Completely excellent! It's been a while since I've read one of Casey's books and now I can't wait for the next! ( )

Maeve Kerrigan already has a case on her hands, the murder of a local doctor, found dead in his car in a hospital car park, when her boss makes the request that she work undercover, with him, on case of concern to the Lord Mayor's office.

But Maeve is desperately tired, struggling to recover from a domestic violence case in which she was the victim, and working undercover may bring relief. The situation in which Maeve and Josh find themselves, and the challenges it brings, ring very credible. Keeping the neighbourhood under observation while posing themselves as a loving couple, will provide abnormal challenges.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoy this series. Highly recommended. ( )

The "mysteries" were transparent. The gender role playing reads like it's coming out of the 1950s if not the 1930s. ( )

This is the tenth novel in the Maeve Kerrigan crime series, which is one of my favorites. Jane Casey’s writing is a cut above the usual offerings in this genre.

As this installment begins, DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent are tasked with undercover surveillance outside of London, posing as a couple who are dog sitting in a house on Jellicoe Close, in the suburb of West Idleford. They are particularly focused on the house across the street, where Judy Thwaites lives. Judy occasionally hosts vulnerable males on their way from a residential home to independent living. One of them, Davy Bidwell, was found dead by the police in an abandoned house four months earlier. He was severely undernourished, and showed signs of recent and not-so-recent fractures. More importantly, he was the brother-in-law of Rula Jacques, the mayor’s right-hand woman, and she was demanding answers.

The neighborhood, which seemed at first glance like an idyllic community, turned out to be a network of complex people hiding a number of problems and secrets. Under the surface, as Maeve found, “there was danger, jagged reefs under calm water.”

Besides the surveillance though, Maeve and Josh had their own issues to work through. Maeve was recovering (or more to the point, not recovering) from a toxic relationship that involved domestic violence. Josh lived with a partner, Melissa, and her son, Thomas. Josh was devoted to Thomas and made a commitment to him that he would always be there for him, no matter what happened between him and Melissa. This tied him to Melissa in ways he didn't necessarily want, but that his love for Thomas demanded.

But between Maeve and Josh, there had always been some attraction, and the effort to maintain a professional distance while living together was another challenge in the case. As Maeve reflected about Josh, “He was my boss, my landlord, my friend. And, currently, he was my problem.”

Maeve and Josh’s arrival in Jellicoe Close and their efforts to get to know the residents catalyzes the unraveling of the residents' secrets. Maeve in particular, as an attractive young woman, is in danger.

Evaluation: Jane Casey’s writing skill is impressive, putting us right inside Maeve’s head with remarkable ease and intimacy. She also spotlights abuse of and violence towards women with sensitivity and awareness of the complex array of factors that lead to women getting into bad situations. The murder team as a whole is a mix of deeply layered characters who seem quintessentially human; you feel as if you have met all of them before. As usual, I can’t wait to see what happens next to the recurring characters. ( )

After the body of a man in found in an abandoned house, Kerrigan and Derwent are called on to investigate. The man appeared to have no family but he actually had a brother who is married to a politician so the Met is sparing no expense. Maeve and Josh go undercover as a pair of house-sitters in the perfect commuter cul-de-sac but they uncover more than the crime they were originally assigned to when an old woman is murdered.
I have to honest and say that I haven't read many of Casey's books and I think that is because I find the covers slightly off-putting in that 'mass market' thriller way. That's a pity as these are strong characters and the plot is neat. It does all tumble to a very rapid climax but that is a minor quibble as the story leading up to the final scenes is engrossing. ( )