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by Tana French
A spellbinding, propulsive new novel from the bestselling mystery writer who "is in a class by herself." (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 what we sacrifice in our search for truth and justice, and what we risk if we don't.
What are you reading this week? (8/28/2025)
The Correspondent… I can't read it fast enough. Also The Searcher by Tana French and Remember by Lisa Genova.
-Barbara_B1
What are you reading this week? (2024-10-31)
I'm giving author Tana French a try. I'm reading The Searcher. I chose it because I wanted to read a male protagonist for a change. I'd love to hear from any Tana French readers. What has been your experience with her writing?
-Carol_Lytle
"[S]uperb...Insightful characterizations, even of minor figures, and a devastating reveal help make this a standout. Crime fiction fans won't want to miss this one." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"French's second stand-alone novel is a slow-burn stunner that will keep readers turning the pages late into the night. Recommend to the author's legions of fans, as well as those who enjoy crime fiction set in small towns like Julia Keller's or Jane Harper's novels." - Library Journal (starred review)
"Much of what mystery readers are looking for in terms of action is squeezed into the last third of the novel, and the morally ambiguous ending may be unsatisfying for some. But French's fans have surely come to expect imperfect allegiance to genre conventions, and the author does, ultimately, deliver plenty of twists, shocking revelations, and truly chilling moments. Slow moving and richly layered." - Kirkus Reviews
This information about The Searcher was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Tana French is the New York Times bestselling author of eight previous books, including In the Woods, The Likeness, and The Searcher. Her novels have sold over eight million copies worldwide and won numerous awards, including the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, and Barry awards, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller, and the Irish Book Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Dublin with her family.
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