Reviewed by Craig Sisterson
Ingrid will never forget what John did.
The people he hurt. The way he lied about it so easily. The way she defended him. Now he’s back.
He says a murderer is after her. He says only he can protect her. Would you trust him?
The clock is ticking for Ingrid to decide. Because the killer is ready to strike...
After well and truly establishing herself on the crime scene as a bestselling and award-winning author thanks to her long-running mystery series starring young detective Maeve Kerrigan of London’s Metropolitan Police, with The Killing Kind Irish author Jane Casey delivers her first standalone novel since her 2010 debut.
The Killing Kind steps away from DS Kerrigan but is still set in London, Casey’s adopted home. It centres on young barrister Ingrid Kelly, whose life is upturned – yet again – when a colleague is hit and killed by a truck on a stormy day on a busy London street. As the Police investigate the tragedy they first seem to be gravitating towards unfortunate accident, or perhaps a suicide. But Ingrid fears that something far more sinister may have occurred.
She’d lent her bright umbrella to her colleague – did someone cause the fatal accident? And did they think they were killing Ingrid?
Then again, maybe those dark thoughts are just Ingrid’s mind playing tricks, given past traumas.
Ingrid’s fears are amplified when her former stalker reappears, a man whose actions destroyed Ingrid’s marriage plans. Now she’s single and alone. Then someone is killed in Ingrid’s flat: the second time someone has died in Ingrid’s home. Scrabbling for answers, the young lawyer is driven by desperation to turn not only to the Police, but to her past stalker himself. An expert in these types of situations, he can spot things that others can’t, because he’s done it himself. Or is this all just an elaborate ruse?
Casey does a very good job keeping readers guessing with a tense psychological thriller that has some heart-in-mouth moments. The Killing Kind delves into some murky places, such as the trauma inherent in the justice system (for victims, witnesses, the accused and others), and the difficulty of sexual assault cases. There are plenty of suspects and red herrings as Casey muddies the waters throughout, so whether readers catch some sleight of hand or not, it’s an enjoyable and gripping journey through to a strong conclusion.
Note: this is a lightly edited version of a review first published in Mystery Scene magazine in the United States earlier in 2021.
Craig Sisterson is a lawyer turned writer, editor, podcast host, awards judge, and event chair. He's the founder of the Ngaio Marsh Awards, co-founder of Rotorua Noir, author of Macavity and HRF Keating Award-shortlisted non-fiction work SOUTHERN CROSS CRIME, and writes about books for magazines and newspapers in several countries.
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