The Searcher

A Novel

By: Tana French

Narrated by: Roger Clark

Best Book of 2020 by New York Times, NPR, and New York Post

"This hushed suspense tale about thwarted dreams of escape may be her best one yet.... Its own kind of masterpiece." (Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post)

"A new Tana French is always cause for celebration.... Read it once for the plot; read it again for the beauty and subtlety of French's writing." (Sarah Lyall, The New York Times)

Cal Hooper thought a fixer-upper in a bucolic Irish village would be the perfect escape. After 25 years in the Chicago police force and a bruising divorce, he just wants to build a new life in a pretty spot with a good pub where nothing much happens. But when a local kid whose brother has gone missing arm-twists him into investigating, Cal uncovers layers of darkness beneath his picturesque retreat, and starts to realize that even small towns shelter dangerous secrets.

"One of the greatest crime novelists writing today" (Vox) weaves a masterful, atmospheric tale of suspense, asking how to tell right from wrong in a world where neither is simple, and what we stake on that decision.

©2020 Tana French (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A slow-burn stunner that will keep readers turning the pages late into the night. Recommend to the author’s legions of fans, as well as those who enjoy crime fiction set in small towns like Julia Keller’s or Jane Harper’s novels.” (Library Journal, starred review)

“In another stand-alone, French again displays impressive versatility...French skillfully builds suspense...a fine thriller, but also a moving story of an unlikely friendship that grows from refinishing a ramshackle desk to rebuilding two nearly broken lives.” (Booklist)

“Deliver[s] plenty of twists, shocking revelations, and truly chilling moments.” (Kirkus)

A little dark, fairly tense and highly atmospheric

SUMMARY
After twenty-five years in the Chicago police force and a difficult divorce, Cal Hooper has retired. He thought a fixer-upper in a small Irish village would be the perfect escape. He just wants to build a new life in a pretty spot with a good pub where nothing much happens. But when a local kid whose brother has gone missing arm-twists him into investigating, Cal uncovers layers of darkness beneath his picturesque retreat, and starts to realize that even small towns shelter dangerous secrets.


“If you don’t have your code, you got nothing to hold you down. You just drift, any way things blow you.”

“He want to punch something, but knows that would do nothing but bust his knuckles. Having that much sense makes him feel old.”


REVIEW
THE SEARCHER is Tana French”s latest book and it’s an absorbing and intriguing character driven novel. It’s a little dark, fairly tense and highly atmospheric. Cal Hooper drives the story and is quite an interesting and noble character. He is a smart, hard-working, thoughtful, patient and compassionate ex-police officer. His relationship with, and mentoring of thirteen year old Trey was extraordinarily special. Trey’s perseverance and determination was the light in this tragic story.

Cal’s dogged investigation into the truth of what happened to Trey’s brother, Brenden, was the nexus of the story and nicely plotted. It included a unique cast of neighbors and towns people that added depth and mystery to the search. This harrowing and thought-provoking story would make a fabulous movie. French’s vivid descriptions of the people, their actions and landscapes were phenomenal She has a way of making the scenes come alive on the page with meticulous details.

“The morning had turned lavishly beautiful. The autumn sun gave the greens of the fields an impossible, mythic radiance and transformed the back roads into light-muddled paths where a goblin with a fiddle, or a pretty maiden with a basket, could be waiting around every game and bramble bend. Cal was in no mood to appreciate any of it

“Landscape is one of the few things he knows of where the reality doesn’t let you down. The west of Ireland looked beautiful on the Internet; from right smack in the middle of it, it looks even better. The air is rich as fruit cake, like you should do more with it than just breathe it; bite off a big mouthful, maybe, or rub handfuls of it over your face.”

By the end the chill of the bog seeped into my bones

I expected atmospheric descriptions of Ireland and a rich Irish accent. Without that in the beginning, it took a while to sink into, but well worth reading and haunting.

Just didn't do it for me

Loved the narration and the Irish dialect and dialogue, but the story wasn't all that believable and took too long to develop

Good book

The writer is very gifted in writing to paint a picture in your head. She is eloquent and descriptive. The book itself is well written and researched but the story is mundane. The eye catcher quotes on the book cover is misleading, especially the one from Stephen Kind. I would not find it to be a nail bitter or terrifying, it is just a regular story described in great detail and eloquently. I did enjoy reading this but not so much for the story as it was for the mini vacation to Ireland in my head.

Terrific book

I enjoyed this book.Tana French as a great way of Portraying people and all their subtleties and Complexities without a heavy hand But with a deliberate and building pace that makes you want to keep listening. the narrator is also quite excellent and suits the story and protagonist.

It was OK

The narrator is great, and really easy to listen to. The story started off strong, but when the climax was coming towards the end, it fell flat to me. A good story, but just kind of let down that it wasn’t a little better.

Best Audible book in a long while

Enjoyed listening to this Tana French story lot more than her others although they are also good. Thought the performance was also great.

wonderful listen !

I loved the characters and character development in this book! The story was complex but it was easy to follow and the way the story unfolded was written really well.

Author paints a beautiful picture

Captivitng backdrop, adoring characters, and stellar performance! I want to know more about every character but I feel like I know them.

Tana French! Fantastic!

I enjoy anything Tana French has written. I can only hope she keeps weaving her stories for my enjoyment. I am looking forward to her next book!