Faithful Place: A Novel (Dublin Murder Squad, #3) (edition 2011)

Big people reading.
Loved this book. Characters, family Dublin so real. Have not read her other books, but I will.
Even though I solved the murder in the book, early on, I could not leave the characters or the place. ( )

While this was probably my favorite Tana French novel, I have to say that this will probably be the last book I read in her detective series. This is all just too much for me. I'm too cranky for this. Tana French pushes my buttons and she makes me very, very uncomfortable.

Great book, though.

Impossible. ( )

Interesting. Not my favourite of her three total books, but beautifully rendered while also being a roaring page turner. Toward the end, near the "whodunnit" part, a bit drawn out, but overall, quite good. ( )

When a battered suitcase is discovered in the derelict Number 16, Faithful Place, the investigation into the disappearance of Rosie Daly 20 years before suddenly has a new lead. Dublin detective Frank Mackey was Rosie’s boyfriend back then, and as the case is reopened demons from his family’s past arise once more.

Gritty and bleak, the crime story in Faithful Place serves as the back story to drive the character development. Dysfunctional families, domestic abuse, poverty, and alcohol abuse are all themes, but so is the power of the family unit and forgiveness. Frank has kept his distance from most of his family for years, but as more light is shed on the events around Rosie’s disappearance can the Mackey family finally begin to understand each other, or will they shatter once more?

French takes her readers straight into the minds of her complex characters. They have their flaws and redeeming qualities, nothing is black and white but they are all understandable and very human. French also does a great job of transporting us to Dublin using distinctly Irish dialogue to help create a wonderful sense of atmosphere.

I really enjoyed the scenes with Holly, these added another layer to the family dynamics in the story and added some sweetness and light to what is overall, a fairly dark story. Although I did find her involvement in the implication of a person of interest a bit hard to believe – even for a smart kid she is still only meant to be about 8. A bit more clarity on Kevin and Shay's meeting in Number 16 would also have been good. I was slightly surprised by the final direction taken in Frank and Olivia's relationship, but in a good way.

Faithful Place is a captivating exploration of the psychological impact your upbringing and family can have and how, with no hindsight needed, you just know at the time of occurrence some events will reverberate throughout your life. ( )

As gripping as her others, and as hard to put down. Closure-wise it falls much closer to The Likeness than In the Woods, but I would have liked a tiny bit more resolution/confirmation of what happened with Shay and Kevin in Number Sixteen.
All three of her books have had such a perfect blend of mystery/plot and character; they get into my head while I'm reading them, and I often dream about them. "Psychological mysteries" indeed.
Anyone who liked her two previous books should like this one. I'm already looking forward to the next! ( )