The Searcher

I read a lot of detective fiction, and this turned out to be one of my favorites.

It centers around a retired Chicago policeman who is trying to rebuild his life (and the house he has bought) deep in the Irish countryside, where he gets drawn into the mysterious disappearance of a young man. The story itself is gripping, the central characters are engaging, and the descriptions of the Irish hedgerows and fields (and rain) are lush and evocative. (Almost good enough to make me want to go back there.)

Irish author Tana French is known for her Dublin Murder Squad series and is what some call a literary crime writer.

The Searcher, a standalone novel, explores themes of restorative justice. Chicago cop Cal Hooper retires to rural Ireland where he undertakes the renovation of a dilapidated cottage. While he toils, he’s joined by a nearly silent teen Trey.

It’s another book where an adult and child don’t realize they need each other, but so quietly and beautifully help heal each other’s wounds.

This was my absolute favorite book in this author’s canon. It’s not perfect, but it’s perfectly imperfect.