The Searcher

       

Title: The Searcher

Author: Tana French

Publisher: Penguin Audio, October 6, 2020

Pages: 451

Genre: Suspense

Cal Hooper thought a fixer-upper in a bucolic Irish village would be the perfect escape. After 25 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.

I tried to listen to this when it came out. One of my favorite things about Tana French's novels are the hard-boiled Irish cops. So when this started out with a cop from Chicago, I put it away. I should not have had such little faith. There was plenty of Irish accent to be heard, and plenty of hard-boiledness in that Chicago cop. I'm glad I gave it another shot! 

Cal Hooper has retired from the police force in Chicago, been through a divorce, and bought a plot of land in a small village in Ireland. He fully intends to spend his days fixing up the old house, making friends with the rooks that live in a big oak nearby, and taking rambling walks around the countryside. Then he catches some kid watching him through his windows. Eventually the kid works up the nerve and confronts him in person. Cal starts showing Trey how to fix up some old furniture. And the kid finally gets around to what they were after all along, asking for help to find out what happened to their older brother.

I love the way that Tana French doesn't give you all of the details in these novels. You don't get the exposition of the detectives making connections and such in their narration. You get the firsthand accounts, and it's up to you to follow along properly. If you can. It makes the twists and surprises very satisfying!! All this has done is given me the itch for some more Dublin Murder Squad books! And it's moved The Witch Elm MUCH further up the TBR than it was. And there's a Dublin Murder show??? Sign me right up!!!

Ratings

Stars: 4/5