This is a riveting, elegant story of rural Ireland. Cal Hooper, who took early retirement from Chicago PD comes to the small town to escape his violent life as a police officer. He becomes part of the town but violence threaten those he loves. This is different from French's other works, more subtle and slow moving and it is lovely.

I greatly enjoyed The Hunter by Tana French. I loved the setting in the rural Irish countryside, and the many different locals depicted in the small Irish village. Cal Hooper, retired police officer, now lives in Ireland as a furniture restorer and has a relationship with a local woman named Lena. He has a soft spot for a young teen named Trey, who has been dealt a bad hand with an absent father, poverty, and the isolation that comes with living on the mountain. Cal takes Trey under his wing and teachers her his craft, as well as puts her on a path towards a good future. One day, Trey's father Johnny returns to the village with an Englishman; both tell tales of hidden gold in the mountains. Johnny convinces the locals to participate in this get-rich-quick scheme. However, what they dont know is that Johnny owes a great deal of money to the Englishman and he is not the posh gentleman he presents himself as. He's really a gangster who will stop at nothing to get his money. When a dead body is found, everyone, including Cal, is under suspicion. They all have a motive....but who is the real killer?

I love Tana French and I feel like it has been SO LONG since I have seen something new from her. Definitely worth the wait and did not disappoint. Recommended it to friends who also loved it.

Not sure why I’ve not read Tana French before now..
The Hunter had it all-
Great writing, colorful characters and an underlying mystery…
Will definitely go back and read The Searcher which introduces these characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I have read every Tana French novel, and will continue to do so. She is a phenomenal writer who is a master of a slow burn with well-developed characters. This one took me a bit longer to get into, but I felt a lingering fondness for Trey from the first book in the series and wanted to see the next chapter in her story. If you're a Tana French fan, you'l love this book.

Tana French can do no wrong - I said it. I loved The Searcher and was little hesitant about The Hunter because I didn't know what to expect in this Irish village, but oh boy - this did not disappoint. French's characters are so three dimensional - they just feel real. I want to crawl inside of her books and live there amongst these people. Even if the mystery took a little while to get going, I didn't care because I just wanted to hang out. I live for edge-of-your-seat thrillers, but for Tana French I want it to be a slow burn. Highly recommended for anyone who loves French's other novels!

If your tastes in a mystery runs towards non-stop pounding action with a completely unexpected twist thrown in, THE HUNTER is not your book. If however, you prefer a beautifully written, character driven, nuanced, atmospheric mystery that does not skimp on plot, I can't recommend THE HUNTER strongly enough.

This is the second in the Cal Hooper series and, although both it and the first, THE SEARCHER, can be read as a standalone, they benefit from being read in order. This one starts a couple of years after the first ended and, this time around, Cal's protégé Trey Reddy's up-to-no-good father, Johnny, has returned to town with a scheme. He brings with him an Englishman claiming an Irish heritage who plays a major role in Johnny's get-rich-quick scheme. Trey gets caught up in the scheme, in large part because she has her own agenda. Cal gets caught up in it as well, mainly in an attempt to protect Trey. As the townspeople are whipped into a frenzy by the scheme and its consequences, a murder occurs and both Trey and Cal are endangered.

Throughout the book, the skill with which French builds the complicated characters of Trey, Cal, Johnny, and the townspeople surrounding and impacting them, makes each one of them feel entirely real. The book extends well beyond a psychological mystery to become more of a sociological one, as the way that information is valued and moves between its members in the village of Ardnaktley plays a major role in the plot. With varying skill levels, the main characters attempt to manipulate the townspeople first, and then the detective dealing with the murder, by channeling the information flow in one direction or another. This is a fascinating approach not often seen in mysteries, but highly effective in plot development. Action follows information, and that action leads us to a dramatic conclusion.

French also writes beautifully about the environment in which the action takes place. A fire is evocatively described: "The sound of it reaches them very faintly and gentled, like the shell-echo of a faraway ocean." The writing sometimes begs for a re-reading to savor its beauty. This can slow the pace of the book, but in a very good way. I am enraptured by the world that French has created in Ardnakelty and by the characters she has placed there. I cannot wait for book number three in the series!

Another great book from the magnificent storyteller, Tana French! She takes me away to this little village in Ireland with a dark side. Here unforgettable characters and twisty crimes make this latest entry unputdownable!

This is the Cal Hooper thriller? The retired Chicago police officer has retired to Ireland. Teenager Trey (Teresa) Reddy is learning carpentry from him. Her father, Johnny, who disappeared a few years earlier, returns with another man claiming there is gold in the area. As tensions mount, there is a murder. This is a good thriller, although too long.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. The Hunter is classic French and a great addition to the series. Make sure that you read the first Cal Hooper book before enjoying The Hunter.

3.5 star read for me.

The Hunter by Tana French is a compelling mystery novel that delves into the hidden depths of a close-knit Irish community. While some prior knowledge of the series opener, **The Searcher**, might enhance certain references, French expertly crafts a standalone story that allows new readers to dive right in.

The narrative unfolds at a steady pace, drawing the reader into the small-town atmosphere with immersive prose. Cal Hooper, the retired cop from Chicago, takes a backseat in this installment. Instead, the story revolves around an ensemble cast of residents, each with their own secrets and motivations. This shift in focus might not appeal to everyone who enjoyed Cal's central role in the first book.

French's talent for character development shines through. The townspeople become almost tangible, their struggles and complexities interwoven into the fabric of the mystery. The novel could be classified as a literary mystery, as it prioritizes character exploration alongside the central whodunit.

The Hunter is a captivating read for those who appreciate intricate characters and a strong sense of place. However, readers seeking a fast-paced, action-driven thriller might find the deliberate pacing a touch slow. Fans of the first book will likely find this sequel enjoyable, but the focus on the town itself over Cal might leave some wanting more from the retired detective.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

French's prose and dialog win the day, per usual. Character and environment spectacularly crafted. Ultimately the success of various grifter's "acting" to pull of scenarios is unbelievable and the end result of the story is not satisfying nor that interesting. Overall excellent setup and enjoyable read.

I'm such a Tana French fan and this book was another winner. Great writing--especially the dialogue, characters that get into your head and heart. Loved it from beginning to end.

I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindleI lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry! and couldn't redownload it.
Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!

Set in the remote Irish village of Ardnakelty, Tana French’s novel, The Hunter, returns to the characters in The Searchers. Cal Hooper, an ex-cop on early retirement from Chicago PD, spends his time refinishing and selling furniture. While he has an adult daughter still in America, Cal’s two significant relationships in his new home are with Lena, an attractive widow and teenager Trey Reddy. In this static community where newcomers are viewed with amusement, derision and scorn, Lena and Trey may be locals but they are outsiders for different reasons, and perhaps that explains why they form a close friendship.

Years ago, Trey’s ne’er-do-well father, Johnny left his wife and children. They struggled with poverty alone, but then a further blow arrived when Trey’s older brother, Brendan, disappeared two years earlier. There are various rumours about Trey’s brother, but the truth, known by Lena, Cal, and Trey, is that Brendan is dead. For the past few years, Lena and Cal have assumed almost parental roles for Trey; they love and care for the girl, feed her and offer her shelter. But things begin to go terribly wrong when Johnny returns.

Johnny, always a charmer, appears to be down on his luck and that’s certainly a good enough explanation for his return. Trey’s mother is less-than-thrilled to see Johnny return, and while she lacks the energy or spare emotion to eject him, she acts as though he’s foul weather one must endure until he leaves. It’s clear to Cal that Johnny has returned for a reason, and that reason soon seems to emerge.

Johnny tells all the local men that he ran into a man named Rushborough in England who had roots back in Ardnkelty. According to Johnny, Rushborough is a rich rube laced with nostalgia for his Irish roots, and hand-in-hand with that nostalgia is the legend, passed to Rushborough by his Granny, that there’s gold in the region.

Johnny aware that the region is poor with no hope of an economic upswing, voices his con to the local landowners to fleece this man with stories of gold in the local mountains. Soon the locals are regaling Rushborough, a “plastic Paddy,” with the sort of nonsense they roll out for the tourists. Johnny’s plan is that each man should put 300 into the pot to buy gold, and then plant it in the rivers as part of an elaborate con. Then, according to Johnny, Rushborough will buy up the land. One man, Mart has a cynical view of Johnny’s plan:

“This is the best entertainment that’s come to town in years. It’d almost be worth throwing in the few bob, just to have a front row seat.”

“Get Netflix,” Cal says. “Cheaper.”

While Rushborough appears to swallow the tales of leprechauns, there are times when his mask slips, and Cal thinks Rushborough “has a face that would make any sensible man want to walk away.” The situation becomes increasingly complicated as the locals, sucked deeper and deeper into Johnny’s plan, dream of all the wealth that awaits them. Mart takes a philosophical view of Johnny’s promises. He says that the local men are depressed and have little to distract them from their abysmal prospects. But now they have a “bad case of allurement.”

And then along comes the bold Johnny, prancing in here with his stories about film stars and millionaires and gold.

Cal gets involved mainly to keep an eye on Trey and as the story develops, Cal realises that he’s badly underestimated Trey and her desire for revenge.

Review copy

3.5 rounded up

Thanks for the ARC Netgalley! I ended up using a Libro credit for this one because I loved Roger Clark’s narration in the first book in this series, which was just as stellar here. I didn’t find this mystery as compelling as its predecessor’s, but it was nice being back in Cal’s world.

Cal is still enjoying his quiet Irish countryside life after retiring from the Chicago PD. He has a dog, a great girlfriend, and loves his time with Trey Reddy (a local kid who looks up to him and helps with building.) Then Trey’s absentee father comes back into town with a get rich quick scheme and is trying to pull the wool over the community’s eyes. Cal wants to protect Trey no matter the cost, but Trey is angry and wants revenge. The two are at odds when they find a dead body in town connected to it all.

French is so skilled at writing atmospheric Irish locations and flawed, real relationships. While this one was an even slower burn than “The Searcher,” I enjoyed being back with Cal and Trey. I love their dynamic and would without a doubt read more books about them. I just found the mystery itself a little bland - and also not entering the book until over halfway. But if you liked the first book in this series, you’ll love being reunited with this characters.

✨Trigger Warnings: Murder, Child Abuse, Animal Cruelty

I'm woefully late to reviewing this, but I did enjoy it! I haven't read Tana French in years but liked her Dublin Murder Squad series well enough, so I requested this one not realizing it was a sequel. I've had friends tell me they didn't care much for Cal Hooper in the first book and that the pacing is too slow; this features Trey more than Cal and clips along toward the end (though it drags a touch at the beginning as French establishes a sense of place), so those who didn't enjoy the first one might like the second. Oof; what a village...

I did not realize this was a follow-up to The Searcher, which I shamefully have not read yet! Review to come.

One of my goals this year was to put down books that do not appeal to me, and so I have to admit that I did not finish Tana French's The Hunter. I loved all of her Dublin Murder Squad books, and even the first Cal Hooper book, but really struggled with this one.

I had a hard time with the pace of this book - it was slow, and not in an intricate detailed way, but a slow in a "nothing really is happening" sort of way. Coupled with the depressing state of the town, individual marriages/couples, politics... I just struggled to want to pick this book up and focus on it. As a dedicated reader, that is saying a lot.

To be fair, I did not get to the actual mystery before I abandoned this book so some of these issues may have cleared up had I persevered more, but life is too short to read books you don't connect with. I may pick this book up at some point in the future, but for now, this is it. I have a hard time giving a star rating for books I did not finish but since I have to give one in order to leave this review I am going with a 2 star rating because Tana French is a good writer, and the writing in this book was still true to her style. I just couldn't get into the plot.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This book makes you feel immersed in Ireland. Tana French always delivers a great story with complex but realistic characters and rich atmosphere. This book is great for those that enjoy a good build up and plenty of back story. This is not a book that is constant action and while there is violence it is not intense. Read this when you want a good book that is rich in language and easy to come back to if you have limited time to read.