One of my favorite parts of these books is the characters. Always a sucker for character development, these characters are just so… real. They have real problems, they could be your neighbors! The dilemmas they encounter is not necessarily something the average Joe might deal with but the way they approach the problem, or consider the options is something that you or I might do in the same situation. For some reason I feel like that aspect of these books makes her writing so engulfing. You get sucked in to these events and it’s the people who keep you there. The environment certainly doesn’t hurt either though.

Even though was the second book in this series one doesn’t have to have read the first to relate to Cal. This started off slow for me and just as I was going to give it up the pace picked up. Loved the Irish setting, the villagers and their gossiping ways, a good mystery with a twist. Looking forward to more in this series. 3.5 stars

Tana French the woman that you are.....
This took me a while to get into, as with most French books I think that a solid chunk could be cut to improve the pacing. But I just adore these characters, and I was so pleased to return to them. The character development was lovely and every big moment was earned. I will always recommend Tana French novels to my friends and audience.

This is a riveting, elegant story of rural Ireland. Cal Hooper, who took early retirement from Chicago PD comes to the small town to escape his violent life as a police officer. He becomes part of the town but violence threaten those he loves. This is different from French's other works, more subtle and slow moving and it is lovely.

I greatly enjoyed The Hunter by Tana French. I loved the setting in the rural Irish countryside, and the many different locals depicted in the small Irish village. Cal Hooper, retired police officer, now lives in Ireland as a furniture restorer and has a relationship with a local woman named Lena. He has a soft spot for a young teen named Trey, who has been dealt a bad hand with an absent father, poverty, and the isolation that comes with living on the mountain. Cal takes Trey under his wing and teachers her his craft, as well as puts her on a path towards a good future. One day, Trey's father Johnny returns to the village with an Englishman; both tell tales of hidden gold in the mountains. Johnny convinces the locals to participate in this get-rich-quick scheme. However, what they dont know is that Johnny owes a great deal of money to the Englishman and he is not the posh gentleman he presents himself as. He's really a gangster who will stop at nothing to get his money. When a dead body is found, everyone, including Cal, is under suspicion. They all have a motive....but who is the real killer?

I love Tana French and I feel like it has been SO LONG since I have seen something new from her. Definitely worth the wait and did not disappoint. Recommended it to friends who also loved it.

Not sure why I’ve not read Tana French before now..
The Hunter had it all-
Great writing, colorful characters and an underlying mystery…
Will definitely go back and read The Searcher which introduces these characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I have read every Tana French novel, and will continue to do so. She is a phenomenal writer who is a master of a slow burn with well-developed characters. This one took me a bit longer to get into, but I felt a lingering fondness for Trey from the first book in the series and wanted to see the next chapter in her story. If you're a Tana French fan, you'l love this book.

Tana French can do no wrong - I said it. I loved The Searcher and was little hesitant about The Hunter because I didn't know what to expect in this Irish village, but oh boy - this did not disappoint. French's characters are so three dimensional - they just feel real. I want to crawl inside of her books and live there amongst these people. Even if the mystery took a little while to get going, I didn't care because I just wanted to hang out. I live for edge-of-your-seat thrillers, but for Tana French I want it to be a slow burn. Highly recommended for anyone who loves French's other novels!

If your tastes in a mystery runs towards non-stop pounding action with a completely unexpected twist thrown in, THE HUNTER is not your book. If however, you prefer a beautifully written, character driven, nuanced, atmospheric mystery that does not skimp on plot, I can't recommend THE HUNTER strongly enough.

This is the second in the Cal Hooper series and, although both it and the first, THE SEARCHER, can be read as a standalone, they benefit from being read in order. This one starts a couple of years after the first ended and, this time around, Cal's protégé Trey Reddy's up-to-no-good father, Johnny, has returned to town with a scheme. He brings with him an Englishman claiming an Irish heritage who plays a major role in Johnny's get-rich-quick scheme. Trey gets caught up in the scheme, in large part because she has her own agenda. Cal gets caught up in it as well, mainly in an attempt to protect Trey. As the townspeople are whipped into a frenzy by the scheme and its consequences, a murder occurs and both Trey and Cal are endangered.

Throughout the book, the skill with which French builds the complicated characters of Trey, Cal, Johnny, and the townspeople surrounding and impacting them, makes each one of them feel entirely real. The book extends well beyond a psychological mystery to become more of a sociological one, as the way that information is valued and moves between its members in the village of Ardnaktley plays a major role in the plot. With varying skill levels, the main characters attempt to manipulate the townspeople first, and then the detective dealing with the murder, by channeling the information flow in one direction or another. This is a fascinating approach not often seen in mysteries, but highly effective in plot development. Action follows information, and that action leads us to a dramatic conclusion.

French also writes beautifully about the environment in which the action takes place. A fire is evocatively described: "The sound of it reaches them very faintly and gentled, like the shell-echo of a faraway ocean." The writing sometimes begs for a re-reading to savor its beauty. This can slow the pace of the book, but in a very good way. I am enraptured by the world that French has created in Ardnakelty and by the characters she has placed there. I cannot wait for book number three in the series!

Another great book from the magnificent storyteller, Tana French! She takes me away to this little village in Ireland with a dark side. Here unforgettable characters and twisty crimes make this latest entry unputdownable!

This is the Cal Hooper thriller? The retired Chicago police officer has retired to Ireland. Teenager Trey (Teresa) Reddy is learning carpentry from him. Her father, Johnny, who disappeared a few years earlier, returns with another man claiming there is gold in the area. As tensions mount, there is a murder. This is a good thriller, although too long.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. The Hunter is classic French and a great addition to the series. Make sure that you read the first Cal Hooper book before enjoying The Hunter.

3.5 star read for me.

The Hunter by Tana French is a compelling mystery novel that delves into the hidden depths of a close-knit Irish community. While some prior knowledge of the series opener, **The Searcher**, might enhance certain references, French expertly crafts a standalone story that allows new readers to dive right in.

The narrative unfolds at a steady pace, drawing the reader into the small-town atmosphere with immersive prose. Cal Hooper, the retired cop from Chicago, takes a backseat in this installment. Instead, the story revolves around an ensemble cast of residents, each with their own secrets and motivations. This shift in focus might not appeal to everyone who enjoyed Cal's central role in the first book.

French's talent for character development shines through. The townspeople become almost tangible, their struggles and complexities interwoven into the fabric of the mystery. The novel could be classified as a literary mystery, as it prioritizes character exploration alongside the central whodunit.

The Hunter is a captivating read for those who appreciate intricate characters and a strong sense of place. However, readers seeking a fast-paced, action-driven thriller might find the deliberate pacing a touch slow. Fans of the first book will likely find this sequel enjoyable, but the focus on the town itself over Cal might leave some wanting more from the retired detective.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

French's prose and dialog win the day, per usual. Character and environment spectacularly crafted. Ultimately the success of various grifter's "acting" to pull of scenarios is unbelievable and the end result of the story is not satisfying nor that interesting. Overall excellent setup and enjoyable read.

I'm such a Tana French fan and this book was another winner. Great writing--especially the dialogue, characters that get into your head and heart. Loved it from beginning to end.

I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindleI lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry! and couldn't redownload it.
Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!

3.5 rounded up

Thanks for the ARC Netgalley! I ended up using a Libro credit for this one because I loved Roger Clark’s narration in the first book in this series, which was just as stellar here. I didn’t find this mystery as compelling as its predecessor’s, but it was nice being back in Cal’s world.

Cal is still enjoying his quiet Irish countryside life after retiring from the Chicago PD. He has a dog, a great girlfriend, and loves his time with Trey Reddy (a local kid who looks up to him and helps with building.) Then Trey’s absentee father comes back into town with a get rich quick scheme and is trying to pull the wool over the community’s eyes. Cal wants to protect Trey no matter the cost, but Trey is angry and wants revenge. The two are at odds when they find a dead body in town connected to it all.

French is so skilled at writing atmospheric Irish locations and flawed, real relationships. While this one was an even slower burn than “The Searcher,” I enjoyed being back with Cal and Trey. I love their dynamic and would without a doubt read more books about them. I just found the mystery itself a little bland - and also not entering the book until over halfway. But if you liked the first book in this series, you’ll love being reunited with this characters.

✨Trigger Warnings: Murder, Child Abuse, Animal Cruelty

I'm woefully late to reviewing this, but I did enjoy it! I haven't read Tana French in years but liked her Dublin Murder Squad series well enough, so I requested this one not realizing it was a sequel. I've had friends tell me they didn't care much for Cal Hooper in the first book and that the pacing is too slow; this features Trey more than Cal and clips along toward the end (though it drags a touch at the beginning as French establishes a sense of place), so those who didn't enjoy the first one might like the second. Oof; what a village...

I did not realize this was a follow-up to The Searcher, which I shamefully have not read yet! Review to come.