The Searcher

I love all the Irish characters in Tana French's novel, especially when she details them talking to one another. Oh sure, occasionally I had to re-read passages. Irish isn't my native tongue. But overall, I think she did a commanding job of expressing the euphemisms used.

That said, I'm not giving her my usual five stars. It's still an awesome story, but at time she got carried away adding her well-drawn characters. I struggled to keep them straight and it detracted at times from the story.

It's interesting how she has an American moving to Ireland and trying to leave his old job as a cop behind, only to have it follow him across the pond. Cal still suffers the PTSD most cops have, from seeing too much and neglecting family to see it. When 14-year-old Trey comes along, it's a relief and a curse. Trey wants Cal's help to look for a lost brother, Brendan.

Or is he lost? Some folks think Brendan just skipped town, but Trey isn't convinced. Trey and Cal become the odd couple, refurbishing his neglected cottage while they explore each other and the townspeople.

Their idyllic village in the West of Ireland has a pub and a grocery store, but it's not as pleasant as it might seem. Everyone has a secret and no one is giving up any information about the missing Brendan. The search for clues requires every ounce of Cal's experience and even more. Trey isn't patient with his long, slow investigation.

Some interesting details reveal the difficulty of getting a gun and permit in Ireland as well as getting accepted into the community. Not everyone who moves to Ireland becomes a permanent resident and many don't last the first winter, but Cal is determined to make it. His loneliness is often a factor and he occasionally calls his grown daughter or thinks of what advice his ex-wife might give him.

Overall, the story was satisfying, if at times a little drawn out. It had all the wrong turns and twists needed in a good mystery.