I enjoy French's writing style and the depth she gives her characters. This book was no exception, the characters are excellently done and she expertly builds sympathy and empathy for them. The plot is deliciously twisted and just when you think you've got the mystery solved, she throws another twist in the mix and you're left wondering how you missed it. But, and this is a huge exception, I did not like the way she resolved the conflict with her main character and I was extremely disppointed with the ending. I realize this is very subjective and another reader might disagree, but the ending left me unsatisfied and I ultimately felt she never fully resolved the Toby character. ( )

I am a fan of author Tana French and I look forward to reading her series, The Dublin Murder Squad so I was excited about the stand alone novel, The Witch Elm. Unfortunately it didn’t come up to the level I am used to getting from this author. The author does tend to write very long books but usually they hold my attention. In this case I thought the story was way too long and could easily have been shortened by 100 pages or more. The author went on and on with details that I didn’t feel needed to be explored at such great length. Eventually though the story took off and for me, the last third of the book was the best.

Part of the problem I had with this book was my own fault. I had high expectations and was disappointed when they weren’t met. I was expecting an exciting mystery but this book is a combination character study, family drama and mystery. Obviously the author felt that the mystery was the least important aspect and so put more time into the main character’s development and the family dynamics.

I have no quibbles with the actual writing, Tana French presents well developed characters that are believable in the situations that she places them. And while the book didn’t totally work for me as I was expecting more of a page-turner, The Witch Elm is a well done study of perception, family loyalties and how our memory serves us. ( )

French writes captivating mysteries set in her native Ireland. Her gift for character development and sense of place, however, takes them way beyond genre. In the Witch Elm, psychological exploration overshadows the mystery; nevertheless I didn't figure it out until the very end of this (long) book. ( )

Disappointed. Very disappointed. Tana French can do amazing, clever and heartbreaking things in her police procedurals. I loved 5 out of 6 books in Dublin Murder Squad series, except for the disaster that was "Broken Harbor" - imho, of course.
I am afraid this book was another such "disaster". There were flashes of brilliance, sure - passages that were almost alive (especially the parts about the good times at the Ivy House). But, but, but... The writing was not quite on the same level as the previous books. I did not much care about the mystery and its solution, nor about the characters (about Hugo - maybe), a bad sign. I figured out the whodunit part quite early - if it were a better book, it wouldn't have mattered very much. As things stood, I was bored. And the big reveal, when it came, went on and on and on and on for I don't know how many pages. Gaaah. Also, that ending: my eyebrows climbing higher and higher, me doing a facepalm "So, this what you had in mind for your characters? Really? Really!? Can I unread this?"
I need something very different AND good after this, and fast :-)
There might be a pattern to my Tana French reading, though: 3-4 great books, then something I give two stars to ;-) So at some point I will definitely read the latest novel, "The Searcher", just to see whether the pattern holds, he he. ( )

It is a good thing that Tana French can write the most beautiful of sentences. She is astounding. It is the only thing that can explain that I finished and liked this book despite hating the main character. She may be my favorite writer right now but this book was tough. I am glad I read it but do hope that it isn’t a permanent departure from the Dublin Murder Squad books. ( )