I think BROKEN HARBOR is French's best book although I have not read her latest one. Its only flaw is its length (100 pages on the crime scene investigation alone) and I can live with that if there is beautiful writing, an important point made, a haunting (and not in a good way) setting, good characters, and a great mystery to solve.
A family is brutally slain, only the mother hangs onto life. They have been living in a development that seemed like paradise until the economic crash left it half unbuilt. Our little family has gone from moving up to moving down in short time. And it seems like someone or something is doing everything it can to drive them all mad. The Dad is especially vulnerable to the noises in the night and spends all his time (he's lost his job) trying to sort it out.
The Dublin Murder Squad tries to make sense of the murders. An early suspect seems a bit too eager to take credit for the crimes.Two detectives, new to each other, compete for an explanation, which adds to the fun.One of the great things about French's books is how her detectives find resonance in the crimes they solve and Scorcher Kennedy here is no exception.
I don't want to say anymore because the joy in this book is stumbling along with our detectives. This is just a brilliant look at what happened to the people who got caught with their bank accounts emptied by recent events. Highly recommended.
Barrie Summy will have additional links right here.
P.S. The photo is Tana French (right) with my daughter, Megan Abbott on a recent Dublin book signing.
8 comments:
Patti - You know, everything I hear about this book is so overwhelmingly positive. That usually doesn't happen with a book. Glad this one lives up to its promise.
Two Tana French mysteries reviewed for the book review club this month and I haven't read any of her books! You and Kelly make me want to fill that lacuna. A fine review! So cool that your daughter knows the author too.
This does sounds interesting, Patti. So cool that your daughter got to meet the author in Dublin. So cool that she went to Dublin. I'd like to visit Ireland some day.
Added to wish list.
I know, Sarah, it is kind of weird that we had two Tana French books reviewed this month! I should let the author know. Also, you do not have to read these books in order. I loved her latest, Patti, but think I loved Broken Harbor a little more. ;)
The beauty of old age is that I think I've read this!
You may laugh at my choice this month, but my favourite is always that last book I've read!!!
I just came from Barrie's where I read Kelly's review of another French book--now I know I have to read one of these! I'll probably start with the first in the series; hope it is as good as the two reviewed this month.
I've read all five of French's books and I'm afraid this was my least favorite. First of all, I figured out pretty quickly what was up with all those noises in the wall and had pretty much guessed the culprit way before the end. It was still a very good book, but not as good as the others.
Btw, I don't know if you've read French's latest, but it involves a group of teenage girls, and I couldn't help but think of Megan's more recent books; how interesting that there they are together above.
Really liked A FAITHFUL PLACE the best!
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