Maeve Kerrigan Books In Order

Publication Order of Maeve Kerrigan Books

The Irish born writer Jane Casey is an author of a series of highly regarded and extremely well respected crime novels, which she has been writing for some time now. With a keen eye for detail, her work has come to be seen as very well researched, with her award winning and insightful detective fiction. Taking the genre forwards, she has managed to make it one all of her own, as she subverts both the tropes and expectations. One such series is the Maeve Kerrigan series of novels, which features the eponymous detective of the same name as their leading protagonist. Following the career of the detective constable, it charts her time in London, England, where she solves cases whilst keeping her wits about her. Both ambitious and young, she is always looking to make a name for herself and serve justice, something which the readers empathize with as the series progresses.

With a clear insight into the police services, this series is firmly grounded in the real world, giving it a more realistic view for readers. The characters themselves are also fully realized, establishing a grounded presence that’s easy for people to relate to. As more books are set to be released on the horizon, it appears that Casey is not finishing any time soon, with more novels expected to be released shortly.

The Burning

Originally published in 2010, this was to be the first official book of the Maeve Kerrigan, as it sets up the character. Providing her with her first case as well, it manages to establish not only who she is, but the world that she inhabits as well. Setting both the style and tone too, it is the ideal starting point for anybody looking to break into the series for the first time.

The character of Maeve Kerrigan herself is one of resourcefulness, as she is both young and determined in her choice of career path. Doing whatever it takes to solve the crime and crack the case, she is not only stubborn, but strong-willed as well. Dealing with some truly heinous crimes, she has to become hardened to the everyday realities of the job, something which evolves as the series progresses. The supporting cast are well drawn to, sometimes clashing, as they come into contact with Kerrigan’s dogged sense of determination. Set in London, it really gets a feel for its sense of location as well, with its moody and evocative descriptions throughout. Projecting a feeling of isolation and loneliness, it manages to capture the essence of the seclusion, not just in London, but within Kerrigan herself. The contrasts between the area and herself as a person are something which Casey draws heavily from to great effect.

There’s a killer on the loose, and they’re going by the moniker of ‘The Burning Man’ due to the press and media dubbing him that, as he beats women to death before setting them alight. A brutal murderer it is up to Maeve Kerrigan to track him down and put a stop to his killings before it’s too late, as he strikes fear into the heart of London. With empathy and compassion, assets which her co-workers feel makes her weak, but will turn out to be her greatest tools, Kerrigan will do whatever it takes to catch the killer before it’s too late. Will she be able to track them down before they strike again? Can she keep herself out of harm’s way in the process? Just who is conducting the burning?

The Reckoning

First published in 2011 just one year after the first instalment, it carries on directly from the last with another case for Maeve Kerrigan. This time it jumps straight into the action, having already set the premise up and establishing all its characters beforehand. Using what worked before, Casey works to recapture both the style and the tone that made the previous novel such a success for her and her readers, giving them more of what they want.

With the character of Maeve Kerrigan being a little more seasoned after the events of the first novels, she’s still finding her way. Her ambition is still there and she’s now more determined than ever to make it to the top and ensure that justice prevails. This makes for an ever compelling character study, not just of her, but those around her as well, taking into account the interplay of both her and her co-workers. This is where the supporting cast step into action once more as well, still coming up against Kerrigan as a forceful personality, something which Casey plays with extremely well.

When a killer strikes once again, it seems that this time they’re on the side of justice as they solely target peadophiles, something which sees them become a hero in the eyes of the public. The police also seem to be turning a blind eye to the brutal beatings, but Kerrigan believes these acts of vigilatianism are getting out of hand, especially when considering the extreme degrees of sadism they’re conducted with. It then seems that the killer’s streak of violence is getting out of hand and it appears that it’s high-time that Casey puts a stop to it. Where will they strike next? Can Kerrigan find them in time? Who is doing the reckoning?

The Maeve Kerrigan Series

With a gritty tone to the series overall, it’s never too much or overbearing with it style of realism, allowing for easier accessibility for all readers. That’s not to say it’s ever tepid in its approach, just that it enables the readers to pick up any book with ease, regardless of where it is in the series. It still offers a strong arc though, and it’s a testament to Casey’s skills as a writer when seeing how Kerrigan has evolved from the beginning to the end of the series overall. Creating an atmosphere and ambiance that’s entirely unique to this particular series of novels, it manages to craft something that’s quite different. This is something that both readers and critics alike have come to appreciate over the years, as it’s achieving critical and commercial success, both nationally and internationally. As her writing career grows from strength-to-strength, it appears that Jane Casey will be continuing these books for some time yet, on into the foreseeable future.