If you are paying even moderate attention, it will become clear who the killer is, so it's not much of a mystery, but still falls into the police procedural category. I thought the characterization was splendid though, and painted a realistic look at what a female investigator has to cope with in a male dominated field.

If this book appeals then you might enjoy Die For You by Lisa Unger. For more of Casey's work, you might also enjoy The Killing Kind. The media call him The Burning Man, a brutal murderer who has beaten four young women to death, before setting their bodies ablaze in secluded areas of London's parks. And now the fifth victim has been found. Maeve Kerrigan is a fine addition to a woman in a man's world. She is smart, sensitive, and knows her limitations and is exploring her strengths. In addition, point of view of the other players and a building psychological mind play round out Maeve's investigation into the murders.The book opens with a bunch of young women enjoying a drink-fuelled night out in the capital. And as often happens, there's always one absolutely paralytic - with drastic consequences. Casey gives her readers a sharp taste of danger early on as we accompany the unfortunate Kelly on a terrifying taxi ride. The media is stirring up a right old frenzy and calling this local serial killer The Burning Man. And yes, it's a suitably horrible title and we hear it time and time again throughout the book. I love Maeve Kerrigan – what a terrific series Jane Casey has created’ Sarah Hilary, bestselling of author Someone Else’s Skin

Casey has a natural and easy style of storytelling which works. I really enjoyed this novel with its satisfying psychological slant and I think many fans of the crime genre will not be disappointed. I look forward to Casey's next book (if there is one, of course). Recommended. Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent (somewhat to their surprise) are once again partnered by their superior officer and sent to the scene of a fire in which one of the bodies may have political repercussions. I am absolutely in love with this series. Completely hook line and sinker. They really do just keep getting better and bettter. Also they have Derwent. Which basically makes them better STILL. If that’s possible.

Jane Casey’s Maeve Kerrigan books in order:

The news breaks in the early hours of the morning that The Burning Man has claimed his fifth victim. But there are doubts. Yes a woman lies dead, yes her body has been burned, but there are differences from the first four murders. Internationally bestselling writer Jane Casey is perhaps best known for her crime series featuring Maeve Kerrigan. This is the first book in the DC Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey. Having previously read and enjoyed 'After the Fire'which is the 6th book in the series, I decided to read the complete series and predictably started with the very first book 'The Burning'. I love Maeve Kerrigan - what a terrific series Jane Casey has created' Sarah Hilary, bestselling of author Someone Else's Skin Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent (somewhat to their surprise) are once again partnered by their superior officer. Once the fire is determined to have been arson, the police begin investigating whether or not one of the victims was specifically targeted. While their boss favors one theory, Derwent has another one that he wants to pursue, and both theories have some twists. But those two theories are not the only ones that might have an impact on the investigation.

The number of convincing police officers in crime fiction is a tiny squad but Maeve has the potential to be one of the few female members Daily Telegraph For me the book's appeal was mostly Maeve herself, and I loved her character enough that she could probably have carried a much weaker mystery plot. She didn't have to, though, and while one aspect of the mystery wasn't difficult to figure out (as a reader), there were many that weren't as obvious and the procedural aspect was quite solid. Maeve's struggles as the only female detective in her team were sadly believable, and the sexist jerks who made her life harder than it should have been also got a lot of digs in at her for being Irish. Although, as she says, she was born in England, the name is immediately recognisable and that's all it takes for the tired old "jokes" to be leveled at her. Painful as it would be in reality, I loved seeing the way she tries to find a balance between standing up for herself when it's really too much, and not being seen as just "over-sensitive". And then with Rob sometimes it's just fun banter! I really liked Rob a lot as well, although he's no more perfect than Maeve, and the head of the team, Godley, is an intelligent detective and a fair boss. When Maeve suspects that the woman who seems to be the fifth victim of "The Burning Man" might really have been killed by a copy-cat, Godley lets her follow that possibility up, despite some skepticism from others in the team. The way she respects him greatly as a detective and also has a bit of a crush on him is fun, and occasionally leads her to -- awkwardness. Amusing awkwardness, though, rather than the too painfully embarrassing sort.Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan.