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michelle_mightbereading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
The 5th installment in the Dublin Murder Squad series takes us to a girls' boarding school where one year ago a popular boy from a nearby boys' school was found murdered. When an anonymous postcard declaring "I KNOW WHO KILLED HIM" shows up on the school's "Secret Place" bulletin board, 2 detectives from the murder squad show up to investigate. It is actually Holly Mackey, daughter of the Murder Squad's detective Frank Mackey who brings in the postcard. She is a student at the boarding school. Detectives Antoinette Conway and Stephen Moran reopen the case and spend time interviewing a number of the students trying to determine who put the postcard on the board and who committed the murder.
The narrative switches between Stephen's perspective and the perspective of the girls of the boarding school.
As always with Tana French novels, this was a literary thriller that pretty much pulled me right in. She does a great job creating a cast of characters, this time with 8 boarding school girls, who for me were initially hard to tell apart...but the author does say they all try to groom themselves in a similar manner (Fake tanner, blonde hair, groomed eyebrows etc.) so that may be intentional. I really liked the connection between the two detectives in this story.
What to listen to while reading...
I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab for Cutie
Pretty Girls Make Graves by The Smiths
Glory and Gore by Lorde
The Devil Within by Digital Daggers
One Time by Marian Hill
Secret by The Pierces
Teen Idle by MARINA
The narrative switches between Stephen's perspective and the perspective of the girls of the boarding school.
As always with Tana French novels, this was a literary thriller that pretty much pulled me right in. She does a great job creating a cast of characters, this time with 8 boarding school girls, who for me were initially hard to tell apart...but the author does say they all try to groom themselves in a similar manner (Fake tanner, blonde hair, groomed eyebrows etc.) so that may be intentional. I really liked the connection between the two detectives in this story.
What to listen to while reading...
I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab for Cutie
Pretty Girls Make Graves by The Smiths
Glory and Gore by Lorde
The Devil Within by Digital Daggers
One Time by Marian Hill
Secret by The Pierces
Teen Idle by MARINA
fantasynovel's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, I know this book had flaws. But GODDAMN was this book fun!! This review is more of a rave than a review, and it's entirely full of spoilers(ish).
So, first of all, the viewpoint switching. At first, I really thought that would detract from my reading experience, y'know? But it turns out that while the Stephen chapters were my favorites (and the ones I'll probably read, not skim, on a reread), the girls' chapters were spooky, funny, engaging, and just so boarding school. Going to boarding school has always been a dream of mine, right behind immortality and gaining the ability to fly. Even Secret Place couldn't change my mind. I also wasn't so sure about the blatant witchery at first. Although French has always dabbled in the supernatural, this was a good helping of magic. But, just like the viewpoints, it grew on me.
I do have issues. Like, if Holly is so smart, shouldn't she have figured out the killer was right underneath her nose? And the murderer seemed like more an idea than a real living, breathing character. And Frank Mackey finally crossed the line from "stubborn" to "really fucking annoying, Jesus Christ, is this obstruction of justice?" Although, Frank and Holly make a really good team. Maybe Frank will be the killer in a later book and Holly will cover for him?? 10/10 would read. Love that family.
Also, I've never heard anyone say "totes amazeballs". At first I thought this was Irish slang, but then I learned that this was American slang. And I'm American and, like, I don't remember this ever being a thing. Not even in 2014.
Whatever. The Secret Place was totes amazeballs!!
So, first of all, the viewpoint switching. At first, I really thought that would detract from my reading experience, y'know? But it turns out that while the Stephen chapters were my favorites (and the ones I'll probably read, not skim, on a reread), the girls' chapters were spooky, funny, engaging, and just so boarding school. Going to boarding school has always been a dream of mine, right behind immortality and gaining the ability to fly. Even Secret Place couldn't change my mind. I also wasn't so sure about the blatant witchery at first. Although French has always dabbled in the supernatural, this was a good helping of magic. But, just like the viewpoints, it grew on me.
I do have issues. Like, if Holly is so smart, shouldn't she have figured out the killer was right underneath her nose? And the murderer seemed like more an idea than a real living, breathing character. And Frank Mackey finally crossed the line from "stubborn" to "really fucking annoying, Jesus Christ, is this obstruction of justice?" Although, Frank and Holly make a really good team. Maybe Frank will be the killer in a later book and Holly will cover for him?? 10/10 would read. Love that family.
Also, I've never heard anyone say "totes amazeballs". At first I thought this was Irish slang, but then I learned that this was American slang. And I'm American and, like, I don't remember this ever being a thing. Not even in 2014.
Whatever. The Secret Place was totes amazeballs!!
chelseatm's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was exactly the kind of detective novel I loved. Slooooow. I know that sounds strange but I love slowly building detective series where you are witness to the detectives' thought process and the compilation of evidence rather than receiving some lucky break that feels like I'll get whiplash following all the twists and turns. It feels closer to reality. It also feels like I'm given the chance to solve the mystery as well.
I think a better way to explain this is if you like the methodical writing of the Robert Gailbraith Cormoran Strike series, you'll appreciate this book.
Highly recommended.
I think a better way to explain this is if you like the methodical writing of the Robert Gailbraith Cormoran Strike series, you'll appreciate this book.
Highly recommended.
laverrrne's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed it, but:
1. I’m not the kind of person who attempts to solve mystery books as I read, but I thought this was incredibly obvious.
2. Speaking the phrase ‘hashtag’ and wearing Uggs as fashion are not time periods that overlapped.
1. I’m not the kind of person who attempts to solve mystery books as I read, but I thought this was incredibly obvious.
2. Speaking the phrase ‘hashtag’ and wearing Uggs as fashion are not time periods that overlapped.
rachelsonnet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
A coming of age murder mystery that focuses on the power of girlhood and friendship. This was almost perfect for me, except I guessed the ending very early on. It doesn’t matter in French’s work though as I still wanted to know why. That is what sets her mysteries apart from the rest. The twists and turns lead you to learn something about the characters and yourself. I was deeply reminded of my time in high school, how our lives felt so big and small all at the same time and why my high school girl friends are still in my dreams at night.
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
5.0
Tana French never disappoints me. Her novels are interesting and her prose is often very lovely. This particular story is set in a girls boarding school.
Holly Mackey (who French fans may remember as Frank Mackey's daughter) brings Detective Stephen Moran a photo of a boy who was found murdered on the grounds of the boarding school the year previously. The photo was posted on a board where the girls are encouraged to create art or poetry to post anonymously as an outlet for creativity and to reduce gossip (yeah right, but they tried). The photo is captioned "I know who killed him".
Stephen Moran thinks this could be his break into the desirable Dublin Murder Squad (he currently works cold cases). But in order to do that, he must win over the tough-as-nails Antoinette Conway, who is the detective on the case. The story takes them to the boarding school, and I won't say much else now for the sake of avoiding spoilers. I will say you do get appearances by the magnificent Frank Mackey, of course.
The story is told in present day and then moves back in time to before the boy (Chris) was murdered. Those chapters are told from the point of view of the girls. I loved the way Tana French used this story-telling style, because it made you see the vulnerability of the girls in a way that you didn't see from the detectives' point of view. To the detectives, the girls are sassy and secretive and flippant (basically, they are teenage girls). But in their voices you see them as children, navigating their way towards adulthood.
I saw some people say they figured out the whodunnits early on. I personally did not, although I didn't really try to think it through either. Honestly, the why is what is most compelling in this book. The teachers, the students, the detectives, the staff at the school--all are well done as characters.
Holly Mackey (who French fans may remember as Frank Mackey's daughter) brings Detective Stephen Moran a photo of a boy who was found murdered on the grounds of the boarding school the year previously. The photo was posted on a board where the girls are encouraged to create art or poetry to post anonymously as an outlet for creativity and to reduce gossip (yeah right, but they tried). The photo is captioned "I know who killed him".
Stephen Moran thinks this could be his break into the desirable Dublin Murder Squad (he currently works cold cases). But in order to do that, he must win over the tough-as-nails Antoinette Conway, who is the detective on the case. The story takes them to the boarding school, and I won't say much else now for the sake of avoiding spoilers. I will say you do get appearances by the magnificent Frank Mackey, of course.
The story is told in present day and then moves back in time to before the boy (Chris) was murdered. Those chapters are told from the point of view of the girls. I loved the way Tana French used this story-telling style, because it made you see the vulnerability of the girls in a way that you didn't see from the detectives' point of view. To the detectives, the girls are sassy and secretive and flippant (basically, they are teenage girls). But in their voices you see them as children, navigating their way towards adulthood.
I saw some people say they figured out the whodunnits early on. I personally did not, although I didn't really try to think it through either. Honestly, the why is what is most compelling in this book. The teachers, the students, the detectives, the staff at the school--all are well done as characters.