Joan

The Hunter by Tana French is a compelling mystery novel that delves into the hidden depths of a close-knit Irish community. While some prior knowledge of the series opener, The Searcher, might enhance certain references, French expertly crafts a standalone story that allows new readers to dive right in.

The narrative unfolds at a steady pace, drawing the reader into the small-town atmosphere with immersive prose. Cal Hooper, the retired cop from Chicago, takes a backseat in this installment. Instead, the story revolves around an ensemble cast of residents, each with their own secrets and motivations. This shift in focus might not appeal to everyone who enjoyed Cal's central role in the first book.

French's talent for character development shines through. The townspeople become almost tangible, their struggles and complexities interwoven into the fabric of the mystery. The novel could be classified as a literary mystery, as it prioritizes character exploration alongside the central whodunit.

The Hunter is a captivating read for those who appreciate intricate characters and a strong sense of place. However, readers seeking a fast-paced, action-driven thriller might find the deliberate pacing a touch slow. Fans of the first book will likely find this sequel enjoyable, but the focus on the town itself over Cal might leave some wanting more from the retired detective.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I enjoyed this book and would classify it as a literary mystery. There was quite a bit of character development, which I have mixed feelings about. At times, I enjoyed it; other times, I felt like it made the book drag. I thought the ending tied everything together well and would recommend this book to readers who enjoy this genre.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I loved this book! It was a combination of all of my favorite genres. The story involves solving a mystery that takes place in a fantasy world. There is also political intrigue and a host of interesting characters. Highly recommend this one!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

This story was a 3.5 read for me. The world was unique and interesting to discover. The characters were well drawn out and I was invested in their story right away.

I found this short story to be theme-heavy, as if the author wanted to explore a lot of areas in a short amount of story-telling. The writing was concise and there are beautiful, heartfelt sentiments throughout.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy exploring unfamiliar sci-fi worlds and themes of community and belonging.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this book! The mystery aspect was interesting and King creates such fleshed out characters. It isn't at the top of my Stephen King list, but it was a good read.

I love the Will Trent series, so my expectations going into this installment were high. That being said, it was good, but not one of my favorites. I found that it dragged some in the middle and there wasn't as much growth with the main characters and their relationships as some of her other books. It was more focused on the unraveling and solving of the crime plot.

If you are a fan, go in with reasonable expectations. It is well written and the plot is interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

4.5 Stars. Original story with wonderful characters. Loved it!

3.5 Stars...I enjoyed this book and am happy that I am getting to read some classic fantasy. It entertained me enough to want to continue on in the series. I am hoping that the world and characters continue to evolve and become more nuanced as the series progresses.

Enjoyable and satisfying fantasy series!

This was a gem of a book! Patchett is so good at weaving a story together. This one brings together two timelines as a mother tells her daughters about a summer when she was young. I love how Patchett's writing is simple yet evocative as she tells her tale. This didn't end up being my favorite Patchett book, but if you enjoy character-focus novels, give this one a try.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Wow...what an interesting book! The main character is not likeable, but like a car wreck, I couldn't stop looking and wanted to see what was going to happen.

Some of my favorite parts are the “behind the scene” glimpses into the publishing industry. I am looking forward to hearing more about the accuracy of how the book business was portrayed. Lots to discuss with this one. Highly recommend, especially to lovers of contemporary fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary digital ARC.

3.5 stars. This was a pretty average suspense-thriller novel. The plot kept me interested and the ending was satisfying. There wasn't anything groundbreaking here, just a quick propulsive read.

This was an interesting book. It was well written and I enjoyed the story telling perspective from the view of an old man retelling his life's story which interweaves with Chinese military history.

The only thing that brought my enjoyment down a notch is my own ignorance of this historical time period. I think that readers who are more familiar with Chinese history are enjoying this book a bit more than I did. But that is on me, not the book. Highly recommend!

This was a difficult but amazing book. I couldn't put it down and felt so engrossed in the story and characters. Highly recommend!

This book has a very unique and interesting premise. The writing and characters held my interest through out and the ending was propulsive. I look forward to reading other books by this author and recommend this one to readers who like historical/literary fantasy.

I enjoyed this intricately plotted novel. When I found out that one aspect of the story was factual, I was even more intrigued. I am finding that the series is getting better as I get deeper into it and am looking forward to the next installment.

The ending of this installment was fantastic. Penny just took forever to get there.

I was really looking forward to reading this book after hearing positive comments about it on The Currently Reading Podcast.

It has an interesting premise and in the end, the story was okay but did not end up being a favorite for me. The author did do one thing interesting with this book, but other than that, the characters fell flat and I didn't find myself that interested in the story.

I will try other books by this author, though, and maybe have better luck.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book.

I appreciate all of the research that Nayler put into this book. It was very evident that he has thought long and hard about AI, consciousness, inter-species communication, and many other topics. I found the premise of the book to be so unique and interesting. Highly recommend!

The best book in the series so far. Loved it!

After loving the first book in the series, this was one of my most anticipated books of 2023. I wish I could say that I loved it, but I found the first 75% of the book to be slow, and not in a good way. I enjoy the setting up of a story and character development, but this seemed more like “filler” and wasn't that interesting. There was also a shift in this book to more supernatural elements which just took me out of the story. I was interested in the people here.

The last 25% off the book got back on track with more action, conflict, mystery, and character development which were all the reasons why I loved the first book so much.

I will read the next one, but this one was a dip in the series for me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I am enjoying the fleshed-out world and characters and am excited to see what happens in the next book!

I enjoyed “Nothing to See Here,” so I was excited to read this latest offering by Kevin Wilson. I didn't resonate with the phrase on the poster or the main character. The story was unique and well-written. I will check out more of Wilson's books in the future.

A great first installment! I am looking forward to continuing this series.

I really enjoyed this book! The author was able to weave together fantasy, a detective story, and political intrigue all in one story. I am looking forward to the next installment.