I really don’t like to give unfavourable reviews but I’m afraid this book did absolutely nothing for me. I didn’t like the setting, the characters, the language used, the plot … and it seemed to go on forever and ever. Sorry I can’t recommend it, but thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy.

This is the second book by the author to feature the retired Chicago cop - Cal. Hooper. Two years ago Cal purchased a run down cottage in the village of Ardnakelty in Ireland. He is in a relationship with a widow Lena Dunne. They both care for the prickly teenager Trey Reddy.
Trey lives with her mother Sheila and three younger siblings. Trey knows that her elder brother Brendan was accidentally killed by some of the village men, and is buried somewhere on the mountain. Cal asked Trey to accept what happened and got proof in his wrist watch. Cal was worried that if Trey made it known to the authorities her family could suffer from the locals. Trey however has not forgotten nor forgiven.
Trey's father Johnny who has been absent from the family home for a few years, without any word, is back much to Sheila and Trey's dismay.
Johnny goes to the local pub and meets with the locals to let them know that he has invited an englishman who believes he has irish roots and relatives, to the village. Johnny suggests a scam involving gold to be found in the river and on land. Johnny also suggests a get rich scheme for the locals with moderate outlay.
The weather in Ireland this summer has been very hot, very unusual. It means that tempers can be short. When there is a murder and the Dublin police are investigating, Trey sees an opportunity and Cal and Lena are struggling to keep Tey from harm.
This is another good book from the author. Hopefully we'll read more about Cal and Lena. This is turning into a very good series. Very much recommended.

Loved this thrilling read. As always, the quality of writing is excellent and I was ;pulled into the slow burning plot. Loved the setting and dynamics between characters. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

Simply stunning. I hadn't realised it was a follow on but the characterization was so amazing, I re-connected with Cal immediately. What I loved best about this was the dialogue of each character - so distinct and real - it made me feel like I was in the conversation with them. Brilliant writing, brilliant story-telling - I loved it all.

This is the second book in a series, set in a small village in Ireland and featuring retired American cop, Cal Hooper and teenager Trey Reddy.
There is a lot of backstory to this and if you haven’t read the previous novel it would be very difficult to work out what is going on in this one as most of the story is based on motivation, particularly Trey’s.
Trey and Cal are getting on well as he teaches her how to interpret the world and make the best of her situation- she is somewhat of an outcast in the town and comes from a very poor background. They both love restoring old furniture and spend many hours doing this.
One day Trey’s good for nothing father reappears after 4 years, not to return to his family but to con the locals out of money with a scheme about the discovery of gold on their land. When he is joined by an equally obnoxious colleague it becomes clear to Cal that the two are up to no good and he can see Trey being caught in the middle. However Trey has her own motivation and she sees an opportunity to punish the town for a perceived evil perpetrated against her and her family. Unfortunately matters spiral out of control with dire consequences for all concerned.
I’m not sure what I thought of this book- the first part was extremely slow with lots of characterisations and conversations. The second part moved very quickly.
I certainly liked the relationship between Cal and Trey and the burgeoning romance between Cal and Lena. Trey’s father, Johnny, however, is almost caricaturistically bad. Only out for what he can get, not caring for his family and easily telling stories and lies to all. Trey sees through him and plans to make him leave as soon as possible until she sees another opportunity for revenge.
The second part of the book is much faster moving as the plot reveals itself and the murder, when it occurs is surprising and also a catalyst for what has to happen in the end.
As I was reading “The Hunter” I was not sure how I felt about it but the plot gradually sucked me in and grew on me.
The village of Ardnakelty and its inhabitants are well described, the closeness of the community and the dislike of outsiders but also a perpetual feeling of menace conveyed by Cal’s neighbour, Mart in a roundabout way.
Trey grows in this book, she comes to realise the consequences of her actions both for herself and those she cares about. Cal realises he is willing to go to extreme lengths to protect those he loves, even going against his own moral code if necessary.
I would say that this book is definitely one of those that is worth persevering with despite its slow start. It left me contemplating what had happened and where the story might go next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

it took me some time to realise that this is book 2 of the Cal Hooper/Dublin Murder Squad series and this led me to realise that the characters back stories must have been set out in the first book? No wonder i didn't enjoy it that much.

However, the dialogue between Cal, Trey and some of the other locals was exceptional. I also loved the fictional setting of Ardnakelty in the west coast of Ireland.

The story itself was slow to get going and, for me, I cannot quite give it 4 stars.

Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin General UK for the chance to read and review.

A slow burn mystery about lost gold in the remote mountains of Ireland from bestseller Tana French. The problem with character driven crime fiction is that it lacks the urgency and tension of a commercial thriller or mystery. The Hunter plods along; of 400+ pages the plot itself fills maybe half. I loved the author's earlier novels but the slow pace and almost aimless story barely held my interest. Not one for me.

Genius. But you probably already knew that, because it's Tana French! She is such a gorgeous, compelling writing and The Hunter is no exception.

A sequel to The Searcher, which I also enjoyed. Ex Chicago PD CalmHooper is now living in rural Ireland. In this book Trey’s father returns.

I haven’t read any of the Dublin Murder series, but I gather, from reviews, this series is a departure from that style. Many people have said this series is slow in comparison to DM. The Hunter is slow, it is a very slow burn but the characterization and sense of place is very well told.

I enjoyed this a lot. Well written. Difficult book to review as evidence by the above

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Tana French is a British mystery writer and one of the best storytellers out there. She can develop characters and build tension in a story like no one else. My favorite of her books is The Witch Elm. She also wrote The Dublin Murder series which was developed into a TV series. With that said, this book is not one of my favorites to read. There is just too much chatty dialogue for me that is a slog to read. I think she must have based the film The Banashees of Inishirin which basically a fight between two friends about being boring. Just listening to them gets boring.

Another strong novel from Tana French, with a strong sense of place and development of characters introduced in a previous book. Interesting scenes with the intrusion into a small community of a fortune hunting stranger. I really enjoyed this.

Brilliant. I enjoyed Tana French’s first book featuring Cal and the Irish community he moved into, and this one was great. It captured the reality of living in a remote community where people knows everyone else’s business and how feuds linger and develop. Great characters and a strong plot. Highly recommend..

I loved Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad books however The Searcher and this book The Hunter are very different and take a little getting used to. They are definitely slow burn books taking their time to build up atmosphere and familiarity with the characters. The Hunter shares characters with The Searcher. In it we see the return of Cal, Lena and Trey. Trey's father returns to the village with a con to get money from the local farmers. Trey is torn; she wants rid of her father and revenge against the villagers she feels are responsible for her brother Brendan's death (the subject of The Searcher). How Trey resolves this dilemma is beautifully plotted as the book works its way to a satisfactory conclusion. An excellent 4* read
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

If you found yourself rooting for the found family of Trey, Cal, and Lena after reading The Searcher, this book is for you.

Two years have passed. Trey seems settled, focused, even happy, spending a lot of time at Cal’s as they work on carpentry projects together. They’re good at it, and people ask them to fix and make things. But Trey is still a teenager, and hard to read.

One thing you have to do with both The Searcher and The Hunter is adjust yourself to the pace of life in the fictional village of Ardnakelty. These aren’t plot-driven books that motor along in a hurry to get somewhere; just as the characters never come at anything directly when they speak, these books meander, lean on the fence a little, and come to the point… eventually. Which is not to say that there isn’t underlying tension — which builds. That neighbour leaning on the fence might be a bit of an ol’ bastard, to use the vernacular.

I’ve read some reviewers complain about this. 175 pages before anything interesting happens: that kind of thing. But I think that is to miss the point. Tana French wants to put you in there, into a community where everybody gossips but nobody says what they really mean; where (more than just) feelings are buried and motives unclear. She wants to force you to listen to the guy you think might have had something to do with a murder discuss the weather… and carrots. The tension builds. As one of the viewpoint characters thinks, Waiting and watching aren’t enough any more.

French’s ear for dialogue is second to none. There are three point of view characters, and we’re privy to their thoughts and conversations. When Cal, the former Chicago cop talks to one of his Irish neighbours, the differences in their idiolects seem completely natural. You can hear the accents, Irish, American, English, in your head as you read.

‘I saw the Guards calling in to you earlier,’ he says, ‘doing their aul' detectivating and investimagating. That car won't stay shiny for long, on these roads. What kinda men were they?’
‘The uniform didn't say much,’ Cal says, yanking up another carrot. ‘The detective seems like he knows his job.’
‘And you'd be the man to spot that. Wouldja look at that, Sunny Jim: after all this time, you're finally coming in useful.’ Mart licks the rolling paper in one neat sweep. ‘I'm looking forward to having the chats with them. I never talked to a detective before, and you say we’ve got ourselves a fine specimen. Is he a countryman?’
‘Dublin. According to the kid.’
‘Ah, fuck's sake,’ Mart says in disgust. ‘I won't be able to enjoy myself talking to him, if I've to listen to that noise the whole time. I'd rather have a tooth drilled.’ His lighter isn't working; he gives it a pained look, shakes it, and tries again, with more success. ‘Didja get any idea of what way he's thinking?’
‘This early on, probably he's not thinking anything. And if he was, he wouldn't tell me.’
Mart's eyebrow lifts. ‘Would he not? And you a colleague?’
(p174)

Things have been going great: better than great. Cal has settled in to village life, still seen as a blow-in, but accepted in the local community — especially because of his relationship with Lena, and the way in which he seems to have turned Trey’s life around. But then Trey’s four years gone father comes home, bringing with him a get-rich scheme and an English business partner. And while Cal would wish the father gone again, he can’t do anything about Trey’s involvement with him. Everyone’s up to something, but nobody is talking.

I found this book immersive and gripping, an enjoyable read. My one complaint concerns the title, which seems to be merely a synonym of the previous book, and doesn’t really seem to be a good fit for what’s going on here. The Stalker? The Woodsman? Each would be as meaningless. Suffice it to say, titles are hard.

Thanks to Penguin Random House for the ARC of this book, which is due to be published on 7th March 2024

Book Review : The Hunter by Tana French

I’ve made no secret of the fact that Tana French is my favourite author, so a new book from her is always a highly anticipated treat.

📖 First Line 📖

“Trey comes over the mountain carrying a broken chair.”

The Hunter is a follow up to The Seacher, and I’d recommend you read them in order. It’s a delicious slow burn of a book, tantalisingly full of intricate details that build the West of Ireland rural setting and the richly developed non stereotypical characters. Then gradually within subtle nuances the plot unfolds.

Trey is now 15, and Cal has become the father figure and mentor she never had. But when her real father returns full of schemes, things get very, very complicated. Cal is determined to protect Trey at any cost, and Trey is so damaged from her family dynamics that it makes her unpredictable. I swayed wildly from wanting to shake her or to wanting to applaud her, but she’s the underdog that you want to succeed.

If you’re looking for action packed this is not the one for you. But if you revel in complex characters, vivid descriptions, and a book that makes you think long and hard about what motivates people to do things, I can’t recommend this one enough. I’m already thinking it will need a reread to really take it all in.

Thanks to @Netgalley and @vikingbooksuk for giving me for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.

The Hunter by Tana French is an amazingly good story that draws you in before you even notice. I was captivated by the initial chapters even before the story really got going. The relationship between Trey and Cal is based on their love of restoring furniture and building new pieces. They work well together.

Before long Trey’s father Jonny returns to the village - he abandoned his family four years prior - with a story that intrigues the locals. Cal is suspicious; Trey does not embrace a forgiving disposition.

Tana French is a master storyteller and The Hunter is a powerful narrative; I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, the clever manipulation by the locals and how the lads underestimated the locals.

A great read!

I’m a great fan of Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad novels but was a bit disappointed with her last book ‘The Searcher’ which introduced Cal Hooper, a disillusioned Chicago cop who moves to start a new life in a quiet Irish village and then discovers numerous murky undercurrents when a young girl Trey ropes him in to try and find out what has happened to her brother. I thought it was slow in parts with nothing much happening for the majority of the book.
I hoped this follow up, featuring Cal and Trey who have now set up a furniture restoring business would be an improvement. Like the first book it’s well written with engaging descriptions of rural Ireland, however when Trey’s errant father Johnny turns up with a scheme involving buried gold I began to feel I was reading something set in the Wild West featuring a bunch of hillbillies! By the time a murder occurred I had lost interest.
Also there are times where the reader needs to suspend belief, for instance towards the end of the book when some of the menfolk gather intending to mete out their own form of justice. I just didn’t find it plausible and couldn’t engage with the main characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Penguin General UK for an ARC

If you enjoyed The Searcher as much as I did, then you’ll love the follow up book, The Hunter where Tana French picks up the story of Cal, Trey, Lena, and the other colourful inhabitants of Ardnakelty, a small village in rural Ireland.
It’s a beautifully written book that takes a fascinating look at the desire for revenge and what we will do for the people we love, whether they’re part of the family you’re born into, or the family you choose.
The Hunter tells the tale of a retired Chicago cop, his Irish partner Lena, and the lengths they’ll go to in order to protect a half-wild teenager who has stolen their hearts.
It’s a beautifully moody and atmospheric mystery, where the descriptions of place and the sound of the language completely immerse you in a world that might look beautiful on the surface but hides dark and dangerous secrets.
It’s not a fast paced book but it’s all the better for that, because you’ll be drawn in by the cleverly drawn characters and the lyrical language. So don’t try to rush it, just enjoy the treat.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC

I'm a big fan of Tana French. She's an excellent writer - not 'just' an excellent mystery writer. This series, with Cal Hooper - ex-detective from Chicago now living in rural Ireland - is very good indeed.

The main duo at the centre of the story are Cal and his protégée Trey; a wild young teenage girl that he's trying to keep on an even keel despite her difficult home environment. Despite her youth, she's a vivid and memorable character with a lot of depth, portrayed in a way that's neither condescending nor reductive.

Like all the best mystery or crime novels, French's books are social novels as much as crime stories. It's not about the plot twists and gory details, but about people and society. A running theme in her novels is the contrast between perceptions of 'traditional' Ireland with the realities of Irish society today. Here, for example, she presents stereotypical 'countryfolk' but brings you up short, for example, in scenes where crusty old farmers, in mid-conversation about rural matters, suddenly mention internet porn or smartphones.

Trey's father Johnny, a waster who everyone was glad to see the back of when he abandoned his family, is back. And he's part of a scheme to scam local farmers -- who, however, are a lot cannier than he gives them credit for, and a lot smarter than he is. Again, we are presented with a contrast: a rather pathetic and weak 'small' man, but whose damaging impact on his family is profound.

French is keenly observant of life in Ireland. She bring an outsider's objective appraisal that (to me, a long-time emigrant from Ireland, so you could argue, What do I know about it?) sheds light on the country in a way that native writers don't quite achieve.

The Hunter has an intriguing plot and convincing (often very funny) dialogue, on a foundation of solid characterisation and insightful social commentary.

I've loved French's books from the start, and they never disappoint. Highly recommended.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC - I was thrilled to receive and read it. My reviews are always 100% unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.

The Hunter by Tana French

Cal Hooper was a Chicago detective , till he moved to west of Ireland looking for peace. He's found it more or less in his relationship with local women Lena , and the bond he's formed with half - wild teenager Trey. So when two men turn up with a money making scheme to find gold in the townland, Cal gets ready to do whatever it takes to protect Trey. Because one of the men is no stranger : he's Trey's father.

But Trey doesn't want protecting what she wants is revenge.

So I am going to be honest I did love it in the beginning but unfortunately had to stop reading the book personally I found there was a lot going on before it's even got to the main plot , a lot of back stories to each individual character that got brought into the story not that I won't read a book from Tana French again maybe this style of writing just wasn't for me.

I wish Tana all the best and thank her for giving me the chance to review the book

Thank you to Netgalley !