We return to rural Ireland with Cal in this second installment of a new Tana French series. Cal came here after retiring from the Chicago police and in the first book was reluctantly pulled into town drama and an unsolved mystery. As with many French books, the ending of that one wasn’t wrapped up in a bow, but we learned who Cal was going to be: a man who would like to keep to himself, but won’t let the disadvantaged or those in need of help be ignored. Sort of a rustic relucntant superman, who spends his time surveying his property, ignoring his chatty neighbor and making furniture.
He also managed to find a little love in life and becaome an amazing father figure to Trey. At first, she rejected his help and attention, but over time they have built up a relationship of trust and mutual understanding. Cal is an amazing father figure to Trey, who reluctantly has been taken under his wing. But when her no good father comes back to town after years away with a story of gold to be had, and riches for the village, it’s clear that trouble isn’t far behind.
Finishing the last Tana French book that she has written at present made me indescribably sad, and it just came out in 2024, so I think we’re going to have to wait a while for a new one. She has such a way of writing and telling a story that keeps me completely hooked and invested the whole way through, with enough crime to be interesting, not a ton of gore, but central to each story she tells is humanity, its fraility, cruelty, and the depths of the soul.
So listen, if you haven’t read any of her books, do me a solid and do it so I can live vicariously through you. And then tell me about it. Please and thanks.