What do you think?
Rate this book
Maeve Kerrigan #4
The Stranger You Know
He meets women. He gains their trust. He kills them.
That's all Maeve Kerrigan knows about the man she is hunting. Two women were strangled in their homes, and with no sign of a break-in, there's no clue as to who might be responsible. Until there's a third murder, and the finger is pointed at DCI Josh Derwent, Maeve's colleague.
It isn't the first time Derwent has been a suspect in a murder case, and these deaths bear an unsettling similarity to the last one he was accused of. Maeve refuses to believe he could be involved, but the secrets of his past begin to unravel. How well does she really know him?
That's all Maeve Kerrigan knows about the man she is hunting. Two women were strangled in their homes, and with no sign of a break-in, there's no clue as to who might be responsible. Until there's a third murder, and the finger is pointed at DCI Josh Derwent, Maeve's colleague.
It isn't the first time Derwent has been a suspect in a murder case, and these deaths bear an unsettling similarity to the last one he was accused of. Maeve refuses to believe he could be involved, but the secrets of his past begin to unravel. How well does she really know him?
484 pages, Hardcover
First published May 20, 2014
407 people are currently reading
4103 people want to read
About the author
Jane Casey
36 books2,672 followersShe studied English at Jesus College, Oxford, followed by an mPhil in Anglo-Irish Literature at Trinity College, Dublin
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 478 reviews
Read
April 21, 2017Shocker Alert - Loquacious that I am I really have little to say about my latest outing with Maeve Kerrigan, #4 in the series. This is more a means of recording the read, than a review.
No, there was really nothing wrong with this book. Yes, I did enjoy it, but there was nothing that really excited me either. What I missed here was development Maeve. This was more Derwent's story and perhaps we need this to understand our Maeve.
Remember I'm not rating books but if I were - 3 stars. Time to move on to #5.
No, there was really nothing wrong with this book. Yes, I did enjoy it, but there was nothing that really excited me either. What I missed here was development Maeve. This was more Derwent's story and perhaps we need this to understand our Maeve.
Remember I'm not rating books but if I were - 3 stars. Time to move on to #5.
November 13, 2016
This is the 4th book in the Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey and probably my 6th book by this author in total. I have previously read and enjoyed the other novels by this author so I was always going to read the rest of this series. Although I enjoyed the novel I didn't find it as riveting as the previous ones but she has set such an high standard. This book was a good read but I try to not to rate all the books I enjoy 4 or 5 stars otherwise everyone appears the same. (I really do think there should be more stars to choose from, maybe 10 to give a better idea).
In this novel there is a murderer at large in London who meets women and then kills them. Police detective Maeve Kerrigan is leading the case to find the man who has strangled three women in their homes. There are no sign of break-ins and it appears that the women let their attacker in willingly. Maeve is struggling to find any leads but then the evidence starts to point to her colleague DCI Josh Derwent and Maeve refuses to believe he could be involved. It becomes evident that Derwent has dark secrets and the more Maeve learns about her partner's past, the more difficult it is to dismiss him as a suspect.
There are so many excellent female authors currently writing in this genre and Jane Casey is definitely worth reading.
In this novel there is a murderer at large in London who meets women and then kills them. Police detective Maeve Kerrigan is leading the case to find the man who has strangled three women in their homes. There are no sign of break-ins and it appears that the women let their attacker in willingly. Maeve is struggling to find any leads but then the evidence starts to point to her colleague DCI Josh Derwent and Maeve refuses to believe he could be involved. It becomes evident that Derwent has dark secrets and the more Maeve learns about her partner's past, the more difficult it is to dismiss him as a suspect.
There are so many excellent female authors currently writing in this genre and Jane Casey is definitely worth reading.
June 21, 2021
Honestly I struggled a bit with this one - though I've tried to be fair in my rating as the story itself is a solid mystery and not at all the problem, I've gone with the subjective rating in the end. Just to be clear though, this is not a drop in quality, necessarily, just a lot of decisions that impacted my personal enjoyment of the book.
No, for me the problem is all about the Derwent. He gets pass after pass, defended by Maeve even from accusations that are 100% true , even as she judges one person when she knows he would have been worse, he gets to skate off without even a moment of pause on her part.
It's irritating. I've enjoyed this series enough to give it another try with the next book, but as much as I like it, I wouldn't be able to make it through another one of those.
No, for me the problem is all about the Derwent. He gets pass after pass, defended by Maeve even from accusations that are 100% true , even as she judges one person when she knows he would have been worse, he gets to skate off without even a moment of pause on her part.
It's irritating. I've enjoyed this series enough to give it another try with the next book, but as much as I like it, I wouldn't be able to make it through another one of those.
April 13, 2017
Book four in the series and young women are being murdered in their homes and their eyes are being removed. The murders could also be connected to an historical murder from 20 years back. The complex and feisty DC Kerrigan is again called upon to investigate alongside her Detective Inspector Derwent. Sexist and hard going but with his heart in the right place Derwent is for once reliant on Kerrigan as the case unfolds and the roads start leading to him.
This becomes another gritty police procedural that tests friendships, betrayal and loyalty. Handled well by Ms Casey the story unfolds at a pacy speed and twists and turns so you don't know where it's all heading. Kerrigan, though not perfect, is becoming a character I like more and more as more of her personality is revealed through the books. But what I really loved was more of Derwent and his backstory giving an insight into what makes the man tick.
I really enjoyed this one from the many suspects to the clever plotting. It made me think ..... and that's not always a good thing .... in the dead of night!!
If you've not come across this series before I would highly recommend it. The books can be read as standalones ...... but much more enjoyable if read in order for the continuing themes.
This becomes another gritty police procedural that tests friendships, betrayal and loyalty. Handled well by Ms Casey the story unfolds at a pacy speed and twists and turns so you don't know where it's all heading. Kerrigan, though not perfect, is becoming a character I like more and more as more of her personality is revealed through the books. But what I really loved was more of Derwent and his backstory giving an insight into what makes the man tick.
I really enjoyed this one from the many suspects to the clever plotting. It made me think ..... and that's not always a good thing .... in the dead of night!!
If you've not come across this series before I would highly recommend it. The books can be read as standalones ...... but much more enjoyable if read in order for the continuing themes.
May 19, 2020
This is the fourth book in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series and may be the best of the bunch so far. I hope this is not because Rob (or boyfriend/relationship drama) is such a small part of the story but the fact is he is out of the country for most of the time period covered in THE STRANGER YOU KNOW.
Instead, this book is basically centered around Maeve’s relationship with her police detective partner DI Josh Derwent and his backstory. Derwent is a handsome (and vain) guy with a borderline personality disorder. In previous books he has been mostly a frequent foil and obnoxious obstacle for Maeve as he belittles and berates her while they ostensibly work together to solve crimes.
In THE STRANGER YOU KNOW, the London Murder Squad that Josh and Maeve work for are trying to track a serial killer who strangles his victims and then removes their eyes and placed them in their hands, with no sexual contact and no forensic evidence left behind. In time, we find out that some twenty years before when Josh was almost 18 he was the prime suspect in the unsolved violent death of his 15(!)-year-old girlfriend, Angela Poole, who was found strangled with her eyes gouged out. Somewhat bizarrely it’s Angela’s own father who provided the airtight alibi for Josh which prevented him from being charged for murder as her dad had nearly run him over in the public bus he drove at the time and multiple riders could attest to the incident.
Because of this unfortunate history, Josh and Maeve’s boss Superintendent Godley removes him from the task force working on solving the Gentleman Caller serial killer case as suspicion mounts that there are connections between the Angela Poole cold case and the current case. Things get weirder as the psychological profile of the Gentleman Caller has multiple components that accurately describe DI Derwent. Godley’s second-in-command DCI Una Burt is clearly invested in the theory of Derwent as murderer. This is an example of the ways that interpersonal interactions between members of the team trying to solve the crime(s) become an important aspect of the story.
The author Jane Casey does a masterful job of lathering suspicion on Josh and his circle of friends from two decades before, with several red herrings and side mysteries that distract and attract Maeve (and Josh) as they try and find the killer (or killers??) responsible for Angela’s death and the most recent killings.
One excellent feature of the series is Casey’s characterization of Maeve by providing the reader almost nonstop access to her inner thoughts and in this book far less of the narrative tension is sourced from danger to Maeve and her questionable decisions than in previous entries. Instead the resolution of the cold case and an increasing trickle of discoveries and revelations about Derwent and his childhood friends are more than enough to keep the reader enthralled and entertained in “The Stranger You Know.”
It’s impressive how Casey has managed to use different styles and writing structures in the first four books of the series while still maintaining the general tropes and narrative structures of the murder-mystery genre. The first book was about a serial arsonist and multiple first-person accounts were included. The second book was about kidnappings and Maeve herself became a victim of crime in it twice). The third book has her relationship with Rob as a key feature and included more examples of how Josh and Maeve get results together despite their squabbles. The criminal in this book was not a serial killer.
Overall, the fourth book in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series is an excellent entry in the British police procedural with female main character genre with a compelling set of mysteries to be solved and surprising (and welcome) developments in the larger arcs involving her primary romantic relationship, her professional advancement in the police force and the obsessed criminal who is stalking her.
Instead, this book is basically centered around Maeve’s relationship with her police detective partner DI Josh Derwent and his backstory. Derwent is a handsome (and vain) guy with a borderline personality disorder. In previous books he has been mostly a frequent foil and obnoxious obstacle for Maeve as he belittles and berates her while they ostensibly work together to solve crimes.
In THE STRANGER YOU KNOW, the London Murder Squad that Josh and Maeve work for are trying to track a serial killer who strangles his victims and then removes their eyes and placed them in their hands, with no sexual contact and no forensic evidence left behind. In time, we find out that some twenty years before when Josh was almost 18 he was the prime suspect in the unsolved violent death of his 15(!)-year-old girlfriend, Angela Poole, who was found strangled with her eyes gouged out. Somewhat bizarrely it’s Angela’s own father who provided the airtight alibi for Josh which prevented him from being charged for murder as her dad had nearly run him over in the public bus he drove at the time and multiple riders could attest to the incident.
Because of this unfortunate history, Josh and Maeve’s boss Superintendent Godley removes him from the task force working on solving the Gentleman Caller serial killer case as suspicion mounts that there are connections between the Angela Poole cold case and the current case. Things get weirder as the psychological profile of the Gentleman Caller has multiple components that accurately describe DI Derwent. Godley’s second-in-command DCI Una Burt is clearly invested in the theory of Derwent as murderer. This is an example of the ways that interpersonal interactions between members of the team trying to solve the crime(s) become an important aspect of the story.
The author Jane Casey does a masterful job of lathering suspicion on Josh and his circle of friends from two decades before, with several red herrings and side mysteries that distract and attract Maeve (and Josh) as they try and find the killer (or killers??) responsible for Angela’s death and the most recent killings.
One excellent feature of the series is Casey’s characterization of Maeve by providing the reader almost nonstop access to her inner thoughts and in this book far less of the narrative tension is sourced from danger to Maeve and her questionable decisions than in previous entries. Instead the resolution of the cold case and an increasing trickle of discoveries and revelations about Derwent and his childhood friends are more than enough to keep the reader enthralled and entertained in “The Stranger You Know.”
It’s impressive how Casey has managed to use different styles and writing structures in the first four books of the series while still maintaining the general tropes and narrative structures of the murder-mystery genre. The first book was about a serial arsonist and multiple first-person accounts were included. The second book was about kidnappings and Maeve herself became a victim of crime in it twice). The third book has her relationship with Rob as a key feature and included more examples of how Josh and Maeve get results together despite their squabbles. The criminal in this book was not a serial killer.
Overall, the fourth book in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series is an excellent entry in the British police procedural with female main character genre with a compelling set of mysteries to be solved and surprising (and welcome) developments in the larger arcs involving her primary romantic relationship, her professional advancement in the police force and the obsessed criminal who is stalking her.
August 28, 2017
4.5 stars
I'm not sure I've reviewed any other books in this series, but I have found them all extremely engaging. Maeve Kerrigan is a brave, witty,very human character and I am already looking forward to Jane Casey continuing this series. Along with Maeve, I am really warming to her slightly mad, macho colleague, Derwent, their banter is great dialogue and I hope Casey continues to grow this character. The story is interesting, an old case intersecting with new ones, which become very personal for Derwent, and really drew me in very quickly. Casey has a fast-faced style that is nonetheless, thoughtful and clever. These books, for me, are really about the development of the characters, something that can be absent in quite a few thrillers/mysteries, which focus only on the story. Highly recommended!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
I'm not sure I've reviewed any other books in this series, but I have found them all extremely engaging. Maeve Kerrigan is a brave, witty,very human character and I am already looking forward to Jane Casey continuing this series. Along with Maeve, I am really warming to her slightly mad, macho colleague, Derwent, their banter is great dialogue and I hope Casey continues to grow this character. The story is interesting, an old case intersecting with new ones, which become very personal for Derwent, and really drew me in very quickly. Casey has a fast-faced style that is nonetheless, thoughtful and clever. These books, for me, are really about the development of the characters, something that can be absent in quite a few thrillers/mysteries, which focus only on the story. Highly recommended!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
February 26, 2017
The Stranger You Know is Jane Casey’s best book to date that I have read. In this installment in the Maeve Kerrigan series three women have been strangled and their bodies have been discarded in a way that bears similarities to the Jack the Ripper murders. The police are quick to link the three cases but the evidence points to a shocking suspect: DI Josh Derwent, Maeve’s colleague. Maeve trusts her senses that Josh isn’t the killer, but this isn’t the first time that he’s been accused of murder. Josh’s past is just about to catch up with him.
I love Jane Casey’s writing, she produces utterly gripping material and she always has me hooked from page one. She adds real depth to her characters; this novel mainly focuses on Josh’s past which Jane has kept from us until now. Josh is an intriguing character, I’m never quite sure if I like or don’t like him and there are definitely moments when he has made me laugh. But after reading The Stranger You Know I think the series would definitely be lost without him, he and Maeve have become some of my favourite characters in crime fiction.
The Maeve Kerrigan books are getting better and better each time, Jane is a seriously talented writer and her characterisation skills are excellent. I’m sure it won’t be long before I’ll be diving into the next book in the series.
I love Jane Casey’s writing, she produces utterly gripping material and she always has me hooked from page one. She adds real depth to her characters; this novel mainly focuses on Josh’s past which Jane has kept from us until now. Josh is an intriguing character, I’m never quite sure if I like or don’t like him and there are definitely moments when he has made me laugh. But after reading The Stranger You Know I think the series would definitely be lost without him, he and Maeve have become some of my favourite characters in crime fiction.
The Maeve Kerrigan books are getting better and better each time, Jane is a seriously talented writer and her characterisation skills are excellent. I’m sure it won’t be long before I’ll be diving into the next book in the series.
October 6, 2022
Maeve Kerrigan is back, and this time it's her partner Detective Josh Derwent who needs the help when a series of brutal murders seems to lead right back to him, and a tragic moment from his past. As Maeve sets on the case to prove Derwent's innocence, she ends up discovering more secrets that aren't hers to keep.
Another great crime mystery with my favourite messy gal Maeve - I always enjoy reading these books and this has definitely become a favourite series of mine due to a combination of the often ghastly crimes being committed as well as a brilliant bunch of characters from Maeve and Josh's working relationship, her romantic life with Rob, the dark shadow of Chris Swain and then all the others in the unit from Liz, Godley and Maitland.
Another great crime mystery with my favourite messy gal Maeve - I always enjoy reading these books and this has definitely become a favourite series of mine due to a combination of the often ghastly crimes being committed as well as a brilliant bunch of characters from Maeve and Josh's working relationship, her romantic life with Rob, the dark shadow of Chris Swain and then all the others in the unit from Liz, Godley and Maitland.
July 1, 2021
4.5
Serinin en iyisiydi. 'Polisiye serileri neden sırasıyla okumalıyız?' sorusuna cevap niteliğinde bir kitap. Karakterleri önceki kitaplardan tanımadan yeterince tat alınabileceğini düşünmüyorum. Serideki tüm karakterler dikkat çekici, bu da seriye sürekli devam etme isteği uyandırıyor. Seriyi düşündüğümden daha da çok sevdim.
Serinin en iyisiydi. 'Polisiye serileri neden sırasıyla okumalıyız?' sorusuna cevap niteliğinde bir kitap. Karakterleri önceki kitaplardan tanımadan yeterince tat alınabileceğini düşünmüyorum. Serideki tüm karakterler dikkat çekici, bu da seriye sürekli devam etme isteği uyandırıyor. Seriyi düşündüğümden daha da çok sevdim.
February 10, 2014
Right now some of the best crime and psychological thriller writing is coming from women writers, think Val Mcdermid; Kathy Reichs amongst many well add another name to that list Jane Casey. The Stranger You Know is an excellent example of sheer brilliance in the crime thriller genre where there is something on every page, where you want to turn every page because you need to know what happens next. Casey does not make it easy to work out who the killer is and by the time you have pieced it together you are at the end of the book.
Maeve Kerrigan is a detective constable who has a bugger of Detective Inspector Josh Derwent as her boss arrogant and sexist always undermining her. But it would be Derwent that would be reliant on Kerrigan in the end. With female dead bodies dropping all over London all connected by the MO, non sexual killing but the eyes are removed. They all seem to connect to a murder that is over twenty years old when Derwent himself was a suspect.
We are taken on a journey of loyalty and betrayal where we are left trying to work out whodunit while we feel the pressure upon Kerrigan, as she gives the story through her eyes in the first person. This is no ordinary police procedure novel but a full speed murder case with all the leads and blind alleys and interesting diversions.
This is one of the grittiest thrillers written in a while which has been so well written, that you are searching for clues and the identity of who really is the killer. Kerrigan is a flawed but complex character who is a very likeable heroine who I am glad to have discovered and want to read more of. This is a brilliant thriller by a brilliant crime writer.
Maeve Kerrigan is a detective constable who has a bugger of Detective Inspector Josh Derwent as her boss arrogant and sexist always undermining her. But it would be Derwent that would be reliant on Kerrigan in the end. With female dead bodies dropping all over London all connected by the MO, non sexual killing but the eyes are removed. They all seem to connect to a murder that is over twenty years old when Derwent himself was a suspect.
We are taken on a journey of loyalty and betrayal where we are left trying to work out whodunit while we feel the pressure upon Kerrigan, as she gives the story through her eyes in the first person. This is no ordinary police procedure novel but a full speed murder case with all the leads and blind alleys and interesting diversions.
This is one of the grittiest thrillers written in a while which has been so well written, that you are searching for clues and the identity of who really is the killer. Kerrigan is a flawed but complex character who is a very likeable heroine who I am glad to have discovered and want to read more of. This is a brilliant thriller by a brilliant crime writer.
April 1, 2017
I absolutely love the Maeve Kerrigan series. DI Josh Derwent is the man we love to hate (with all his politically incorrect swagger and sexist comments) but they work SO well together in these books. Maeve is a great protagonist, yet the good old-fashioned detective work takes Centre stage in this installment. Lots of sub-stories and office politics keep Maeve busy and the surprises keep coming. Another cracker from Jane Casey. Off to read 5th installment straight away.
March 21, 2015
This was my first book by Jane Casey and I loved it. I jumped in halfway through the series but it didn't matter at all. There are hints at backstory but this book can easily be enjoyed as a standalone - and I'm very much looking forward to going backwards and forwards and reading the rest of the series.
Jane has a no-nonsense, easy-to-read style that makes the pages turn quickly. The characterisation is superb - especially Maeve and Derwent but also the minor characters, good and bad – and there are some gripping set-pieces, such as the scene in the park halfway through. An excellent book with a compelling plot and a wonderful lead character.
(As stated in previous reviews my new policy is to only award four stars to books that completely blow my mind, but this gets a very high four stars.)
Jane has a no-nonsense, easy-to-read style that makes the pages turn quickly. The characterisation is superb - especially Maeve and Derwent but also the minor characters, good and bad – and there are some gripping set-pieces, such as the scene in the park halfway through. An excellent book with a compelling plot and a wonderful lead character.
(As stated in previous reviews my new policy is to only award four stars to books that completely blow my mind, but this gets a very high four stars.)
February 26, 2021
I'm enjoying this series less and less. I despise corrupt cops and cops who look the other way when they see corruption so I'm just not sure I'll continue with this series. Great writing skills, so great that I literally hate her characters.
October 27, 2019
İlk kez Jane Casey okurken nasıl sıkılmışım, hatta yarım bırakmışım anlamıyorum. Ya yazar her kitapta daha iyi oluyor ya da ben gitgide onun tarzına bağlandım. Çeviriden ve edisyondan kaynaklı sıkıntılar olmasa daha çok seveceğim.
Bu kitap kimin asıl suçlu olduğunu anlamanın mümkün olmadığı, her köşeden yeni bir sırrın patlak verdiği heyecanlı bir romandı. Ayrıca karakterlerin ilişkileri de farklı bir boyuta geçti. Özellikle bu seriye dahil olduğundan beri pek hoşlanmadığım Derwent karakteri şu anda gözümde fazlasıyla yükseldi. Yazar beklenmedik bir son yazarak şaşkına uğrattı. Soluksuz okuduğum, zekice yazılmış bir kurguydu.
Janey Casey bu türde Tess Gerritsen kadar sevdiğim bir yazar haline gelebilir.
Bu kitap kimin asıl suçlu olduğunu anlamanın mümkün olmadığı, her köşeden yeni bir sırrın patlak verdiği heyecanlı bir romandı. Ayrıca karakterlerin ilişkileri de farklı bir boyuta geçti. Özellikle bu seriye dahil olduğundan beri pek hoşlanmadığım Derwent karakteri şu anda gözümde fazlasıyla yükseldi. Yazar beklenmedik bir son yazarak şaşkına uğrattı. Soluksuz okuduğum, zekice yazılmış bir kurguydu.
Janey Casey bu türde Tess Gerritsen kadar sevdiğim bir yazar haline gelebilir.
August 24, 2016
The Stranger You Know by Jane Casey
Maeve Kerrigan series Book #4
2★'s
From The Book:
He meets women. He gains their trust. He kills them. That's all London police detective Maeve Kerrigan knows about the man she is hunting. Three women have been strangled in their homes, and it appears to be the work of the same sadistic killer. With no sign of break-ins, every indication shows that the women let their attacker in willingly. The victims' neighbors and friends don't seem to remember anything unusual or suspicious, and Maeve is almost at a loss about how to move forward with the investigation.
Then the evidence starts to point to a shocking suspect: DCI Josh Derwent, Maeve's partner on the police force. Maeve refuses to believe he could be involved, but how well does she really know him? Secrets Derwent has long kept locked away are coming back to haunt him, and the more Maeve learns about her partner's past, the more difficult it is to dismiss him as a suspect. After all, this is hardly the first time Derwent's been accused of murder.
My Thoughts:
This is supposed to be a mystery??? The only mystery I could see is where was the mystery? In the opening pages a woman is found dead in the trunk of a car. Maeve and her partner, Josh Derwent , are called to the scene. Derwent must think he is the reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes and obviously likes himself a great deal and thinks every word out of his mouth is funny and absolutely the gospel. The entire police force including the commander is dirty. Not a single one that you could say you like even a little. We learned of Maeve's past cases...hope she did more investigating on those and we learned more than we needed to know about her sex life. I guess the woman is still in the trunk but I won't be reading any more to find out.
Maeve Kerrigan series Book #4
2★'s
From The Book:
He meets women. He gains their trust. He kills them. That's all London police detective Maeve Kerrigan knows about the man she is hunting. Three women have been strangled in their homes, and it appears to be the work of the same sadistic killer. With no sign of break-ins, every indication shows that the women let their attacker in willingly. The victims' neighbors and friends don't seem to remember anything unusual or suspicious, and Maeve is almost at a loss about how to move forward with the investigation.
Then the evidence starts to point to a shocking suspect: DCI Josh Derwent, Maeve's partner on the police force. Maeve refuses to believe he could be involved, but how well does she really know him? Secrets Derwent has long kept locked away are coming back to haunt him, and the more Maeve learns about her partner's past, the more difficult it is to dismiss him as a suspect. After all, this is hardly the first time Derwent's been accused of murder.
My Thoughts:
This is supposed to be a mystery??? The only mystery I could see is where was the mystery? In the opening pages a woman is found dead in the trunk of a car. Maeve and her partner, Josh Derwent , are called to the scene. Derwent must think he is the reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes and obviously likes himself a great deal and thinks every word out of his mouth is funny and absolutely the gospel. The entire police force including the commander is dirty. Not a single one that you could say you like even a little. We learned of Maeve's past cases...hope she did more investigating on those and we learned more than we needed to know about her sex life. I guess the woman is still in the trunk but I won't be reading any more to find out.
August 31, 2016
This isn't a break-neck thriller that pushes readers to the edge of their seats, but it is a well-developed tale replete with descriptive details that can completely absorb them into a world of "coppers" on the hunt for a serial killer. I have to admit, this book got off to a slow start for me, but I quickly settled into the slower pace and ended up thoroughly enjoying the ride. The plot provides plenty of twists and turns to plant doubt about various suspects and to keep readers guessing, but I think the author's stongest talent lies in her fully-developed characters, and in the realistic way they interact with each other.
Maeve Kerrigan is an intelligent, insightful police investigator with integrity out the wazoo and an inquisitive mind that makes her a valuable asset to any investigation. Her senior partner Josh Derwent is a brilliant investigator, but he also has a disagreeable disposition, and seems to derive great pleasure from picking at her with his insulting opinions. And he also has a past... a past that's come back to haunt him. A past that's made him the prime suspect in the serial killings. The question becomes: will Maeve follow her bosses' orders and keep Josh in the dark about the investigation, or will he strongarm his way into getting her to work with him?
I didn't realize this was the fourth book in a series, but I'm pleased to say it stands well on its own. I'd give it a very strong three and a half stars, rounded up to four.
Maeve Kerrigan is an intelligent, insightful police investigator with integrity out the wazoo and an inquisitive mind that makes her a valuable asset to any investigation. Her senior partner Josh Derwent is a brilliant investigator, but he also has a disagreeable disposition, and seems to derive great pleasure from picking at her with his insulting opinions. And he also has a past... a past that's come back to haunt him. A past that's made him the prime suspect in the serial killings. The question becomes: will Maeve follow her bosses' orders and keep Josh in the dark about the investigation, or will he strongarm his way into getting her to work with him?
I didn't realize this was the fourth book in a series, but I'm pleased to say it stands well on its own. I'd give it a very strong three and a half stars, rounded up to four.
October 21, 2016
The Stranger You Know is the 4th book in the Maeve Kerrigan series. Maeve is a detective constable based in London. Her supervisor is DI Josh Derwent who she tolerates because she has to. The banter between them is at times humorous and adds interest to the case. Maeve has a boyfriend Rob who is in police work too and is in the U.S for a work related project during most of this book. It appears that Maeve and Josh are heading for friendship or at least respect for each other but neither would admit that right now.
Maeve has been asked to be on the serial killer case. However, she is not to talk to Derwent about the case which is odd because he is her supervisor. The recent murders appear to be tied to an unsolved murder from twenty years ago. The murder victim of the unsolved murder was Josh Derwent's first love. The recent murder victims are arranged like the twenty year old murder case.
If you like police procedurals with strong characterizations and interesting plots, you should really like this series. It could be read as a standalone and you wouldn't get lost. Each book builds on the characters so the readers starts to care for them. The characterization part reminds me of Ellie Griffith books about Ruth Galloway where the reader starts to care about Ruth and the secondary characters. I think if you read this as a standalone , you will want to go back and pick up the first three books. The Maeve Kerrigan series is at the top of my favorite crime fiction reads.
Maeve has been asked to be on the serial killer case. However, she is not to talk to Derwent about the case which is odd because he is her supervisor. The recent murders appear to be tied to an unsolved murder from twenty years ago. The murder victim of the unsolved murder was Josh Derwent's first love. The recent murder victims are arranged like the twenty year old murder case.
If you like police procedurals with strong characterizations and interesting plots, you should really like this series. It could be read as a standalone and you wouldn't get lost. Each book builds on the characters so the readers starts to care for them. The characterization part reminds me of Ellie Griffith books about Ruth Galloway where the reader starts to care about Ruth and the secondary characters. I think if you read this as a standalone , you will want to go back and pick up the first three books. The Maeve Kerrigan series is at the top of my favorite crime fiction reads.
January 13, 2019
This is my introduction to the Kerrigan/Derwent series and I am still trying to decide if I like it or not. My problems are this:
*I don't usually care for books written in the first person
*The detective Josh Derwent is too nasty to be believed and how he has kept his job is beyond me.
*
Other readers may not be bothered by my complaints and frankly, the story is interesting and otherwise well written. It concerns a serial killer and an old case which involved the death of Derwent's girlfriend which may be connected to the recent murders. Derwent becomes a suspect and has to fight his superiors who hate him, to prove that he isn't guilty.
Interesting but not my favorite team of British detectives.
*I don't usually care for books written in the first person
*The detective Josh Derwent is too nasty to be believed and how he has kept his job is beyond me.
*
Other readers may not be bothered by my complaints and frankly, the story is interesting and otherwise well written. It concerns a serial killer and an old case which involved the death of Derwent's girlfriend which may be connected to the recent murders. Derwent becomes a suspect and has to fight his superiors who hate him, to prove that he isn't guilty.
Interesting but not my favorite team of British detectives.
February 27, 2022
This is an absolutely fantastic series. The books are very hard to put down, especially this one.
September 20, 2023
'I'm not staying out of it. I'm in it. It's my story, for fuck's sake. This is about me.'
'It's about three dead women. Four, including Angela.'
Yes, Jane Casey!!! This is my favourite book in the Maeve Kerrigan series so far. The mystery isn't the most difficult to solve, but it's still a great take on the "Brooding cop, dead girlfriend" trope. Though this book was more explicitly about Derwent's journey than Maeve's, there were still some really really great Maeve moments in it. Love seeing her relationship with Derwent grow and the trust get established between the two of them. Also love that though this book was about Derwent's Trauma and Angst, Maeve never become a doormat or lost her fire with him. He's still the Worst, he still drives her crazy, and they're still great together.
February 1, 2024
Great police procedural with gripping fast-paced plot and great characters. Definitely a series to follow.
August 8, 2013
First of all thank you to the publishers for allowing me a copy of this book via Netgalley.
So here we are at book 4, in a series I have loved from Jane Casey, namely that of Maeve Kerrigan and more importantly (Sorry Maeve!) her sometime boss and sidekick the adorably unlikeable (but loveable) DCI Josh Derwent. This instalment finds Maeve and co on the track of a serial killer….However she is put in a difficult position when it becomes clear to her that the prime suspect is Derwent himself…
I adored this book for many reasons. Firstly the series main characters are all so very good, and much as I have a crush on Derwent, Maeve is just as loveable – I especially like her ironic and plausible outlook on her own psyche and actions – often telling herself off as she dives head first into a situation she KNOWS she should avoid..and the way she tends to just fall into the people who are eventually going to become important to her and gives them pieces of her soul without even realising she is doing it. As someone who often has those “lightbulb” moments herself I can relate. As for Josh Derwent, well. He is difficult to describe..the best I can do. You know that silly game you play with friends called “Marry, Sleep with or Kill ?”…well in the book world Josh Derwent would be my answer to all three. Really. And he’s getting a bigger role in each novel…this one was, as described to me by the author “Wall to Wall Derwent” and that made me one happy reader. The aptly named Godley is also a treat as he tries to keep the unruly pair under control and the rest of the cast of unlikely and likely characters all add to the whole. The relationships developed amongst all the characters over the course of the novels is beautifully done – so much so that often the best bits don’t have anything to with their current mystery.
So that leads nicely on to talking about this particular mystery. It had some terrific twists and turns – and no I wasnt automatically sure during reading that my beloved Derwent wasnt a murderer…nor will you be until you read it yourself. The current murders have their roots planted firmly in the past…and a death that Derwent was caught up in during his teenage years – in the telling of the tale you come to understand him and his motivations a lot more. I always enjoy a book where the past intrudes on the present and this one is a classic and brilliantly imagined example of that. So enjoy. You know you want to. What? Not met Maeve and more importantly (yes yes I know) Derwent before? Well you need to start with “The Burning”.
So here we are at book 4, in a series I have loved from Jane Casey, namely that of Maeve Kerrigan and more importantly (Sorry Maeve!) her sometime boss and sidekick the adorably unlikeable (but loveable) DCI Josh Derwent. This instalment finds Maeve and co on the track of a serial killer….However she is put in a difficult position when it becomes clear to her that the prime suspect is Derwent himself…
I adored this book for many reasons. Firstly the series main characters are all so very good, and much as I have a crush on Derwent, Maeve is just as loveable – I especially like her ironic and plausible outlook on her own psyche and actions – often telling herself off as she dives head first into a situation she KNOWS she should avoid..and the way she tends to just fall into the people who are eventually going to become important to her and gives them pieces of her soul without even realising she is doing it. As someone who often has those “lightbulb” moments herself I can relate. As for Josh Derwent, well. He is difficult to describe..the best I can do. You know that silly game you play with friends called “Marry, Sleep with or Kill ?”…well in the book world Josh Derwent would be my answer to all three. Really. And he’s getting a bigger role in each novel…this one was, as described to me by the author “Wall to Wall Derwent” and that made me one happy reader. The aptly named Godley is also a treat as he tries to keep the unruly pair under control and the rest of the cast of unlikely and likely characters all add to the whole. The relationships developed amongst all the characters over the course of the novels is beautifully done – so much so that often the best bits don’t have anything to with their current mystery.
So that leads nicely on to talking about this particular mystery. It had some terrific twists and turns – and no I wasnt automatically sure during reading that my beloved Derwent wasnt a murderer…nor will you be until you read it yourself. The current murders have their roots planted firmly in the past…and a death that Derwent was caught up in during his teenage years – in the telling of the tale you come to understand him and his motivations a lot more. I always enjoy a book where the past intrudes on the present and this one is a classic and brilliantly imagined example of that. So enjoy. You know you want to. What? Not met Maeve and more importantly (yes yes I know) Derwent before? Well you need to start with “The Burning”.
May 31, 2018
Jane Casey okumaya başlayalı epey oldu. Bütün kitaplarını kütüphaneme kattım ve okudum. Parafili'nin sonuna gelmek üzereyim. Sadece dün gece 250 sayfa okumuşum. Okumuşum diyorum çünkü zamanın nasıl akıp gittiğini anlamadım. Akıcılığına laf yok. Anlatım biçimi, konusu, karakter tanımları, sahne betimlemeleri her şey mükemmel. Bir kadın karakterin baskın olması umut verici. İşinde çok iyi olan Maeve gerçekten de zor bir meslek seçmiş ve sonuna kadar başarılı olmakta kararlı. Erkek egemen dünyada kendine bir yer edinmiş ve bunu dişiyle tırnağıyla yapmış. Çok çalışıyor ve çalışmasının karşılığını alıyor.
April 6, 2021
Quite a good book though I spotted the killer really early ( blatantly obvious, so not difficult).
June 15, 2021
maeve ve josh ikilisi bana istedikleri her şeyi yaptırabilir 🤌🏻
March 14, 2019
Easily rounding to 5.
I got my wish, for a deeper relationship or conflict between the heroine and her partner on the force, and more to be done with the outsized jerk personality of the partner.
This was a more complex book psychologically and in the plot, and I ate it up. The heroine continues to come into her own, gradually, from her youthfully meek persona. The momentum was unrelenting but never overdone or exhausting. A procedural mixed with psychological thriller works very well here.
This is definitely a new series in my favorites category.
I got my wish, for a deeper relationship or conflict between the heroine and her partner on the force, and more to be done with the outsized jerk personality of the partner.
This was a more complex book psychologically and in the plot, and I ate it up. The heroine continues to come into her own, gradually, from her youthfully meek persona. The momentum was unrelenting but never overdone or exhausting. A procedural mixed with psychological thriller works very well here.
This is definitely a new series in my favorites category.
January 4, 2014
As the saying goes, “to every reader her book, every book its reader” This book was just not for me. I could not get around the nasty, mean, crabby, snarky, horrible characters in this book! There is only one guy who is a half ass normal person and its Maeve's boyfriend. I have a feeling even though anyone in this book could chew glass and fillet people at the same time, he will end up being the killer. I had to stop reading about a third of the way in, I did try.
April 19, 2018
These just keep getting better and better. Am I the only one shipping Josh and Maeve? Not that I care about romance in these types of books.
November 25, 2019
More like 3.5 stars, rounded up.
In general, I tend not to like mysteries focused on tracking down a serial killer, but this story differed in that its focus is on the detectives and their interrelationships rather than on the criminal. (I nearly quit reading after the first page from the PoV of the killer, but that was the one exception, although hard to stomach.) The rest is told from the PoV of Maeve, whose partner and immediate superior, Josh Derwent is misogynistic, including toward Maeve, although, as time goes on, the author portrays a softer side to his character. He apparently is not alone among the male detectives although one of DI's is a no-nonsense woman who hates Josh. Maeve tolerates abusive language (nothing physical) from Josh that would have him reprimanded if not fired in this day and age, and I disliked him immensely (as the author intended.) Mauve recognizes that, despite his behavior, he is a very sharp investigator and, apparently, is willing to stick it out to learn what she can from working with him. Some of the exchanges between Mauve and Josh add elements of humor to an otherwise morbid story. She's feisty enough to hold her own, especially since she lives with a (former) colleague, Rob, who loves her and is the perfect opposite to Josh.
As the publisher warned, the three present murders are related to a 20-year-old cold case in which Josh was involved, so there is an element of doubt introduced as the other detectives treat him as a suspect in the present cases. There are others, former friends of Josh, who also materialize as persons of interest at the present time.
I realize that this is the fourth in the series, but the background was filled in enough early on that enabled me to enjoy this regardless. My wife read the book and also enjoyed it, and she is even less tolerant than I to stories involving gruesome events and perverted serial killers. That's a tribute to Jane Casey's writing. Even though I liked the story, there is a little too much suppression of facts known to Mauve and a touch of deus ex machina toward the end. I'd be willing to give another highly rated story in this series a try.
In general, I tend not to like mysteries focused on tracking down a serial killer, but this story differed in that its focus is on the detectives and their interrelationships rather than on the criminal. (I nearly quit reading after the first page from the PoV of the killer, but that was the one exception, although hard to stomach.) The rest is told from the PoV of Maeve, whose partner and immediate superior, Josh Derwent is misogynistic, including toward Maeve, although, as time goes on, the author portrays a softer side to his character. He apparently is not alone among the male detectives although one of DI's is a no-nonsense woman who hates Josh. Maeve tolerates abusive language (nothing physical) from Josh that would have him reprimanded if not fired in this day and age, and I disliked him immensely (as the author intended.) Mauve recognizes that, despite his behavior, he is a very sharp investigator and, apparently, is willing to stick it out to learn what she can from working with him. Some of the exchanges between Mauve and Josh add elements of humor to an otherwise morbid story. She's feisty enough to hold her own, especially since she lives with a (former) colleague, Rob, who loves her and is the perfect opposite to Josh.
As the publisher warned, the three present murders are related to a 20-year-old cold case in which Josh was involved, so there is an element of doubt introduced as the other detectives treat him as a suspect in the present cases. There are others, former friends of Josh, who also materialize as persons of interest at the present time.
I realize that this is the fourth in the series, but the background was filled in enough early on that enabled me to enjoy this regardless. My wife read the book and also enjoyed it, and she is even less tolerant than I to stories involving gruesome events and perverted serial killers. That's a tribute to Jane Casey's writing. Even though I liked the story, there is a little too much suppression of facts known to Mauve and a touch of deus ex machina toward the end. I'd be willing to give another highly rated story in this series a try.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 478 reviews