I actually hadn't read the Cal Hooper #1 before starting to read this, so The Hunter was my first introduction to the character. I enjoyed the book and it kept me turning the pages but at times it felt a little slow. It's a good read for someone wanting an easy going murder investigation but it does take a while to get to that. It mostly focuses on Cals relationship with Trey (who is a great character) and how her father coming home starts to put strains on them. I would recommend this book.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An American detective retires in Ireland and finds himself embroiled in a scam of sorts. Added to the drama is a young girl who needs help and looks to him as a parental figure and mentor and a woman he has come to love.

I enjoyed this return to Ardnakelty in this new novel focusing again on Cal and Trey. I actually had forgotten most of the plot of The Searcher and had to refresh myself on the specifics. I think this would work as a standalone book, although the specifics of Trey's desire for revenge might be slightly fuzzy for the reader who has not read the first book. In any case, I think that French's depiction of the deep undercurrents in Ardnakelty is great--the characters' interactions and motivations are all the more interesting because of the town's character. The story was slightly meandering but I thought the action was well-plotted. I really enjoyed this.

Touching is absolutely the wrong word to use here, but I'm having trouble finding something closer. I love the world French has built in this series.

Unsurprisingly, I loved this book.

The Hunter picks up a year or so after the events of The Searcher. All is relatively peaceful until Johnny Reddy blows back into town, and stirs everything up. Cal and Lena are both uneasy about this, as they try not to get Trey caught up in what’s going on. But in a town this small, everyone gets caught up in everything that’s going on. A murder happens, of course, and then it’s a matter of who’s going down for it.

I was pleased with myself for guessing who the actual culprit was, and terrified for these characters I’ve come to love. French weaves her story with her trademark beautiful prose, deft characterization, and a setting so vivid you feel like you’re there. I’m sad the book is over and I have to wait presumably another two years for another book from my favorite author.

This sequel to THE SEARCHER, is a standalone as well. We are back with Cal and Trey and Lena in Ireland. The action surrounds the return of Trey's ne'er do well father-she is not happy to see him to say the least. He has a get rich gold scheme hatched with an Englishman that he is hoping to convince the townspeople to invest in. French's characters are wonderfully developed. Justice is a trick thing.

The Hunter" is the companion book to "The Searcher", and as such must be read as the sequel. Following retired cop Cal Hooper as he navigates small town life in Ireland, "The Hunter" takes the frayed plot threads from "The Searcher" and weaves them into a rich, frightening examination of trauma and revenge. This book is perfect for chilly nights, hot tea, and roaring fireplaces, with French's trademark attention to character and place on perfect display. It keeps you guessing until the end - but in true French fashion, the reveal shocked me (and yet made total sense upon reflection).

Another excellent Tana French book. Reading the previous book, The Searcher, really helps to understand the community and characters. Soft and quiet with some sucker punches. Beautifully written.

I was so excited to get this ARC for “The Hunter” from the queen of Irish thrill, Tana French. I highly recommend this story - I was such a fan!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was my first novel by French and it didn't disappoint! Great writing and character development. The dialogue is done so well!! Highly recommend

Tana French has done it again. There is nothing flashy here, and yet the story absolutely shines. The dialogue between these characters is perfection. I've never spent a moment in Ireland but was absolutely immersed in Ardnakelty from the very first page. French goes deep into revenge and family connection while allowing us to walk alongside these fully realized characters. I enjoyed this reading experience even more than The Searcher. Bravo!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced ecopy of this book.

Tana French really is a master in atmosphere. This follow-up to The Searcher continued the setting and great characters from before, but it was rather lengthy with not a lot happening until about halfway through. However, since Tana French is such a great writer, it still kept your attention.

Sequel to The Searcher, with more of Cal and Trey and Lena and the dark business done by the men - and women - of the seemingly bucolic little town of Ardnakelty. It took me a good half the novel to really get into this, but then it seized me and didn’t let up. If you don’t love Trey with all your heart, I do not trust you.

Fans of Tana French, get excited! The Hunter is Tana French at her best. Yes, it's about the mystery, but it's mostly about the characters, including a massive dose of setting-as-character. If you love books that are less whodunnit and more whydunnit, this one's for you.

The Hunter would be best read after the Trespasser since it's a Cal Hooper story, but it's not totally necessary to read them in order.

Cal Hooper, a retired PD officer from the US, is enjoying the peace of living in the Irish countyside. He has a relaxed relationship with local woman, Lena, and is working to tame mostly feral, Trey Reddy, by teaching her carpentry. Things are good even with the intense summer heat. Then Trey Reddy’s father returns after several year away bringing with him a ‘posh’ Englishman. Both are looking to get rich, but one actually is killed. With her father’s return, Trey’s life takes a turn, and Cal’s peaceful life becomes more than unsettled.

Loved this newest book! I have loved this author's work since I read hers first book. Except for about a thousand too many F-bombs, there was nothing not to like about this second book set in a small.Iriah mountain area, revolving around the transplant Cal, from Boston and his teenager friend Trey. Lena rounded out the primary characters with neighbor Mart cutting a close third. This book takes place two years after Trey first semi-stalked Cal and picks up where you might expect but with a big surprise popping up to shake up everything. Hang on for a bumpy ride.

The Hunter is the sequel to French's The Searcher.
Cal is a retired police officer who moved to the hinterlands of Ireland to escape his other life. He has created a nice life for himself having formed a family of sorts with Lena and Trey.
Lena is his girlfriend and Trey is a young man with a troubled history that bonded with Cal.

When Trey's father appears with some miscreants they threaten the life that the three have built. They have to fight these gold diggers to keep them all safe.

I devoured this so quickly. I loved the first book and this one was just as amazing. The setting was utterly wonderful and atmospheric, the characters touched my heart once again. Highly recommended.

The second of the Cal Hooper books, here Trey Reddy’s father Johnny has returned after a four year absence and very few people are happy to see him….at first. But he comes with a scheme and with a partner from London to back him. Soon he has a number of the locals involved and Cal jumps in too, thinking he’ll best protect Trey that way. Big surprise, things don’t go as planned and Cal, Trey and the town are all threatened.

Like most readers I love Tana French but I wasn’t that crazy about the first Cal Hooper book, so I was a little disappointed to see another visit the the Irish badlands. However, I enjoyed this outing much more than the first. There was more Lena, more Trey (who is growing up) and I found the less Cal the more I liked the book. I still hope French doesn’t write only about Hooper in the future, but this was satisfying. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking for the opportunity to read The Hunter by Tana French.

Excellent! There's no one quite like Tana French when it comes to writing complex plots and characters. This was worth the wait.