After the Fire by Jane Casey

After the Fire
By Jane Casey
Published by Ebury Press (18 June 2015)
ISBN: 978-0091949696

Publisher's description
Arson, accident or murder?

After a fire rips through a North London tower block, two bodies are found locked in an 11th floor flat. But is the third victim that ensures the presence of detective Maeve Kerrigan and the murder squad. It appears that controversial MP Geoff Armstrong, trapped by the fire, chose to jump to his death rather than wait for rescue. But what was such a right wing politician doing in the deprived, culturally diverse Maudling Estate?

As Maeve and her senior colleague, Derwent, pick through the wreckage, they uncover the secret world of the 11th floor, where everyone seems to have something to hide…

My verdict
I read After The Fire as a standalone, so I knew nothing about the characters before I started reading. It's clear that I've missed a lot of background, but this didn't detract from the main storyline. It has just left me intrigued and wanting to read the previous books.

The plot is an intriguing one. A fire in a tower block leaves three people dead. Many of the 11th floor residents are hiding secrets - they could have been the targets or the perpetrators. Detective Maeve Kerrigan is on the case to discover the truth.

The author has created realistic believable characters, with personalities that really shine through, jumping out of the pages as I read. The writing in this police procedural is fast paced and upbeat, filled with humour. One particular scene had me in stitches - just brilliant.

I enjoyed every minute of After The Fire and look forward to reading more books in this series.

I received an Advance Reader Copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.