Book Review: "The Searcher" by Tana French
“The Searcher” by Tana French
Synopsis: Cal Hooper thought a fixer-upper in a bucolic Irish village would be the perfect escape. After twenty-five years in the Chicago police force and a bruising divorce, he just wants to build a new life in a pretty spot with a good pub where nothing much happens. But when a local kid whose brother has gone missing arm-twists him into investigating, Cal uncovers layers of darkness beneath his picturesque retreat, and starts to realize that even small towns shelter dangerous secrets.
Rating (out of 5): 4.75
Review: Tana French is quite possibly my favorite author. I read her first book, “In the Woods,” not long after it was published, and she has been one of my automatic pre-order authors since. Her first books, the Dublin Murder Squad books, are a loosely connected series with threads of the same characters throughout. Her most recent two have been standalones, and both are just as strong.
I’d like to keep my review spare because with a good mystery, it’s best not to know too much—you’ll see how brief the synopsis is! This is French’s first book with an American protagonist: Cal has moved to rural Ireland after retiring as a detective from the Chicago PD. (For those of us not thrilled with the police these days, don’t worry, French examines the complexities of American policing as well as Cal’s ambivalences).
When a local kid starts hanging around Cal, desperate for him to find his missing older brother, he becomes involved in an informal search—initially begrudgingly, and then with a renewed fervor and purpose. He disregards the locals’ warnings about more sinister forces afoot, and that is where the drama truly accelerates.
The book is replete with the kooky Irish characters you’d expect—there’s a wacky neighbor right out of BBC central casting. However, nothing is hackneyed, and every character is drawn humanely and comprehensively. Of all of French’s books, I think I would be most excited for this to be made into a movie. It has a cinematic feel, with a tightly-focused and meticulous plot.
TL;DR: Tana French is a master of the genre. If you’re a mystery reader, you should read this. Even if you’re not, you should read this.
If you liked this, try:
“In the Woods” by Tana French (Bookshop | Kindle)
“Started Early, Took My Dog” by Kate Atkinson (Bookshop | Kindle)
“Long Bright River” by Liz Moore (Bookshop | Kindle)
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