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A review by antiopelle
The Hunter by Tana French
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A boiling hot summer in a remote Irish village. The crops are failing, the cattle haven't got enough food and everyone is tired and sweaty. It is at this very moment, when everyone is vulnerable because of the ferocious heat that one local guy comes back from London with promises of gold on their land. A handful of farmers are attracted by the tall tales; some out of boredom, some out of necessity. For Cal, it is because he wants to know how he will need to protect his young friend Trey from her returning father.
The talk amongst the townspeople is slippery and communication with half words is difficult for Cal to be interpreted correctly at best of times, but in the sweltering heat, the lack of clarity builds up to dangerous assumptions. And when a murder happens, the moment comes to show allegiances and to bury any grudges to protect your loved ones.
Just as in the previous book 'The Searcher', the mystery is merely a baseplate on which the characters are build. The book is all about Cal, Trey and Lena, small time crooks and their scams, and shifty townspeople. But the main character is the small village itself and the flow of talks, how a few words here and there can make or brake a reputation and how fragile and futile the truth really is.
The story focuses more on the village, and the surrounding nature and the perpetual rhythms of long warm days, in that regard it certainly reminded me of Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor.
It is an exceptionally good slow burn, with insights in human nature, where all of the characters are intriguing and the mystery -although not the focus- is very well spun.
The talk amongst the townspeople is slippery and communication with half words is difficult for Cal to be interpreted correctly at best of times, but in the sweltering heat, the lack of clarity builds up to dangerous assumptions. And when a murder happens, the moment comes to show allegiances and to bury any grudges to protect your loved ones.
Just as in the previous book 'The Searcher', the mystery is merely a baseplate on which the characters are build. The book is all about Cal, Trey and Lena, small time crooks and their scams, and shifty townspeople. But the main character is the small village itself and the flow of talks, how a few words here and there can make or brake a reputation and how fragile and futile the truth really is.
The story focuses more on the village, and the surrounding nature and the perpetual rhythms of long warm days, in that regard it certainly reminded me of Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor.
It is an exceptionally good slow burn, with insights in human nature, where all of the characters are intriguing and the mystery -although not the focus- is very well spun.