The Searcher by Tana French

The Searcher by Tana French Book Summary

BOOK SCORE
4
TOTAL RATINGS
2,630
BOOK PRICE
$13.99

Best Book of 2020
New York Times |NPR | New York Post

"This hushed suspense tale about thwarted dreams of escape may be her best one yet . . . Its own kind of masterpiece." --Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post

"A new Tana French is always cause for celebration . . . Read it once for the plot; read it again for the beauty and subtlety of French's writing." --Sarah Lyall, The New York Times

Cal Hooper thought a fixer-upper in a bucolic Irish village would be the perfect escape. After twenty-five years in the Chicago police force and a bruising divorce, he just wants to build a new life in a pretty spot with a good pub where nothing much happens. But when a local kid whose brother has gone missing arm-twists him into investigating, Cal uncovers layers of darkness beneath his picturesque retreat, and starts to realize that even small towns shelter dangerous secrets.

"One of the greatest crime novelists writing today" (Vox) weaves a masterful, atmospheric tale of suspense, asking how to tell right from wrong in a world where neither is simple, and what we stake on that decision.

The Searcher Book Details

Book Name The Searcher
Genre Mysteries & Thrillers
Author Tana French
Published 06 October 2020, Tuesday
Price $13.99
E-Book Size 2.46 MB

The Searcher by Tana French Book Reviews

Free International Money Transfer 💸

Enjoy high maximum transfers into more than 120 currencies while saving up to 90% over local banks! The cheap, fast way to send money abroad. Free transfer up to 500 USD!

Artymusician

The Searcher. I enjoyed reading this even though I’ve never liked Westerns. Cal and Trey are great characters, but I prefer this author’s other novels. I don’t think I’d like to live in that place, either, but must admit having a group of neighbors willing to do whatever it takes to keep out Dublin gangs to keep the neighborhood safe is tempting. Reminds me of those Charles Bronson movies where he provides vigilante justice.

Boltsfan92

Ok, bad ending. Not a fan of the anticlimactic ending. Good read

Tinbucktwo

Meh. Tedious. Very slow. She writes well but the book really doesn’t go anywhere until the end. An over hyped novel.

Sdienno

Not interesting at all. A very ordinary mystery.

Callanish7

Awful adolescent writing. Not worth the money! The writing is so amateurish. There is too much dialogue,the story is predictable, and the characters are cliches. There are also stupid digressions and everything is a pathetic stereotype. An elementary school kid would have gotten an F for this dreck. The story unfolds so slowly without any real tension or interests and ends poorly. Don't bother!

Notmynickname3

immersive and poetic. The plot is beautifully woven together with the descriptions of the land. The characters are superbly created, with a keen sense of compassion, understanding and depth. Nothing is black and white, it is all in shades of green and blue like the colors of Ireland. The complexity of the plot and characters make the dichotomy between happy and non happy endings superfluous, it is both and neither.

Whitmben

More a piece of literature than a mystery. This differed from Tana’s other books. Though not much of anything happened (particularly for the first half), somehow everything happened. I couldn’t put it down, but it wasn’t because of the mystery, it was in spite of the mystery. The mystery was secondary to the beautiful writing. The characters so developed.

U2zoo2

Unlike any mystery I've ever read.. Unlike any other mystery I've ever read. Total suspense but you won't realize it until the end. While there are specific clues, the whole story from the retired cop's view is the main clue. Good luck! Excellent and unique writer.

Mikey434379

Solid 4 stars. Brings the reader to a locale they’ve likely never been before. All the characters are well drawn, the plot hangs together, and the outcome is realistic. It was my first Tana French but not my last.

Old man and the dog

Worth the wait. It was a slow starter, but the author used that slow start to build characters that I ended up caring very much about, and she used that slow start to create the appropriate atmosphere and to paint a complete picture of the setting. Give it a chance. The payoff is well worth it.

Mpj61

The Searcher. Tana French is a wonderful storyteller….and knows her way around a good mystery. Really entertaining yarn!

Elizabeth Jane

Huge disappointment. The least interesting and most poorly written of all her books. Sorely disappointed. I disliked every single character.

Ould sod

The Searcher. Very good. Probably helped to have just finished Banville’s Snow which is shockingly dreadful

Georgie2018

The Searcher. This author develops her storyline slowly using very lyrical content. At times, the plot line sags but overall, a good read

Todgsmith

Refreshing and engaging accomplishment. A great read. Full of images and a quiet meeting of male and female culturally informed life experiences. All wrapped in a great story. Sorry when it ended but pleased to have gone through journey.

Coffee&teafor2

The Searcher. This is the second book I’ve read by Tana French and not sure how to rate it. Both were very well written and suspenseful, right up to the last page and then what a disappointment. Will probably not buy another book by her.

T Ferfuson

I usually love her stuff. But this book was not it. I trudged through pages and pages of nothing happening only to get to a very boring ending. I kept hoping it would get better but it didn’t. Skip this one imho.

Matt1859

A good read but a bad story. Was a great read well written but the plot was terrible.

Nanniebo

The Searcher. A novel of varying plots of characters, site, and environment. Enjoyed the details of the atmosphere and the sparseness of feeling in his renovation. The undercurrent of good versus evil in this small Irish community feels authentic. A good read.

Ibbbbaaaa

Amazing. My favorite Tana French book. Has all the elements: a excellent story, good pace, perfect amount of details & setting,

Read1st

Not a fan of mysteries…. But Tana French can make it count! A mystery with a good drama to it. French is now on my writer’s watch list!

Apryla

Unsatisfying ending. So French’s books sweep you up in a lot of drama and mystery but then you get to the unsatisfying endings and you feel ripped off. All of her stories could be told in two sentences but they are dragged out to 400-500 pages. You get caught up and for all the time you invest you want a better payoff. Of all her books this one felt the most like the author just ran out of ideas so it ends with the characters eating and looking at the landscape. Okaaay…I loved this book and the ending was full of possibilities but she took the easy way out. It was like “A kid died oh well…he was trash anyway so let’s all move on.” Wow! And I’m sorry but Cal needs to move back to America. He’s just gonna be ok with living near a guy who is deceitful and a murderer and low key like the town mob boss bully. What happens when Cal doesn’t do what he’s told? He needs to convince Trey’s mom to sign her over to him and he needs to take her to America and let her have a normal life. A mother who beats her own child just cause an old geezer tells her to. Ha! She doesn’t deserve those kids. So depressing. Mart should’ve been reported-maybe Brendan dying was truly an accident but all the other indecent stuff he pulled around town (pulling strings to have power over people) should have repercussions. There was no Justice in this story. Very disappointing.

SparkleCookie

Started out but landed flat. Not a fan of this one it started out interesting enough but then started stinking it up and never recovered

Ihave4cats

The Searcher. I was truly excited to buy French’s new novel! However, an Irish Western with an American protagonist is a dull read. I’m halfway through & forcing myself to finish. Cal is boring & predictable, Tre a stereotype of “poor Irish families.” DO NOT recommend buying this, a real dud from an excellent author.

Annahadley91

Enjoyed every page. I could not seem to get this story out of my head . I loved the characters and wanted to know more after it was over . I highly recommend .

Dancequeen3

The Searchers. Tana French is a gifted describer of scene and character. I didn’t want this to end. Dialogue incredible.

Msw cat

A big disappointment. Every character is a cliche. The dialogue is ridiculous and repetitive. I own every one of Tana French’s book and have loved them all with the exception of The Witch Elm which improved somewhat the second time I read it but The Searcher? Even a true fan can’t enjoy this terrible book

Marfy17

Ok. I like the relationship between trey and cal but the book was pretty boring and the investigation was stupid

Stone crap

What’s the point?. I’m not sure about this new genre of Ms French which I guess I can only describe as crime drama gone awry. It’s different, for sure. Very unfulfilling for me as a reader

Clematisnut

Skillful, touching, mystery. Tana French again nails it. In some ways the mystery is the backdrop versus the foreground which is taken with superb character development. I didn’t want it to end because I knew my heart would be wrenched by leaving these characters.

Kckayak

Her best book yet. A great read and wonderful story. So much better edited than her previous books!

Risandeca

Disappointing. I was disappointed. This was a woman’s fantasy about a macho man’s growth as a person. As a guy i didnt believe the protagonist would react to the teen’s acting out the way he did. I didnt believe a retired cop would not envokve the police.

Auggie's Man

Plot 4, characters 6. As one reviewer said, “Read it through for the story, then again for the writing.” Couldn’t have said it better. After I read another of hers I might come back to reread this one.

030549

The Searcher. Disappointed with the ending. Yeah, things seem back to normal. But what about Mart and the guys who led to Brendan’s death? Seems out of character for Cal to let that lie. Enjoyed the depth of learning about Irish culture and the dialog. I read on an iPad, so I can look up the words and places I’m unfamiliar with. Even paper books I get as gifts. Takes longer, but I love immersing myself in the culture. Been to Dublin, only, and loved that experience.

Jmcfw46

Moving and mysterious. I really loved this novel. There’s a satisfying mystery to solve, and French is great at winding us in. But the characters and setting grabbed me more. This one reminded me of her first novel, “In the Woods,” for the sensitive way it depicts a hurting adolescent. The friendship between this character and the main character, a disillusioned Chicago cop looking for peace and quiet but getting more than he bargained for, feels exactly right.

Ms. Phoebes

Great story. I really enjoyed this! No, it’s not a fast-paced thriller. Tana French’s descriptions of this part of Ireland, along with deeply involved character studies, made this “what happened” story absolutely tantalizing for me. So descriptive. I’ll remember this one for a long time. Thank you, Ms. French. Cants wait for your next one!

RCVA22

Skip this one. Don’t waste your time or money on this one. I can’t believe that Tana French wrote this. I loved the Dublin Murder Squad series, I cannot believe this was written by the same author.

ChrissyGP

Super Fan But Super Disappointed. I have always been a major fan of French’s and have lost myself in each of her novels. This one is an exception. Incredibly dull, the story never picks up speed. Where’s the thrill? Where’s the mystery? Halfway through the novel I had to convince myself to keep reading, hoping the story would get better. Her protagonist is a retired Chicago detective. While actually an American raised in Ireland, French seems to have no knowledge as to how Americans speak. It’s cringeworthy. Not sure why this novel is such a departure from her others. I hope she returns to her other, proven style of writing. I can’t recommend buying this book.

Music lover 222111

Excellent. Excellent. Channels a world of isolation and shadows.

SusanAnn13

Beauty & Pain. Ireland is a beautiful place for retired Chicago cop Cal Hooker to retire. Beauty has its ugly side as it’s people and place are not exactly who they appear to be. French tells an atmospheric story , painful and powerful.

DoubleDDenny

The Searcher. Superbly paced novel that allows characters to reveal themselves in authentic ways. Imagery is creative but subtle, not trying to convince but to nudge, to coax. Nice mix of melancholy and optimism, often in the same sentence. Does not resort to inexplicable or not credible theatrics. I highly recommend.

19ron57

Meh. My first Tana French novel. After reading a great deal of hype, I was somewhat disappointed. I like the writing style but the story was nothing special.

Jersey Shore Girl 1014

A quiet book. I enjoyed this novel immensely. Much different from her prior books but I enjoyed the character study of a man at odds with his life and the somewhat redemptive quality of a small town and helping another by finding the truth. I hope the author revisits this character and this small town in the future.

S4C4K4J4

Slow moving. Story moves slowly. Subtle anti police message. Horrible ending.

Alyssakroll

A - F Scale: C. Easy read. Predictable. Storyline: Meh.

Eye Full Tower

The Best Kind Of Novel. Atmospheric and compelling. The characters seem to step out of the bog, and speak to you in a dialect that didn’t even know you could understand. It really gives you a whole new perspective on what’s going on in the small villages across Ireland, or anywhere for that matter. It’s a page turner that deserves to savored. I am looking forward to reading Tana French’s other novels.

Sold on WAZE

Just OK. I love this author and liked parts of this book. The ending was unsatisfying and seemed lazy vs the mystery being figured out. I’ll read her again. There’s a huge section in the middle that serves no purpose and was annoying.

Mind Lab Pro 🎯

Mind Lab Pro boosts work performance and productivity with nootropics for focus, multitasking under stress, creative problem-solving and more. Buy Now!

🪙 You are *this* close to claiming $10 of Bitcoin!

Discover how specific cryptocurrencies work — and get a bit of each crypto to try out for yourself. Coinbase is the easiest place to buy and sell cryptocurrency. Sign up and get started today.

Tana French - The Searcher Comments

5 Books like The Searcher (Tana French)

About Author "Tana French"

Tana French (born 10 May 1973) is an American-Irish writer and theatrical actress. She is a longtime resident of Dublin, Ireland. Her debut novel In the Woods (2007), a psychological mystery, won the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, and Barry awards for best first novel. The Independent has referred to her as "the First Lady of Irish Crime". Personal life Tana Elizabeth French was born in Burlington, Vermont, to Elena Hvostoff-Lombardi and David French. Her father was an economist who worked on resource management for the developing world, and she lived in numerous countries as a child including Ireland, Italy, the US and Malawi.French attended Trinity College Dublin, and trained in acting. She settled in Ireland and has lived in Dublin since 1990. French and her husband have two daughters. Novels French was enthralled by both acting and writing since her childhood but eventually focused more on acting. She grew up reading mystery and crime novels. She trained as a professional actor at....

5 Best Tana French Books
Popular Free Books
Icebreaker E-Book Download
IcebreakerHannah GraceContemporary2022-11-22
Tom Lake E-Book Download
Tom LakeAnn PatchettFiction & Literature2023-08-01
Fourth Wing E-Book Download
Fourth WingRebecca YarrosFantasy2023-05-02
A Court of Frost and Starlight E-Book Download
A Court of Frost and StarlightSarah J. MaasFantasy2018-05-01
Rock Bottom E-Book Download
Rock BottomFern MichaelsAction & Adventure2023-12-26
Blog
What is GA4 and what are its benefits for shopify users?

GA4, also known as Google Analytics 4, is the latest iteration of Google’s popular web analytics platform. It was officially launched in October 2020, and it offers a range of new features and benefits for Shopify users. One of the biggest bene...

How will the release of GA4 affect your shopify business?

The release of Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is a significant event for e-commerce businesses, including those using Shopify. As the newest version of Google’s web analytics platform, GA4 offers a wealth of advanced features and capabilities that ca...

Is GA4 replacing Google Analytics?

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest iteration of Google’s popular web analytics platform, which has been widely adopted by businesses and organizations to track their website traffic and gather valuable insights into their audience and perfo...

How do I add a logo to my header in Shopify?

Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create and manage an online store. One of the key elements of any online store is the header, which is the top part of the website that typically contains the logo, navigation menu, a...

Does Google Analytics work with Shopify?

Google Analytics is a powerful tool for businesses to measure the performance of their online presence and make data-driven decisions. It provides a wealth of data and insights on website traffic, user behavior, and conversions, allowing businesses t...