by Tana French (Amazon's #52 Best Book of 2021) ★★★★☆
A perennial favorite author, French has had a few misses among her many hits for me, and this book has a bit of both rolled into one story. It’s an unusually slow burn-in for her -- by the end of chapter 1, there’s usually a body and you know what you’re in for in a Tana French book. But she takes her time introducing the main character, American ex-cop Cal Hooper, and immersing the reader in the small Irish town where he settles down to try to make a fresh start.
As in all small towns, word travels fast (along with plenty of rumors) about the new American living outside of town, and before long a local kid elbows his way into Cal’s life, pressuring Cal into using his experience as a cop to help track down the kid’s missing brother. As Cal starts to dig, he starts to uncover secrets that the town would rather he not know.
While it’s not my favorite Tana French book, it’s definitely one in the plus column (unlike last year’s forgettable The Witch Elm) and worth a read. The time French spends early on developing her main character adds depth and an important connection between Cal and the reader. Overall, I enjoyed it and was happy that French hasn't lost her proverbial fastball after the disappointing The Witch Elm.
I enjoyed it quite a bit, but it’s not nearly my favorite book set in Ireland that I read this year -- see my #2 Best Book of 2020 for that!
Previous Best of 2020: #15 - When We Were Vikings
Next Best of 2020: #13 - The Shadows