My Goodreads review: The Secret Place

[ankh_hpl]

The Secret Place by Tana French

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I’d never even heard of the Dublin Murder Squad series before picking up this book (in CD format, from my local library), but decided to give this one a try after reading a rave mention in Time.

And I am so very glad I did.

This tightly structured story of a cold case reopened at an elite girls’ school is one of the most remarkably elegant mysteries I’ve read or listened to in a long time. Switching back & forth between the actual investigation (which takes a single day) and the events leading up to the murder (which occupy an entire year at St. Kilda’s), this narrative offers so much more than a whodunit. It’s also an examination of friendship – both adolescent and adult – and the sacrifices we’re willing to make for it.

In its depth of characterization, its attention to procedural detail, and its consistently lovely prose, this one reminded me very much of reading the late lamented P.D. James.




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