Tana French trained in acting and has worked in theater and film, and in her novels, there’s a clear connection between what she learned and what she’s created. There are rounded, developed characters at the core of every novel, and they all read as human as can be: flawed, complicated, some more hopeful, some less so, clever but sometimes obtuse, cautious but sometimes making mistakes, misjudging others or seeing beyond their lives…
For me, it started with In the Woods, a mystery story that includes a secondary plot in the form of one of the detectives’ past. This second mystery shares some aspects with the main one, and both plot lines as well as the characters are complex, have multiple layers, and are grounded in realism.
Then there are five more novels in the Dublin Murder Squad series, each following a different character introduced in In the Woods. The five plots and mysteries are different and gripping, combining unanswered questions from the past, doubts about the present, and uncertainty—and sometimes hope—about the future.
But that’s not all, because Tana has also written three more separate novels (the latest published in March, 2024). When it was announced, I pre-ordered it, because I know what to expect from one of her novels: a gripping mystery, flawed characters, a few lingering questions, some hope, some despair, a lot of humanity at its best and at its worst, and great settings that affect the plot.
You should be warned, though: not all questions are thoroughly answered, so you might be tested if you like detailed resolutions. I won’t lie, it was a bit of an adjustment, but Tana’s made it worth it (plus, I’m still hoping that someday she’ll answer the biggest question of all, which I won’t spoil here).
Don’t take my word for it, read a Tana French novel and get hooked.
