Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
i pick one of these once a year, usually around january - so going back to this series always screams "summer!" to me. which is probably an unusual feeling to have because they are bleak, dense, often depressing reads. is there any other kind of book better to read at a beach under the scorching sun? not for me, there isn't!
jokes aside, tana french continues to marvel me with the way she masters her words. every sentence is well thought-out and has its place in the story. for the first time since i started this series, i was actually interested in the mystery investigated (it's usually way more about the characters than the case for me), which was a plus. it would've been a five-star, no questions asked, if detective scorcher weren't such a casually mysoginistic man. but alas, we can't have everything.
jokes aside, tana french continues to marvel me with the way she masters her words. every sentence is well thought-out and has its place in the story. for the first time since i started this series, i was actually interested in the mystery investigated (it's usually way more about the characters than the case for me), which was a plus. it would've been a five-star, no questions asked, if detective scorcher weren't such a casually mysoginistic man. but alas, we can't have everything.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great book, although not my favorite of hers. Still, it was very very good, and I like the way the author turned a formerly bit character into a fully flushed out human with a complete back story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder
One of the great things about Tana French is that she believes in classic tragedy--that a hero should be admirable, but also that he should have flaws that ultimately prove to be his undoing. She often has her heroes voice this thought, in modern-speak, in detective-speak; it is these flaws that will prove the criminals' undoing. And those who are a bit wiser have figured out that their own flaws may prove their undoing, so they are on guard against them. But French knows that we are aware of only some of our flaws, and even those, we spin and minimize, while being utterly blind to others. Sometimes, we are unaware of them because they are too painful to contemplate. Other times, we simply haven't yet been in the circumstances that we will respond to in a maladaptive way. Perfectly self-actualized we may strive to be, but to stay that way, we would have to live under a cloche. And even there, life continues to change.
In Broken Harbour, narrated in the first person, Mike Kennedy, a middle-aged police detective has worked hard to own his mistakes, to recognize his own nature, to live by simple rules, to be humble enough that he can adjust to other people, to the circumstances of each case and to the chaos his mentally ill sister occasionally visits upon him and the rest of the family. His watchword is "control." Kennedy is pleasant with colleagues, even the unpleasant ones, but does not foster close relationships that would require vulnerability. He is always willing to support new detectives, to help them get a start but also to avoid becoming entwined in a partnership; even good partners bring--and cause-liabilities.
The case he and Richie Curran, the newest squad detecive, work on involves a murdered family; seemingly, an out-of-work father snapped. But those who knew the family are more inclined to describe them as perfect, deeply in love, capable of coping with setbacks, and a childhood friend has been on the scene in a suspicious way. Kennedy is ready with multiple tips and rules, ready to lead and teach, but he also finds that his new partner has natural gifts and a deep love of the job. As his acceptance grows of Curran, so too does his recognition that they work well together, playing off one another's strengths. He begins to imagine that they might be able to create a longer-term partnership. He even begins to imagine that he might open up to Curran, letting someone know of the strain he is under with his sister's self-destructive and deeply enmeshing personality.
No floodgates open. But this chink of light blinds Kennedy to a shadow...he knows his partner is doing his best to slow aspects of the investigation, to turn attention away from the obvious suspect, and he believes his partner is doing so to be careful, to keep an open mind, and a small part of him thinks that his partner, in his idealistic youth, in his admiration for his mentor, might be judging him, assuming he's too quick to close in on a suspect but not wanting to say so. Touching, so Kennedy doesn't shut him down. Touching, but also--maybe Curran is able to see something that Kennedy doesn't let himself see. So, Kennedy allows the unspoken things to remain unspoken. And thus, because of this particular case and this particular partner, his control, his humility, and his vulnerability become his tragic flaws. The case is solved--correctly. Justice is served--properly. But Kennedy sees that he can no longer be a detective.
In Broken Harbour, narrated in the first person, Mike Kennedy, a middle-aged police detective has worked hard to own his mistakes, to recognize his own nature, to live by simple rules, to be humble enough that he can adjust to other people, to the circumstances of each case and to the chaos his mentally ill sister occasionally visits upon him and the rest of the family. His watchword is "control." Kennedy is pleasant with colleagues, even the unpleasant ones, but does not foster close relationships that would require vulnerability. He is always willing to support new detectives, to help them get a start but also to avoid becoming entwined in a partnership; even good partners bring--and cause-liabilities.
The case he and Richie Curran, the newest squad detecive, work on involves a murdered family; seemingly, an out-of-work father snapped. But those who knew the family are more inclined to describe them as perfect, deeply in love, capable of coping with setbacks, and a childhood friend has been on the scene in a suspicious way. Kennedy is ready with multiple tips and rules, ready to lead and teach, but he also finds that his new partner has natural gifts and a deep love of the job. As his acceptance grows of Curran, so too does his recognition that they work well together, playing off one another's strengths. He begins to imagine that they might be able to create a longer-term partnership. He even begins to imagine that he might open up to Curran, letting someone know of the strain he is under with his sister's self-destructive and deeply enmeshing personality.
No floodgates open. But this chink of light blinds Kennedy to a shadow...he knows his partner is doing his best to slow aspects of the investigation, to turn attention away from the obvious suspect, and he believes his partner is doing so to be careful, to keep an open mind, and a small part of him thinks that his partner, in his idealistic youth, in his admiration for his mentor, might be judging him, assuming he's too quick to close in on a suspect but not wanting to say so. Touching, so Kennedy doesn't shut him down. Touching, but also--maybe Curran is able to see something that Kennedy doesn't let himself see. So, Kennedy allows the unspoken things to remain unspoken. And thus, because of this particular case and this particular partner, his control, his humility, and his vulnerability become his tragic flaws. The case is solved--correctly. Justice is served--properly. But Kennedy sees that he can no longer be a detective.
Easily the best in the series. One of the best books I've read in forever. So good. Wouldn't read it if you're pregnant or have littles running around, hormones do strange things to you. My youngest is three and I still had a few moments of complete panic.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is my least favorite Dublin Murder Squad book so far. I thought the mystery was easy to figure out, and the long scenes interviewing suspects were repetitive. I was also disgruntled by the ending.
I just think I may not enjoy this genre anymore. Cop thrillers just don't seem to thrill me much anymore. They bore me.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is probably my least favorite of the Dublin Murder Squad series. It could be the narrator though. J liked his narration for the main character, but he changed his voice for females and they were GRATING and obnoxious. It almost felt sexist. Ha!
5 Stars
Don't let the amount of days fool you, with the quality of this book. I have had a very busy life in the 26 days it took me to read this. Technically, I read 300 pages in 2 days; so I read it in 3 days... right??
Anyway. This book is a book full of grief. Guilt. Madness. Questions. Yes, questions. Why do people do what they do?? Not just murder; but why do they love, hurt, cry, work, exist the way that they do?? If you notice with each novel; our detectives are full of their own mysteries. Mysterious pasts and fake present. They wear a mask; just as the criminals do.
We have a few suspects, and no easy answers on this one. I think that because of this, and our murderous location; this sets "Scorcher" Kennedy on a path that he thought could never happen. He realizes that everything is not so black and white. There are shades of gray.
Highly recommended.
Edited for correction: 1/18/17 (spelling/grammatical errors)
Don't let the amount of days fool you, with the quality of this book. I have had a very busy life in the 26 days it took me to read this. Technically, I read 300 pages in 2 days; so I read it in 3 days... right??
Anyway. This book is a book full of grief. Guilt. Madness. Questions. Yes, questions. Why do people do what they do?? Not just murder; but why do they love, hurt, cry, work, exist the way that they do?? If you notice with each novel; our detectives are full of their own mysteries. Mysterious pasts and fake present. They wear a mask; just as the criminals do.
We have a few suspects, and no easy answers on this one. I think that because of this, and our murderous location; this sets "Scorcher" Kennedy on a path that he thought could never happen. He realizes that everything is not so black and white. There are shades of gray.
Highly recommended.
Edited for correction: 1/18/17 (spelling/grammatical errors)
Possibly my favorite of her books. Good stuff, hard to put down.