As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.
Twenty years later, … years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox—his partner and closest friend—find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.
Richly atmospheric, stunning in its complexity, and utterly convincing and surprising to the end, In the Woods is sure to enthrall fans of Mystic River and The Lovely Bones. And look for French’s new mystery, Broken Harbor, for more of the Dublin Murder Squad.
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I love this book so much. A creepy, captivating mystery, with a killer friendship and one of those endings that made me throw the book across the room, but then go pick the book back up to reread. Includes the line, “What I am telling you, before you begin my story, is this — two things: I crave truth. And I lie. ” Shut up and take my money, Tana …
In the Woods is the first of Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad novels. If you enjoy mystery and haven’t yet discovered this author, do yourself a favor and grab these books (which can be read independently of one another). French is a master. In the Woods is not a conventional mystery in which everything is tied up with a bow, but that in no way …
I recently was drawn to reread this stunner because I had just gobbled down French’s latest, “The Trespasser.” Not only does “In the Woods,” the first of French’s Dublin Murder Squad novels hold up, it improves with age and upon rereading.
French’s stories are complicated, yet not contrived. Here, a boy survives a group kidnapping and grows up to …
Most children at some point find a place they believe passionately to be theirs alone, a secret place no one else knows about. The first in the Dublin Murder Squad series, In The Woods first shows us—in French’s typical lyrical writing—three children exploring their own secret place in the woods… and the (literally) unimaginable happening. Years …
The first of Tana French’s Dublin murder squad novels, IN THE WOODS is one of those books you can’t put down. A double mystery (one from the lead detective’s own childhood and one on the case at hand) and great characters make the book a page-turner, and French’s gift for dialogue and wit makes every scene a winner. My favorite thing about the …
What a book! It’s been a long while since I’ve found myself hurrying to find out what happens next and simultaneously slowing down to savor the prose and the pitch-perfect (and clever) dialogue. The story was moving and engrossing, and my heart broke at the ending. This is my first book by French but I’m chomping at the bit for more. Brava!
This is the book that made me love Tana French. Her stories are original and the characters, especially the lead detectives are fully fleshed out. The twist was unexpected for me.
I loved this mystery and eagerly picked up the next in the series as soon as I finished it. French has a wonderful voice that adds so much character and atmosphere to her stories. I felt as though I was in Dublin solving the crime alongside the murder squad throughout this story.
Often mysteries focus so much on the procedure and the actual …
Wonderfully detailed. Tana French gets right inside her character’s heads and brings them to the page in a way that has you turning page after page after page. A mesmerising book.
This is a book I read when it came out and I went on to read her subsequent novels. This story stayed with me and I still wonder about the central mystery, which occurred in the past of the main character. I found myself agonizing over the loss of a potentially wonderful relationship between the protagonist and his partner. Even though I can no …
Tan a French is on the shelf with th e best detective writers today. All her bookks are five star.
My favorite by Tana French – haunting and unputdownable.
I’m not a huge mystery fan, but Tana French’s “In The Woods” transcends genre. This is a thickly written and stunningly detailed character study that happens to include a murder. Read this book!
Tana French is one of the 5 best thriller writers alive. All her Dublin Murder Squad series are simultaneously great literature and unputdownable.
Everything Tana French writes is extraordinary. Since In the Woods is the first in a series, read it now! Then keep reading. Fans who enjoy Irish, Scottish, and British authors will love Tana French.
Tana French is an excellent writer and this is a fantastic novel. Very entertaining and engaging.
I love all of her books!
Finished this book in three days, and I only read at night. Can’t wait to read more by this author!
Wish all of the questions brought forth by this book were answered… crazy read. Amazing. Very suspenseful
I love all the books in this series. This author keeps you hooked with every page and new twist and turn.