The Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to follow the Maeve Kerrigan series in publication order. While there are prequel novellas and short stories, the core character development, personal relationships, and overarching professional arcs of the London Metropolitan Police team are designed to unfold as they were written.
If you prefer to start at the absolute chronological beginning, you can pick up the prequel novella Left for Dead, which introduces Maeve as a rookie police officer. However, the best place for most readers to start is the first full-length novel, The Burning. This book properly establishes the tone of the series, introduces the key members of the murder squad, and kicks off Maeve's evolution as a detective.
Maeve Kerrigan Books in Order
Here is the list of all main novels and significant novellas in their recommended reading sequence, including their release years and key story contexts:
- Left for Dead (2013) – Novella (Book 0.5). While published later, this serves as a chronological prequel. It follows Maeve during her early days as a rookie officer assisting on a case where a female detective is attacked.
- The Burning (2010) – Book 1. Maeve is a young Detective Constable helping to hunt down a serial killer known as the "Burning Man," who beats and burns his victims.
- The Reckoning (2011) – Book 2. Maeve investigates a vigilante targeting sex offenders in London, facing difficult moral questions and escalating team politics.
- The Last Girl (2012) – Book 3. A brutal attack in a wealthy London home leaves a mother and daughter dead, forcing Maeve to uncover dark family secrets. This book also features the short companion story The Long Wait (Book 3.1).
- The Stranger You Know (2013) – Book 4. Maeve faces a chilling case when the prime suspect in a series of murders is someone very close to her. This novel won the Mary Higgins Clark Award in 2015.
- The Kill (2014) – Book 5. A cop-killer targeting officers on the streets of London raises the stakes, testing the trust within the squad to its limits.
- After the Fire (2015) – Book 6. A fire at a high-rise block of flats leads to a double murder investigation, bringing Maeve into contact with a dangerous criminal family.
- Let the Dead Speak (2017) – Book 7. A house covered in blood but missing a body leads Maeve and Josh Derwent into a tight-knit, suspicious suburban community. This period is also bridged by the short story One in Custody (Book 7.5, 2019).
- Cruel Acts (2019) – Book 8. When a convicted serial killer’s trial is deemed a miscarriage of justice, Maeve must reinvestigate the case under intense public scrutiny. This book won the Irish Crime Novel of the Year.
- Love Lies Bleeding (2019) – Novella (Book 8.5). A quick digital short story set immediately after the dramatic events of Cruel Acts.
- Silent Kill (2020) – Novella (Book 8.6). Another crucial short piece set during the aftermath of Book 8, resolving lingering plot points before Book 9.
- The Cutting Place (2020) – Book 9. Investigating a murder at a luxury hotel leads Maeve and Derwent into the dark, exclusive world of London's elite gentleman's clubs.
- The Close (2023) – Book 10. Maeve and Derwent go undercover as a couple in a seemingly peaceful suburban close, uncovering secrets hidden behind manicured lawns. This book is accompanied by the shorts The Outsider (Book 10.5) and The Dirty Dancing Experience (Book 10.1).
- A Stranger in the Family (2024) – Book 11. Maeve investigates a historic double suicide that turns out to be murder, with deep personal stakes for Derwent. This installment won the Irish Crime Novel of the Year in 2024.
- The Secret Room (2025) – Book 12. The twelfth main novel in the series, continuing Maeve's high-stakes professional and personal journeys.
Chronological Caveats and Companion Short Stories
Jane Casey has frequently written companion short stories and digital novellas to bridge the gaps between major novels. While the main novels can stand alone as mysteries, the character arcs—particularly the evolution of Maeve’s complex professional partnership and personal chemistry with DI Josh Derwent—span across books. Skipping the novellas like Silent Kill and Love Lies Bleeding will not ruin the plot of the main books, but reading them adds rich layer of emotional continuity.
What to Know Before You Start
Jane Casey’s police procedurals are highly praised for their realism and accuracy. This detail is partly informed by Casey's husband, who works as a criminal barrister, providing her with a unique perspective on how criminal investigations are conducted and prosecuted in the UK. The series stands out for its atmospheric portrayal of modern London and its gritty, psychological depth.
Unlike many long-running crime series, the Maeve Kerrigan books do not have a television adaptation yet. However, Jane Casey’s standalone thriller, The Killing Kind, was successfully adapted into a television series on Paramount+ and Netflix, showing the cinematic appeal of her storytelling. The Maeve Kerrigan books remain a must-read for crime fiction fans who love realistic procedures, slow-burn character relationships, and complex moral dilemmas.