THE RECKONING by Jane Casey is a first rate crime thriller that doesn't let up even after you flip the final page.
Detective Constable Maeve Kerrigan is assigned to investigate the murder of two sex offenders who've been horribly tortured before their death. Most look on the killer as a hero, ridding the London streets of the trash. But to Maeve he's a murderer, a highly elusive and dangerous one whose motive becomes intensely and painfully personal.
Maeve must also contend with Rob Langton, her former lover for which she has unresolved feelings. She must choose her career or a chance with Rob, either of which can lead to heart break. On a case that no one wants and with a partner who only wants her to look pretty, DC Kerrigan must prove she has what it takes to be one of London's finest.
The intricate layers of the crime were slowly peeled away, exposing the darkest elements of human nature as well as the extraordinary lengths people will go to for justice. The crime is horrific and grabs you by the throat without letting go and always Ms. Casey manages to increase the tension and the power of the crimes without slipping over into unbelievable or sensationalized.
The world, not only the London police force, but every home entered, every street driven has a life and vibrancy that anchors the story, allowing the reader to slip into the scene along with the detectives and truly see it as they do.
My favorite part of THE RECKONING is the characters and how they're portrayed. Every single character is fully realized. Not a one comes across as a shadow of a person. Their characterizations, the little details of their mannerisms and personalities, their conflicting action create a believable cast. All of whom are integral to the story.
Maeve herself is a wonderful contradiction. She's tough, smart and independent at the same time she's insecure about being a female in a male dominated world. She's her own enemy in that she overthinks and lets her insecurities and fears take over. Yet, she pushes forward never forgetting the heart of her desire, to bring justice to the victims and their families. She a hero we can connect on every level with.
I absolutely loved THE RECKONING. I truly don't know how many ways I can say that enough, but Jane Casey is now topping my list of favorite crime writers. THE RECKONING combines a multi-layered plot with fully realized characters for an edgy and dark story that you simply can't read fast enough.
To the public, he’s a hero: a brutal killer who targets sex offenders. To most of London’s police force, he’s the suspect in a gruesome, time-consuming case to be avoided. But to Detective Constable Maeve Kerrigan, he’s a murderer—no matter the sins of his victims—and catching him is her job. Assigned to the case with the division’s unreadable new DI, Josh Derwent, young and inexperienced Maeve is determined to prove she has what it takes to make it as a female in the tough world of the London police. But for a killer who strikes with such spectacle, this one is proving remarkably elusive. And when Maeve learns his motive might be about exacting revenge, his acts of incredible violence move from abstract justice to the intensely personal, and become all the more terrifying. Unsure whom she can trust even within her own department and knowing her life is at stake, Maeve will have to decide how far she’s willing to go to ensure justice is served. Jane Casey’s taut, brilliantly executed thriller will have readers on the edge of their seats from the opening chapter to the stunning conclusion.
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