The first in a new series by this tremendously talented writer. Typically excellent. ( )

Cal Hooper, divorced and an ex-cop from Chicago, decides to get away from the crime and busy life of the big city. He buys a plot of land in rural Ireland, prepared to ease into a more relaxed and crime-free environment, keeping mostly to himself. But trouble comes looking for him when local pre-teen Trey Reddy comes to him, seeking his help in finding Trey's older brother who's gone missing.

I really enjoyed Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad books. I figured I couldn't go wrong with this one, which is not part of that series, but French had come to earn my respect with her well-developed stories and character development. I knew the reviews were not as good for this novel, but I wanted to read it anyway. And now I get the disappointment from a lot of readers. I, ultimately, was somewhat disappointed too. If you're looking for the faster-paced city crime story, this is not the one. This is more of a slow burn novel. I do think it's well-written, but it is indeed very slow and it took a long time to get to the meat of the story, which ultimately was not all that meaty. I didn't dislike this one, but it didn't wow me by any means. I wouldn't be opposed to reading book #2 in this series, but I'm not sure I'll rush out to do so. ( )

French excels at the slow burn mystery, and this first installment in her newest series is no exception, plus is filled with the atmosphere of the Irish countryside. ( )

This book is slow moving but worth it in the end. The ending left me unsettled. What is justice? Did Cal abandon his moral code or embrace a new definition of morality? Don't the poor an underprivileged deserve justic? ( )

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Roger Clark. He's a new narrator to me but he did a good job of the various accents required.

Cal Hooper is a retired American cop who has bought a house in the west of Ireland. He seems to have left most of his life back in the States, a situation brought on by a mistaken shooting by his partner. He plans to fix up the house and get some fishing in and knock back a few pints at the local pub. He starts noticing someone hiding in his shrubbery as he works outside He finally coaxes the watcher into coming to help him repair dresser he's working on. Trey Reddy is thirteen years old and it turns out there is an ulterior motive in getting to know Cal. Trey's older brother, Brandan, disappeared some time ago and Trey wants to know what happened to him. The local police have washed their hands of the disappearance, mostly because the Reddy family is one of the poorest in the neighbourhood. Trey's father disappeared some years before, leaving the mother to care for the children as best she can. The police figure Brendan has lit off for the bright lights and eventually he'll come back or at least get in touch. But Trey knows that Brendan wouldn't leave without saying goodbye and wants Cal to look into it. Reluctantly. Cal agrees but says that Trey has to earn his work by helping out on the renovation. What Cal doesn't know but the rest of the neighbourhood does is that Trey is female; when he is finally told by his neighbour, he quickly bans Trey from the house. But he doesn't stop investigating Brendan's disappearance and he's starting to worry some bad guys who may have had a hand in Brendan's disappearance. There is rather a lot of violence hidden in this bucolic spot; Cal's not worried for himself but when Trey turns up on his doorstep badly battered he sees red. He's determined to protect Trey and solve the mystery but what he discovers isn't good news although it is a closure of sorts.

I understand there's a sequel to this book which I will probably read although I'm not a whole-hearted fan of Cal Hooper. ( )