This was not what I was expecting from a Tana French book. The mystery was pretty 'basic', but I kept reading to see when the excitement would start. I liked the main characters including the twist. I would not want to live in a little Irish village. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Tana French's new novel is a standalone mystery, and it's engaging from the very beginning. An American ex-cop finds himself starting over in Ireland, and soon gets tangled up in a mystery where nothing is quite as it seems. Cal years for an understanding of his past, his present situation, and how he ended up where he is. French navigates his psyche with skill, and touches on social issues that haunt the U.S., but also the social structure in place in so many communities across the globe.

This was a thrill to read - captivating, engaging, a who-dun-it (and what have they done, exactly?) that will keep readers up to finish it.

Tana French at her absolute best! I was hoping her next book would be a return to the Dublin Murder Squad series I know and love. The Witch Elm was good, but didn't quite scratch the itch I needed. This did all that and more. I read a lot, a lot of crime novels too. But no one does crime quite like French. Books like this remind me why I became a librarian in the first place. I can't wait to shove this one down the throats of everyone who walks into the library.

Another outstanding, moving example of Tana French’s epic writing! With her remarkable skills she can create intense, realistic, dark, raw, rash portray of rural western Irish and let you have a memorable, breathtaking, journey!

This small town is the real protagonist of the story. As you start your reading, you learn to listen its own people’s struggles, sadness, demanding, hard life choices and accept the dynamics between the relationships. The town was like living, breathing, functioning organism with its own rules and patterns.

Everything starts with retired detective Cal Hooper’s moving to the small remote Irish who buys an old wreckage, dilapidated house by giving higher bid to beat a local man. Of course town’s people are reluctant to accept an outsider into their lives or welcome him with open arms.

The loner ex detective accepts his faith and focus on rebuilding his new nest, feeling someone’s scrutinizing eyes over him: Trey, a local boy watches him behind prying eyes, coming from dysfunctional family. He needs urgent help of Cal to find his missing brother.
Cal cannot find the peace in his new place and he reluctantly accepts to help the boy even though it means attracting more hostile threats of town’s people because he was about to open so many cans of worms and disturb the town’s people’s peaceful lives.

The depictions and detailed composition of rural Ireland was captivating. The pacing and creative storytelling were satisfying as always. The characters were not easy to empathize with but throughout your reading you get used to their rough parts of their characteristics and accept them as they are.

I’m giving four dark, mysterious, pastoral, impressive, meticulous depiction stars!

It is always pleasure to read French’s books.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group/ Viking for sharing this remarkable ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.

4.5 stars
Cal Hooper retires from his job as a policeman and moves to a quiet, rural town in Ireland where he thinks nothing much ever happens in search of a more peaceful life. Enter Trey, a local kid from a "bad" family who initially seems to be spying on Cal, but eventually begins to talk to him. Trey wants Cal to find his missing brother. Of course, Cal eventually agrees, French's description of the town is so vivid the town almost appears to be a character in its own right. Definitely recommend.

Cal Hooper has had enough excitement in his twenty five years as a cop in Chicago. The end of his career and a brutal divorce sent Cal to Ireland for a new start. A small village, and old house and a nearby pub typify the quiet life he’s looking for. But it’s not what he gets. A local boy whose brother has disappears leans on Cal to uncover the truth and find his brother. And as Cal soon discovers, every town, no matter how small, has it’s ugly secrets. French takes a break from her Dublin Murder Squad series is this mystery that’s heavy on atmosphere and character development