Publisher's summary

Anthony Award winner

Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel winner

Macavity Award winner

The bestselling debut, with over a million copies sold, that launched Tana French, author of the forthcoming novel The Hunter and “the most important crime novelist to emerge in the past 10 years” (The Washington Post).

“Required reading for anyone who appreciates tough, unflinching intelligence and ingenious plotting.”—The New York Times

As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox—his partner and closest friend—find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.

Richly atmospheric and stunning in its complexity, In the Woods is utterly convincing and surprising to the end.

©2007 Tana French (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.

Critic reviews

"[An] ambitious and extraordinary first novel...rank it high." (The Washington Post)

"Part whodunit, part psychological thriller, and wholly successful...French’s plot twists and turns will bamboozle even the most astute reader.... A well-written, expertly plotted thriller." (NPR)

"In the Woods is as creepily imaginative as it gets." (USA Today)

Featured Article: 55+ Quotes About Fear—of the Unknown, Change, Love, and More


Looking for a little confidence boost? These quotes about fear from some of literature’s greatest writers can help bolster your bravado. In moments of fear, it’s natural to turn to others—from loved ones to professional counsel—for comfort, encouragement, and advice. But sometimes, it’s most helpful to hear what people you’ve never met have written on the topic. These quotes offer a comprehensive, reassuring portrait of fear and ways to conquer it.

What listeners say about In the Woods

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7,852
  • 4 Stars
    5,989
  • 3 Stars
    2,771
  • 2 Stars
    839
  • 1 Stars
    455
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8,531
  • 4 Stars
    4,105
  • 3 Stars
    1,418
  • 2 Stars
    402
  • 1 Stars
    247
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6,486
  • 4 Stars
    4,581
  • 3 Stars
    2,332
  • 2 Stars
    807
  • 1 Stars
    470

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

overall great

this books has this way of pulling you in and twining all around you. the story was plausible, well enough done you could figure most of it out, but not all of it; the perfect balance of suspense,mystery, drama etc

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

In the woods

A wee bit longish... disappointing ending. Somewhat sad leaving me wanting some resolution.. performer very good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this audio book, more than others I have listened to recently. The story was great, and the performance was very good. The only thing I would have liked better is a more complete wrap-up at the end. I felt like I was left wondering what happened to some of the characters. (I am trying not to spoil it for anybody.)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An enjoyable listen

Would you listen to another book narrated by Steven Crossley?

Ok, I will nitpick here... Detective Ryan is an Irishman with an English accent as explained in the book, so Crossley was a good choice. He was easy to listen to and made the story exciting. My problem is all the other - Irish - characters spoke with the same British accent, even the ones in the book described as having a thick Irish accent. . I'd like for them to have had a more authentic Irish accent.... Or an Irish accent at all.

Any additional comments?

I'd like to address the negative reviews that center on the ending. This story does not have an all nicely wrapped up with a bow on it happy ending. If you can't get enjoyment out of a story without a story tale ending then this isn't the book for you. If you love a compelling story that's character driven and beautifully written and mind bending and heart breaking, then I'll 100% recommend it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very satisfying,

This is the second Tana French book I’ve listened to and I am struck by the skillful way they end.
It is so rare to read a book with an ending that doesn’t try to be a conclusion.
Tana French, in my opinion, is highly skilled for creating full characters. This is why she is sheer genius when concluding a book. I am left satisfied that the story has been fully told. So well that I automatically wonder where the individual characters will go.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Book is better

I watched the Dublin Murders episodes first, the creative changes from book to TV weren’t necessary or an improvement. Rob’s story/character is much more complete - no surprise.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic story... narration not so much.

Wishing this had been narrated by a Dubliner. English accent ruined it for me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging

I found this book very engaging--two loosely-related mysteries, well-presented and interesting characters, and a narrator with a flawed memory (and, over time, serious character flaws as well).

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wanted Some Irish

Excellent story, though I did guess the bad guy early on. The narrator was good, overall, but did not have an Irish accent for Irish characters. The main character and narrator has an English accent, I know, but I would have liked some Irish when called for.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

:(

It was good until the end. Why is it that characters get developed so good and then boom is all falls to pieces? I will never get it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!