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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Definitely one of the best books I have read in a while. From start to finish I could not put this book down. Tana French has a talent to make the story more than just a murder case. Her characters are intriguing and well developed.
Probably my least favorite of the series so far, but still a really good read!
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The sense of desolation in the nearly abandoned development was creepy, intensifying the Spain's isolation and paranoia. I enjoyed the detectives in this case, although generally prefer a happier ending. This ended on a mournful note not only for the victims and their family but for Mike and his family as well.
mysterious
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
It was the holes that got me - they kept me terrified throughout the whole book, even when the plot was moving slowly. I don't like Mick "Scorcher" Kennedy much compared to the detectives that have held the main roles in previous French novels, but he was still alright.
"Over time, the ghosts of things that happened start to turn distant; once they've cut you a couple of million times, their edges blunt on your scar tissue, they wear thin. The ones that slice like razors forever are the ghosts of things that never got the chance to happen."
"Over time, the ghosts of things that happened start to turn distant; once they've cut you a couple of million times, their edges blunt on your scar tissue, they wear thin. The ones that slice like razors forever are the ghosts of things that never got the chance to happen."
I'm such a fan of Tana French, but this book just didn't do it for me. I won't give up on her though - her first three books were great. The error with this one was picking an unlikable character to focus on. And unlike some of her other characters, he was not redeemed. Still, the story is decent and the book has those moments of French's beautiful writing, although not with the same intensity as her first 3 novels. Hoping the next one is more like the first three, all of which were 4 - 5 stars.
adventurous
dark
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:
Yes
WOW.
I've enjoyed all of the Dublin Murder Squad books, and for me, they've gotten better and better as the series has continued. I liked the first one, but I think the later ones have done a fantastic job bringing deeper issues into the stories. Broken Harbor explores mental health in multiple ways--how someone else's mental state can affect your own, the impact location can have on your thoughts, the ways in which we trick ourselves into thinking that everything is, or will be, just fine. It explores the lengths people go to to protect the ones they love, as well as the accompanying guilt. My one issue with it is
Anyway, Tana French continues to be fantastic.
I've enjoyed all of the Dublin Murder Squad books, and for me, they've gotten better and better as the series has continued. I liked the first one, but I think the later ones have done a fantastic job bringing deeper issues into the stories. Broken Harbor explores mental health in multiple ways--how someone else's mental state can affect your own, the impact location can have on your thoughts, the ways in which we trick ourselves into thinking that everything is, or will be, just fine. It explores the lengths people go to to protect the ones they love, as well as the accompanying guilt. My one issue with it is
Spoiler
that everything with Dina gets wrapped up so quickly. I understand that it's meant to show that her actions are par for the course, and that this is how she is and that when you have mentally ill family members, sometimes fitting them into your life is just what you have to do, but I really wanted her to get help, or (and yes, I know this sounds awful) for her to die. I have a very short fuse now when it comes to dealing with other people, so when Kennedy screamed at her, I cheered. I did the same thing when Jonah yelled at his siblings in When We Collided---I don't like martyrs, or characters who take care of people and never get angry. That's not how it works, it's not healthy to be someone who never gets angry. And I just had no tolerance for Dina and I wanted her to go away, because she's not someone I could deal with in real life.Anyway, Tana French continues to be fantastic.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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