REVIEW: LET THE DEAD SPEAK By Jane Casey

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by Renee (Itsbooktalk)

31450668

To be Published July 25th by Minotaur Books

When eighteen-year-old Chloe Emery returns to her West London home she finds her mother missing, the house covered in blood. Everything points to murder, except for one thing: there’s no sign of the body.

London detective Maeve Kerrigan and the homicide team turn their attention to the neighbours. The ultra-religious Norrises are acting suspiciously; their teenage daughter and Chloe Emery definitely have something to hide. Then there’s William Turner, once accused of stabbing a schoolmate and the neighborhood’s favorite criminal. Is he merely a scapegoat, or is there more behind the charismatic facade?

As a body fails to materialize, Maeve must piece together a patchwork of testimonies and accusations. Who is lying, and who is not? And soon Maeve starts to realize that not only will the answer lead to Kate Emery, but more lives may hang in the balance. 

******

Over the last couple months I’ve developed a raging addiction to this series and Jane Casey’s writing! And Josh Derwent…but that’s a side thought.  I honestly never thought I’d love a detective series as much as I love the Lacey Flint series by Sharon Bolton but *gasp* I absolutely LOVE this series and I have to say Josh and Maeve now hold my top detectives spot, edging out Mark and Lacey…shocking but true!

Maeve and the gang are back in this 7th installment of the series and this time, she has been promoted which seems to have her a little off balance, especially as she has to mentor newcomer Georgia who appears to be lacking in the motivation department. Derwent is back from his holiday and has had some interesting changes in his life (Jane Casey you’re killing me with the new developments in Derwent’s life!) Una Burt is still in charge and I have to say, I’m not really missing Godley too much, I like Una, maybe because I truly think she has Maeve’s back, at the same time not letting Derwent get by with too much.

The blurb does a good job of laying the grounds for the mystery but what’s so great about Jane Casey’s plotting is that the missing mother, house covered in blood is just the tip of the mystery iceberg. There are layers to what appears to be a straightforward missing person who is most likely dead case and Jane Casey reveals those layers little by little in such a way that just when I thought I had my ‘what happened’ and suspect(s) set in stone, she throws in a new detail and the puzzle changes.

That’s the brilliance of the way each book in this series has been plotted and what makes it so fun and truly unputdownable for those of us mystery fanatics who want to try to solve these puzzles but in the end don’t really want to be right. Well, you’re a better detective than me if you can figure out the mystery in this one because not only are there layers, there are some delicious twists and they keep coming right up to the last page! Couple that with the fact that Casey writes such multidimensional, nuanced characters who I have to remind myself aren’t real because I kind of consider them my friends now…and Derwent…I STILL love him and feel that the current path he’s on might not be in his best interest…hint hint Jane Casey.

I don’t know how I didn’t know about this series 6 months ago but I’m thrilled I decided to listen to my fellow bloggers and try it. I don’t think I’m the first to say Jane Casey is one of the very best crime writers I’ve read in recent years and I literally can’t wait for Book 8 of this series. Let the book hangover begin. If you’re looking for a distinct, clever, addictive mystery with characters who continue to evolve then I’d highly recommend Let the Dead Speak.

**While this one can be read as a standalone, part of the fun of this series is seeing the progression of the relationships between characters. If you can’t commit to the whole series I suggest starting with Book 3, The Last Girl or even book 4, The Stranger You Know**

If you’re like me and don’t want to wait until July 25th for the US release of this, you can order from Book Depository.

Published by

Renee (Itsbooktalk)

28 thoughts on “REVIEW: LET THE DEAD SPEAK By Jane Casey”

  6. Haha – I’m delighted about the Josh turn of events! Rob will be back in the next one, I’m certain! 😀 Now I’m going to recommend Jane Casey’s YA series to you – starting with How to Fall. I don’t read YA often, but these are good, so long as you can put up with the teen romance angle. The central character Jess Tennant seems to me a bit like what Maeve would have been like as a teen – and the two boys in the love triangle are distinctly hot, as teenage boys go… 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I really can’t believe you don’t have the love for Josh!! Rob coming back would put a very large chink in where I really think Jane Casey will be taking this…if she hears my pleas😂Oh my, I had no idea she wrote YA! I rarely read it but now I’ve got to head to Amazon ASAP and check out How To Fall, thanks for the rec now and for the series rec…I’m having major withdrawal for these characters!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I won this book as part of a giveaway, so I’m pleased to hear you enjoyed it, not sure I’ll manage to read it anytime soon but it’s good to know that it’ll be worth it when i get round to it 🙂

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  8. Renee, your reviews on Jane Casey’s books have convinced me!! I have to read them, lol!! I’m not sure why I haven’t. They sound like I would love them since I love a great detective series. I added all of them to my TBR list this morning, and I am going to get book 1 😀 This summer isn’t going to last long enough with all the books I want to read!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Stephanie I’m thrilled my gushing reviews have convinced you😂I really do hope you enjoy this series and since you said you love great detective stories I’m pretty confident this is perfect for you! Please let me know your thoughts if you read any this summer I’d love to chat:)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. They definitely did! I have a feeling I will love them! I have so many books to read this summer, but I hope I have time! I may have to move a book out of my 20 Books of Summer Reading Challenge so I can at least read the 1st one, lol! If I do get a chance to read one, I will definitely let you know! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  9. When you like something… you become obsessed 😀 I love that you’ve convinced everyone to read this series. It’ll probably take me a while to get to them (esp because of our Netgalley addiction) but eventually… haha And I love the sound of this new book boyfriend (ALWAYS!)

    Liked by 1 person

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