Her best yet. Heartpounding and SO MOVING! If you haven’t read the Maeve Kerrigan series, start RIGHT NOW. I ENVY you’ Marian Keyes EXCERPT: All murder investigations were different and yet all of them began the same way, at least for me: standing in silence near a body, trying to catch the faintest echo of what had happened. Sometimes the air still vibrated with violence and high emotion, and sometimes the silence was empty. It was a habit I kept to myself, but one that reminded me of the fundamental truth: this was more than a job. Someone's life had been ended too soon. Finding out who had done it, and why, was my duty. No matter how many books I read, I will never ever read a book with a male on the cover without his shirt on and covered with tattoos. And while Josh Derwent probably had no tattoos, and the cover of the book is quite nice, I couldn’t escape the feeling that this book is more about the sexual tension between Maeve and Josh than anything else. There is a suspicious death; a young man is found dead in his car and his husband is a suspect but he has a strong alibi. Maeve has to find out what happened, along with her younger colleague Georgia. Maeve isn’t doing a lot more than worrying about Georgia, whether she’s up to the task or not. Only a day into the case, and Maeve and Josh have to go undercover in Jellicoe Close because there is another suspicious death. The "new" characters were not likeable but it didn't change how I felt about it - I literally only cared about Maeve and Derwent. In this book there is not one but two cases to solve. Dr Hassan Dawoud has been found murdered in his car. Maeve, who is not quite at her best yet begins to investigate before she and DI Josh Derwent are tasked with posing as a couple while house and dog sitting. While there they will investigate the death of an emaciated young man. The man was found with horrible injuries and his last known residence was in a home on Jellicoe Close. Jellicoe Close looks like a pristine street with nice homes, friendly neighbors, and happy children. But there are secrets on this street...

Jellicoe Close is their new home. With a few brief practice runs, Josh loses his DI coat and Maeve her DS one. They are now a regular couple with Maeve between jobs and Josh working from home, providing them with the alibi they need. Life in Jellicoe Close is claustrophobic on so many levels. The neighbours are a curious bunch, all immersed in each others’ business. As Maeve and Josh slowly infiltrate this small community, certain individuals emerge as suspicious, a little more on edge. Maeve and Josh become extra vigilant that their behaviour is as expected, that of a young couple in love. They do not want to attract any unnecessary suspicion or provide cause for more than normal curious eyes and ears. In social situations they perform as expected but behind closed doors…well enough said. DS Maeve Kerrigan and DC Georgia Shaw observe the body slumped half in and half out of the BMW sports car in the hospital car park. The victim is Dr Hassan Dawoud and after extensive enquiries his killer remains elusive. As if a hard to solve a murder isn’t enough the team are instructed by the Mayors office to look into the death of a vulnerable adult, Davy Bidwell, discovered in a derelict house in Acton. Davy’s family believe Judy Thwaites, who Davy lodges with for a few days, is exploiting vulnerable people. An undercover operation is planned and DI Josh Derwent insists Maeve works with him on this. So the pair arrive at Jellicoe Close, West Idleford as a couple and dog sitters for a very lively pooch! Such a cute dog!

There's a lot more going on in The Close than is at first apparent and, despite Maeve and Josh's intention to not get involved in any crime other than the one they are investigating, fate and their natural instincts work against them.

But the more DC Georgia Shaw and her colleagues Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent delve into the crime, the more elusive the answers become.I really enjoyed the characters in The Close. Maeve has suffered a recent traumatic event and, although she keeps telling everyone she is fine, she definitely isn't operating with her normal flair and passion.