Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for ARC.

To call this hotly anticipated might be an understatement, and the ARC went to the top of my virtual TBR pile.
Metropolitan Police DS Maeve Kerrigan is called to investigate a murder in a swanky discreet London hotel. A glamorous rich woman dies during her regular visit; at first and second look it seems impossible.
As always, Maeve is struggling with her feelings for the enigmatic and infuriating DI Josh Derwent, who has made it perfectly clear that they have no future. He has domestic concerns of his own with his found family. When Maeve's dad calls to explain Derwent in trouble, Kerrigan realises she will go to any lengths to help her friend and mentor, regardless of the impossibility of romance. To say more about the plot threatens spoilers. For me the main police procedural plot relied a wee bit too much on sudden flashes of inspiration by the investigative team, and another subplot was rather obvious from the outset, but that has been skilfully set up over several books, some of which I've reread recently, so I might have had an advantage there.
This is a tense thriller with lots of forensic detail and some awful themes of intimate partner violence, mental illness and abuse. The reputation of London's Met Police isn't glossed over, and the limits of the justice system are never shied away from. There are also some insufferably rich, entitled people. As always the investigative team that Kerrigan and Derwent work with are well drawn and plausible, and unusually the forensic pathologist isn't a total cliche.
It is perfectly possible to read this as a standalone, but if you don't know this series, it might be worth starting from the beginning - you will probably want to when you come to the end. And what an ending - which has left me impatient for the next phase of Kerrigan's life!

I love this series, so this was bumped right to the top of my reading list as soon as my review copy landed on my Kindle. Thanks to NetGalley for granting my request to read. This book will be published on 24th April, 2025.

This is the twelfth book in the series featuring DS Maeve Kerrigan of the Met Police and her partner, DI Josh Derwent. Regular readers will know the back-story of these two and enjoy the ongoing saga of their will-they-won't-they romance, but for everyone else, this works as a brilliant standalone police procedural.

This novel opens with what looks to be an impossible crime - a glamorous woman arrives for her weekly tryst with her lover in an exclusive hotel, captured on the hotel's CCTV. When the lover arrives, he finds his partner murdered - even though the only visit to the room before his arrival was a super-quick champagne delivery - again, all seen on CCTV. Indeed, no-one has had the time to create the complex crime scene that greets DI Maeve Harrigan when she arrives to investigate alongside her old (but recently elusive) partner, DI Josh Derwent. As Maeve begins to dig around in the seemingly impossible circumstances of the crime, Derwent faces his own troubles at home - troubles that could cost him his job and his reputation.

The novel is told from Maeve's point of view and it's to her that we readers really warm. She's a tough, confident and extremely capable detective who is occasionally led by her heart into making some unwise choices - as she does here to help out Josh Derwent. I love the fact that she's fallible, as well as being a bright and warm character who is a great focal point for the book. Di Derwent is more of an acquired taste, I suspect - of course I've been rooting for them to get together for many books now (and no spoilers here about the progression of their relationship), but there's only so much brooding machismo and pig-headedness I can deal with!

The mystery itself is inventive and cleverly plotted - I don't think I'd have got anywhere near the answer, which is why I'm not a detective. There's the usual sprinkling of red herrings and misdirection, but the central crime feels like a modern day Agatha Christie puzzle - intricate and difficult to foresee until all the pieces fall into place, and then just right. The second plotline, based around Josh's issues, is interesting, but I really wanted to hear more about the intriguing hotel murder.

If you already love this series, you'll love this too - it's up there with my favourites in the series. If you haven't yet met Maeve, I'd start at the beginning because there's a lot of series you've missed. However, if you pick this up as a standalone, you'll find a satisfying and clever murder mystery with a side order of sexual tension - worth a read.

First of all, this series is one of my favorites, and I liked the characters so much that I couldn't stop thinking about them a couple of months after reading Book 11.

I discovered this series about a year ago, and already on the second book, I was utterly drawn into the world of investigation, as in this part, the author introduces us to Josh Derwent and significantly reveals secondary characters, giving the book and the whole series more dynamics. Of course, each part could easily be read separately and independently. Still, in this way, tracking the development of dynamics between the series's main characters, Derwent and Kerrigan, is a little bit lost.

Although this series deserves the title of the slowest slow burn, as the main characters find their deserved happy ending only in the latest book, it feels a bit drawn out and oversaturated, and now I will explain why.

From Book 2 onwards, every part of the series is a palette of different feelings between Derwent and Kerrigan - at first, the two dislike each other (although we later learn that Derwent was hiding his true feelings for Maeve), then gradually, by Book 4 the two become colleagues on good terms. After Book 4, they become friends, until by Book 9, the attraction between them becomes apparent. They are actually willing to do anything for each other.

But all the while, there have been obstacles in the way of Maeve and Josh getting to each other - often in the form of each other's partners. At the end of Part 6, Josh starts living with Melissa and raising her son Thomas. It was this storyline that I had a massive problem within The Secret Room.

The whole plot in Book 12 was concentrated not on the mysterious murder in the hotel and its investigation and not even on the feelings of Kerrigan and Derwent, but on an absolutely unreasonable and, in my opinion, unfortunate and as if at the last moment invented twist in the personality of Melissa. It is as if the author wanted to portray her as such a negative character that only such a plot twist makes Derwent finally break up with her and, with a clear heart and conscience, fully plunge and devote himself to Maeve. Melissa's story was not believable and felt like a stretch.

I am totally thrilled with the happy ending, but it felt throughout the reading not like a treat to be savored but more like a dish that you looked at throughout the 12 books and then just took and swallowed without tasting it.

I would have liked more investigation into the case and the depth of feeling of the main characters. I don't know if Jane Casey plans a sequel, but I will still love this series for Josh and Maeve and their incredible chemistry.

Maeve returns with Dawson for another murder. The murder takes a back seat to the relationship or not between maeve and Dawson who’s relationship with his current partner is no longer there but he is staying for his stepson. When he is arrested for a supspected domestic violence maeve does her best despite everything to try clear his name finally they both realise they were meant to be together and the original murder is solved

As soon as I finished it I had to reread it again, it’s that good.
Hard to say much without giving anything away, but this was such an emotional rollercoaster. The murder mystery is as clever as usual, but we’re all here for Maeve and Josh really, and their story moved on in a really interesting (sometimes very stressful!) way.
Loved it, 5 stars isn’t enough!

I will read anything related to Maeve kerrigan and when I saw that this was available to download, I jumped in. I finished this book in one go, literally. Started around 2 pm and was finished just after dinner , it was THAT good.

There are two stories being told in this book, one involving a murder in a locked room, and the other that I will not spoil for you. Overall, I was super excited to read this, and I was not let down.
Maeve is a brilliant detective, while also being a person with her own feelings and judgement. I love her.

This book was such a page turner. I couldn't put it down!
This book is part of a series and you might want to read the entire series before getting into it. There is a lot going on with the main characters which definitely wouldn't make it an easy read for anyone picking it up as a self standing book.

The mystery part is strong. We have a murder that looks impossible to solve which is a good premise. The beginning reminds me of the side murder in The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith which was a nice. The case investigation isn't covered as effectively as I would have liked. There is one interview missing, which doesn't really change much of the outcome but leaves me with a few questions. I think the relationships between the temporary characters (people who only appear in this book and not in other book of the series) could have been explored a bit more.

Then there is a very interesting side case. If you read the entire series, it all makes sense and it was really easy to anticipate step by step. I really like that because it gives me those little "yes, I knew it" moment. I think it's interesting to see Maeve running against the clock.

The romance side is exasperating. Josh really isn't my type of guy. As a reader we feel everything on Maeve side and it's really hard to not like the guy and at the same time I don't get how she isn't telling him to take a hike.

Despite the emotional roller coaster, the book left me really satisfied.

The Secret Room by Jane Casey

The 12th in the DC Maeve Kerrigan series. I haven't read them all and not always in order , but I really loved the premis of this one and the way it kept you guessing until the end .
I love Jane Casey books , As usual was gripped from the first chapter could not put the book down once I started !
Another great read from the author and eagerly look forward to reading her next title .

I was very excited to receive an advanced copy of this book as I have loved the whole series. I feel slightly as though I know Maeve and Josh (despite them both being fictional) and couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I will not reveal anything at all - please read this yourself. The case they are investigating involves a body found in a hotel room but the only possible suspect couldn’t possibly have done it. I wasn’t 100% convinced by the eventual motive but the deduction was fun. If you have not read the previous books in the series, please start at the beginning.

The 12th book in the Maeve Kerrigan series, I've been eagerly anticipating this book for months and it was worth the wait.

The locked room murder was intriguing, and alongside this was a storyline involving Josh’s arrest and Maeve’s determination to help him.

It was great to see the return of the familiar cast of characters (Luke was especially entertaining which was a much appreciated distraction from the angst!)

It’s hard to say much more without risking spoilers but I enjoyed this immensely and when I got to the end I went to back to the beginning and started reading it again!

10/10

Love! Love! Love! How can this series keep getting better and better?!? We kick off with a locked room murder (hello Agatha!!!) which evolves into an unimagably complex situation. Throw in the other storyline running alongside and wow! Oh, and Maeve and Josh, but we won't mention that! Buy this book/series and get as obsessed as me!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFAH_wtgOv2/?igsh=cGt6OXZydnFjY2Q5

I’m a big fan of Jane Casey and was very grateful for an ARC of The Secret Room.

The opening was intriguing, with a baffling murder scene in the context of a messy and unusual domestic situation. We also of course have the usual police characters from the series, who are all so well drawn.

Whilst the book naturally had the usual engaging writing style, I felt it focused a little too much on the Maeve/Josh dynamic. Whereas before this has been more of a side plot, this time it seemed to be the main theme of the book and detracted from the crime to which the title relates.

The setup of the crime was intriguing and I was really looking forward to seeing how it panned out, but within a few chapters the Maeve and Josh storyline seemed to take over and the crime wasn’t revisited in detail until the last few chapters. I really enjoyed the first part of the book and would have liked a little more on Angus, Sam and Ilaria herself.

Overall I did enjoy this one, as I think I would with any Jane Casey book, but I didn’t feel it was her best. That said, I’m eagerly awaiting the next in the series!

I absolutely love the Maeve Kerrigan series…so much so that I set a countdown on my phone as soon as the release date for new books is released.

I can’t imagine that thought and planning that goes into creating the components of a crime but Jane Casey is a maverick at this! Every single detail is meticulously thought out and slowly revealed throughout ‘The Secret Room’. As a locked room mystery, this book kept me wondering and guessing throughout.

As for the characters, every book feels like a reunion with old friends. I love that the same characters make appearances in many of the books and Jane has done a fabulous job of showcasing how some relationships stay the same while others change over time. It feels like an authentic representation of workplace dynamics, and I always picture the team working together as if they are a real police unit.

I have been waiting to read ‘The Secret Room’ since I finished ‘A Stranger in The Family’. For Maeve fans, this book sees our favorite detective taking risks and showing restraint, which signifies her personal development. If reading as a standalone, the reader is treated to an enigmatic mystery with a cast of characters that add to the story through their interpersonal relationships and intellectual prowess.

The Secret Room by Jane Casey is book 12 of the Mauve Kerrigan police series and it is a fabulous read. Any readers of the series will be gripped until the end and then will wonder what happens next?
The murder that the team are investigating is long and drawn out, because it isn’t obvious that a crime was committed at first and then who could have committed the crime, when CTV doesn’t show anyone else entering the room, other than hotel staff and the lover who found the victim.
A fascinating police mystery and an insight into relationships, the good, the bad and the failures.
Highly recommended

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

After the jaw-dropping cliffhanger in A Stranger in the Family, Jane Casey has asked readers to avoid spoiling the next chapter of Maeve and Josh’s storyline—and for good reason! I’ll say no more and let you discover the surprises as intended. This is the twelfth book in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series, and while it works as a standalone, diving into a few previous instalments will enrich your understanding of the characters’ dynamics.

In this case, Maeve and Josh tackle what seems like an impossible murder. Ilaria Cavendish checks into a luxury London hotel, only to be found dead shortly afterward in a scalding bath by her secret lover. With no signs of anyone else in the room, it looks like an accident—but the evidence suggests otherwise. Meanwhile, Josh finds himself in deep trouble, insisting Maeve stay out of it, putting everything at stake for both of them while unravelling long-held secrets.

Jane Casey once again delivers a gripping and clever addition to the series, with sharp writing, clever twists, and emotional depth that keep readers hooked. The “Will They or Won’t They?” tension between Maeve and Josh remains utterly captivating, adding a personal layer to the suspenseful plot. This is a standout in one of my favourite series—compelling, tense, and impossible to put down!

A intricately detailed plot, more brilliant characters and an atmospheric setting… what’s not to love?
Another brilliant book from Jane Casey!
I really enjoyed this and will be recommending it to my book club.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.

Locked Room Mystery..
The twelfth outing in the Maeve Kerrigan series finds Maeve and Derwent with a locked room mystery on their hands. The location, a luxurious London hotel. What at first appears an accident is anything but - it has to be murder, but how? With a cast of credible and well drawn characters populating a cleverly crafted plot and with a lively narrative this is a worthy addition to this superlative series which shows no signs whatsoever of flagging. Excellent.

I love this series. When a woman is found in a bathtub at a posh hotel, the team needs to find out how and why it was done.
Maeves private life is taking a turn, with lukes friend owen, how will that end? When one of their own is arrested ,they have to know whether they believe this person did it or not . Uncertain times .......
Great read, addictive, highly recommend

This is the first Maeve Kerrigan book I have read and I was worried I would be at a disadvantage reading a book in a series but this was not the case. Casey does a great job at providing the backstory to the characters and I quickly felt like I knew them and their shared history. They are likeable characters too which helped me connect with them.
The investigation plot for this book is great, gruesome, dangerous and full of twists. I was hooked reading this and was sad to finish it. There are also plenty of developments for the other characters and I enjoyed discovering these. This will definitely not be my last Maeve Kerrigan book.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy.

It’s book 12 of the Maeve Kerrigan mysteries and Jane shows no signs of stopping – which is a bonus for fans. It’s proving to be a tricky case, however: a privileged woman found dead in a bath of scalding water in a hotel room. Though it looks like an accident, signs point to murder despite the teeny tiny fact that no one went out of the room or went in. For Maeve, the case, though brutal, means she can be distracted from the Very Big Problem in her personal life. Quite soon the biggest professional challenge will mingle with a personal challenge. Be prepared for things never being the same again (and we’re not embellishing). It’s such a cleverly conceived plot that shows off both Jane’s skill as a writer and the characters to their best ability.