Having read The Searcher I was delighted to receive an ARC for this, the sequel. This is a decent follow on, but, tbh, it’s a frustrating read. If you enjoy a slooow atmospheric read about living in small town Ireland, then, this is for you. But, jeepers it’s is very slow and with a decent, but, slow burning plot.

The characters are well drawn and interesting, but, not for me I’m afraid.

Overall an OK read and I’m grateful to NetGalley and Penguin publishers for the opportunity to preview.

What a great read, as always this author is great. A thriller with layers of relationship dynamics interwoven. You can almost smell and hear Ireland in the rich text. A fantastic read, highly recommended. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I enjoyed The Searcher which is the first book in this series, so couldn’t wait to get stuck into The Hunter. It starts off nicely, setting a lovely scene of life in a quaint Irish mountain village. Lots of natural beauty, sunshine and a good helping of dogs. We catch up with Cal, Trey and Lena and everything is good. Then the real story begins! Oh my, I loved this book. Loved everything about it. The beauty and the darkness of the characters is just superb. I look forward to the book being released on audiobook so I can experience it again.

Slow Paced Continuation to the story of Cal, Trey and Lena

Firstly, I adore Tana French’s writing, and really appreciated the slow, Western feel of her previous novel with these characters, The Hunter.

This continuation, a couple of years on from the events of the previous novel, The Searcher, has cemented relationships. Trey, the fierce and almost feral girl on the edge of puberty in The Hunter, has found some almost father figure in Cal, the ex Chicago cop living a peaceable life in a one-horse town in the West of Ireland. Cal has set up a carpentry business, fixing and renovating furniture, with Trey as his helper. Lena, independent and wise, the sister of the town’s matchmaking and gossipy local shop owner, also provides a potential adult role model for Trey. Cal and Lena have settled into a spacious relationship where both maintain their independent living, whilst being deeply committed to each other.

So far, so good – until Trey’s rather feckless father returns, full of easy charm and devious charisma.

I did feel that the establishment of the small town ‘chorus’ feel, of the tight, particularly male, farmers we met earlier, some of whom almost seemed a little stock , somewhat fey and gullible hicks, dragged a little, earlier on. As the plot developed and the clearly suspect bad man arrived in town, and a cat and mouse game of who is duping whom started to unravel, and past crimes invited retribution, French’s ability with complex, layered characters had me deeply invested.

I couldn’t go quite into love, with this, but still, my liking is strong

You don't NEED to have read The Searcher in order for this book to make sense. Like all of French's earlier Dublin Murder Squad books, each is a standalone

Tana French follows up The Searcher with this atmospherically dark and finely detailed, character driven, slow burn of a return to West Ireland and immerses us in the remote, offbeat small town community of Ardnakelty. It is where Cal, a retired NYPD detective, has made his home, an outsider who has begun to chisel a place for himself in his new home, with his relationship with Lena, and he has taken out of control troubled teen, Trey, under his wing, teaching her skills in carpentry. We are given rich vivid descriptions of the location, and multilayered insights into the varied characters, their developments and complexities, that make them feel strongly authentic and come alive. Amidst the burning heat, Trey's father, the feckless waste of space that is Johnny Reddy, saunters back, after abandoning the family.

Brimming with charm, the silver tongued and manipulative Reddy returns from London to a torrent of gossip, with a companion in tow, a wealthy Englishman Cillian Rushborough, a man willing to invest in Reddy's gold prospecting schemes, which you know in your bones will not end well. You would think few would be taken in with the wild scams, but there are always those desperate, who will trust, put money in, money that they are inevitably set to lose. With Trey burning with revenge in her heart, Cal is unable to remain outside the unsettling drama, the sphere of the darkness and tensions that follow, including murder, with both of them facing their own specific issues. This is a fascinating, subtle and powerful examination of community, belonging, relationships, secrets, and morality.

Once again, French impresses with her trademark ability to depict in depth small communities and characters that feel all too truthful. If you are looking for a fast paced read with an emphasis on action, then this is probably not for you. It helps significantly if you have read the first book before reading this. This is likely to appeal to many of French's fans, and to those interested in looking at and understanding small town Irish life, the undercurrents, abuse, poverty, language, and culture . Recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Delighted to be back with Trey, Lena and Cal again, as well as the beautiful way Tana French describes the Irish landscape, almost making it a fourth character looming over this dark, gritty tale.

So good - this is absolutely unputdownable. The way it is written, the lyrical language, the beautifully descriptive landscape, the history of the town and what the land means to the farmers and the dodgy bloke, rocking up with all sorts of grand plans to make every one rich. It is just brilliantly written. I love the way Cal is written too, an outsider trying to fit in with a quirk;y village that has very different values and ways to what he is used to. Another gem from Tana French. I would highly recommend this for stuffing in a Christmas stocking - it would be a wonderful book to read over the Christmas. Loved it.

What a pleasure to read this new Tana French novel. Just as good (if not better) than 'Searcher'. Her characters jump off the page fully formed. She is the master of dialogue and her entertaining observations of the intricacies of Irish small-town life feel very authentic.
Unlike many crime novels the plot feels believable and French is particularly good at seeing the big picture and the implications which these events will have on the town as they unfold.
I'm looking forward to the next in this series.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance copy to review

Tana French is one of the best writers of our current times. I've enjoyed every book I've read from her. I vividly remember listening to the audiobook of in the woods about 11 years ago and the images of that book and that place are still so clear in my mind to this day. That's how I feel about this book. I can see this village. I can see these people. I know these people.

She has an unwavering ability to write characters that are so real, so raw, you feel that these people really exist somewhere. And there's a palpable tension from the very first page. That's what's so sad about the stories Tana French writes. We know it's not going to end well. Trey knows, Cal knows. But he can't do anything to stop what's coming, and neither can the reader. He knows he's in a story where no matter what happens, he cannot see the outcome. He is doomed by his narrative. But he's going to try anyway because he's human, and that's all he can do. He almost seems to understand he's the main character in a western. He's going through the tropes of a western.

This is a book about what loss does to people, about what abuse does to people, neglect, poverty. This is a novel about what can happen to a community that gets left behind, in a time where more and more communities are getting left behind every day.

But that's not to say it's all doom and gloom. The thing that makes this duology stand out is the relationships between Cal, Lena and Trey. The idea that he's adopted this half feral kid, and the whole town considers Trey to be his kid. That Lena is so closed off but she's willing to give parts of herself away to protect not only a good man, to protect a child. Trying to rewrite some of the wrongs of the past. God there's just so many layers in this book and it's INCREDIBLE.

And, best of all, it kept me guessing right till the end. Tana French, you are a genius.

The Hunter takes us back to Ardnakelty, the deceptively sleepy Irish village in the shadow of a mountain where retired Chicago cop Cal has come to terms with the events of two years ago (You don't need to have read The Searcher to enjoy The Hunter but it will definitely help). He half raises Trey, still wild and semi-feral, but doing better in school and with the makings of a good carpenter, and he and Lena have a nice understanding. So the last thing he needs is Trey's shiftless at best father Johnny to roll back into town, gullible Englishman in his wake, ready with a scam to tempt drough-stricken farmers and a starring role for Trey. Everyone thinks they have a handle on Johnny Reddy, but who is really scamming who and where will the consequences fall? Because as Cal knows, vengeance is part of the Ardnakelty DNA and outsiders are there to take the fall.

The Hunter is an incredibly tense, rich thriller, one that pulls you into the heart of the village with its ancient tensions, feuds and own code of honour. I literally couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.,

I've loved the other books I've previously read by Tana French and this one was no different, it kept me hooked throughout

Tana’s French’s ‘The Hunter’ follows on from her 2020 novel ‘The Searcher’ which introduced us to Cal, retired US cop who has moved to Ireland, and Trey, a half-feral teenager living up the mountain near the small town of Ardnakelty. They have developed a strong bond by the end of ‘The Searcher’ and it has clearly endured. At the outset of ‘The Hunter’, Cal is clearly more of a father-figure to Trey than Johnny Reddy, her miscreant dad, could ever be.
It's easy for Trey to forget that Johnny has ever existed until he returns from England, strutting peacock-like amongst the farmers, promising wealth through a gold prospecting scheme that his ‘everything about him is smooth’ colleague Cillian Rushborough is investing in. However, it’s not just her father’s toxic presence threatening to shatter her already fragile family life that is the concern. Cal’s partner, Lena, is certain that there’s trouble brewing for Johnny in London. He ‘owes someone; someone dangerous…What she wants to know is whether the danger is going to stay in London, waiting trustfully for him to show up with the cash, or whether it’s coming after him. Lena wouldn’t trust Johnny to come back with her cash from down the road, let alone from over the water. If she wanted the money, she’d be going after him.’
Tana French has a wonderful ear for dialogue and it’s easy to hear members of this community talking in the pub, gossiping in the shop and sharing secrets. This is a story that develops slowly. Early on, there’s perhaps a little too much focus on the ‘craic’ as we are immersed in the life of this middle-of-nowhere town. Nevertheless, it’s worth being patient. The complex relationships come to life, the tension builds, and members of the community set in motion revenge based on their particular understanding of justice.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General UK, Viking for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Whilst I think I've enjoyed everything French has written, I'm not such a fan of these chunkier slow burn books.

Unlike the previous one, I didn't feel this one at times.


It has the same characters from previous book, and we move forward with them, and the village as a whole.
Some great scenes, the interaction of the characters, but for me, it didn't quite hit the mark.

I loved losing myself in the pages of this novel, an atmospheric and lingering journey into a remote part of Ireland, Ardnakelty and its landscape as much a character as the inhabitants that live there. Depicting a community bonded by feuds, rivalries and secrets this novel really is scene setting and characterisation at its very best.

Following on from French's 2020 novel The Searcher, The Hunter could be read as a standalone but to really appreciate the area and the intricacies that bind those that call it home I'd definitely recommend reading them in order.

The colourful characters from the first novel return but so does someone else, the sudden reappearance of Treys dad Johnny Reddy has tongues wagging. Four years earlier he upped and left and all of a sudden he's back all charm and smiles, looking to make them all more money than they ever dreamed of. The authors characterisation does her credit, I had him down as a wrong un the second he appeared.

Very much a character driven novel this is a perfectly paced, slow burn thriller where every character counts and every action has consequences. I loved the community, I loved the relationships and from start to finish I was completely immersed in the journey. One of my standout reads of the year - Totally recommended.

Tana French, The Hunter, Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business, Viking, March 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

A new Tana French is something I always look forward to. The Hunter has more than fulfilled my expectations. It is a stunning novel, with its sensitive approach to a young woman’s reaching adulthood; a former police officer’s role in her life and his gradual immersion into Ardnakelty, a small Irish town; his neighbours’ eccentricities, so well-conceived and conveyed by French; and exploration of a fraud and those scammed with moral questions about responsibilities to a town, neighbours, self and individuals. Trey, Cal and Lena are at the centre of the novel. Johnny, Trey’s father, and Cillian Rushborough seek to embroil the townspeople in helping relive and regain his family’s Irish history. Dogs with personality are featured.

Trey is the fifteen-year-old daughter of a marriage between a local couple. Her mother has chosen unwisely and is now alone and responsible for several children, including Trey. Their father returns home only to promote himself, and a questionable money-making scheme. Much of the story pivots around Trey as she seeks revenge for her brother’s death, embroiling her in a morass of complex feelings, actions and ideas about morality. Cal has taken on responsibility for her wellbeing. He is former US police officer who has moved to the small Irish town after his marriage breakdown and retirement. He is content to live, conducting his carpentry business with Trey, but remain aloof from the other townspeople. During the course of the novel, he also has to deal with complex moral questions. Lena is determined to remain apart from the town and its interwoven gossip, determination of punishment and reward. Her sister has remained an integral part of Ardnakelty, renowned for imparting information promptly she becomes aware of anything that impacts the town and its people. This latter trait is an essential part of making the town work, albeit in a personal rather than necessarily lawful manner.

French adeptly weaves many layered ideas and complex human relationships with her expert depiction of the characters she develops. The townspeople display a range of eccentricities and largely unrecognised sensitivities that are beautifully realised under French’s subtle hand. Even more adept is her handling of Trey, Cal and Lena’s personalities, relationships, motivations and behaviour. This thoughtful, layered novel is a wonderful addition to Tana French’s work.

Tana French is still one of the authors that gets my kicking myself for not realising a twist! This book is no change from that, you'll settle in to your little Irish town and BOOM you'll find yourself right in the middle of it. Cal and Lena forever!

I read the first book in this series in 2020 so could remember nothing about it.
I loved the found family of Cal and Trey in the beginning of the story. Like all Tana French books. Vivid descriptions of Ireland. Well written characters and an interestingly crafted mystery plot.

If you enjoyed The Searcher then this sequel will appeal, returning as it does to Cal, Trey, Lena and Marty. Again, it's a slow burn of a novel as Trey's father returns with a money-making scheme that stirs up old feelings of resentment and revenge.

Personally, this departure from French's previous work isn't to my taste: the small Irish village, the ex-Chicago cop, the enigmatic Trey don't appeal and there's a bit too much unlikely drama for a tiny hamlet.

French is incapable of writing a bad book but this new direction isn't working for me in terms of either characters or location - but if you liked the first book, this one delves deeper into the personalities and relationships.