaves together the romantic tension between Josh and Maeve with their work investigating the neighbors, some who are quirky and others who they discover are evil. Dementia, domestic violence, and human slavery all are worked into the plot. The Close can be read as a standalone novel, but readers who want to learn Maeve's backstory will be eager to go back to the beginning of the series.

Part of a series, but it worked fine to read as a stand alone. Two detectives, with sexual tension are assigned to watch a neighborhood, that seems quiet on the outside but houses a lot of criminal activity, murder, sexual abuse, domestic violence and abuse of disabled people. One of them was working on a case, that I actually found more interesting at the start of the book and at the end of the book. It was overall a good book but at times all the neighbors blended into a few characters and there were a lot of details that could have been left out to make it a tighter story

The Close
by Jane Casey
I thoroughly enjoyed The Close. I enjoyed how it had it all. Murder, mystery, love of sorts, humor, and everyone is suspect in one wild little town known as n Jellico Close. It kept me fueled as I read this one as fast as I could. I do highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I have read by Jane Casey. I also see this is the 10th book in the series Maeve Kerrigan. But I had no problems at all with not having read any other books in this series. The only problem is now I want to go back and read 1-9. Where I live I can totally relate to the neighborhood in this story. Jane Casey has written the neighbors so well. You can see yourself living on this street. I also love the relationship that is going on between Maueve and Josh. The tension and vibes are so well written you feel them. I love the way Jane Casey has the murders unfold too. I will be reading more by Jane Casey!

Another delightful Maeve Kerrigan novel. This series is one of my favorites. This time Maeve and Josh are forever to work together undercover for several weeks. So, I got the thrill of watching their evolving relationship while surrounded by 2 interesting cases. Honestly, now I really can’t wait to read the next books this series!

I know Kerrigan fans will be delighted with this book. My only caveat is that it won’t work as a stand-alone. So, go back and read a few before grabbing this winner.

Thank you Netgalley for this fascinating novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for the eARC.
This 10th in the series was one I was very excited to read and had looked forward to so much!
Maeve Kerrigan is looking into the case of a doctor who was found dead in his car by his neighbor, when Josh Derwent tells her they are off to a neighborhood where suspected vulnerable people are housed and sent on.
The simmering attraction between the two, which I love, is ready to boil over and made this mystery
even more exciting. The creeping tension, the terrific writing and the surprising ending had me sad to end the book. I want more!!!
Hopefully the next book is being written right now....can't wait to see how things evolve and the spanner in the works somehow disappears.
Highly recommended - could be read as a standalone, but reading the series in order is great and definitely recommended too!

I have been reading the Maeve Kerrigan series since 2016. Each book is based on a different case Detective Kerrigan is involved in and each will have you on the edge of your seat. You will find yourself rooting for her and becoming attached to the other characters she works with as well. If you love a great detective series, I can't recommend this series enough. And go ahead, start from the beginning!

I would give this book 10 stars instead of 5 if I could. Jane Casey’s characters’ words, actions, thoughts and emotions so believably written that I was hooked immediately. Maeve has two murders on her plate, that of a doctor in London she is working remotely with Georgia and the rest of her team, and that of a mentally challenged man whose last known address was a neat and tidy neighborhood in a smaller village where everyone has neat flowerbeds and enjoy plays and fetes. Maeve and her boss, Josh are tasked with going undercover as a couple dog sitting for a woman who lives across the street from that address, and as they insinuate themselves into the neighborhood they realize not all is as it seems. Georgia’s larger part in this book as Maeve guides her to better her detective skills is a great addition to the story with Maeve’s regular confidant out on maternity leave.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the hours of immense pleasure reading this book gave me, I can’t recommend the book and the series enough to anyone who enjoys smart, well written mysteries.

Wow just wow! This book was amazing from start to finish! There was truly so many twists at every corner, but the author made sure to throw in lots of mystery and left you reading more and more. I love that every aspect of the story was completed and solved. I so wish there was a second book so I could follow more of the Maeve and Derwent story.

It amazes me that there were three mysteries in this book- all of which were connected and each made the story line so intriguing.

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read and review an advanced copy of Jane Casey’s book, ‘The Close’.

DS Maeve Kerrigan is still suffering the ill effects of an abusive relationship when DI Josh Derwent talks her in to going undercover as a couple who are dog-sitting, while they try to determine if an older woman has anything to do with a recent death of the brother-in-law of the mayor’s aide. There is already enough sexual tension between the two detectives, and living together with a whole neighborhood watching requires them to put on a convincing show of affection. What they do not expect is that they are also being stalked.

There are many twists and turns, as they try to fit in while also trying to gather information without being too obvious. When the peaceful neighborhood becomes deadly, they are forced to take chances in order to resolve two cases of murder, all before they become victims themselves.

A great book in the Maeve Kerrigan series with all the storylines and plot twists required in a British police procedural.

And here we go........

Jane Casey, I fell for The Close. Usually, I ain't doin' no Romance. But here, we were dabblin' in it and not necessarily dibblin' in it. And that made all the difference in the world.

Let's start with the dead body found in a hospital parking lot at 2 AM. I can handle that. But a woman leaving the ER simply couldn't. The Metro Police of London arrive and it turns out that she actually knew this man. It was her neighbor, Dr. Hassan Dawoud. Hassan worked at this hospital, but the hours didn't match up. He and his partner, Cameron, had what appeared to be a solid relationship. But eyes suddenly fall on Cameron......continuously.

DS Maeve Kerrigan, a senior officer, has been assigned to this case. She's monitoring her colleague, DC Georgia Shaw who's just getting her sea legs. But the higher-ups have another assignment for Maeve. She's to go undercover with DI Josh Derwent who is one of her supervisors. The two will be a surveillance couple assigned to a home in West Idleford. For all those looky lookers in the neighborhood, Maeve and Josh will be dog-sitting while the owner is out of town for weeks.

What's at the core is some weird goings-on within this cluster of houses. One house, in particular, is being pinpointed as suspicious. A series of men with no family connections have been seen coming and going there.......and then not seen again. Maeve and Josh will portray themselves as a young couple in a relationship. (Tiny embers can be readily seen with the naked eye here.) Their charge is a frisky disobedient pup who adds to some wild ruckus day and night.

We'll meet the neighbors. A group of definite wingnuts with each overflowing with their own set and degree of quirkiness. Who knows what and what is the what?

Jane Casey can ratchet up the tension like a true ace. I enjoyed The Killing Time (2021) in which she spun an intriguing web of a storyline. The Close had some pockets of humor and snarky dialogue which I laughed out loud with. She paints her characters, even the good guys, with flaws and all. Now I'm wondering why I've never jumped into this Maeve Kerrigan Mystery Series before. Well, I'm here now and here is where I'll stay. Bring on the next.......

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and to Jane Casey for the opportunity.

The Close by Jane Casey was riveting and such an addictive read.
I truly enjoyed Casey’s new detective crime thriller.
Tense and exciting. It moves quickly and yet you can not stop reading.
Jane Casey knows how to pace and create continuous action and suspense while at the same time keeping you interested in the characters along the way.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Harper 360 for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

So great to get a new installment with Maeve and Josh! I was reading every second I could get to the end. A few storylines going on and all so good.

I would start this series at the beginning for the best experience but it was so great to see the gang again. Georgia is improving and Una and Josh are working together better than ever.

Maeve and Josh are paired for undercover work and the little village where they are posted really comes alive through dialogue and character descriptions. There is more than meets the eye going on here. Also, the tension between Maeve and Josh is really on display as they have to pose as a couple for a few weeks.

Meanwhile, back in London, Maeve is working remotely to solve another crime that occurred. This story is full of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. I cannot wait for another installment in the series. Thank you Ms Casey, Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC which I really enjoyed.

DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent move into Jellicoe Close in order to uncover the truth about all the dark secrets hiding behind the neat front doors. They are posing as a couple and have no idea of the danger they face because someone in Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind. This is the 10th book in the Maeve Kerrigan series. I have been reading this series from the start and I am really enjoying the entire series. I love all the characters which makes the book even more enjoyable. The book can be read alone but the series is more enjoyable if you read them in order from the beginning. The plot of this book is very different than the ones before as this is the first one that Maeve and Josh have finally done together. The story is told in the first person POV from Maeve so we get a real close picture of things that are happening. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. Read this book and find out all the dark secrets of Jellicoe Close. If you like suspense with your mysteries then you will love this book.

This is my first read in the Maeve Kerrigan thriller series by Jane Casey even though this is her 10th outing! How have I just found this series? Completely grabs you and doesn't let go until the very end. Well developed characters, red herrings abound and steam between the leading characters - this read has it all!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this eARC this is my honest opinion of this delightful read.
This is the first Jane Casey book I've read and see there are many more of this series prior to this one. I will be going to find them as I enjoyed this book. It was not a problem reading it stand alone but did give me the inclination to read ones in the past but mostly to watch for the future ones as I want to see how DS Maeve and DI Josh’s relationship develops. The story is mostly about an undercover sting they partake in. It takes place in a close-knit but nosey neighborhood. Posing as a young in-love couple they must find out if a sweet old lady is really a cold-hearted abuser of challenged individuals. While working they must pretend to become friends with the very interactive neighbors. However, there is a very sinister person amount them whom no one knows about and who is possibly a murderer.
Yes I recommend this book and any future and past. I like Jane Casey’s writing style. You can follow the pace easily, it keeps your interest and she has very likable characters you want to know.

I was really more interested in the growing personal relationship between the two main characters, DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent, detectives sent to pose as romantic partners in an undercover operation by the police.

This meant that the weeks the two spend living together, pretending to be lovers, but really watching the house across the street, is a lead up to an impossible romance. This was so well done that my interest in the final pages of the police procedural plot waned. I was not as interested in the criminal cases - who the criminals turned out to be, how they were captured, etc,

If I read a follow up to this book in the series, it will be mainly to find out what's next in line for Maeve and Josh, the star-crossed would-be lovers.

The latest book in the Maeve Kerrigan series and it is gripping, oozing with all kinds of tension and hard to put down. I have not read all the books in this series, just enough to have wet my whistle and have me wanting to read more!

In this book there is not one but two cases to solve. Dr Hassan Dawoud has been found murdered in his car. Maeve, who is not quite at her best yet begins to investigate before she and DI Josh Derwent are tasked with posing as a couple while house and dog sitting. While there they will investigate the death of an emaciated young man. The man was found with horrible injuries and his last known residence was in a home on Jellicoe Close. Jellicoe Close looks like a pristine street with nice homes, friendly neighbors, and happy children. But there are secrets on this street...

As I mentioned tensions mount in this book and some of the tension is between Maeve and Josh. They have engaging and fun banter. There has always been a spark there, will it ignite in this book?

I enjoyed this book and the cases. I enjoyed the character development and how everything unfolded. I also appreciate that Jane Casey writes her characters with flaws. It makes them feel more real and fleshed out. I also like that she has Maeve still coping with events in the past book. In the beginning interrogation scene, we see her stumble a little. This felt realistic and believable. I have only read a few books in this series, and I am kicking myself for missing so many. I will make it a priority to fix that!

Suspenseful, gripping, full of tension and well written!

Jane Casey returns with her popular series, DS Maeve Kerrigan Mystery #10, THE CLOSE—the highly anticipated domestic thriller/cop procedural with two main characters we love and an intriguing mystery in a perfect suburban neighborhood. What secrets lie behind closed doors?

DS Maeve Kerrigan knows all murder investigations are different, yet they seem to begin similarly.

Three crimes, a lot of sexual tension, and more in store in #10.

At a London hospital car park, age 34, Dr. Hassan Dawoud is discovered murdered in his car. His husband, Cameron, was away. Maeve is still recovering from her trauma of past events, domestic violence, and not at her best.

In the meantime, DI Josh Derwent, her boss, suggests she join him on a stake-out undercover, requiring them to live together, posing as a couple in a rural suburban neighborhood.

Of course, lines will be blurred, but she accepts his offer, and the new surroundings may help her.

Josh is Maeve’s landlord and boss, but they have a strong friendship. Josh is in a relationship and has a stepson, Maeve is single after coming out of an abusive relationship.

The two Met detectives are sent undercover by the senior aide to the London Mayor to discover how her brother-in-law ended up dead.

At first glance, Jellicoe Close seems to be a perfect suburban street THE CLOSE with well-kept houses with pristine lawns and neighbors. However, dark secrets lurk below the surface, and a ruthless criminal is on the loose.

It is up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to uncover the truth. They pose as a couple and move into The Close with the academy dog, Pippin.

Davy Bidwell was found dead, and Judy Thwaites had been looking after him for a few days. Davy’s family believes that Judy is part of a team exploiting vulnerable adults. Others have disappeared in the last six years in this same neighborhood.

For Maeve, she has the pressure of running a murder investigation, but she has DC Georgia Shaw and Zoom calls. And while Maeve and Josh try to gather the evidence they need, they have no idea of the danger they face – because someone in Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind.

The neighbors are nosy and immersed in everyone's business (quite a cast of colorful characters). This was fun and suspenseful, with the two posing as a couple and seeing how they would hold up. both professionally and personally.

The relationship between these two has played out over the nine installments, leaving fans with when and where?

From murder, child and domestic abuse, suspense, the investigation, the tension between Maeve and Josh, and the three storylines keep you turning the pages.

A razor-sharp police procedural with sizzling tension between the two main well-developed characters, with a twisty mystery set in a picture-perfect suburb where nothing is as it appears.

Fans will be excited about the long-awaited tension between Maeve and Josh. Highly entertaining! Fast-paced and INTENSE, another great installment by the talented Jane Casey.

THE CLOSE may be read as a standalone; however, if you missed any of the books in the series, you will be dying to catch up.

Thanks to #HarperCollins for a gifted ARC via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
June 2023 Must-Read Books

Multiple crimes and a neighborhood that holds a profusion of secrets....welcome to Jellicoe Close.

I was hesitant to jump into this series at book ten, but I just couldn't resist the premise and the drive to find another good detective mystery series.

I had a great time immersing myself into this story and the messy and complicated relationships that surrounded the protagonists and the secondary cast of characters. The ambience of a neighborhood with secrets hidden behind closed doors and the way in which DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent had to deduce who was up to what while playing a role themselves, was highly enjoyable and atmospheric.

I will add that I did not feel lost when it came to Josh and Maeve's narrative in terms of the broad strokes, but I know that there are some undertones and a history that could make my understanding of their dynamic more informed by reading the previous nine books. The good news is that this story had me immersed from the start-and while there were a few stretches that weighed down the pacing-I found this is a series that I am definitely going to add to my TBR list!

I read and reviewed an advanced eARC of this book thanks to Harper 360 (Harper Collins) via NetGalley. All honest opinions are my own.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Mystery and murder are at the center of this novel. The characters are realistic. The main character tries to discover who killed the doctor. Red herrings abound

Prepare to be enthralled by the captivating mystery that unfolds within the pages of Jane Casey's masterful novel, The Close. From the moment I embarked on this literary journey, I found myself transported to a world that echoed the charm of Wysteria Lane. While the settings may differ, the allure and fascination that reside within these fictional communities are parallel.

Casey's vivid description of The Close immediately drew me in, much like the allure of Wysteria Lane did. The author weaves a tapestry of secrets, hidden desires, and dark undercurrents that lie just beneath the surface of this idyllic neighborhood. Each house within The Close holds its own story, and as the reader peels back the layers, a mesmerizing and intricate web of intrigue begins to unravel.

The Close presented a cast of diverse and compelling characters. Each resident harbored their own shadows and desires, leaving an array of suspects when an unexpected tragedy befalls the community. Casey reveals glimpses of their lives, carefully hinting at the secrets they hold close to their chests, gradually building the tension and keeping the reader hooked until the final revelation.

Casey's writing style is exquisite, akin to a skilled painter delicately applying brushstrokes to create a mesmerizing portrait. Her attention to detail brings The Close to life, immersing the reader in the sights, sounds, and emotions of this intriguing neighborhood. I felt as though I was a silent observer, peering through the curtains of each house, catching glimpses of the lives unfolding behind closed doors.

The Close is a book that will leave you pondering the complex nature of human relationships and the extent to which people will go to protect their secrets. This novel enthralls with its exploration of the dark underbelly of seemingly ordinary lives. The plot twists and turns, taking unexpected detours that keep you guessing until the very end.

The Close is a mesmerizing tale that effortlessly captured my imagination, drawing me into a world reminiscent of intrigue and fascination. Casey's storytelling and the compelling mysteries that lie within The Close make it a must-read for anyone who loves to investigate the depths of human nature and the secrets that lie just beneath the surface.

Prepare to be enthralled, for once you enter The Close, you may never want to leave.

“Unveil the secrets lurking behind closed doors in Jane Casey's spellbinding thriller, The Close."

"Prepare to be ensnared in a web of intrigue and deception within the seemingly picturesque neighborhood of The Close."

"In The Close, Jane Casey weaves a tale of mystery and suspense that will keep you guessing until the shocking finale."

"Step into The Close, where the whispers of hidden desires and buried secrets echo through the streets."

"Enter a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary - The Close is a gripping tale that will leave you breathless."

"Jane Casey's The Close takes you on a tantalizing journey into the shadows of a neighborhood filled with obscure characters and dark truths."

"Unlock the doors to The Close and discover a labyrinth of twisted fates and gripping revelations."

"In The Close, Jane Casey masterfully blends the allure of suburbia with the sinister secrets that lie beneath the surface."

"Beware the quiet streets of The Close, where every house holds a secret waiting to be uncovered."

"Dive into The Close and lose yourself in a world where the line between neighbor and foe blurs into a spine-tingling mystery."

As with all of the other books in this series, The close, can be read as a standalone. But as someone that has read all previous Maeve Kerrigan novels, I think knowing the characters adds something more. The mystery was a good one and things differed as Maeve and Josh (and Georgia) interacted mostly outside the office. They were more human. With more human emotions. Oh boy were there more human emotions! I was glued to this book for days. I brought it everywhere I went, in case I could steal a moment or two to read more. And when I finished? I want to know when #11 will be released. Jane Casey is an awesome writer!

In The Close by Jane Casey, Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent go undercover as a couple to investigate a murder and a suspicious death in the seemingly idyllic Jellicoe Close. As they navigate the complexities of the close-knit community, their personal histories and the dangers of the case intertwine, creating a tense and captivating story.

The book delves into Maeve's journey of recovery while she works to solve the crimes. The chemistry between Maeve and Josh adds depth to their undercover operation, and their complicated relationship dynamics add an extra layer of intrigue. Casey skillfully constructs the story, weaving together the investigation, personal struggles, and the secrets hidden within Jellicoe Close.

With well-developed characters, realistic dialogue, and a satisfying resolution, The Close is a gripping police procedural. It can be enjoyed as a standalone, but it also offers further depth to fans of the series. I am grateful to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for providing me with an advance copy to review.

In this tenth entry in the Maeve Kerrigan police procedural series, she and her boss DI Josh Derwent have gone undercover as an engaged couple in a quiet cul de sac. Several vulnerable young men have been found in abandoned houses throughout London dead from neglect and exposure. The investigation has uncovered a link to Jellicoe Close where an elderly woman has been taking in disadvantaged men for a few weeks then moving them on. They are determined to prevent more young men from falling into their hands and punishing the offenders. But the quiet street is a simmering kettle of resentments and wrongdoing on the verge of erupting. Maeve is an engaging protagonist and in this narrative she is struggling to keep her personal feelings and her professional life separate. I have read and enjoyed others in this series as they always provide a solid plot and a realist approach to investigating the crime. Casey creates a cast of believable characters each bringing a different personality and outlook to the detective squad and the crimes are always diverse and interesting. If you enjoy a solid British crime novel I recommend you give this series a chance.

This book takes us on a journey through the seemingly idyllic streets of suburban bliss, only to reveal the ominous underbelly lurking beneath the surface. From the very start, the contrast between the picturesque facade and the dark secrets concealed behind closed doors sets a captivating tone for this suspenseful tale.

At the heart of the narrative are the compelling characters of DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent. Their complex dynamic adds depth to the plot, as they navigate the treacherous waters of posing as a couple while delving into the dangerous truth that resides within the neighborhood. The blurred lines between their personal and professional lives heighten the stakes and create a captivating sense of urgency.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its portrayal of the neighborhood itself. The vivid descriptions of the well-manicured lawns, friendly interactions, and children's laughter create a vivid backdrop against which the darker elements unfold. This contrast serves to intensify the impact of the shocking revelations, showcasing the author's prowess in creating a multi-layered narrative.

With nonstop action and a compelling characters, this book will keep you hooked through all the twists and turns and have you turning the pages long into the night. A must read.

This is the tenth Maeve Kerrigan in the series. I had not read any of the other books.
This has various turns that you are not expecting. So good that I couldn't put it down.. A true mystery.
Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

I love it when I go into a book with zero expectations and know nothing about the author or the storyline, then to be utterly blown away. by the book! This is what happened to me as I read Jane Casey's The Close. I actually thought I was reading a standalone book, and the only reason I found out I wasn't is that about halfway through the book, I was enjoying it so much, I said to myself, "Who is this Jane Casey?" That's when I realized I was reading #10 in a series about DS Maeve Kerrigan, and her partner DI Josh Derwent. Joy! I had a total of nine books to go back and explore!

There are plenty of reviews that talk about the plot, which by the way I found fresh and engrossing. When the detective partners pretend to be partners in life, and take up residence on Jellicoe Close, they are supposed to track down the perpetrator of a murder of one of the neighbors in the Close. But there is crime a plenty in this stylish suburban neighborhood, and more mystery and crime going on than they had bargained on.

Besides a story line that keep me guessing until almost the end and had lots of twists and turns, it was the writer's ability to make her characters jump off the pages. In particular, her two main characters were so engaging and real, and also funny! There was romantic tension between the two, although thankfully I would not classify this as a romance. The dialogue between the two characters was so fresh and fun. It had me chuckling in a few instances. This all comes down to a good writer, and Ms. Casey is obviously a very skilled storyteller and good at her craft.

Before I finished this book I was already searching for titles in my library. I want to start at the first book and see if it can possibly be as good as The Close!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jane Casey, and Harper 360 for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read. The cover got me super excited to read it.
I was in the mood for a good thriller and this book delivered. If you want to be kept guessing read this book!
Thank you