A review by jedbird
The Witch Elm by Tana French

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

3.0

It takes forever for anything to happen. Toby, the protagonist, is an oblivious turnip who has always had an easy time in life. This is an incredibly slow-moving story, but eventually a burglary and beat-down send him to the ancestral home with his pixie girlfriend in tow. His uncle is dying of brain cancer and the family seems to think Toby can be of some use while he's healing from his injuries. Finally, eventually, Cousin Susanna's kids find a human skull in the garden. This (and the rest of the skeleton) belonged to a guy Toby knew and thought was all right because he was nice enough to Toby, though other people have negative memories of being bullied. Finally, eventually, the killer is revealed and it's who I th0ught it would be. 

I really loved the first two Dublin Murder Squad books when they came out, so I keep trying Tana French books and keep being disappointed.