This is a clever and fiendish police procedural/locked room mystery. The opening scene murder is gruesome and intriguing and the denoument doesn't disappoint at all.
Strong characters, sharp dialogue and wit. This is exactly what you'd expect with Casey and she doesn't disappoint with this installment to the Josh and Maeve books. The undercurrent of romance is perfectly worked into the story. I ate this up. Perfection.
This is my favourite Casey book so far.

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Liz Barnsley rated a book it was amazing
less than a minute ago

The Secret Room
by Jane Casey (Goodreads Author)
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Impressive.

This is my favourite "police procedural" series mainly because it isn't one really, Anyone desperately waiting for a resolution to the cliffhanger of the previous novel, be careful what you wish for because this is one wild, wild ride for Maeve and Josh. Your heart will hurt but it's worth every moment.

There's also of course a twisty mystery that very cleverly winds its way around the plot, these elements of the series are never boring, always unpredictable and entertaining as you try and work it out.

Jane Casey writes with such emotional depth all her characters are real to the reader, we all obsess about them and she never fails to get under your skin whether things are going right or wrong.

Read the series. Read this one. Some of the best writing in the crime novel genre and there's nobody you can compare it too.

Get on the rollercoaster. You won't regret it.

Thank god for the author’s note at the end to clarify that this isn’t the end of the series. Without saying too much, it felt like it could have served as one. But I’m glad it’s not. It’s a different kind of cliffhanger and I’m looking forward to seeing how the story evolves.

I guessed some of the stuff early on but it sorted itself out pretty soon anyway. There were two crimes to solve here and they balanced out pretty well between the first and second halves. Though they sort of took a backseat to the emotional stuff going on. I found some of it kind of infuriating (seemed deliberate to elicit that) and it made it difficult to put the book down. In fact, that’s the quickest I’ve read one in a while (work, kids, holidays) but it was worth it. Even though now I’m kicking myself that I didn’t savor it. The waits between Maeves are tough!

My favourite duo is back Maeve and Josh. This was a brilliant gripping, intense and highly addictive page turner that kept me guessing until the end I loved it!

I genuinely spent 90% of the book trying to puzzle together the pieces we had so carefully been given. This was one of my favourite reads so far this year it was extremely hard to put down!

I’d highly recommend this book another suspenseful page turner written by Jane Casey, I really like this authors writing style she always keeps you guessing!

This book was a must read for 2025! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars aren’t enough it was a riverting read!

Phenomenal. By now I know not to expect anything less from Jane Casey. I have been so so excited to read this book, it has consumed my every waking thought and it did not disappoint. The plot was so thrilling and the Josh and Maeve were just so so perfect. This book was everything I could have wanted. I laughed, I cried, I screamed. What an absolute genius of a writer she is. Outstanding.

This is one heck of a read as it's really personal to Maeve, concerning her relationship with Detective Josh Derwent. Written in three parts, there is a suspicious hotel death. I really enjoyed it and loved the surprise ending.

A stunning book with two plots running side by side plus the Maeve/Josh will they/won't they relationship. When I finished it I was so gob-smacked that I went back to the two-thirds mark and read it again. Absolutely fantastic, it's got everything; plot, tension, emotion and characters that leap off the page. I wish it had been twice as long!

Well! If you've been following this series from the start then you won't need me to tell you this is a must-read. If you haven't, then this isn't really the place to start as there's a lot of emotional catching-up to do. Casey has asked that we lucky ARC readers don't give away spoilers so I'll just draw attention to those five starry stars that head this review!

Maeve and Josh are real people and you won’t convince me otherwise, even if only the brilliant Jane Casey can see them. I had been anxiously awaiting this book given the ending of the previous one and can absolutely attest that it does not disappoint. The murder case is intriguing and well developed, and you feel you had the same information as Maeve as she tries to put the pieces together, unlike in some mysteries. There’s a secondary mystery involving Josh that is just as compelling and far more emotional, and lots of twists as these two flawed but deeply good people try to work out what they will be to one another. And again, they’re totally real people. More real than many people I actually know.
I know some readers have objected in previous books to the relative time devoted to the Maeve-Josh relationship as compared to the police procedural elements of the plot. I actually think it’s a sign of just how good Ms Casey is that those two things blend together seamlessly because that is of course how life actually works, and I love that mix in these books. Read the book, read the entire series, and just enjoy. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

Jane Casey is back and better than ever with her latest novel in the Maeve Kerrigan series. Jane’s books are always an absolute delight and The Secret Room is no exception. I cannot recommend Jane’s books enough. A huge thank you to Hemlock Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I audibly gasped yesterday when I got the notification for this book, I then wheedled my way out of cooking for my family/ normal life tasks and began to read and kept reading until the last page way too late last night. The epitome of unputdownable.

Jane’ Casey’s books had been only radar for years and in January I finally picked up the first book in her Maeve Kerrigan series. I really enjoyed it and was delighted there was another ten to read, I figured I’d read them over the year but alas by February I’d inhaled all of them and the wait began for this, the next instalment. It was absolutely worth the wait.

Page turning, lightening fast pace, skilled weaving together of various plot lines, old characters, new characters and a perfect blend of crime and friendship that Casey writes so well.

I’m not going to mention the plot or give even a hint of a spoiler, Jane Casey fans, pre order now. It’s my favourite of the series so far. A super read. Roll on 2026 for the next instalment, I can’t wait.

4.5 stars

I was so excited to read this book after the epilogue in 'A Stranger in The Family'. I read The Secret Room in one sitting and my heart never stopped racing the whole time. What a rollercoaster of emotions! This book is so well plotted and the pacing is spot on. I read each sentence carefully for fear of missing some important detail (as I have discovered on re-reads of Jane's previous books that I have missed little details that come back into relevance in future books/storylines).
The tension is amazing between the murder case and the storyline involving Josh. I was guessing until the end who the culprit was! Once again, a one liner is dropped that gives our heroine detective her motive!
I loved seeing the extra interactions with Luke and Maeve's parents. Its nice to see background characters brought into the plot as they influence Maeve and Josh so much.
As for the WTWT? My angst levels were through the roof and at times I was so frustrated by Josh's behavior. But it seems like he finally took some advice he was previously given and needs Maeve to decide for herself what will make her happy first. You'll have to read it to see what she does!
This is such an addictive series and this latest book was well worth the wait (and the worry!). I can't wait for the next one!

Excuse me while I collect my jaw off the floor again. All that sizzling chemistry plus a compelling mystery is why I keep coming back for more. Jane Casey, you've really delivered, especially after giving us that cliffhanger epilogue in the last book.

DS Maeve Kerrigan and the team investigate the locked hotel room death of Ilaria Cavendish. Meanwhile DI Josh Derwent is in trouble and Maeve, going against his orders, is determined to help as Josh's personal life is scrutinised.

I devoured this book with its well-paced action and plotting. Jane Casey delivers a masterclass in building tension as action switches between the mystery and Josh's ordeal. I felt like I was reading a movie. The twists and turns of the hotel mystery had me constantly guessing.

This book also takes the 'will they, won't they?' between Maeve and Josh, and raises it to 'can they?'. It's messy and angsty, but its very much in keeping with them. For Maeve, she must decide what makes her happy. For Josh, its feeling like he deserves happiness and giving himself permission to prioritise it over others. A big highlight was seeing Luke and his close relationship.

If you're new to this series, I think you'll enjoy it better if you at least read The Reckoning (#2), The Stranger You Will Know (#4) and The Cutting Place (#9).

A thoroughly gripping and compelling installment of a very addictive crime series. Bring on book 13!

Massive thanks to Harper Collins UK/Hemlock Press and NetGalley for the ARC.