Furious. Did not realise this was a series and I have never read any of the books! This book was absolutely AMAZING!!!!!! I loved how there was a couple of stories in it as well. So several times it was a who done it. The characters are amazing. I am now planning to work my way through the series.

I love this series - this is the twelfth - featuring DS Maeve Kerrigan. Each story is standalone but there's also a hell of a slow burn romance going on throughout between Maeve and her colleague Josh Derwent.

There's an intriguing plot here about a woman found dead in a hotel room, but the most engaging story runs alongside, with the focus turning to Josh's girlfriend Melissa and their unhappy relationship. (He's only staying because he loves her son, Thomas.) When he's accused of something terrible, Maeve refuses to believe he's guilty, but the evidence against him doesn't look good...

I did guess some elements of where the story was going (not the hotel murder - I defy anyone to guess that), but this was a cracking read with an ending to remember.

I have only read one of the previous books in the authors Maeve Kerrigan series, The Close which I really enjoyed. I think The Secret Room can be read as a standalone book, although having finished it I’d suggest this series be read in order to know the characters and their histories from the beginning. The Secret Room starts well and quickly captured my attention and interest and held it all the way through. The authors writing and the plot line are both good, and the pacing is spot on. There are two story threads here, Kerrigan investigating a murder, and alongside this searches for answers after a close friend/colleague is accused of something she knows they are not capable of. As I've not read this series from the beginning I’m not fully invested in Kerrigan and Derwent’s characters and found Derwent quite dislikeable here and Kerrigan annoying at times. I correctly guessed how some of the story threads would play out - not all of them though. I feel Kerrigan's efforts to help her friend play a much bigger part in the story than the murder she is investigating which to me felt secondary. I did like the glimpses into the characters personal and family lives and the ending. So whilst I enjoyed this book it didn’t quite hit the mark with me as much as The Close did, and I think if I’d been following this series from the start you’d be reading a very different review.

3 stars

I was ecstatic to receive an ARC of The Secret Room, the latest in the Maeve Kerrigan detective series, as fans of the series will know that A Stranger in the Family ended up on a massive cliffhanger for Maeve. I have been waiting with bated breath for the latest instalment. I love love love this series! Maeve is a strong, independent and extremely likeable detective who has a talent for observation and finding the detail that everyone has missed which is key to solving the case. I urge all readers to start the series from scratch and enjoy how all the key characters develop. By this stage in the series, Maeve has a close working relationship with Josh Derwent and it is obvious to everyone that their feelings are more than professional respect. The chemistry between these two are what has made the last few books in the series so enjoyable. Casey enters this instalment with a new murder to be solved and no mention of the cliffhanger the reader was left on in the last book. This comes later as we discover that Josh is in trouble and Maeve is desperate to help him. All the elements of a Maeve Kerrigan story are delivered and longtime fans will not be disappointed. I will say that Josh displays ALL of his red flags in this instalment and even I was encouraging Maeve to forget about him! Save this book for a day when you have nothing else to do and no distractions as, if you are like me, you will not be able to put this one down! Have we got a date for the next one yet please Jane Casey?

I absolutely love Jane Casey books and was delighted to get an early copy of her newest book The Secret Room. As expected, I was not disappointed and simply could not put the book down once I started! Another triumph from Casey and eagerly look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

I absolutely love the Maeve Kerrigan series so I am always very excited to read the next instalment. The main plot of the Secret Room is the death of a socialite in an apparently locked hotel room. Alongside this Maeve’s colleague Josh Derwent has his own challenges to face and for me this was the more interesting part of the novel.
I love the character of Maeve and I would suggest reading the rest of the series to get the maximum enjoyment from this novel. It’s the best will they, won’t they relationship I’ve read in a series of novels and the author portrays the relationship between Maeve and Josh with such intensity. It’s not my favourite of the series as others have a stronger plot but I recommend this for Maeve fans !
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC

Let me start by declaring that I'm a big fan of this series, so perhaps a little biased - but The Secret Room is a really good read!

The series is one of the best in the crime genre because it extends outside the genre; the solid writing and contemporary themes would appeal to many people who feel they can only read "literary" fiction, while the love interest angles would satisfy a lot of modern romantic fiction fans. The main character Maeve is modern, clever and feisty, emotional without being a drama queen and very likeable.

The Secret Room doesn't disappoint. Smart, crisp writing, good observational detail without getting bogged down, well-judged pace, and credible twists and turns. Perhaps it leans a little too much on the relationship issues compared with previous books in the series, but I can forgive that because it's what many fans will want...

I'll rate it five-star as a fan, but four star as a reviewer simply because you really need to have read the rest of the series to get to grips with the various relationships and shared experiences as police officer colleagues for everything to make perfect sense. Please don't read as a standalone, you'll be disappointed and not get the best from this latest Kerrigan episode.

The suspicious death of a socialite in a tragedy that was initially believed to be an accident leads police officer Maeve Kerrigan down an unexpected rabbit hole.

To compound matters, the complex case hits at the same time as a serious event in the personal life of Kerrigan's close colleague, Josh Derwent.

Despite everything that is going on around her, Maeve must stay on track - juggling not only the case and its implications. but also the chemistry between herself and Josh in light of more recent events.

Although this book is several stories into a series, it is well written and engaging. It also works reasonably well as a stand alone. Worth a read, it gets 3.5 stars.

The Maeve Kerrigan crime series is my favourite series ever, and I feel like I've been on such a rollercoaster with these characters. The Secret Room takes things to a whole new level of stress and intrigue, and I was completely captivated from the first page. This book comes complete with a darkly twisty, completely unpredictable plot – I had no clue who was involved – the most sizzlingly infuriating will-they-won't-they between Maeve Kerrigan and her colleague Josh Derwent, and then there is Josh Derwent, my favourite fictional hero. This book delivers on so many levels that I had my heart in my throat most of the time, and the whole thing is utterly magnificent. If you haven't read this series then I urge you to start with book one and then treat yourself to all of them. You will have to give up your life for a bit, but it will be so worth it.

Despite being an author I have seen on Goodreads quite a bit, this was my first Jane Casey novel. As a completionist, I like reading a series of books from the start so the fact that this was the 11th or 12th book in the series made me a little reluctant to get started on it.

However, all it has made me do is want to go back and read them all from the start now. Meave and Josh are a brilliant partnership and despite not reading the previous novels, I was immediately able to understand the complexity and strength of their bond
A brilliant novel, well written and can't want to read the previous (and future) books now.

#TheSecretRoom #NetGalley
I loved it.
The Secret Room is a gripping and suspense-filled crime thriller that masterfully combines mystery, emotional depth, and compelling characters. The novel follows Detective Sergeant Maeve Kerrigan as she navigates a complex murder investigation while grappling with personal turmoil that could change her life forever.
The story begins with the chilling discovery of Ilaria Cavendish, a wealthy and privileged woman, found dead in a luxury hotel room. At first, her death appears to be a tragic accident: a bath gone wrong. However, the signs suggest something far more sinister—murder. The case seems straightforward, but it quickly becomes much more complicated. Maeve Kerrigan, the sharp and determined detective assigned to the case, digs deeper into Ilaria's life, uncovering secrets and hidden motives.
However, just as Maeve delves into the case, shock news hits close to home, affecting her partner, Detective Inspector Josh Derwent. Maeve’s investigation intensifies as personal and professional lines blur, and she faces a choice that could alter everything she holds dear.
The Secret Room is a thrilling, fast-paced crime novel that combines an intricate mystery with strong, emotionally driven characters. Jane Casey has crafted a compelling story with a brilliant protagonist in Maeve Kerrigan, whose personal struggles make her both relatable and intriguing. The suspense is palpable, and the twists keep coming, making this book hard to put down. Fans of crime thrillers with rich character development and complex, twisting plots will find The Secret Room a must-read.
An intense and well-executed thriller that will leave you eagerly turning the pages. Highly recommended for fans of crime procedurals and psychological mysteries.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Harper Fiction for giving me an advance copy.

Now, after THAT cliffhanger at the end of A Stranger in the Family, we have been asked by Jane not to spoil what happens next in the Maeve-Josh storyline. There is nothing I could really say that wouldn’t spoil it, and no one wants that, so I will just 🤐and let you experience what happens next as she intended!

So this is book 12 in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series and, whilst it is a standalone story in itself, there is a lot going on between the characters that would make going back at least a few books worthwhile in my opinion.

In the latest story, Maeve and Josh are tasked with solving what appears to be an impossible murder. Ilaria Cavendish checked into a luxury London hotel on a Wednesday afternoon, and shortly afterwards she’s found dead in a scalding bath full of water by her secret lover. There are no signs that anyone else was in the room - but there are signs that it wasn’t an accident.

In a parallel story, something happens to Josh to put him in serious trouble - and he wants Maeve to stay right out of it. I can’t explain more without spoiling too much but there is everything at stake for both of them. And a fresh light is shed on a lot of things we thought we knew…

Ah this was another fabulous addition to one of my very favourite series. Absolutely gripping, keeping me guessing throughout. And the Will They - Won’t They storyline that continues to be the hottest topic since Who Killed Laura Palmer? 🤣 I just cannot get enough of this series! Jane’s writing, as ever, is so compelling, clever, tense and hard not to get emotionally invested.

The Secret Room is book 12 in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series. As I love this character you do naturally get heavily invested. So, I read The Secret Room over two days as I absolutely couldn't wait to see what happened. That's a sign of a good book! Our story opens with Ilaria Cavendish arriving at the exclusive Governor Hotel. She's there every Wednesday, same room always and at the same time. Not long afterwards her lover finds her dead in a scalding bath. Case closed? The only person who had any time to kill her was her lover. However, the CCTV shows it is almost impossible for him to have sufficient time and no one else came or went from the room. This is a baffling murder that will test all of Maeve's resolve. As for Josh Derwent?? He has other problems to deal with. No spoilers as it would ruin the book. Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy.

I was really looking forward to this book as the last ended on such a cliffhanger however this wasn’t addressed u til part way through the book so I was initially a little confused by this! That said there’s a brilliant locked room crime set in an exclusive hotel although it really does feel like a background story asa lot of the main features Josh and Melissa without even going into the absolute tension between Maeve and Josh. I did anticipate the direction Melissa’s story would go in but it’s still a shocking storyline and the whole Melissa / Josh thing is brilliantly written. The whole book oozes tension and had me totally gripped and the crime when they got around to solving it was brilliantly twisty too. I. can’t wait for the next book as this was without doubt a solid 5* read.

Jane Casey’s books need to be read at least twice, preferably more, because the devil is well and truly in the detail. I read prolifically and I cannot think of a current crime writer who manages to surreptitiously place such nuance and detail that I have to comb through her books again and again, always find some new insight into a character.
The Secret Room is a locked room mystery, but it takes second place here to the ongoing saga between Kerrigan and Derwent, an almost-romance that has been ongoing for eleven books. I cannot lie, I read the end first - not unusual for me - and then I read backwards by chapter until I was sure I was brave enough to read from the start.
No spoilers. This was well crafted, tense, edge-of-your-seat-with-no-nails-left, every single feel, pure reading bliss.
I highly recommend the series, this book, and re reading every single book to discover more secrets buried between the lines.

This really is a series where one book at a time doesn't seem enough, I'd really like the follow up right now please.
I've said it before though, we could ditch the crime, that's not the main focus for me.
It's a clever crime though, and I did read it completely without guessing the who or whys.
I enjoyed getting to know some of the characters a bit better, forgive me for not even remembering Luke at the beginning. He's now firmly in my memory.
Incredibly enjoyable.

It’s not often, if ever, that I am moved to tears by a police procedural thriller but I think that shows how much you come to care about the characters of Maeve and Josh over the series of 12 books. After reading Stranger in the Family last year I couldn’t wait to read the next instalment and to see what followed that epilogue.

The Secret Room’s main investigation for Maeve and Josh is centred around a mysterious murder in a hotel room but also features some worrying times for the pair away from their work.

I really enjoyed the structure of the story and how it didn’t follow on from the previous book in a way that I’d expected. As usually there are times where you want to knock M&J’s heads together and for them to get a grip on themselves but overall this is a very pleasing instalment in the series.

Ilaria Cavendish was seen walking into a hotel room alone, minutes later she was found dead. The only person seen entering, and leaving, the room was a waiter who would not have had time to murder Ilaria. The murder investigation team are puzzled as to how the murder was committed.

In preparation for reading the much anticipated The Secret Room by Jane Casey, I reread the epilogue of the previous book in the series, A Stranger In The Family. I didn't really need a reminder, a year ago when I read the book I was left stunned and speechless by the final few words, words that were seared into my brain. Just like all the other fans of the Maeve Kerrigan series I wanted answers.

Jane Casey finally provides answers but she certainly makes the reader wait. The book opens with Ilaria Cavendish arriving at an exclusive hotel in London and checking in for her regular weekly liaison with her lover. We then jump to the murder investigation team who have been assigned the case. At this point I felt a little confused, wondering if there had been a time-slip or if I'd missed a short story linking the previous book and this one. That wasn't the case, it was simply the author teasing the reader, something that continues throughout the novel.

As the team tries to fathom out how a murder could have taken place in a locked room in a hotel with CCTV cameras everywhere Maeve is distracted by events closer to home, events which are shocking and disturbing.

It's not until chapter eleven that fans finally begin to get answers. From this point on you are simply a whirlwind of emotions. I felt devastated as I read and frightened as to the turn of events. This feeling of dread continues throughout the remainder of the book, there were points where I was left holding my breath, praying for the best but expecting the worst. As a huge fan of the series I was frantically turning the pages to find out what was happening but at the same time wanting to slow down my reading so I didn't finish the book too quickly.

By the conclusion I was drained emotionally but author Jane Casey couldn't resist teasing the reader yet again. I was close to tears by the end.

I received this copy free from NetGalley, but my opinions are my own.

Getting this download was like an early Christmas present. I read this over the weekend - I really didn't want to put it down. A beautiful, wealthy, married woman is murdered in a hotel room that she rents weekly for a tryst with her boyfriend. Initially, it presents like a locked room mystery. It was tough to figure out where this was going - there were a few suspects, but not a ton of motive. There is a secondary plotline, regarding domestic abuse, that Maeve is also drawn into. Both storylines are unpredictable, with a few twists. In the case of the secondary storyline, we're introduced to Roz Fuller and meet Henry Cowell again, and getting to know them again was very interesting. They also shed some light on Josh and Maeve's relationship.

I wasn't sure how it was going to end, and the two plotlines, while not intertwined, are somewhat related. This book was a lot of fun, and the ending to both mysteries was satisfying. Very curious to see how certain relationships change in the next installment.

2:32 p.m. Wealthy, privileged Ilaria Cavendish checks into a luxury London hotel and orders a bottle of champagne. Within the hour, her lover discovers her submerged in a bath of scalding water, dead. At first glance it looks like an accident. No one went in with her. No one came out. But all the signs point to murder! Wow! Great book! This book had suspense, great mystery, murder, intriguing, a great who done it and a few wild twists! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!