I like these books, but oy, Maeve just never learns. About anything. About being a cop. About relationships. About men. About Georgia. About Derwent. It was completely obvious from the beginning that Seth was a dangerous person, but Maeve saw nothing in his patronizing and controlling behavior. It was hard to read about what he did to her, but the thought of Derwent giving payback kept me going.

Aside from that, I found the plot a bit too convoluted and involved too many suspects and guilty parties. It was a stretch and kind of hard to keep track of everyone after a while. No one was distinctive enough to stand out. But I hope the series continues. ( )

Love this series! Maeve and Derwent have a great bantering relationship like close siblings have. They work together beautifully as a team. The plot is fascinating! Without mentioning any big spoilers I was so enthralled that I read it in one sitting. Great action and depth of feelings. ( )

A Thames mudlarker discovers a human hand and an investigating team finds a few other pieces of a body, enough for the forensic pathologist to say that these are female remains, and enough to yield some DNA which eventually leads to identification of young journalist who has disappeared just when she was about to break a shocking story.

There are several threads to this plot: a male voice recounts something that happened two years earlier, and Maeve Kerrigan works on the current story. But the thread that virtually takes over is the domestic violence that Maeve becomes part of, something she had never thought would happen to her.

An engrossing read. ( )

The Cutting Place by Jane Casey is a very highly recommended procedural and the ninth book in the Maeve Kerrigan series.

When a severed human hand is found by a mudlarker by the Thames River in London, DS Maeve Kerrigan and her partner DI Josh Derwent are called out and looking at the area where the hand was found as well as the subsequent other various small parts of a body. The team is lucky when a DNA match is found. The dead woman was identified as 28 year old Paige Hargreaves, a freelance journalist. Now the investigative story Paige was working on may provide clues to what happened to her and why. It seems that Paige was secretly looking into something that was happening at the Chiron Club, an exclusive, elite men's club run by Sir Marcus Gley. This club is not only private, but is comprised of only wealthy, privileged, powerful men. Members include heads of companies, politicians, and legal dignitaries. Investigating the club and determining what Paige discovered involves a labyrinth of clues and secrets.

There is a secondary storyline that takes place two years earlier. It follows a wild party out at a country house and a young man wakes up after a wild, uncontrolled night of partying, to find evidence that he is in a world of trouble. A third narrative thread follows a secret Kerrigan is keep from everyone, including Derwent. He already doesn't like or trust her boyfriend Seth, but Kerrigan is defending Seth's actions and his every misstep. She refuses to see the darkness behind his actions as he tries to control her every move. Adding to the complexities is another surprising revelation that comes to light.

Obviously, this is a complicated plot that follows several different, complex narrative threads, but it is also a compelling, tension-filled novel that will hold your attention throughout while you follow the investigation, the clues, and events in the various plot points. Be forewarned that the plot of The Cutting Place takes several dark, intense directions that heightens the tension, suspense, and anxiety while reading. The narrative is evenly paced and the new revelations and clues are evenly paced and gradually escalate until they reach critical mass on all the various plot threads. Casey does an excellent job with this complicated novel and the ending is satisfying.

Since this is the ninth book in the series, fans will know these characters and their development. Readers new to the series needn't worry about not being able to follow the narrative. I felt like The Cutting Place worked as a stand-alone novel. While you know these characters have a past and a history, enough information is given to understand their relationship and history. I had no problem following along and have not read all the books in the series.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2020/10/the-cutting-place.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3590879957 ( )

I quite enjoyed this latest in the Maeve Kerrigan series, even if I had to suspend my disbelief that the police, even in the well-resourced Met, truly throw so many resources at solving crimes, especially ones that might entangle the wealthy and powerful in a criminal prosecution. (That said, this kind of story is so much more entertaining than ones that focus on the bureaucracy and paperwork of police work.) After a mudlarker finds a hand left at low tide along the Thames, Maeve has to determine who the hand (and various other bits) belonged to. She finds herself delving into the membership of the secretive Chiron Club, where powerful men are entertained in a way that makes frat boy shenanigans seem completely innocent. It's a nicely twisty plot, and there's a parallel theme involving Maeve's private life that is quite powerful and amplifies the overall theme about power, privilege, and violence against women. The well-drawn characters are also a plus and, while you needn't be familiar with the series to enjoy this one, those who have followed it will be happy to learn more about the team's relationships. Well done.