Well written kept me turning the pages.I enjoyed the romantic relationship between Maeve and Joseph.Keptme reading late into the night trying to figure out the twists and turns,#netgalley# harpercollinsuk

I did enjoy this book but for me, there was far too much focus on the romance side and not enough on the crime story. It felt more like a mills and boon than I would like and that was a shame because the writing was good and the story had potential. 3.5 stars

This is the latest in Jane Casey's terrific DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent series, and it has more than one murder mystery to be solved. At a hospital car park, 34 year old consultant Dr Hassan Dawoud is discovered murdered in his car, it's a murder inquiry that Maeve is struggling to lead, the trauma of previous events have left her sluggish, she has mostly recovered physically, although still getting excruciating headaches, but mentally and emotionally, she cannot put her past as a domestic violence victim behind her. Needless to say, this does not escape the sharp eyed Derwent, and when a pressurising and politically sensitive investigation which requires the police to go undercover at Jellicoe Close, Josh persuades Maeve to pose with him as a couple housesitting the home, and taking care of chaotic dog, Pippin, belonging to a academic.

33 year old Davy Bidwell was a vulnerable adult with learning difficulties who was found dead, his body showing multiple fractures, he was physically battered, and had missing and broken teeth. No-one knows what happened to him, but his last known residing place was as a lodger with Judy Thwaites at Jellicoe Close, where in the last 6 years, others too have disappeared. At first glance, the place is a seemingly idyllic neighbourhood with an apparently small and perfect community, but scratch the surface and it does not take long for the dark undercurrents to emerge and the cracks to appear. For Maeve, she has the added pressure of running a murder investigation from afar, fortunately DC Georgia Shaw is showing real signs of development. In the meantime, Maeve's new role seems to be just what she needed to help her move on, as she and Josh watch and mix with a community during a summer of hot, sweltering days and oppressive nights, where danger and murder lurk.

At long last in the series, Casey addresses the long running sparks and tensions in Maeve and Josh Derwent's personal relationship as they pretend to be a couple, living in such close proximity to each other in the house. There are developments but there are still matters that require resolution that have me hugely anticipating future books in the series! This is a hugely entertaining and suspenseful read, I was completely immersed in the developing relationship angles, and the skilfully interspersed murder and crime mysteries within. The many fans of this brilliant series will likely adore this addition, and I think it may even entice new readers too. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Another superb thriller from Jane Casey featuring Maeve Kerrigan who is slightly less confident following a difficult experience with her last boyfriend. DI Josh Derwent makes a suggestion to get her back to her best which at first, she doesn't really agree with but then decides to go along with it. The operation requires a totally different set of skills which Maeve picks up fairly quickly.

The investigation takes a few turns before a very tense end that I was not expecting.

This is a perfect weekend read; I was reluctant to leave the book down for long, promising myself just one more chapter but being engrossed!

The supporting characters are interesting and believable whilst the story moves along at a great pace however the interactions between Maeve and Josh are undoubtedly the highlight of this one.

I cannot wait to find out what is going to happen in the next one!

I loved this. It’s pretty different from what we are used to with Maeve and Josh in a different environment but it worked so well. There’s also a few twists, turns and blind alleys which keep you guessing. Highly recommended

The Close (Maeve Kerrigan#10) by Jane Casey is slow burning read, that completely intrigues the reader into reading more of the book, until you finish it. If you have read the other books in the series you will know that Maeve and Josh are more than just part of a police team, that they have a personal history that has never quite moved forward into a full blown loving relationship.
So you have a police investigation outside of the office, where they both have to portray a loving relationship to make the neighbours of The Close believe them, whilst investigating a scheme where vulnerable adults are being placed at serious risk of abuse.
There is murder, mayhem and all sorts of twists and turns to keep the reader reading, what is a really good read and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
Highly recommended

Maeve and Josh are back at last, this time they are working undercover.
They are looking into the death of a vulnerable adult, who they suspect may have been taken advantage of by an elderly woman and her son. So on the pretence of being a couple who are dog sitting they take up residence on Jellicoe Close. Maeve and Josh grow even closer whilst undercover and there is a definite will they won't they vibe.
I always love Jane Casey's books and this didn't disappoint. I am looking forward to the next one .

I have been impatiently looking forward to the next installment in the Maeve Kerrigan series after devouring the previous novels. The brief synopsis I had read online hooked me from the start. Maeve and Derwent undercover as a couple in a quiet suburb – sign me up!

This was a fantastic read – I read this very quickly over a weekend as I could not put it down. This is a true page-turner. I found the pivotal case(s) really interesting (exploring the disappearance and suspicious death of a vulnerable adult) and the mystery was well fleshed out with the different inhabitants of Jellicoe Close all posing a potential threat. My only gripe with this part of the novel is that there are quite a few different characters introduced here and I did find myself at times getting confused between them. On the other hand, this is likely true to life as I can see how all the inhabitants in a rural residential area would come from similar backgrounds. This installment is rife with tension and intrigue, as I have come to expect from Casey’s novels, and I just grew more and more hooked with each development.

I think a lot of fans of the series, however, will be thrilled by the emphasis on Maeve and Derwent’s relationship in The Close. The forced proximity trope brings new focus to their developing friendship/relationship and the will-they-won’t-they sexual tension is unparalleled. Somehow I am still left wanting more! I hope the next installment continues to focus on this (hopefully) burgeoning slow-burn romance.

All in all, well done Jane Casey! I will now impatiently wait for number 11!

A really great story leaving you suspecting everyone, sitting on the edge of your seat whilst also banging your head against the wall!! Impossible to put down.

Thanks to Ficton Marketing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
Really enjoyed the characters in this book. I live in a small cul de sac and know what a range of people live here so rang very true. The introduction of a relationship between Maeve and Josh (and Pippin) added interest too.

Jane Casey does it again! The Close continues the brilliant series featuring DS Maeve Kerrigan and superior/friend/potential love interest DI Josh Derwent. Their will they/won't they draws me in every single time and The Close was no different, however, no spoilers here! Josh and Maeve pose as a couple when they move in temporarily into Jellicoe Close. It is the quintessential pretty English street featuring the usual cast of characters. However, there is far more going on in Jellicoe Close than at first apparent. Maeve and Josh need to become part of the community while trying to find evidence of modern slavery and worse. Their show of the loved up couple is hitting a little too close to home. Will they cross that line??? Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy.

I’m a big fan of the Maeve Kerrigan books by Jane Casey, and have been eagerly awaiting this book for a while.

It absolutely did not disappoint. Full of tension, mystery and intrigue, I was totally hooked from the start. Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.

I highly recommend this book, and all of the precious ones in the series.

Whilst this is one of a series, I hadn’t read any of the earlier book and it didn’t matter at all. This was a gripping story that kept me so engaged I didn’t want to put it down. There weee plenty of interesting characters with enough back story to create a number of believable suspects. The relationship between Maeve and Josh was well written and emotional. I hadn’t read any of the others in this series but I definitely will do now.

The latest in Jane Casey’s DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent police procedural series is perhaps the best yet. Not only does the author give us two crimes to be solved but also takes Maeve and Josh that much closer in the ‘will they won’t they’ relationship that has been developing over time.
Kerrigan and Derwent go undercover as a couple, dog-sitting in respectable middle-class Jellicoe Close, hoping to gain information on modern slavery. Playing loved-up isn’t easy for Maeve to begin with but she begins to recognise that she is, at last, feeling happy in her role as Josh’s girlfriend. Of course, though, it’s just make-believe – Josh has a live-in partner and he’s bonded brilliantly with her son too.
Meanwhile, back at the station, Georgia is becoming a useful member of the team as she works with Maeve long-distance to solve the murder of a hospital consultant. Casey is developing Georgia from scatty stereotype to someone who is integral to the plot – and this works well.
A great read; I binged it and am already looking forward to the follow-up. How ironic that cynical, tough Derwent is clearly being coerced at home – he’s all for fighting injustice but can’t see a way to break free from his own situation. Let’s hope Maeve can help him with that!
My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

This is part of an established series but I haven’t read any of the others. This is a great way to judge the strength of a series – do the story stand on their own two feet, and this one certainly does. Maeve and her boss Josh are sent to keep covert surveillance in a house in a small, tightly-knit community. Their job is to fit in as a couple taking on dog-sitting duties in the absence of the owner. They need to keep up appearances, which leads to some real sexual tension. The story develops well, with the reader having reason to suspect a number of the inhabitants of the close. Not only is the place a suspected source of people trafficking, but a body turns up too. I really enjoyed this story and think the series is worth a catch-up.

This was such an intriguing and a great concept for a story . The characters were wonderful and the description of Jellicoe Close painted a picture of normality and a lovely quiet unassuming place to live. The truth. as it unfolded, was something quite different full of tension and danger. It was beautifully written and kept me hooked to the end. The sexual tension between Maeve and Josh was palpable. I loved it. I am off to check other titles by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the invitation to read this book,

I’ve only read one other book in this series so am not up to date at all with the ongoing characters and their histories. This didn’t affect my reading though, and I thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a book which I think can be read on it’s own. I’ll definitely be back tracking to read the previous books to catch up and if they are anything like this I’m in for a treat. I was pulled into the story right from the start and the author piqued and held my interest to the last page. Kerrigan begins working on a murder case then finds herself being sent undercover with her boss on another investigation. I loved the writing style here, it is very engaging and fast paced and I thought the story flowed really well and the lovely bits of humour included made for a very good read. There are lots of different story threads that kept me entertained and I loved the twists in the plot. The author really ramps up the tension and suspense in the story towards the end making this one hell of a page turning read. Overall this is a very enjoyable read, with likeable main characters who are well established, relatable and believable. If you are a fan of police procedurals and have been following this series I’m sure you’ll like this book and I’d recommend it.

4 stars

Jane Casey has done it again. I’ve been following the Maeve Kerrigan series for a few years now and I was anxiously awaiting the next installment. I was in no way disappointed, if anything I’m now even more anxiously awaiting the next installment.

This book has everything - twisty turny police procedurals that make you really think about what’s going on, the ever-brilliant pairing of Maeve and Derwent, police officers going undercover as a couple, red herrings, the lot.

I read it in two sittings and am now bereft that I have to wait to see what happens next. An excellent read!

I love Jane Casey’s series involving Maeve Kerr and Josh Derwent. This was book ten in the series and I can’t believe they just get better and better.

This was such an exciting book to read as Maeve and Josh move in together to carry out surveillance on the house opposite them in Jellicoe Close (brilliant name). I just love these two together and this book was fantastic in that respect. As both Maeve and Josh are undercover we get to see them outside of their usual police ranks. I was fascinated.

The case they are working on is to do with modern slavery. Vulnerable men with no family are being taken from their care home to an address in Jellicoe Close where they are looked after by an older person. Is she in on the racket or is she clueless? Maeve does her best to get to know her.

Jellicoe Close is not a safe place to live however, as there is a killer in its midst. The killer narrates some key lines in the book and I enjoyed trying to guess who he was. They aren’t there to run this case, but at the end of the day they are police officers and all murders are their responsibility.

I loved the suspense in the book that carried on right until the very end. I also thoroughly enjoyed Maeve and Josh living together. The will they, won’t they angle runs throughout the series, but it’s never as “close” as in this adventure.

This book was a brilliant addition to the series as a whole. If you haven’t read any previous books, do yourself a favour and start at the beginning. This book is not a great starting point. I can’t wait until book #11, but I suppose I will just have to.

An absolutely thrilling crime novel. I have loved all the Maeve Kerrigan books but this one is undoubtedly the best so far! I was gripped from page one.