Tana French
Tana French is an acclaimed mystery writer whose works focus on psychological crimes set in contemporary Ireland. Born in 1973, French earned a degree in English Literature from Trinity College, Dublin and subsequently worked in theater, film, and television before turning to writing. Throughout her career as a writer, French has earned numerous accolades, including multiple honors from the American Library Association and Los Angeles Times nominations for Best Mystery/Thriller.
The Tana French collection consists of nine novels, all of which follow a similar organizational structure. Each book follows the case of a professional Dublin Murder Squad detective as they navigate a difficult case and their own personal history. All of French’s novels have a strong emphasis on psychological exploration and character development, providing intense thrills and emotion that keep readers engaged. Here is a summary of French’s most popular works.
In The Searcher, Protagonist Cal Hooper takes on the case of a missing child. Though the child reappears, the case brings Cal face to face with the dark side of his past. The case also reveals sinister elements of the small town and its people, leading to an emotionally punishing outcome.
In The Witch Elm, Toby Hennessy wakes up in a city hospital with no memory of how he got there. As he attempts to piece his life back together, Toby discovers a long-buried family secret, and the shocking revelations yield life-altering decisions for Toby.
The Trespasser follows Detective Antoinette Conway and her partner Stephen Moran as they attempt to solve a case involving a wealthy couple. The deeper they dig, however, the more mysterious the case proves to be, drawing the detectives into a psychological game of cat and mouse that upends their preconceived notions and assumptions.
In the critically-acclaimed Broken Harbor, Detective Mick Kennedy is tasked with finding out who brutally murdered a couple and their small boys in their home. As Mick investigates, he discovers details that are disturbingly similar to events from his childhood—a shocking discovery that brings forth memories he has kept buried for years.
The Secret Place also features Detective Stephen Moran. On a journey to a prestigious school, Stephen and his team are instructed to uncover the mystery behind a student's murder and a photo posted in the Secret Place—a student hangout.
In Faithful Place, Detective Frank Mackey returns home for the first time in years after a tip about a missing woman from his past. Despite strained relationships with family and the return of long-repressed emotions, Frank dives into the investigation and uncovers a chilling plot.
French’s seventh book, The Likeness, revolves around the events that take place when Detective Cassie Maddox is assigned to investigate an attack that is identical to an unsolved case from the previous year. As Cassie follows the clues, she travels deep into an intricate web of lies, betrayal, and tragedy.
In Broken Harbor spin-off The Wych Elm, Toby once again finds himself at the center of a mysterious case. When Toby discovers a human skull in the trunk of a tree at his grandmother’s estate, he embarks on a mission to uncover the mystery of the house’s past and the dark secrets it harbors.
The latest novel from French, The Searcher, follows Cal Hooper, a retired investigator brought in to help an isolated Irish village find their missing teenager. As the inquiry progresses, Cal uncovers troubling secrets that have been hidden away for years—even more disturbing than the fate of the missing boy.
Tana French's novels are complex and nuanced tales of psychological mystery and suspense, with an emotional depth that exceeds the genre conventions of crime fiction. The characters in her books are multi-faceted and compelling, creating an emotional intensity that absorbs readers and keeps them invested in the story through the very last page.
