This is Tana French’s best book so far. Cal Hooper, 48 years old, ex Chicago police detective, is searching for a new start. His wife, with whom he had been since they were19, has left him, his daughter is in a stable relationship and is living and working in New York and he has come to the west of Ireland to try living in ‘a small town in a small country. It seemed like that would be easier to make sense of’. He is putting to use the carpentry skills he learned from his grandfather years ago to repair a delapidated old farm house on the outskirts of the village of Ardnakelty, 15 miles away from the nearest town. He intends to hunt and fish for his food and live simply and quietly. Of course in no time the entire village becomes aware that they have a man from Chicago PD living among them.
Although Cal has no intention of looking for any kind of detective work he is soon approached by Trey, a young child whose brother, Brendan, has been missing for six months. It appears that no one is interested in finding Brendan; the locals regard the children’s family as ‘wasters’ and not really worth the bother. If Cal is to find Brendan he is going to be working without any of the tools he was used to in Chicago; no computerised data bases, no tracking devises, no experienced evidence gatherers. He is a kind man and treats Trey with patience and sensitivity, eventually deciding to involve himself in the mystery surrounding 19 year old Brendan’s disappearance.
Tana French’s fine writing brings all her characters to life and evokes the Irish landscape vividly. Cal’s interactions with people are real and drawn beautifully. To read the book is to become immersed in the misty Irish hills and valleys and to know the people who live there.
An utterly superb read! 5 out of 5.
Published by Penguin Australia
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