The last girl: a crime novel

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Average Rating
Series
Publisher
Minotaur Books
Publication Date
2013.
Language
English

Description

"Maeve Kerrigan [is] a fascinating and plausible character…What she has is persistence, integrity and emotional intelligence, and a very deft way of insinuating herself into a reader's affections."—The Irish Independent (UK)

Vast wealth offers London defense attorney Philip Kennford a lot of things: a gorgeous house with a pool in the backyard, connections in the top echelons of society, a wardrobe worthy of Milan runways. But his money doesn't provide a happy marriage, or good relationships with his twin daughters…and it does nothing to protect his family when someone brutally murders his wife and daughter in their own home.

When Detective Constable Maeve Kerrigan arrives at the scene, the two survivors—Philip and his second favorite daughter, Lydia—both claim to have seen nothing, but it's clear right away that this is an unhappy family accustomed to keeping secrets. Maeve soon finds herself entangled in a case with a thousand leads that all seem to point nowhere, and it doesn't help that her boss, whom she trusts more than almost anyone, is starting to make decisions that Maeve finds questionable at best.

In The Last Girl, Jane Casey once again demonstrates her ability to write vivid, three-dimensional characters and spin a gripping, unpredictable mystery.

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ISBN
9780312622015

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Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These London-based police procedurals offer plentiful red herrings and an ample amount of suspense. Though the Maeve Kerrigan novels move at a faster, grittier pace, both series feature intelligent and principled protagonists. -- Shauna Griffin
Set in England, these fast-paced mysteries star female police detectives -- intelligent, complex women -- who primarily hunt serial killers and sexual predators. Both series are fast-paced and compelling, though the Detective Chief Inspector Louisa Smith are more intricately plotted. -- Mike Nilsson
Gritty, dangerous, and complex caseloads don't daunt the strong, capable women in these British police detective series. Neither are they fazed by opposition from their superiors and from male colleagues. -- Katherine Johnson
In these gritty police procedural series, flawed, ambitious young female detective constables face personal and professional challenges as they investigate cases. Both strive to get ahead in departments that are still dominated by a male-centered hierarchy. -- Jane Jorgenson
These gritty British urban crime series star London detectives Maeve Kerrigan and Jack Warr who investigate brutal crimes amid personal issues in twisty and compelling storylines. Both are fast-paced with fleshed-out characters whose personal struggles add to the police drama. -- Andrienne Cruz
A private investigator (Lydia Chin in New York) and a detective constable (Maeve Kerrigan in London) investigate crimes in these fast-paced, gritty mysteries. Both rely on their loyal partners to help suss out the truth and put the baddies away. -- Erin DeCoeur
The England-based Maeve Kerrigan novels and the Sweden-based Irene Huss mysteries feature smart, determined female police detectives with complicated lives. Fast-paced and richly detailed, both series bring grit and suspense to compelling tales of murder and mayhem. -- Mike Nilsson
Each London-based mystery series revolves around the career and personal life of a strong, complicated female police detective. Though the Stella Mooney mysteries are more noirish, both series are gritty and richly detailed, presenting an intimate look at professional cops. -- Mike Nilsson
Set in England, these gritty police mysteries focus on resolute female detectives who fight for justice, as well as professional acceptance. With their fast pace and rich detail, both series are as compelling as they are thought-provoking. -- Mike Nilsson

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, fast-paced, and intricately plotted, and they have the theme "urban police"; the genre "police procedurals"; and the subjects "police," "women detectives," and "serial murder investigation."
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, richly detailed, and intricately plotted, and they have the theme "urban police"; the genres "mysteries" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "police," "women detectives," and "serial murder investigation."
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, fast-paced, and intricately plotted, and they have the genres "mysteries" and "thrillers and suspense"; and the subjects "police," "women detectives," and "murder investigation."
NoveList recommends "Detective Chief Inspector Louisa Smith" for fans of "Maeve Kerrigan novels". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Irene Huss mysteries" for fans of "Maeve Kerrigan novels". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Cat Kinsella" for fans of "Maeve Kerrigan novels". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genre "mysteries"; and the subjects "police," "women detectives," and "murder investigation."
These books have the appeal factors gritty, and they have the theme "urban police"; the genre "police procedurals"; and the subjects "police," "women detectives," and "murder suspects."
NoveList recommends "Jack Warr novels" for fans of "Maeve Kerrigan novels". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors gritty, and they have the theme "urban police"; the genres "mysteries" and "police procedurals"; the subjects "police," "women detectives," and "murder investigation"; and characters that are "brooding characters."
NoveList recommends "Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James mysteries" for fans of "Maeve Kerrigan novels". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Monika Paniatowski mysteries" for fans of "Maeve Kerrigan novels". Check out the first book in the series.

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Deborah Casey and Jane Crombie write English police procedurals that feature strong women detectives who must deal with personal problems and the prejudices of their male colleagues. The stories move slowly, as police procedures are set out in detail. The books are intricately plotted and have complex characters. -- Merle Jacob
Jane Casey and Gay Longworth write British police procedurals featuring feisty female detectives. The scrappy policewomen have to deal with sexism on the force while also dealing with their personal romances. The solid plotting and believable characters make the stories easy to read while also being suspense filled. -- Merle Jacob
Both Jane Casey and Barry Maitland write British police procedurals that use psychological insights to help solve the crimes. The books feature teams of police that work realistically together and portray their interpersonal tensions. The fast paced stories are intricately plotted and filled with gritty violence. -- Merle Jacob
Jane Casey and David Lawrence write British police procedurals that feature strong policewomen. Their sleuths are complicated personalities who have to deal with sexism on the force while also trying to have a personal life. The violent stories are fast paced and filled with realistic police work. -- Merle Jacob
These authors' works have the appeal factors plot-driven and intricately plotted, and they have the genre "thrillers and suspense"; and the subjects "murder investigation," "teenage girls," and "missing persons."
These authors' works have the subjects "murder investigation," "serial murder investigation," and "secrets"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
These authors' works have the appeal factors suspenseful and plot-driven, and they have the subjects "murder investigation," "serial murder investigation," and "teenage girls."
These authors' works have the appeal factors suspenseful and intricately plotted, and they have the genres "mysteries" and "thrillers and suspense"; and the subjects "murder investigation," "serial murder investigation," and "teenage girls."
These authors' works have the appeal factors richly detailed, and they have the genre "mysteries"; and the subjects "police," "murder investigation," and "serial murder investigation."
These authors' works have the appeal factors gritty and violent, and they have the genre "police procedurals"; the subjects "women detectives," "police," and "serial murder investigation"; and characters that are "likeable characters."
These authors' works have the appeal factors gritty and bleak, and they have the subjects "women detectives," "police," and "serial murder investigation."
These authors' works have the subjects "police," "murder investigation," and "serial murder investigation."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

Womanizing defense lawyer Philip Kennford evokes little sympathy from the London police, what with his lack of emotion over the murders of his wife, Vita, and Laura, his favorite of their 15-year-old twin daughters. The Kennford murders distract the coppers from the deadly gang wars that continue even with one of the gang leaders in prison. DC Maeve Kerrigan and her bluff, misogynistic supervisor, DI Josh Derwent, are unable to make progress on the Kennford case until they track down Kennford's daughter from his first marriage, supermodel Savannah Wentworth. Meanwhile, as the two cases overlap, and Maeve witnesses compromising behavior by her respected superintendent, her old stalker reappears, making deadly threats against her police-officer boyfriend. Suspense increases until the Kennford case reaches a violent conclusion. The frenetic action seems a bit over the top at times, but the third Maeve Kerrigan mystery remains an engaging procedural with well-drawn characters and a principled protagonist whom readers will want to follow.--Leber, Michele Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

In Casey's uneven third crime novel featuring Det. Constable Maeve Kerrigan (after 2012's The Reckoning), Kerrigan and her misogynistic partner, Det. Insp. Josh Derwent, investigate the brutal murders of Vita Kennford and one of her 15-year-old daughters, Laura, in their posh London home. Vita's husband, Philip, was battered in the attack, while Laura's twin, Lydia, survived physically unscathed. When Philip, a notorious defense lawyer, appears oddly unconcerned about the terrible loss of his wife and daughter, Kerrigan and Derwent wonder whether Philip's flattened affect is as deeply suspicious as it seems or merely a distraction from the true killer. A cursory examination of the family reveals a surfeit of secrets and enemies who might strike at Philip through those closest to him. The police proceedings will keep readers turning the pages, but the final revelations and the reasons for the murders may strike some as implausibly lurid and cliched. Agent: Zoe Pagnamenta, Zoe Pagnamenta Agency. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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Library Journal Review

In her third outing (after the acclaimed The Burning and The Reckoning) Maeve Kerrigan, a detective constable in London's Metropolitan Police, is again partnered with the offensive Detective Inspector Derwent. The two are investigating the brutal murder of the wife and one of the twin daughters of a well-known London defense attorney. When questioned, it becomes clear that the surviving family members are keeping secrets that complicate the case. At the same time, Kerrigan is getting some unexplained mail that threatens her already shaky romantic relationship. All of this occurs during a London heat wave that has everyone on edge, including Superintendent Godley, who is acting very out of character. VERDICT The third time is the charm with this exciting thriller, and Casey's growing fan base will snatch up the latest entry in what has turned out to be a can't-wait-for-the-next-one series.-Lisa O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., WinnIpeg (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Kirkus Book Review

How far would a daughter go to get her father's attention? It's hard to believe that a young teen would slash the throat of her twin sister, stab her mother over 30 times, then knock her father unconscious, no matter how much she'd been ignored. Yet Lydia is the only one left standing when London coppers Josh Derwent and Maeve Kerrigan (The Reckoning, 2012, etc.) arrive at the Wimbledon home of defense attorney QC Philip Kennford. She's hysterical, but once he recovers from his bashing, her father hardly seems to care; he simply packs her off to his dead wife's sister to recover, leaving Derwent and Kerrigan to ponder whether Daddy, Mummy or one of the twins--sexually adventurous, now-dead Laura, or introverted Lydia, with her eating and self-cutting disorders--motivated the murderer. Superintendent Godley, who has his hands full trying to deal with the Skinner-Goldsworthy drug wars, urges diplomacy in dealing with the high-powered QC, but Derwent is incapable of discretion, and Kerrigan is distracted by whether to leave her live-in boyfriend, Rob, and deal with a stalker on her own. Savannah, Philip's beautiful daughter from his first marriage, has earned his enmity by falling in love with Zoe, and the homophobic barrister is most displeased when Lydia decides to move in with them. An overdue admission brings Kerrigan and Derwent to Savannah and Zoe's Sussex farm, where one daughter lies dead, another is ready to immolate herself, and an unacknowledged half sibling finally breaks down and identifies the object of all this carnage. So many plots, so few pages to contain them. And Derwent is so irritating that readers may well wish the killer's list had included him.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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Booklist Reviews

Womanizing defense lawyer Philip Kennford evokes little sympathy from the London police, what with his lack of emotion over the murders of his wife, Vita, and Laura, his favorite of their 15-year-old twin daughters. The Kennford murders distract the coppers from the deadly gang wars that continue even with one of the gang leaders in prison. DC Maeve Kerrigan and her bluff, misogynistic supervisor, DI Josh Derwent, are unable to make progress on the Kennford case until they track down Kennford's daughter from his first marriage, supermodel Savannah Wentworth. Meanwhile, as the two cases overlap, and Maeve witnesses compromising behavior by her respected superintendent, her old stalker reappears, making deadly threats against her police-officer boyfriend. Suspense increases until the Kennford case reaches a violent conclusion. The frenetic action seems a bit over the top at times, but the third Maeve Kerrigan mystery remains an engaging procedural with well-drawn characters and a principled protagonist whom readers will want to follow. Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.
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Library Journal Reviews

In her third outing (after the acclaimed The Burning and The Reckoning) Maeve Kerrigan, a detective constable in London's Metropolitan Police, is again partnered with the offensive Detective Inspector Derwent. The two are investigating the brutal murder of the wife and one of the twin daughters of a well-known London defense attorney. When questioned, it becomes clear that the surviving family members are keeping secrets that complicate the case. At the same time, Kerrigan is getting some unexplained mail that threatens her already shaky romantic relationship. All of this occurs during a London heat wave that has everyone on edge, including Superintendent Godley, who is acting very out of character. VERDICT The third time is the charm with this exciting thriller, and Casey's growing fan base will snatch up the latest entry in what has turned out to be a can't-wait-for-the-next-one series.—Lisa O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., WinnIpeg

[Page 103]. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

In Casey's uneven third crime novel featuring Det. Constable Maeve Kerrigan (after 2012's The Reckoning), Kerrigan and her misogynistic partner, Det. Insp. Josh Derwent, investigate the brutal murders of Vita Kennford and one of her 15-year-old daughters, Laura, in their posh London home. Vita's husband, Philip, was battered in the attack, while Laura's twin, Lydia, survived physically unscathed. When Philip, a notorious defense lawyer, appears oddly unconcerned about the terrible loss of his wife and daughter, Kerrigan and Derwent wonder whether Philip's flattened affect is as deeply suspicious as it seems or merely a distraction from the true killer. A cursory examination of the family reveals a surfeit of secrets and enemies who might strike at Philip through those closest to him. The police proceedings will keep readers turning the pages, but the final revelations and the reasons for the murders may strike some as implausibly lurid and clichéd. Agent: Zoë Pagnamenta, Zoë Pagnamenta Agency. (May)

[Page ]. Copyright 2013 PWxyz LLC

Copyright 2013 PWxyz LLC
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