It’s almost ridiculous how easy she makes it look, writing a book this good. I don’t even know what to say anymore about her books. They are all just so, so good. And the way she jumps from character to character each book gives her room to play around with different structures and themes, and yet still stay within the framework of a murder mystery novel.
I love murder mystery novels, but I don’t love these books because of the mysteries (although I don’t think her style would work as well in any other genre). I love them for the characters, and the way French writes her way into their heads. She makes them so human it hurts.
This one features Antoinette Conway, who we met last book. Conway is a hard lady to get to know, and she doesn’t make it easy for you to be in her head. She assumes the worst about people, and lets her own issues color her judgments of the victim whose murder she’s trying to solve. She’s also untrusting and contemptuous of people who show their vulnerability. It’s at times infuriating. But she’s good at her job, and she’s a fighter. It’s a fascinating portrait of a complex mind.
Ultimately, this is a book about how the stories we tell ourselves shape the way we see the world. It’s a theme that works ridiculously well in the context of a murder. The Trespasser isn’t my favorite of her books, others have hit harder and more deeply for me, but I can find no fault with it.
I waited too long to write this review, of course, so I’ve forgotten almost everything I had to say after finishing it two months ago. All that remains now is that I loved it, and I’ll be reading it again, and I can’t wait for the next book to be released in (hopefully, if she holds to pattern) 2018.
*’Triple Cannonballing with Tana French’ sounds like the name of a cool show on Food Network or something. I would totally watch that show.