The Stranger You Know by Jane Casey

 

When a third woman is murdered, police link the murders because of the way the killer mutilates and displays the bodies. Maeve Kerrigan is part of the task force investigating and is given strict instructions not to pass any details on to her partner, Josh Derwent, because the crimes bear striking similarities to a murder in Josh's past.

The Stranger You Know by Jane Casey is the fourth book in the Maeve Kerrigan series, a series which just keeps getting better and better. Right from the start we see the usual interactions between DC Kerrigan and her partner, DI Derwent. If I'm honest, Derwent actually seems even more obnoxious than usual. He certainly knows how to push Kerrigan's buttons and delights in doing so throughout the book.

Kerrigan is still trying to establish herself within the team. As a lowly DC, she is regularly undermined, however, her instincts often lead to breakthroughs in the case, the problem being that she sometimes has to ignore instructions in order to follow her hunches.

The way in which the serial killer is killing and displaying the bodies is quite gruesome, but what makes the story more terrifying is the way in which the women are targeted. It is chilling to learn how easy it is to identify people, their habits, details, etc via social media. We also see how trusting we are, believing what people in authority tell us. As I was reading I couldn't help but think about real-life events in recent years and be shocked when I realised that Jane Casey wrote this book over ten years ago.

Much of the story-line revolves around an incident in Josh's past. It was great to learn more about Josh in his late teens and how events in the past molded him into the person he is today. There is also an incident that shows clearly how seriously Derwent takes his job when he puts his own life at risk.

Maeve is conflicted throughout. She knows she needs to do her job and follow the instructions of her superiors. However, she's also convinced Derwent would not be capable of the crimes he's a possible suspect for. It's not a question of loyalty, it's down to how well she knows her partner.

Diligent investigation finally allows Kerrigan to narrow down the field of suspects as past and present events eventually merge. There's a heart-stopping moment as Kerrigan pursues the killer, thankfully she's uninjured, setting me up for book five in the series.