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The Burning

by Jane Casey
Minotaur: St. Martin's. Sept. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780312614171. $24.99. F
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Maeve Kerrigan, an ambitious junior detective constable with the London police, works as part of the team investigating a serial killer dubbed the Burning Man because he torches the bodies of the young women he murders. When a fifth victim, Rebecca Haworth, who doesn't quite fit the Burning Man's MO, is found, Maeve is sidelined from the main investigation and assigned to look into the latest victim's background. She discovers that Rebecca's past hides many secrets, and the possibility of a copycat murderer seems more likely as Maeve gathers evidence.
VERDICT Told from the perspective of both Maeve and the victim's enigmatic best friend, Casey's (The Missing) excellent series debut features sophisticated plot development and intriguing characters. Maeve is especially engaging as an attractive woman in a male-dominated world with real empathy for the people she encounters. Fans of British crime thrillers by S.J. Bolton, Val McDermid, or Elizabeth George will look forward to more adventures with her. [Minotaur First Edition selection; library marketing.]
Reviewed by Lisa O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg , Jun 15, 2011
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