Retired detective Cal Hooper is from Chicago, in his late 40s burnt out from a failed marriage and has a tricky relationship with his ex and their only daughter. Cal has bought a house most would swerve to avoid. A doer-upper is putting it mildly. While renovating it we meet the usual local characters at the pub, the convenience store and other farmers in the area. Village life in other words, just as he is getting to know them - they are clearly assessing him too.
Cal reluctantly strikes up a relationship with Trey, a local teenager who is hellbent on drawing Cal into a village mystery. What happened to Trey's older brother? Did Brendan really walk out or was something sinister at play? As Cal starts to scratch the underbelly of the village he needs to draw on all of his skills from his former professional life.
Villagers will protect their way of life at all costs - as Cal finds out.
At the heart of the thriller is the relationship between Cal and Trey which is tender, innocent and a joy to follow. As I suspect many other reviewers will pick up on, this is a slow read. But stick with it, the dialogue is superb and the characters remind me of those I know from visits to the Emerald Isle every summer as a kid. The ending is unexpected, but understandable and has me pondering it ever since. Hats off Ms French to the perfect 2020 thriller.

The Searcher is a compelling stand alone mystery from Irish author Tana French, best known for her Dublin Murder Squad series.

Upon the end of his marriage and his retirement from a twenty-five career in the Chicago P.D., Cal Hooper decides to move to a rural village in the west of Ireland where he intends to do little else than to renovate his dilapidated farmhouse, fish from the stream, and walk the mountains. He finds the relaxed pace of his new life, enhanced by a regular craic with his neighbour, Mart, and the occasional drink in the local pub, suits him, though he misses his adult daughter. But Cal can’t quite shake the habits of a lifetime and when thirteen-year-old Trey Reddy begs for his help, he reluctantly agrees to look into the disappearance of the desperate kid’s older brother.

While it’s true that this is not a fast paced thriller, I was nevertheless drawn in, and held captive by the compelling characterisation, atmosphere and plot of The Searcher.

The first half of the book focuses largely on establishing and developing the characters that play an important role in the story. I liked Cal, a burnt-out ex-cop who doesn’t want, or need, much. He’s fine being on his own but not defensive about it, as shown by his willingness to indulge his garrulous neighbour, Mart. His patience with Trey, who is a smart, fierce kid from a poor family with a bad reputation, is admirable, and the relationship French develops between Cal and Trey is a true strength of the novel.

The community of Ardnakelty is a character in itself. I was impressed with French’s ability to effortlessly evoke the settings within her novel, from Noreen’s general store and Sean Og’s pub, to Cal’s isolated, ramshackle farmhouse surrounded by fields, and woods, and peat-bog mountains. There is a great deal lurking below the surface of this rural idyll, and its seemingly straightforward farming folk, with surprises that break through when least expected.

Trey’s brother, Brendan, has been missing for several months by the time Trey asks Cal for his help. No one else seems concerned by the absence of the nineteen-year-old, the assumption being he left voluntarily, either because he’d had enough of life at home, or perhaps to avoid some sort of trouble. Cal is instinctively wary of pushing too hard for information as his investigation begins, but in such an insular community his interest is immediately noted, and as Cal tugs at the threads that will unravel the mystery of Brendan’s fate, he draws trouble to his doorstep.

With its escalating tension, unexpected twists, and flashes of violence, I found the plot to be wholly satisfying, but it’s less the action, and more the complex and nuanced behaviours of the characters that are truly captivating. Unfolding in evocative prose with an Irish lilt, at a deliberate, absorbing pace The Searcher is a compulsive read.

This is a beautifully written thriller set in the atmospheric Irish countryside, where secrets stretch as far as the landscape. This is a tragic and blue novel, with appropriate pace that reaches a heartbreaking ending. Excellent work by Tana French, but that’s no surprise as she is an excellent writer

I was looking forward to reading this book. Sadly I just didn't warm to the story and found it rather slow and subsequently didn't finish it.

Cal moves to Ireland, a local kid asks him to search for 'his' missing brother. As he starts to dig things are not as simple as they seem. Great story, good characters, twists and turns. Would really recommend.

Die Geschichte spielt im September in West Irland. Cal Hooper renoviert ein altes einsam gelegenes Haus, während er schon recht spartanisch darin wohnt. Die Suche nach einem Neuanfang hat ihn nach 25 Jahre Chicago PD und einer schwierigen Scheidung in diesen Landstrich verschlagen. Er wurde überraschenderweise sogar recht freundlich von den Bewohnern empfangen. Seit einiger Zeit fühlt er sich jedoch beobachtet, oder hat ihn sein früheres Leben übervorsichtig gemacht?

Cal ist einem schnell sympathisch. Die Beschreibung seiner Personen und Situation kann überzeugen. Er erinnert mich mit seiner Schreibtisch Renovierung an Gibbs aus NCIS mit seinem Boot im Keller.
Die Autorin nimmt sich Zeit die Geschichte aufzubauen. Man wird nicht gleich in eine Handlung geworfen, es gibt nicht als erstes einen schrecklichen Mord.
Nach einigem Hin und Her stellt sich heraus, dass ein Teenager Cal belagert. Nachdem sie sich zaghaft näherkommen, nötigt Trey ihn, nach seinem Bruder Brendan zu suchen, der seit dem Frühjahr verschwunden ist. Zögerlich lässt er sich darauf ein. Er dachte, er hat das alles hinter sich gelassen, aber nun ist er wieder mittendrin, ohne jegliche Unterstützung oder Verbündete. Aufgrund seiner Fragen werden die Einheimischen schon bald unruhig.
Und da die örtliche Polizei nach aller Meinung nichts taugt, hat er plötzlich auch noch das Rätsel um zwei getötete Schafe am Hals.
Mir war der Roman vom Tempo her zu bedächtig. Zunächst passte das noch gut zur Einführung in die kleine Dorfgesellschaft und die ländliche Atmosphäre, aber spätestens ab der Mitte hätte ich mehr Spannung erwartet. Es stehen ganz klar Land, Leute und die Stimmung im Vordergrund der Erzählung. Nur ganz langsam entfaltet sich die kriminalistische Arbeit von Cal.
Im letzten Fünftel nimmt die Geschichte dann doch noch Schwung auf und das Ende kann mit einigen Überraschungen überzeugen.

This story was completely different to what i was expected. It was much slower and more character driven. I liked reading it but i didn't love it like i had other books by French. I was expecting a real thriller and got something very different.

A divorced American detective, Cal, is attempting to settle down and enjoy a quiet retirement in rural Ireland. But, he’s about to learn that small towns harbour big secrets and that maybe he’s not quite ready to turn in his detective badge.

This latest offering from French is a slow-burn, atmospheric mystery drama. I have to admit, at points, it was a little <em>too</em> slow for me. But maybe I was just expecting something different from this author. This book is <em>not </em>a thriller, it’s more a literary mystery. The author takes her time setting the scene, from the countryside, weather and local wildlife to the small talking neighbours, and Cal’s fixer-upper of a house. (Honestly, I really feel he was working on that desk for a VERY long time). 

The story takes a while to come together, but if you can get past that and just appreciate the atmosphere as the tension builds, there is definitely a sense of menace lurking around the corner. As Cal works on his never-ending house improvements, he gets the feeling that he’s not alone. Eventually he finds a local child hanging around who needs his help to find a missing sibling, and he can’t help but get involved in the case.

Cal is an interesting character. He’s an older protagonist with a past and he’s set in his ways, but he’s trying to mix things up with a fresh start in a new location. But quickly, what seemed new and fresh to start with starts to feel claustrophobic as the small town gossip closes in and new friends reveal their true allegiances.

Whilst Cal is complex and well-rounded, the real protagonist here is the location itself, and this is where the author excels. Rural Ireland is captivating, with city cop Cal feeling like a fish out of water amongst the quiet country roads and mountains. As the tension builds and the small town gossip closes in on him, that simmering atmosphere becomes almost stifling as Cal wonders who he can trust in the town.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about the conclusion to the story - it wasn't quite the epic finale I'd envisaged, but it does tie everything together well. The author shows her obvious talent for storytelling, but I wouldn't go into this expecting a fast-paced thrill-ride.

A slow paced mystery that had enough going on to keep me turning those pages! I really loved the atmosphere in this one. Friendly small towns with a sinister undercurrent.
Cal, a retired Chicago cop and recently divorced, has moved to a remote Irish town to enjoy a quiet and simple existence. Until a young teen comes asking for his help to look for their brother who’s gone missing. Everyone says the brother has done a runner but Trey suspects foul play and not long after so does Cal. But how can Cal uncover the truth in a town hiding each other’s secrets? Definitely one for lovers of a slow burn crime mystery with a lot of character development

I love Tana French's original Dublin Squad police series, but found her last book Wych Elm a bit more of a slow read for me. The Searcher was more like Wych Elm in that it didnt grab me from the off, and at times I felt like it could have been trimmed down a little - Im not overly keen on descriptive writing - but overall this was a good story, well told. If you're ready to settle down with a long book with an intriguing storyline which will keep you guessing, this is a book for you!

Synopsis:

Cal Hooper is a retired detective, and he moves to a remote village in rural Ireland. He’s fixing up this old house, and is getting used to this new mountain life, trying to forget about his previous profession of chasing criminals.

That is, until one day, a kid comes to his door and asks for help. His brother is missing, and he knows something must’ve happened to him. But no one else in the village seems to care. Unable to leave this a mystery, Cal starts to ask questions.

But the whole village seems like they don’t want new people messing up with whatever secrets they may have.

My Thoughts:

The Searcher was a true slow burner. At times, it was even too slow for me, and I was struggling. However, I have never before read a book so well built, and despite the slow pace, I kept returning to it.

This is my first book from Tana French, and I will definitely be reading more from her. I think the next one will be The Wych Elm, as I already have that one in my library. Tana French did such a good job at describing this rural village in Ireland, and its people. From the cold mountains, to the lovely cottage in need of renovating, to the pub and the people living in the village, it felt as if I was there. Even though I’ve never been to Ireland before.

Cal Hooper was an intriguing character, and I loved his story. The reason he moved to the mountains, and the ongoing experiences helped me understand the issues he was facing, and I loved how he started to personally grow throughout the book, with Trey’s help. And as for Trey, I loved his personality too. The quiet, but also savage and arrogant character, that wasn’t afraid to be nosy. But also the innocent child that desperately wanted help and support, when they didn’t receive it before.

The book was very dark and eerie throughout all times.

And the people are savage and brutal, and you can feel this even when the conversations are about happy things. There was a certain eerie cloud surrounding this book, and I really loved that. I don’t think another book has made me feel this way before.

As for the mystery, I feel that part was a bit weak. I loved the search itself, and the moments when Cal would try and dig deeper into what actually happened. But as any informal investigation, he couldn’t get too far. And the villagers didn’t try and help him too much. It was an interesting dynamic I really enjoyed. But the ending and the revelation weren’t too satisfying for me.

The Searcher by Tana French is truly one of a kind. With its description, the rural scenery and brutality of the people, it’s one of those books that will give you slow chills down your spine.

I read this for a blog tour.

This was so good, but then it's Tana French so of course it is. There's a slight element of an old Western to it - True Grit maybe or another John Wayne film, in the way Cal, with his Southern US lilt and manners, goes about searching for Brendan. Making his enquiries despite not really knowing the lay of the land, calling people sir and ma'am, talking softly but with weight behind his words.

The relationship between Trey and Cal is really interesting too, like he's slowly bringing a feral animal into his house, gently, laying out crumbs. Like he does with the rooks in his garden, tempting them ever closer.

I could almost see the Western Irish mountains and fields in the pages, the descriptions were so good, the landscape a stunning backdrop to this modern day cowboy alternating between trying to fix up his house and trying to solve the mystery of where Brendan went.

Carl Hooper decides, on retirement, as a Chicago detective, to up sticks and move to a remote village in Ireland where he sets about renovating a run down cottage. He is conscious of being watched by a kid, Trey Reddy, from, as judged by the locals, a 'disfunctional 'family, generally regarded as a 'bad lot'.

Trey learning of his background eventually persuades Carl to try to find out what happened to her brother who just disappeared. Although at first reluctant his instincts about crime and justice kick in. As his enquiries go wider and deeper he is convinced that all is not well within the village. Secrets are being kept. How can he unravel these without alienating and destabilising a tight community or without being driven out of the village .or worse.! There are some unpleasant types around who might stop at nothing to avoid detection.

This is a gripping read which encourages the reader to think about what might happen next and how will it all end. Much of the time I got this wrong but then I am not a quality writer whose prose stimulates the brain cells.
I enjoyed The Searcher immensely and recommend it warmly. Put it on your book list. . .

Cal Hooper, a retired detective from Chicago, has moved to the depths of rural Ireland looking for a slower pace of life. He plans to take his time doing up his cottage, mind his own business, and maybe do a bit of hunting and fishing. But, in the words of Robert Burns, ‘the best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley’. Local teenager, Trey, wants Cal to find out what happened to his elder brother, Brendan, and won’t take no for an answer.
When Cal begins to investigate he uncovers layers of darkness buried beneath the picturesque surface of life in Ardnakelty. Told entirely from Cal’s point of view, the mystery surrounding Brendan’s disappearance is slowly uncovered, piece by piece. The pace is quite slow at the beginning as Tana French sets the scene and introduces us to the locals. The writing is skillful as she describes them without turning them into caricatures. They are completely believable, and help to convey how insular and suffocating life in a small rural community actually is.
For the story to work, Cal had to be a complete outsider, like the ‘stranger in town’ in Western films, acting as a catalyst to bring everything out into the open, away from the reach of the forces of law and order. To save the narrative from becoming too bleak, there is a lot of black humour to lighten the darkness. The writing is atmospheric with evocative descriptions of the landscape and wildlife, particularly the terrain he encounters while out walking on the hill, and the antics of the rooks high up in the treetops in his garden.
The Searcher is the first novel I have read by Tana French, but it won’t be the last. I watched and enjoyed The Dublin Murders on TV, and have since found out that they are based on books written by her; they are now waiting on my bedside table.
Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. My first foray into Tana French and I can certainly see why people love her writing. I thought both Cal and Trey were well written characters and found their relationship quite touching.

I liked the slow drip info about Cal's past and how that all added to the present situation.

I did find that the climax of the story was a bit quieter than I was expecting, and that it was maybe a tad longer overall than it needed.

I will definitely be reading more from this author. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'd previously read some of the Dublin Murder Squad books so I was familiar with the author's style and was looking forward to this. I wasn't disappointed and have just finished the book having read the second half today only breaking for food.
The story is about Cal, a retired Chicago cop, who has moved to a small village in rural Ireland to be as far away as possible from his previous life.
He feels that he is being watched and subsequently finds out that it is a young teenager who wants his help in finding out what happened to their older brother who went missing a few monthst previously.
Tana French managers to portray the claustrophic athmosphere of a village where everyone knows each other's business and takes delight in creating mischief with any information that they have.

I'm sorry tp say this was the worst book I've read in ages. I love psychological thrillers, murders, mysteries, dark stories that transport you to other places but I did not like any element of this book. I skipped to the end to read whodunnit. The area, characters, slow pace were the most depressing I've read. There was not one good person in the story of nasty murderers or at best judgmental gossips. If this place is real, I would not want to visit! If it were slightly shorter, I may have had more patience with it.

I’m a huge fan of Tana French so I absolutely leapt at the chance to read her latest standalone novel, The Searcher. I can confirm it is just as brilliant as I expect from an author who I think is one of the very best crime/mystery writers out there. The story follows Cal, a retired Chicago policeman who, after his divorce, upends his whole life and moves to a remote small village in Ireland. He wants a quiet life, however when a kid from the area comes looking for Cal’s help in finding his missing elder brother, Cal finds himself embroiled in a dangerous and complicated situation.

There is something so utterly brilliant about the way Tana French writes and I wish I could put my finger on just what it is. Her books are rarely short but they are so unrelentingly all-consuming that I find myself flying through them. I could not put The Searcher down. Cal is the perfect main character, likeable and easy to root for whilst also being no-nonsense and surprisingly layered. The ‘idyllic on the surface’ place he has decided to put down roots is such a fantastic setting. At first glance it seems like a cosy and quirky typical small town, however it soon becomes very clear that such places do not exist. There is darkness and light everywhere and there are always secrets hidden beneath the surface. The characters Cal encounters are all fascinating and every single one feels like a realistically flawed human being. Nothing is simple here and every encounter feels loaded which gives the book an impressively tense atmosphere.

I don’t want to give anything at all away about the plot because there are some genuinely shocking twists and turns which deserve to be experienced first hand. What I will say is that this is definitely one of my favourite books of the year and quite possibly my favourite from Tana French thus far which is seriously high praise. It is complex, nail-biting, poignant and phenomenally well written. An easy five star read for me.

The Searcher is, much like the Wych Elm, a slow burner. This is always a positive where I’m concerned. It gave me the opportunity to look around the Irish village of Ardnekalty, get to know the inhabitants, what the countryside and the landscape looked like (beautiful, by the way)and above all, to build a full picture of Cal Hooper and Trey.

As in most small villages, word of a new, exotic inhabitant spreads fast, and this is why Trey turns up on Cal’s doorstep. He wants Cal to help him find his older brother, Brendan, who has disappeared. The local police seem to be completely disinterested - mainly due to the family’s reputation. It seems to be no surprise to people that Trey’s 19 year old brother would want to leave the small village. With the family’s reputation being that of ‘wasters’ who live on the poverty line (or probably below it), it strikes people as unremarkable that he would leave to try and make his life better elsewhere. But Trey doesn’t believe this. He believes that he has been kidnapped, and he wants Cal to find him. The problem is that Cal just doesn’t want to get involved. He has left the Chicago police force because of the frustration he feels at not making a difference. And this decency is what ends up drawing him in to helping Trey.

It did surprise me that Cal becomes involved with Trey, and he clearly realises that such a relationship could be seen as problematic. He makes the effort to keep Trey’s presence a secret from his nosy neighbour, Mart. The fact that everyone seemed to know everyone else’s business did create a claustrophobic atmosphere, almost a touch of horror especially as the book progresses.

This also touches on some of the current issues in the USA surrounding policing and BLM protests, so it does make this a very current novel. I have to say though, that the end of the book came as a complete surprise to me, and left me feeling ultimately disappointed in the characters. It didn’t make me like the book any less though!

Many thanks to Penguin UK and NetGalley for my copy of this book to read and review.

A Tana French novel is always a wonderful gift and THE SEARCHER is no exception.

Retired Chicago detective Cal Hooper is fixing up a small cottage in a small western Ireland village. Visits from his cookie-mooching neighbor, Mart, occasional evenings at the local pub, and inquisitions from grocer Noreen are his only social interactions, and he's happy.

However, his instincts are that someone is watching him, and that someone turns out to be Trey Reddy. The Reddys are looked down upon by the villagers. Their father did a "runner," leaving the mother with six children, the older ones prone to truancy and shoplifting. Trey wants to know what happened to older brother, Brendan, and having heard Cal is a former detective, is determined to enlist his help.

Hooper soon learns that even tiny villages have big crimes, and a network of people determined to keep them secret. Without the legitimacy of a badge and the resources of a police department, he is forced to rely on questioning.

THE SEARCHER is deliciously atmospheric, and Cal, Trey, Lena, and even Mart are captivating characters. #TheSearcher