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In the Woods

Tana French

Start date: May 18, 2023

Finish date: May 22, 2023

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Feb 17, 2020 Cynthia rated it liked it

3.5 stars

In the summer of 1984, three kids disappeared in the woods for harmless play. Two of them never made their way out again and their bodies were never found. The third child, found clutching a tree, had a significant amount of blood in his shoes; blood that could not be his own. Many years later, this boy has grown into a man on the Dublin police squad and finds himself investigating a murder that takes place in the same area that his friends went missing so many years before.

The premis 3.5 stars

In the summer of 1984, three kids disappeared in the woods for harmless play. Two of them never made their way out again and their bodies were never found. The third child, found clutching a tree, had a significant amount of blood in his shoes; blood that could not be his own. Many years later, this boy has grown into a man on the Dublin police squad and finds himself investigating a murder that takes place in the same area that his friends went missing so many years before.

The premise of this book is incredibly intriguing and it seems I never paid attention to the fact until it was chosen as our book club pick. Reading the prologue, with its poetically haunting atmosphere, led me to believe I was in for a real treat. And then it took me a few days to get through the first chapter alone. I was very concerned that I would not be able to finish this book at all, much less in time for book club.

I did eventually find the story to be more engaging and, as I reported to my husband, I liked the middle of the book. The beginning was sluggish and the ending dragged on forever. I think a lot could have been eliminated while communicating the same story, especially since the ending did not provide the closure I had hoped for. I’m not completely disappointed by the unanswered questions, as they provided their own unsettling elements, but it seemed unnecessary to prolong everything the way French did.

I enjoyed the humor in the book, as well as French’s beautiful writing style. The one mystery was, to some degree, easy to untangle, although I didn’t have all of the logistics figured out. I didn’t think the main culprit was well-concealed by the author and despite the narrator’s arrogant assumption at the end of the book, I had not been fooled by that character.

Rob was, as a narrator and character, rather frustrating. Not unlikeable, per se. We’re told so much about his trauma and that definitely helped make him a sympathetic character, despite his heavy flaws and unwise decisions. I found the way that the trauma surfaced and the revelation of how unhinged Rob was becoming to be rather interesting.

I enjoyed the examination of psychopathy as well. It undeniably satisfied my inner psychology nerd.

All in all, it was a good story. I’m very willing to see what the rest of the series offers.
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Oct 04, 2017 Jess Penhallow rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ireland, 21st-century

A pretty average mystery that was far too long for what it was. I guessed the culprit of the main mystery pretty early on and the other mystery was never solved.

Something that slightly elevates this book is it's complex characters, particularly the two detectives, and it's realistic sombre ending. Still though, I think the same story could have been told in half the pages. ...more

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Nov 14, 2019 ImScared3222 marked it as to-read

Oct 04, 2017 Rebecca is currently reading it · review of another edition

Apr 17, 2021 Dan Clark marked it as to-read

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