"Faithful Place" by Tana French

Published: 2010
Read: 2011
Genre: fiction, mystery
Setting: Dublin, Ireland; modern time
Rating: 3
Review: Goodreads, I Write in Books
Author web site







Third book in the series of the Dublin Murder Squad.  In The Woods is her first book, where Detective Rob Ryan is the protagonist and Cassie Maddox is his partner.  In the second book,  The Likeness, Cassie is the protagonist and her boss, Frank Mackey is the supporting character.  In this book, Frank is the lonely protagonist but mid way through, French introduces a young detective named Stephen Moran who assists Frank, albeit reluctantly.

As with her other books, I found this to be a quick read.  A classic "who dun-it" story that moves along with no sluggish sections.  In the quest to be a more thoughtful reader, I am asking more questions and actually figured out who the culprit was early on.  Still, there were plenty of unforeseen twists and turns which kept me reading.  I wonder if she will write about Moran next?

"The Likeness" by Tana French

Published: 2008

Read: 2010

Genre: Fiction

Setting: Ireland

Rating: 3
Review: Reading Matters
Tana French's US web site

I read her first book, In The Woods and like her writing.  Feel very close to the character.  Sees things as she does - unfolding before me, as the reader.  I felt scared, angry, troubled, puzzled, thoughtful, combative, nervous right along with her.  Would like to read the 3rd book in the series, about Frank.

Story Synopsis
The story takes place when a young woman named Lexie Madison is found dead.  She could be Cassie Maddox’s twin.  Cassie and her boss, Frank Mackey made up Lexie when Cassie worked undercover at a University trying to infiltrate a drug ring on campus.  Lexie lives with 4 other post-grad students who are possible suspects.  Cassie goes undercover as Lexie and loses objectivity while living there.

Quotes:

First sentence:
“This is Lexie Madison’s story, not mine.  I’d love to tell you one without getting into the other but it doesn’t work that way”

Last sentence: 
“I hope those last few minutes worked like hell for her.  I hope in that half hour she lived all her million lives”.

"In The Woods" by Tana French

Published: 2007
Read: 2010
Genre: Fiction
Setting: Ireland, 1984
Rating: 4
Awards: 2007 Edgar Award
Reviews: Reading Matters, Sarah Reads Too Much
Tana French's US web site
Interview with author





I like her writing.  Quick read. Engrossing story.  Pulls you along so want to find out what happens next.  Interesting she can do male POV so well.  Liked it enough to read other books.  That said, the author left two issues unresolved which I did not like. 1) what happened to the three kids in the woods and 2) what was the significance of the following plot line - companies who wanted the motorway built through an archaeological site?  Book ended feeling unfinished.

Story Synopsis

In the Woods is a mystery/crime novel by Tana French, her first book.  Published in 2007, the story takes place in a town a few miles from Dublin, Ireland in 1984.  Flashbacks take the reader to the same town, twenty years prior.

The story takes place when a young girl, Katy Devlin is found dead in the woods, which has now become an archeological site.  The detective is Adam Robert Ryan, the one child who survived the unsolved mystery of the two missing children, presumed dead.  His partner is Cassie Maddox, a tough, strong, smart detective who spent four years as an undercover cop.  She had gotten stabbed in the line of duty and was able to transfer to any other division.  She chose the murder squad.  They work well together.

Subjects Explored

• Unsolved mystery whereby three children went into the woods and only one came back, the narrator, Adam Robert Ryan.
• Detectives should not be involved in solving crimes that are personal to them.  Creates a bias, emotions.  Unable to look at things objectively.
• Murder squad is not usually a place for women.  Cassie Maddox is unique.
• Partners on a murder squad put their lives in each other’s hands - the bond is tight and strong, maybe even more than family. 
• Psychopaths are manipulative, have no conscious, no empathy, are pathological liars, narcissistic, intuitive, will do anything to get their way

Story Question: 

Are the two related?  Is the person responsible for Katy’s murder the same person who took the two young children, Adam’s best friends?  Will Ryan and Maddox be able to solve both crimes?

Theme:  

The past will never leave you.