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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
Detective Antoinette Conway dreamed about joining the murder squad, but years later it isn’t what she thought it would be. Vicious pranks and harassment around every corner, from everyone except her partner, Stephen Moran. When another by-the-numbers lover’s quarrel gone bad is handed to them and their commander assigns them a babysitter ‘seasoned’ detective, Conway is seriously considering handing in her notice.
Conway and Moran work hard to piece together what should be an easy enough heat of the moment crime to solve. But none of the pieces surrounding the life and murder of Aislinn Murray are fitting together the way they should be. Plus, Conway knows that she’s encountered the murder victim somewhere before. With their ‘babysitter’ detective pressuring them to arrest Aislinn’s new boyfriend, a busy-body reporter making them look bad, Aislinn’s friend hinting that she knew Aislinn might have been in danger, and a shadowy figure watching Antoinette’s home from up the hilly road things are beginning to point towards a conspiracy. The only question now is this conspiracy in their heads? In Aislinn’s life? Or in their department?
Being someone that enjoys a good mystery, author Tana French is a welcome addition to a ‘must read’ list. Antoinette was a really great character to follow, she is just enough of a strong willed female that you rally behind her, but also belligerent and stubborn enough to find irritating at times too. With her mixed heritage and almost abrasive attitude, readers can’t tell if perceived prejudices are because of her personality or actual discriminatory prejudices. We do know that it is because of her abrasive personality that tension rises between co-workers, forcing Conway and Moran to find creative ways to investigate their case.
Enjoyable all around read that is a great introduction to this author. I wasn't aware that it was part of a series when I picked it up but will definitely go back and read some of the other novels now!
Conway and Moran work hard to piece together what should be an easy enough heat of the moment crime to solve. But none of the pieces surrounding the life and murder of Aislinn Murray are fitting together the way they should be. Plus, Conway knows that she’s encountered the murder victim somewhere before. With their ‘babysitter’ detective pressuring them to arrest Aislinn’s new boyfriend, a busy-body reporter making them look bad, Aislinn’s friend hinting that she knew Aislinn might have been in danger, and a shadowy figure watching Antoinette’s home from up the hilly road things are beginning to point towards a conspiracy. The only question now is this conspiracy in their heads? In Aislinn’s life? Or in their department?
Being someone that enjoys a good mystery, author Tana French is a welcome addition to a ‘must read’ list. Antoinette was a really great character to follow, she is just enough of a strong willed female that you rally behind her, but also belligerent and stubborn enough to find irritating at times too. With her mixed heritage and almost abrasive attitude, readers can’t tell if perceived prejudices are because of her personality or actual discriminatory prejudices. We do know that it is because of her abrasive personality that tension rises between co-workers, forcing Conway and Moran to find creative ways to investigate their case.
Enjoyable all around read that is a great introduction to this author. I wasn't aware that it was part of a series when I picked it up but will definitely go back and read some of the other novels now!
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Some elusive quality that had infused the prior stories was missing here—Antoinette, I hardly knew ye. Despite being in her head and processing her thoughts for some 400 pages, I still didn't know who she really was behind the no-nonsense exterior and brittle interior. The plot is formulaic here to an extent; the lone female cop versus the old boys' club, toss in some paranoia, deceit, betrayals; mix. But the things that matter here are deeper: the psychological uncertainty, the nuances in the interactions between Conway and Moran and Breslin and the people they come across. The parallels between father figures and Conway versus Aislynn are nicely done, but what bothered me most was probably the deux ex machina, uncalled for, that was Conway's father randomly showing up in the thick of things and then exiting stage right with no fanfare, but conveniently igniting the spark in Conway's thinking that eventually led her down the right path. My main issue is that I felt like I never really knew who Conway was as a character—her backstory, her context, her life outside being a Murder D—nor for that matter Moran (albeit this may be because we were not in his head this time around).
Couldn't decide between 3 or 4. I really love Tana French books but this one was not my favorite. Still, I'll be watching for the next edition:)
The best Tana French book yet. Truly interesting all he way through and keeps you guessing until the end. And unlike some previous French novels, this one has a satisfying ending for the reader.
My first Dublin murder squad book. Likely my last. That is all.
The interviews and spilling, fountaining, spewing confessions get to be a bit much/unrealistic, but as always, French has such great pacing and delicious jerks of characters that you find you can suspend a lot of belief (and eye-rolling) and enjoy it anyway.
The first half of this book I found quite difficult, it wasn't gripping me and I found my mind wandering to other things and having to keep re reading pages. By the second half of the book I got to grips with the style of writing and couldn't put the book down. A few twists and turns and kept me guessing until the end.