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.