A Simmering Cauldron of Tension in the Irish Countryside
Tana French’s latest novel, The Hunter, simmers with the kind of slow-burning tension that threatens to boil over at any moment. Set against the backdrop of a sweltering Irish summer, this follow-up to The Searcher reunites us with ex-Chicago cop Cal Hooper, who’s traded in his badge for a quieter life in rural Ireland. But as anyone who’s read French knows, peace is a fragile thing, easily shattered by the dark undercurrents that run through even the most picturesque of villages.
The heat hangs heavy over the pages, mirroring the pressure building in the small community as two men arrive with dreams of striking it rich. One’s a prodigal son, the other a smooth-talking English millionaire. And between them, they’re about to upend everything Cal’s built since he came to Ireland seeking solace.
A Delicate Balance Disrupted
When we last saw Cal, he was just finding his footing in his adopted home, forming a tentative relationship with local woman Lena and taking a troubled teenager named Trey under his wing. Now, two years on, things have settled into a comfortable routine. Cal’s house is fixed up, he’s got a thriving carpentry business, and Trey’s showing real promise. It’s not perfect—this is Tana French we’re talking about, after all—but it’s good.
Then Trey’s long-absent father, Johnny Reddy, blows back into town like an ill wind, bringing with him Cillian Rushborough, an Englishman with deep pockets and grand plans to find gold in the hills. Suddenly, the delicate balance Cal’s achieved is thrown into chaos. And at the center of it all is Trey, a girl who’s finally found some stability, only to have it threatened by the return of the man who abandoned her.
A Masterclass in Tension
Tana French excels at creating an atmosphere thick with unease, and The Hunter is no exception. From the moment Johnny and Rushborough arrive, there’s a sense that something’s got to give. The oppressive heat, the whispers of buried treasure, the barely concealed hostility of the locals—it all adds up to a powder keg just waiting for a spark.
And spark it does, in ways both expected and surprising. When Rushborough turns up dead, the simmering tensions in the village threaten to boil over. French keeps us guessing, expertly weaving together multiple threads of suspicion. Was it Johnny, desperate to escape his debts? One of the locals, furious at being conned? Or someone with a deeper, darker motive?
Character Complexity: No One’s Hands Are Clean
What sets French apart from many in the genre is her ability to create characters that defy easy categorization. Cal, our ostensible hero, is a man haunted by his past and not always sure of his place in this new world he’s chosen. His desire to protect Trey often conflicts with his instinct for justice, leaving him walking a moral tightrope.
Lena, Cal’s love interest, is no mere sidekick. She’s a woman with her own history and motivations, deeply tied to the community in ways Cal can never be. Their relationship is complex and real, fraught with the kind of misunderstandings and unspoken fears that plague actual couples.
But it’s Trey who truly steals the show. French has always had a knack for writing teenagers, capturing that volatile mix of vulnerability and defiance. Trey is no exception. She’s a force of nature, a girl shaped by abandonment and loss, now faced with the return of the father who left her. Her journey from wary acceptance to a burning desire for revenge is the heart of the novel, and it’s utterly compelling.
A Web of Secrets and Lies
As the investigation into Rushborough’s death unfolds, French peels back the layers of this seemingly sleepy village, revealing the secrets and resentments that lurk beneath the surface. Everyone, it seems, has something to hide. And as Cal gets pulled deeper into the mystery, he’s forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about himself and the place he’s come to call home.
The plot twists and turns, each revelation forcing us to reassess what we thought we knew. French is a master of misdirection, and she uses every trick in her arsenal to keep us guessing until the very end. But this isn’t just a whodunit—it’s a deeply human story about the lengths we’ll go to protect the ones we love, and the devastating consequences of seeking vengeance.
A Sense of Place: Ireland as a Character
One of Tana French’s greatest strengths has always been her ability to evoke a sense of place, and The Hunter is no exception. The Irish countryside comes alive under her pen, from the dusty roads to the ancient hills whispered to hold gold. But this isn’t some postcard-perfect vision of rural Ireland. French shows us a community grappling with change, caught between tradition and the pressures of the modern world.
The locals’ suspicion of outsiders, their complex relationship with the land, the weight of history that hangs over everything—it all feels achingly real. And as an outsider himself, Cal offers us a unique perspective on this world, at once part of it and forever separate.
Themes of Belonging and Redemption
At its core, The Hunter is a story about belonging. Cal, Trey, even Johnny—they’re all searching for a place to call home, a sense of purpose. But French asks us to consider: at what cost? How much of ourselves are we willing to compromise in the name of fitting in?
For Cal, it’s a question of whether he can truly leave his old life behind. For Trey, it’s about finding her place in a world that’s never been kind to her. And for Johnny, well… his quest for belonging takes a darker turn, one that threatens to destroy everything in its path.
There’s a thread of potential redemption running through the story, too. Can Johnny make amends for his past? Can Trey find a way to move forward without being consumed by anger? French offers no easy answers, but the questions she poses will linger long after the last page is turned.
A Worthy Follow-Up
Fans of The Searcher will find much to love in The Hunter. French deepens the world she created in the first book, expanding on themes of outsider vs. insider, the weight of the past, and the complex morality of doing the right thing in a world that’s rarely black and white.
New readers can jump in here without feeling lost, though they’ll miss some of the nuances of Cal and Trey’s relationship. Either way, French’s prose is as sharp and evocative as ever, painting a vivid picture of a summer that changes everything.
In the Tradition of Great Irish Crime Writing
The Hunter by Tana French stands proudly in the tradition of great Irish crime writing, alongside authors like John Banville (writing as Benjamin Black) and Adrian McKinty. French’s Dublin Murder Squad series put her on the map, but with The Searcher and now The Hunter, she’s proving that she’s just as adept at exploring the dark underbelly of rural Ireland.
Final Verdict: A Gripping, Atmospheric Thriller
The Hunter is a slow-burn thriller that builds to a searing climax. It’s a book that demands to be savored, each page dripping with atmosphere and tension. French’s characters are flawed, complex, and utterly human, their motivations as murky as the bogs that dot the Irish landscape.
If you’re looking for a straightforward mystery with a neat bow at the end, this might not be the book for you. But if you want a rich, layered story that will keep you guessing—and thinking—long after you’ve finished, The Hunter delivers in spades. It’s a worthy addition to French’s impressive body of work, cementing her place as one of the finest crime writers working today.
Who Should Read This Book
- Fans of literary crime fiction that blurs the lines between good and evil
- Readers who enjoy atmospheric, character-driven mysteries
- Anyone fascinated by the complexities of small-town life and the secrets people keep
- Those who appreciate nuanced explorations of themes like belonging, redemption, and the cost of revenge
If You Liked The Hunter, Try These:
- In the Woods by Tana French (the first in her Dublin Murder Squad series)
- The Searcher by Tana French (the first Cal Hooper novel)
- Broken Harbor by Tana French (another standout from the Dublin Murder Squad series)
- Rain Dogs by Adrian McKinty (for another gritty Irish crime thriller)
- The Secret Place by Tana French (for more of French’s expert handling of teenage characters)
In the end, The Hunter by Tana French is more than just a mystery—it’s a haunting exploration of human nature, the ties that bind us, and the choices that define us. Tana French has delivered another masterclass in atmospheric crime writing, proving once again why she’s considered one of the best in the business. Don’t miss this one, folks. It’s a scorcher.
