In the Woods by Tana French

It's hard to write about this one for people who haven't read it, because the thing that left me most dissatisfied at the end is something I can't reveal up front. I mean, it's a mystery novel. I can't give away the end of a mystery novel.

First, the good. Several people have actually asked me what I thought of this book, and I never know how to answer, but what I will say is that I did enjoy it. I wouldn't not recommend it to someone who already had their eye on the book. I thought it was well-written, and felt realistic, and had me engaged from beginning to end. The story is about Rob Ryan who, as a child, disappeared with two of his friends, and was later found in the woods under mysterious and slightly gruesome circumstances, with no trace of his friends and no memory of what had happened. The book picks up years later. He has managed to disconnect himself from his childhood and is now working as a detective, when the body of a girl is found in the same woods. His own history and the current case intermingle as he and his partner, Cassie Maddox, work to solve the new murder and seek a possible connection to his childhood. It was a good summer take-my-mind-off-my-dissertation book, and a good airport read.*

That said, I also think the novel had unfulfilled potential. I understand the author's intent now that I've finished, but I just don't think she was capable (yet?) of effectively pulling it off. There are some scathing reader reviews on Amazon, among lots of glowing reviews (don't read these if you plan on reading this book), but while I wasn't as enamored with the book as many readers, my dissatisfaction also didn't turn me away completely as it did some. I enjoyed the ride and have actually picked up the next book. This was Tana French's first published novel, and after reading it I think I can expect better from her, so I'm willing to try.

* Which is where I picked it up in the first place, greatly discounted at a Powell's shop in the Portland airport - I couldn't pass it up because of the discount, and because it was at Powell's, the one place I was most disappointed not to have visited during my short stay.