The Burning by Jane Casey - Revision history

Alex at 14:25, 19 November 2021

2021-11-19T14:25:35Z

Sue at 13:58, 1 January 2019

2019-01-01T13:58:53Z

Sue at 15:12, 6 March 2018

2018-03-06T15:12:35Z

Sue at 12:06, 20 December 2014

2014-12-20T12:06:04Z

Sue at 10:57, 4 January 2011

2011-01-04T10:57:51Z

Sue at 10:54, 29 November 2010

2010-11-29T10:54:41Z

Sue at 15:47, 27 November 2010

2010-11-27T15:47:47Z

Sue: Created page with '{{infobox |title=The Burning |sort=Burning |author=Jane Casey |reviewer=Louise Laurie |genre=Crime |summary=A serial killer's on the loose in London. Young women are not safe ou…'

2010-11-27T15:47:21Z

Created page with '{{infobox |title=The Burning |sort=Burning |author=Jane Casey |reviewer=Louise Laurie |genre=Crime |summary=A serial killer's on the loose in London. Young women are not safe ou…'

New review

{{infobox
|title=The Burning
|sort=Burning
|author=Jane Casey
|reviewer=Louise Laurie
|genre=Crime
|summary=A serial killer's on the loose in London. Young women are not safe out at night but the latest victim, Rebecca, leaves a very interesting tale behind and it's up to energetic and ambitious police detective Maeve Kerrigan to fit the pieces of the jig-saw together - with some surprising results along the way.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|paperback=0091936004
|hardback=
|audiobook=
|ebook=B0049U48F0
|pages=496
|publisher=Ebury
|date=November 2010
|isbn=978-0091936006
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091936004</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0091936004</amazonus>
}}

The book opens with a bunch of young women enjoying a drink-fuelled night out in the capital. And as often happens, there's always one absolutely paralytic - with drastic consequences. Casey gives her readers a sharp taste of danger early on as we accompany the unfortunate Kelly on a terrifying taxi ride. The media is stirring up a right old frenzy and calling this local serial killer ''The Burning Man''. And yes, it's a suitably horrible title and we hear it time and time again throughout the book.

The story then cuts abruptly to the character of Louise. The typeface is different: it's larger, bolder. It takes on its own importance. And I paid close attention to what Louise had to say for herself in her precise fashion. For me, there was something 'missing' in Louise's psyche. She appeared on the surface to have it all - a charmed life. She had a good job, no financial worries and her love life? A bit hit and miss, shall we say. But was she bothered? Hard to tell with Louise. She was a dab hand at keeping her emotions in check. But why? She must have been worn to a frazzle at the end of the day.

And as the story deepens and develops, Louise sees herself playing second-fiddle to her glamorous, vivacious best friend Rebecca. Well, now that Rebecca's dead perhaps things will change. And this is where the feisty police detective Maeve comes in. You can tell early on that she's good at her job, but she's not a show-off. I warmed to her from the start. There's some lovely lines of self-deprecating Irish humour too (Maeve's of proud Irish stock).

Casey's easy, fluid style is excellent. I was able to get into the plot quickly and felt immersed in the characters' lives. The intertwining stories of Rebecca and Louise alongside Maeve (all of a similar age) also makes for entertaining reading. But there's no getting away from the fact that the pressure's on to find this serial killer before he/she strikes again. There's also the odd twist and turn to keep the reader guessing which I appreciated.

I also liked the fact that Casey gives her readers her two main characters from two different vantage points, if you like. The deceased Rebecca's life is picked over mercilessly by the police detectives as part of their job. Can they safely assume that she's another notch for ''The Burning Man''? And as for Louise, well, she certainly works hard to present a cool, calm and collected face to the world at large. But why? And to what end?

Casey has a natural and easy style of storytelling which works. I really enjoyed this novel with its satisfying psychological slant and I think many fans of the crime genre will not be disappointed. I look forward to Casey's next book (if there is one, of course). Recommended.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.

If this book appeals then you might enjoy [[Die For You by Lisa Unger]].

{{amazontext|amazon=0091936004}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=7598958}}

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@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
-If this book appeals then you might enjoy [[Die For You by Lisa Unger]].
+If this book appeals then you might enjoy [[Die For You by Lisa Unger]]. For more of Casey's work, you might also enjoy [[The Killing Kind by Jane Casey|The Killing Kind]].
 [[Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan series in Chronological Order]]

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 |amazonus=<amazonus>B0049U48F0</amazonus>
 }}
 The book opens with a bunch of young women enjoying a drink-fuelled night out in the capital.  And as often happens, there's always one absolutely paralytic - with drastic consequences.  Casey gives her readers a sharp taste of danger early on as we accompany the unfortunate Kelly on a terrifying taxi ride.  The media is stirring up a right old frenzy and calling this local serial killer ''The Burning Man''.  And yes, it's a suitably horrible title and we hear it time and time again throughout the book.

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 |amazonus=<amazonus>B0049U48F0</amazonus>
 }}
 The book opens with a bunch of young women enjoying a drink-fuelled night out in the capital.  And as often happens, there's always one absolutely paralytic - with drastic consequences.  Casey gives her readers a sharp taste of danger early on as we accompany the unfortunate Kelly on a terrifying taxi ride.  The media is stirring up a right old frenzy and calling this local serial killer ''The Burning Man''.  And yes, it's a suitably horrible title and we hear it time and time again throughout the book.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 |aznus=B0049U48F0
 }}
 The book opens with a bunch of young women enjoying a drink-fuelled night out in the capital.  And as often happens, there's always one absolutely paralytic - with drastic consequences.  Casey gives her readers a sharp taste of danger early on as we accompany the unfortunate Kelly on a terrifying taxi ride.  The media is stirring up a right old frenzy and calling this local serial killer ''The Burning Man''.  And yes, it's a suitably horrible title and we hear it time and time again throughout the book.
@@ Line 34: / Line 32: @@
 If this book appeals then you might enjoy [[Die For You by Lisa Unger]].
 {{amazontext|amazon=0091936004}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{infobox
+{{infobox1
 |title=The Burning
 |sort=Burning
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 |date=November 2010
 |isbn=978-0091936006
-|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091936004</amazonuk>
+|cover=0091936004
-|amazonus=<amazonus>B0049U48F0</amazonus>
+|aznuk=0091936004
 }}
 The book opens with a bunch of young women enjoying a drink-fuelled night out in the capital.  And as often happens, there's always one absolutely paralytic - with drastic consequences.  Casey gives her readers a sharp taste of danger early on as we accompany the unfortunate Kelly on a terrifying taxi ride.  The media is stirring up a right old frenzy and calling this local serial killer ''The Burning Man''.  And yes, it's a suitably horrible title and we hear it time and time again throughout the book.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 |buy=Yes
 |borrow=Yes
 |pages=496
 |publisher=Ebury
@@ Line 37: / Line 33: @@
 If this book appeals then you might enjoy [[Die For You by Lisa Unger]].
-{{amazontext|amazon=0091936004}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=7598958}}
+{{amazontext|amazon=0091936004}}
 {{commenthead}}