sarahandika 's review for:

In the Woods by Tana French

4.0

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I read a review that said the real victims of any Tana French novel are the readers—and I couldn’t agree more. This is not a book for anyone who values peace of mind or prefers neatly tied-up endings. What you do get is the kind of mindf*ck you expect from a brilliantly executed psychological thriller. And trust me, this one keeps you guessing from start to finish. 

In the Woods is a story of two murders—one from twenty years ago and one in the present—linked by the lead detective, Rob Ryan, who was the sole survivor and witness of the earlier case. Now investigating a new murder with his partner Cassie, Ryan finds himself navigating two timelines, two mysteries, and his own haunted past. But more than just a twisty thriller, this book is the unraveling of a man. Rob Ryan doesn’t just carry trauma—he embodies it, and it permeates every aspect of the case, his career, and his relationships. 

From the beginning, Ryan admits he is not a trustworthy narrator: 

“What I am telling you, before you begin my story, is this—two things: I crave truth. And I lie.” 

This warning sets the tone and puts you on alert from the get go. It’s 1st person POV so we only know what Ryan chooses to reveal, all the while questioning whether his account is filtered, biased, or deliberately misleading. And because he is the only living witness to a possibly connected past crime, there is this hanging shadow of doubt and complicity that never truly leaves him—or us as readers. And because of this, the mystery isn’t just about the victims. It’s also about the man telling the story. French masterfully explores his psychology, and as layers of the case are slowly revealed, what unfolds is not just gripping but deeply unsettling. This book has a lot of emotional baggage that lingers long after the final page, which makes it easy to see why this was a celebrated debut. 

That said, I did find the pacing a bit sluggish in parts. The novel felt too long at times, and I would have preferred more plot momentum to counterbalance the introspective depth. But perhaps the slow burn is intentional—it mirrors the ache and confusion of unsolved trauma. 

A bold and controversial choice in this novel is the deliberate decision not to resolve the cold case. I’ll admit, it still makes my eye twitch. That unanswered question will live rent-free in my mind for years. But I also respect the realism. As Ryan says, many detectives retire with at least one case that haunts them – and French makes us the readers, the collateral damage of this reality, and it hits hard. Obviously, In the real world, the guilty walk free, trauma often goes untreated, and love doesn’t always last and French confronts you with all these uncomfortable truths.

This was a sharp departure from the cozy Hercule Poirot mysteries I usually gravitate toward, but I’m glad I read it. I doubt I’ll pick up another Tana French novel soon—not because her work isn’t fantastic, but because I don’t think I could emotionally handle it again.