The Searcher by Tana French
Publisher - Viking
Publication date - 5th November 2020
Thanks to @netgalley and Viking for an advanced copy of the book.
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The Searcher’s plot deals with a retired Chicago cop, Cal, who moves to Ireland to lead a quiet life. Of course that doesn’t happen as a local boy, Trey, begins to watch him and then pleads with him to help find his brother Brendan who has disappeared.
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It’s set in Ireland but in the deep countryside and it definitely portrays the small village life with everyone one knowing when you even fart! There are some quite tender moments depicting this community aspect. However, this book definitely shows the best and the worse sides of living in this type of area. My dad’s area was the exact same. Ran a business and lived and loved there for over 20 years and was still an outsider.
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This book was all about the characters though. It was very slow paced so the thing that kept you reading were the people whose story was being told. Cal and Trey were the stars for me and surely they were for all readers. Trey was the epitome of a kid who is given a bad label due to their family and having it dictate their actions and life. But really what you saw was a inner core of steel, someone who needed support and love. Someone who just wanted to be useful and be a kid. I think Cal was someone who realised that he shouldn’t make the same mistakes again with Trey as he did with his own child. But the loyalty and determine to figure out what happened to Brendan was a delight to read.
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You might read the blurb and think this is a police procedural with a twist - he is just retired. But it’s not at all. It’s more than that. It’s a study of character, motives, hopes and dreams and the crashing burden of reality. At times the power of the descriptive writing made me feel claustrophobic and at other times joyful. It’s definitely one you should read!

The Searcher by Tana French is the first book I've read by this author and it certainly won't be the last.
The novel tells the tale of Cal, who has recently relocated to a remote part of Ireland having retired from the Chicago police. All he wants to do is renovate his house and enjoy some peace and quiet. Yet Trey has different plans that involve him using his old police skills to search for a missing brother.

To be honest, this is not an adrenaline-fuelled crime novel, but things get under your skin - a bit like the damp mists and drizzle that prevail throughout the book. It is wonderfully atmospheric and there is an ongoing tension that continues to build, albeit slowly. Cal is a fish out of water in a village that holds dark secrets and where he no longer carries a police badge to back up his actions. He also carries some emotional wounds that mean he won't turn his back on someone needing his help.

Characters and setting are developed wonderfully and as well as the crime aspect, there are warm and tender moments and an ending that makes you wonder what you would do in such circumstances.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My rating is 4.5 stars.

A wonderfully atmospheric read that draws you in to Cal's world. You like him and trust what he is trying to achieve. The author's use of language paints very clear pictures in your mind.

I enjoyed this unpredictable thriller from Tana French but felt the story line was a little bit over-exaggerated for effect. Whilst the location and weather played important parts, I didn't really engage with any characters properly.

Having watched and enjoyed the recent TV adaptation 'Into the Woods', it was with a high degree of anticipation that I began to read my very first Tana French novel. From the outset I was riveted by the slow burn pace of the narrative which follows the lives of retired Chicago detective, Cal Hooper who has decamped to a remote farmhouse in rural Ireland in search of a fresh start. Through his encounter with troubled teenager, Trey, Cal reluctantly becomes embroiled in the disappearance of Trey's brother. Unlike much modern crime fiction which thrive on convoluted plots which twist and turn to defy the reader's expectations - 'The Searcher' does the opposite and is the braver and more compelling for this. The plot is deceptively simple and the tension is built purely through the quality of the writing. Tana French's prose excels in slowly peeling back the veneer of a close-knit community to reveal a sinister underbelly which emanates a sense of claustrophobia which had me utterly gripped. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Searcher is a stand-alone book by Tana French but if you’re expecting it to be like The Dublin Murder series you will be disappointed as it is not. The story revolves around Cal, a middle aged ex Chicago cop who disillusioned with his life there and after a painful divorce, buys a dilapidated Cottage in rural West Ireland in the expectation of a slow and peaceful life in an idyllic setting. Cal begins to refurbish his home in Ardnakelty where he soon meets and becomes friendly with his nearest neighbour Mart and some of the other townsfolk, although it does take a short while for them to become less suspicious of the newcomer and accept him. Into his life comes Trey, a 13 year old . Trey’s 19 year old brother Brendan has gone missing some months ago. Trey is especially close to, Brendan who has disappeared without leaving any note and seemingly without trace. The townsfolk and Trey know Cal is an ex cop and Trey wants hi!m to find her brother. Trey is tenacious in the quest for answers and persuades Cal to use his investigative skills to get to the truth. Certain members of the town have secrets to hide and prefer they stay hidden. The book is not a fast paced thriller, it is more of a slow burn. The author paints a believable picture of a bucolic rural Ireland. The main characters are well drawn and clearly depicted making it easy to empathise with 13 year old Trey and the need for answers. You can get a sense of the anguish Trey feels and also the simmering anger beneath, feeling confused between not knowing what has happened to Brendan and also a sense of betrayal that he has not made contact. . The story is well written, the prose flows naturally. You get a sense of the undercurrent, the tension in the town, the feeling that all is not as it seems to be. lAlthough not a thriller it was still an enjoyable book. Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin UK for this ARC in return for my honest review

I have read several Tana French books and rather enjoyed them. Most are quite fast-paced with plenty of action to keep the pages turning. Sadly, 'The Searcher' is a break from that standard. It's still a well-written and interesting book, but it felt way too long and very little happened along the way.

Oddly, we learned very little about why ex-Chicago cop Cal has fled his home country and set up in the middle-of-nowhere in Ireland. Nobody runs away from their past without there being something to run away from, surely. Cal finds it impossible to be alone when all the neighbours want to get stuck into his business and soon he has a young side-kick, Trey, with a troubled family background and a big brother who has gone missing. Can Cal find out what happened to Trey's brother Brendan without getting himself or his new friend in more trouble than they can handle.

French does Irish dialogue and small town thinking really well. The problem with this book is that it just takes much too long for not very much to actually happen. I'll read Tana French again, but I'll be looking for a little more action than she delivers in 'The Searcher'.

I received a review copy from Netgalley.

I did not finish this book. It was very slow and I could not get into the story. I will maybe try again at a later date

The Searcher is a very very slow story set in a tiny remote Irish Village .Cal is an ex Chicago Cop who settles there for peace and quiet .Soon he is asked to find out why a boy has disappeared and this in itself was a good story but for me it took far too long to get there ! There are some very interesting characters, Mart and Trey but not much happened until nearly the end of the book .Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

I loved this book. I loved the contrasts and the parallels drawn between Cal's role as a US city cop and the investigation he is drawn into in this remote Irish village. I loved the characters and the way the reader is gently drawn into the their lives. I really enjoyed he description of the lives of those in the village and yes I thought the plot itself was great. I think it is a very clever and very enjoyable book to read.

This is a long, dull, drawn out tale of one mans journey through his midlife crisis..
The book seemed outdated and old fashioned to me; 'Lots of machismo, Playing air drums', thuggish behaviour, and the fixation and fascination with guns.
There area few twists and turns in this story, however, not really enough to keep me interested

An ex-Chicago policeman retires to a small village in Ireland and buys a rundown cottage in a small village to renovate. However, his law enforcement background follows him and he is drawn into a missing person case and a strange friendship with the brother of the missing man.

Although it took a while to get going, I know from past experience that Tana French’s immersive descriptive writing would eventually hook me in - which it did. The descriptions of the village, the community and the surroundings are so spot on you can’t help but get involved. Although this falls in the crime genre, it is more a mystery that oozes secrets and atmosphere that do just enough to keep the reader engaged. There were times I wished the pace would pick up and this is why I’m giving it 4* rather than 5*. Not my favourite Tana French but I’m glad I read it.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for my ARC

OMG – I really loved ‘The Searcher’. Tana French travels to the classic ‘outsider from the big city moves to an idyllic rural community and finds out that all is not as it seems’ scenario and she absolutely nails it – what fabulous writing, what a fantastic read!

And what great, great characters, – Cal, the world weary but decent ex-cop hero, is all you could desire from a leading man; Trey, the vulnerable, neglected teenager who Cal befriends is heartbreakingly true to life; Marty, Cal’s tricky, busy-body old-timer neighbour and guardian of the local secrets is not exactly trustworthy but I still really liked him – they are all so well drawn that I found myself caring for them all - I shall miss them terribly.

This book is a complete treat for the senses. Thank you so much to Viking publishers, to Ms French and to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it.

This is book is so good. I knew from the first page I was going to love it. I was immediately drawn into the small rural Irish community, with all its complex hierarchy’s and difficult relationships, this combined with the remote rugged landscape, helps create a dark and edgy atmosphere. The depiction of rural life is perfect and I like the way you get to know the characters just enough to know them but not enough to truly trust them. This book is a brilliant crime thriller, one of the best, ultimately though, this book is quite beautifully and quite touchingly written.

Retired Chicago policeman, Cal Hooper buys an old house in a remote Irish village to get slow down the pace of his life and renovate his house in peace and quiet. He takes the time to make careful acquaintance with the locals and looks forward to easy days ahead.

When he gets approached by a young teenager, Trey Reddy, whose older brother Brendan has gone missing, he absolutely will not get involved, especially as the locals have nothing good to say about the Reddy family.
I really loved the friendship between Cal and Trey, it felt like that of a trainer trying to gain the trust of an abused horse.

The story quietly lures you in, to the point where you don’t want to put the book down. The author expertly explores the quiet as well as the explosive moments between characters.

I really loved this author’s Dublin Murder Squad series and although this story has a VERY different feel and pace it made for riveting reading.

Sadly, this book did not manage to hook me in which is in stark contrast to all of her other books, especially the Dublin Murder Squad ones. This book started off slow and then it remained at that pace until the end, it never really picks up.

But I do love how she subtly adressed current issues, that was really well done and definitely some of the best parts of the book.

The mystery itself was kind of boring. I never really cared for it, though, shouldn't that be crucial for a mystery book?

This book may have been a miss for me but I do look forward to Ms. French's next books.

A compelling, atmospheric thriller that revels in the quiet moments between characters as much as in explosive revelations. Playing dexterously with ideas of community, of who belongs and who is an outsider, and how far people will go to protect their way of life, Tana French has once again produced a riveting mystery that sucked me in through its rich cast and vivid setting.

I enjoyed this book very much and was sorry to finish it.It tells the story of a retired Chicago policeman,Cal Hooper ,who buys an old house to renovate in a remote Irish village.He’s approached by a young teenager, Trey Reddy, whose older brother Brendan is missing, and who asks for his help in finding what happened to him.Although Cal is reluctant, he gradually develops a friendship with the vulnerable Trey ,and tries to find out what has happened to Brendan.In the process,he discovers secrets held by members of the local community where nothing is quite as it seems.
The book is slow paced but beautifully written, especially the descriptions of the natural world and the interaction between some of the characters .The relationship between Cal and Trey is moving and sympathetically portrayed, but there is also humour in the dialogue between the locals ,and some great plot twists which I didn’t see coming.
Highly recommended.Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

I really enjoyed reading thos book. The story of a retired US cop getting to know a local kd in a fairly remote Irish village is different and well written. The tale develops quite slowly with several unexpected twists as the suspense builds to a satisfying climax. Great characterisation and excellent story-telling made this hard to put down, not a murder every second page novel but inteligent and believable.

If you're seeking a fast-paced thriller, Tana French is not the writer for you. Rather, if you're after subtle examinations of character and place - with crime often almost as an incidental rather than central plot point - then you're in the right hands. And while I desperately miss her Dublin Murder Squad novels, which is amongst the best police procedural series ever written, The Searcher is the perfect book to curl up in front of a fire with this autumn.