Reviews with content warning for Cursing - The Searcher

I hadn’t expected to like this one very much - in fact, quite a few meh / disappointed reviews almost had me passing it on to another reader. But it was a birthday gift, and so I felt I should give it a try. I’m so glad I did.

This is a quiet, character driven, literary style of mystery (otherwise known as my favourite kind of mystery). Yes, it’s slow paced. Yes, not a lot “happens,” and what does happen doesn’t come in any kind of rush. But somehow French creates a foreboding sense that kept me turning the pages, curious to know where things were going, and fine with the slow and steady telling.

A strong sense of place is one of the winning qualities of this read, and the relationship between Cal and Trey is quite wonderful. I was surprised to find this one really quite moving by the end. And the audiobook was excellent. Well worth the time - my review lands on the “read it” side of things.

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donaldleitch's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-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

4.0

I was not entirely sure what to expect when I started reading this book. I kept hearing Tana French recommendations and then the Library book club picked it. I am not a big mystery reader, but I would best describe The Searcher as a literary mystery. I would say literary because the initial half of the novel is mainly about character development with glimpses of the mystery. In the Searcher, the characters are not just the people of the the small west coast Irish community, but the community itself. The land is ever present throughout the novel, setting moods and creating connections. It is only in the second part of the novel that the mystery develops.

Since completing the book, I have read several reviews indicating The Searcher is unlike Tana French's other novels, particularly her Dublin Murder Squad series. I cannot speak to that comparison. However, I found The Searcher to be an enjoyable read with solid character development and a good mystery to be resolved.

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moon's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

while tana french's writing is definitely a strong point of this novel, i find it hard to feel as positively for the plot. the pacing was quite slow so it was a challenge for me to get through the first part and the fact that the mystery was so boring didn't help in keeping my attention either. i mostly just kept going because i hate leaving things unfinished. the fomo is strong in this one (me). the conclusion to the mystery was pretty lacklustre and disappointing too because i had the impression that more shit was gonna go down.

that said, i'm a huge fan of the way tana french moulds her characters. all of them feel so authentically human, with their flaws and individualities that set each character apart from the rest. i have my reasons for disliking the main character and others as well, which is why i answered that i didn't find the characters lovable, but trey and lena are an exception. the way i got so attached to trey like she was my own sibling...

my point is, i didn't hate this book due to the brilliant writing, but the other things could be better.

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readerette's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

I've never read anything else by Tana French, but based on this book, I would read more of her work. This book was slow, which I usually don't enjoy as much, but it felt an appropriate pace given the pace of life in the little town. I'm not sure how believable it is that someone who was a law enforcement officer, even a disenchanted one, would allow what he found out to go unreported or would stay in a community where that had occurred, but I can forgive that stretch by the author. Bit too much in the weeds about the sanding and shopping for me, but otherwise I liked how the characters fit together even when they seemed they shouldn't, and I could definitely feel the setting come alive.

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bella_cavicchi's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.75

This was atmospheric and suspenseful and showcased a distinctive cast of characters. I tore through it in a night -- a testament, I think, to how captivating French's writing is.

Related: I think often about our collective engagement with crime novels because the genre's success often relies on a binary sense of justice and the unchecked necessity of policing. What is a thriller in an abolitionist world? It's a question I don't have an immediate answer for, but I really appreciate how French doesn't shy away from it altogether.

Excited to check out her backlist of works!

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haleyapratt's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

3.0

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