A review by tonimcl
The Hunter by Tana French

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The Hunter is the second book in a series set in rural Ireland, viewed through a decidedly unromantic lens. I know people who love Dublin Murder Squad tend to not like this series, but I did. I also think the character arcs will be more satisfying for those who read The Searcher first (my one beef is that French could have spent any amount of time listening to how people from Chicago talk to inform Cal's dialogue). 

The dialogue in The Hunter crackles in this book, and I laughed out loud many times. This story explores how good and evil can take many forms, how you can both love and despise the place you call home, what the hunger for revenge can do to someone's moral compass, what it means to love someone enough to let them find their own way--or to stop them from being a dumbass, what people without power will do when pushed too far, and one of my favorite charming, manipulative villains (and I'm not talking about Johnny Reddy) - are all explored with French's deft touch. I hope she revisits these characters again, though I'm not sure my heart can take some of them going through what they do in this story again.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings