When a police officer is found shot dead in his car, DC Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent take on the investigation. But nothing about the case prepares them for what happens next: a second policeman dies . . . and then another . . .
The Metropolitan Police struggle to carry out their usual duties, but no one knows where or how this cop killer will strike again. While London disintegrates into lawlessness Maeve's world starts to fall apart too. For if the police can't keep themselves safe, how can they protect anyone else?
I haven't read anything by Jane Casey before and usually having not read a book by an author before would mean not having any huge expectations going into it. Well fellow bloggers love the Maeve Kerrigan series so I went into the book with huge expectations after reading some of their reviews. Luckily I enjoyed the book just as much as I expected to and will be looking to read the previous books soon.
I was intrigued from the plot anyway, even without the blogger praise. It's not often you read a book where the people being murdered are police. In the opening chapters I felt that the police were being a bit nonchalant at first about the murder and cracking jokes at the crime scene. Usually there's outrage amongst the force when one of their own is killed but Maeve said an outsider wouldn't get it and it's more likely they would make jokes.
Straightaway I liked Maeve and Derwent. Even in the opening chapters it becomes clear theirs is a very complicated relationship. There was tension, atmosphere, arguments, joking and banter between them. I was questioning whether they were even friends or indeed even liked each other in these opening chapters. Fellow bloggers want them to get together so I was wondering when that would come into to play. The tension between them however is evident, Maeve at one point thinks to herself that she hopes the bridesmaid at the wedding they are at has the sense to stay away from Derwent. Clearly talking about herself. I felt that he had a bit of a superiority complex over her, and not in a work way.
When the body of a police officer is found in Richmond Park it becomes a question of whether he was killed because he was a police officer or he was killed and just happens to be a police officer. Although as the book progresses some of these questions become clear as more police officers are killed and Maeve's world begins to unravel both in work and her personal life. In crime fiction, series especially I like it when they are very character driven rather than focused mainly on plot. Despite being well into the series now I had no trouble reading this book, Casey gives away enough information for previous readers. Maeve and Derwent are both fantastic, intriguing characters that I am desperate to read more about! There are some massive developments in their personal lives in this book but to say more would ruin it.
The book was gripping for me because of the subject matter and because of Casey's clear talent for telling a brilliant story. My only disappointment was at reaching the end of the book far sooner than I anticipated! I'm very happy and excited to have finally read this author after having her books on my tbr for so long.
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