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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Wonderful mystery. Love this author, read everything of hers I can get.
Epic. Just fantastic writing and depth. Couldn’t put it down.
I LOVE this author. I have read everything she has written.
Read this author!
So many twists and turns with wonderful characters. I loved it and I am getting more books. by Tana French.
The Prologue is an overworked attempt at “beautiful” writing, but the rest of the book, until the end, is a “can’t put down.” Somewhat disappointed in the end.
The detective’s past is never wrapped up. You are left wanting closure, but there is none.
Good read – kept my interest but didn’t like that I have to read another book to find out the other mystery!!!!
Leaves a person feeling rather down after reading the book,
Smart and edgey…. always
It’s hard to believe that this was a first book for Tana. Very well written and it kept me intrigued until the last page. While there were some things that I could foresee, it was not a predictable book. I love how the two story lines intertwined. Definitely one of my new favs!
Update: I’ve since read all of Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad …
Beautifully written, but a depressing conclusion, or rather a non-conclusion. I kept waiting for a resolution, but it never came. I’m still rewriting the ending in my head. Haunting.
This is not a spoiler alert!
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, …
Yet another tortured detective, but this novel introduces you to a detective who was the victim of a childhood crime with features similar to his current case. Provides a unique perspective and adds urgency to his investigation. But makes him a difficult friend, colleague and companion. A well-written and memorable mystery.
Tana French always writes a great read
Extremely well written, good characterization. Tragic. I was left with so many questions
I hate when an author leads readers down a path that has no end. In a mystery novel, it’s not just disappointing, it’s fraudulent. Every plot point in this story was disappointing. At the end, I just felt bad. If I want that kind of story experience, I’ll just watch the news.
great book. Tana French is my favorite psychological mystery writer replacing Ruth Rendell for now.
I read this book in hard cover and wasn’t sure that I liked it. However, after awhile it kept me thinking about the story.
This mystery kept my attention. Author writes well. I find her books easy to read. They are a great way to get though 40 minutes on a treadmill.