Member Reviews

Tana French is my favorite author of all time so it's no surprise that I loved this book. It was slower than the original Dublin Murder Squad series but I can't really fault her for that when I love reading every character and every tragic plot line that she throws on the page. Truly incredible.

Was this review helpful?

Tana French can do no wrong! Brilliant and engaging I lost myself in this fast paced story and didn’t emerge until I flipped the last page.

Was this review helpful?

I think this may be where Tana French and I part ways. This book is long. It's a slog through a bog. Haha. And nothing happens for like the first 200 pages!!! By the time we get to some action I just didn't even care. French's writing style has been getting more and more drawn out, and especially with this series, it just doesn't work for me anymore.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a LOT but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It's long. It's a slow burn. It contains multitudes, and I could not put it down. Plus, when you pick up Tana French, you kind of expect a 500 page book.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended

Was this review helpful?

I love the characters in this series, especially in audio form as Roger Clark is the perfect narrator! My family is from this rural area, which is not typically explored in media. It's always an extra perk when they mention a local town or use a regional phrase. Tana French nails the speaking patterns, and Roger Clark executes them to a tee. 4.75, I think it might just be a 4 if I read it physically!

Was this review helpful?

I was really looking forward to diving into the new Tana French, only to find I hit a wall and barely scraped through!

I can appreciate a slow burn. The Hunter, sadly, was far too slow of a burn. I almost put it aside twice; I wasn't sure I could finish it. While I'm glad I did, and appreciated the plot pick up after the first half, it was just not enough to make me love it.

Thankful for the ARC !

Was this review helpful?

Is anyone writing better mysteries right now than Tana French? She's absolutely tremendous - with a sense of story telling that is unparalleled.

Was this review helpful?

Wasn't sure where French would go with this sequel, but she still managed to pull off a surprising mystery in the same strangely slow-paced suspense. And I'm up for as much of Cal and Trey as she wants to write.

Was this review helpful?

I ended up listening to the audiobook of this title and it really drew me in in a way that the physical book did not. I still love everything Tana French writes and have been interested to see how she managed the western genre set in Ireland

Was this review helpful?

There isn't one book by Tana French that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. The Hunter was an enjoyable read with strong character development, which is something I always love in her books. I always feel as if I am easily transported to the book's setting with Tana French's lyrical descriptions of the setting and the characters in the town. It was great to be reunited with Cal and understand his character even more with this latest addition to the Cal Hooper saga. I will highly recommend this book as well as Tana French's other books to family and friends.

Was this review helpful?

Another gripping novel by Tana French. Ardnakelty is a fictional western Ireland rural town set on the side of mountain. The story continues from her previous book, The Searcher, by focusing on Cal, Trey and Lena in a very non-traditional family unit. It would be helpful if you have read that book before reading this one. Trey's long-absent father suddenly reappears along with a millionaire he met in London, along with a get-rich scheme to look for gold in the mountain.

As readers we become immersed in the lifestyle, the place, and the pace of Ardnakelty. The book is a slow build and atmospheric, delving deep into each of the characters. The author has a gift for both description and dialog in her writing. In addition, there is quite a bit of laugh-out-loud humor, particularly in the dialog between Cal and Trey.

I was glad to have read it on my Kindle because I could look up many of the Irish terms and colloquialisms. Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking Press for an advanced reader copy of this book.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

Was this review helpful?

I only recently discovered Tana French for myself. As a librarian I have helped patrons find her books all the time.
I am so glad I picked up The Searcher and now The Hunter.
I am a huge fan of her character development as well as the scenery of Ireland.
I love westerns and feel like this has Irish Western vibes.
I can't wait for the next installment in this series.

Was this review helpful?

This book, and "The Searcher," are such brilliant, beautiful, brutal books. Tana French is a masterful writer, transporting me fully - mind and body - to a small, tight, complicated, insular town in Ireland where a look and a word are full of unspoken things, and she clearly conveys that.

Was this review helpful?

French returns us to the Irish countryside where long summer nights and even longer memories have everyone on edge when a ne'er-do-well, who just so happens to be Trey's father, blows back in to town. He's got an Englishman hooked on a story about gold in the mountains, gold even the most steel-trap minded among them can't ever remember hearing about. As community members begin pouring their resources in to the scheme, Cal and Trey find themselves wrapped up in the machinations happening around them, and neither will be able to control who gets hurt. Reading Tana French is a pleasure of nuance and layering.

Was this review helpful?

Tana French is so far the greatest living in true crime writer. The hunter was an incredible follow up to one of her best books searcher. This book was slower than more intimate than her others, which may surprise some people. I highly recommend a series out.

Was this review helpful?

The Hunter is probably my most favorite read of 2024. Atmospheric with well developed characters Tana French has written a wonderful sequel to The Searcher.

Was this review helpful?

One of my favorite parts of these books is the characters. Always a sucker for character development, these characters are just so… real. They have real problems, they could be your neighbors! The dilemmas they encounter is not necessarily something the average Joe might deal with but the way they approach the problem, or consider the options is something that you or I might do in the same situation. For some reason I feel like that aspect of these books makes her writing so engulfing. You get sucked in to these events and it’s the people who keep you there. The environment certainly doesn’t hurt either though.

Was this review helpful?

Even though was the second book in this series one doesn’t have to have read the first to relate to Cal. This started off slow for me and just as I was going to give it up the pace picked up. Loved the Irish setting, the villagers and their gossiping ways, a good mystery with a twist. Looking forward to more in this series. 3.5 stars

Was this review helpful?

Tana French the woman that you are.....
This took me a while to get into, as with most French books I think that a solid chunk could be cut to improve the pacing. But I just adore these characters, and I was so pleased to return to them. The character development was lovely and every big moment was earned. I will always recommend Tana French novels to my friends and audience.

Was this review helpful?