Reviews

A boiling hot summer in a remote Irish village. The crops are failing, the cattle haven't got enough food and everyone is tired and sweaty. It is at this very moment, when everyone is vulnerable because of the ferocious heat that one local guy comes back from London with promises of gold on their land. A handful of farmers are attracted by the tall tales; some out of boredom, some out of necessity. For Cal, it is because he wants to know how he will need to protect his young friend Trey from her returning father.
The talk amongst the townspeople is slippery and communication with half words is difficult for Cal to be interpreted correctly at best of times, but in the sweltering heat, the lack of clarity builds up to dangerous assumptions. And when a murder happens, the moment comes to show allegiances and to bury any grudges to protect your loved ones.
Just as in the previous book 'The Searcher', the mystery is merely a baseplate on which the characters are build. The book is all about Cal, Trey and Lena, small time crooks and their scams, and shifty townspeople. But the main character is the small village itself and the flow of talks, how a few words here and there can make or brake a reputation and how fragile and futile the truth really is.
The story focuses more on the village, and the surrounding nature and the perpetual rhythms of long warm days, in that regard it certainly reminded me of Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor.
It is an exceptionally good slow burn, with insights in human nature, where all of the characters are intriguing and the mystery -although not the focus- is very well spun.

lpaini_16's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

leannehymes's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

tammietam's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jessorella's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was so grateful to read an advance copy of this book as I loved the prequel so much. It was wonderful to be back with Cal and Trey and the other characters, this time with the mysterious return of Trey's dad and a scheme that sounds all well and good - until it isn't. The mystery and the plot grow ever darker, until a highly tense peak towards the end in which twisty things occur in a very satisfying way.

There's so much I love about these books, but the characters are the real stand-outs. Each of them is so unique, and the dialogue blows me away every time. The book might be longer than you think you have the patience for, especially in the summer, but you wouldn't regret picking this story up. For the time it takes to read it, you will truly be living inside of it. My thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.

More...