New to me author Jane Casey brings to life a character I found very likeable and easy to relate to in Maeve Kerrigan. As a detective constable working in dominantly male squad, Maeve tries to ignore inappropriate comments and innuendo she overhears within her squad. She strives to prove herself worthy to her chain of command by trying to be the best investigator she can be. In addition, her dedication to her job puts a strain on her personal relationships with her family and boyfriend.

At the height of The Burning Man serial killer investigations, a new homicide brings more questions instead of answers. The more Maeve learns about the latest victim causes Maeve to wonder if the crime is being perpetrated by the same suspect or if a new monster is loose in London.

I really enjoyed the premise of the story and the way the plot is peppered with multiple layers that reveal the victims dark past and events that led to her death. The big reveal came as a great surprise to me. The author does an excellent job of tying all of the loose ends together to make the finale more believable.

Overall, I found The Burning to be a very good beginning to what, I believe, will be a series that will appeal to fans of mysteries and police procedural novels. This series has characters that the reader will enjoy meeting, getting to know and caring for. I enjoyed the passion that Maeve brings to her job and the justice she seeks for her victims. I look forward to the next book in this series.

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Very good debut to a series. Although there is not too much of a mystery the tension and plotting keep you engaged. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

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4.0 out of 5 stars - Solid investigative police procedural

The Burning Man is the name given by the press to the killer who has attacked and beat four women to death before setting them on fire in various places in the city of London. Maeve Kerrigan, a detective constable and one of the few women on the team, is called to the scene of a fifth victim. As she begins to delve into the crime and interview friends and relatives, some questions about this particular murdered woman, Rebecca Haworth -- make Maeve wonder if Rebecca is really the victim of a copycat killer instead.

The narrative is told in the alternating voices of Louise, Rebecca's best friend, and Detective Kerrigan. Although the ending is somewhat predictable, the story is good and the characters are well developed. It's not a typical fast paced suspense thriller but more a well plotted and deliberate by the book report of the investigation into the crimes. I understand this is the debut of a new series and I will most likely look for the next one when it comes out.

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