Nine, with a tenth hopefully on the way soon! The wait between books is agony, but it's always worth it. Casey's plots are so tightly constructed. She plays fair with clues, but the twists still surprise me. I also appreciate that the series tackles contemporary issues—misogyny in the workplace, institutional failure, media scrutiny of police—without ever feeling like a lecture. It's woven into the fabric of the stories because it's part of Maeve's reality as a woman in the Met. It feels organic and adds to the tension and stakes.
I'd say you can get away with it. The central investigation is always front and center and wrapped up neatly. The ongoing stuff is more like rewarding bonus content for loyal readers. If you don't mind missing some inside jokes or not fully understanding every historical reference between characters, jump in anywhere.
It's 'The Burning'. Casey has a real gift for making police work feel visceral and immediate. You're in the room with Maeve as she pores over evidence, fights for her theories, and deals with institutional sexism. The killer's pattern is horrifying and creates a real race-against-time feel. Yet, the book never loses sight of its characters' inner lives. Maeve's determination is rooted in a deep-seated sense of justice that feels authentic. The supporting cast is sketched with precision, from allies to obstacles. It's a compelling, gritty start that promises a long and rewarding series journey.
Her taste in cases changes, or rather, what she brings to them does. Initially, she might be assigned to anything. Later, you get the sense that certain types of cases—those involving vulnerable women, complex familial crimes—are drawn to her or she to them, because she's developed a reputation for understanding them. She becomes a specialist by experience, not by assignment. Colleagues might bring her in on a case because 'Maeve's good with this stuff.' That shift from a generalist to a sought-after expert based on her accumulated wisdom is a huge marker of her development within the force.
What's interesting is how the crimes themselves reflect Maeve's evolving perspective. Early cases, while gruesome, are more detached professionally. Later, the violence feels like it's creeping closer to her own life.
That narrative tightening—the world getting smaller and more dangerous—is a structural choice you only feel in order. It builds a fantastic sense of dread and investment. You're not just solving a mystery; you're walking a path that gets narrower and more treacherous with her.
The library app I use had them out of order, which was infuriating! I had to manually search. 'The Close' is listed as #10. It's worth the hunt to read them in sequence, as the character arcs are the true backbone of the series.