Description: A quiet and unnerving book about an American ex-cop who moves to rural Ireland and finds himself wary of the neighbours.
This is a great literary suspense novel, and the subtle Irish humour reminded me a lot of my time living in Ireland.
Cal Hooper has purchased a fixer-upper outside a small village on the west coast Ireland called Ardnakelty. (It’s a fictional location but goodness it feels real.) He’s enjoying retirement, likes his neighbour who chews the fat, and is otherwise enjoying himself until he gets caught up in the disappearance of a village teen. Cal’s cop instincts kick in and he starts investigating, and ignoring the advice of his neighbour to let it be. No good comes of it, but I don’t want to spoil the story.
The Searcher is lacking great thriller/suspense action but it makes you uneasy. I think that’s an even greater feat of suspense writing.
Favourite Moment: Trey is a nearby neighbour kid who’s taken to hanging around Cal’s. Cal’s fire arm license comes through and he teaches the kid how to shoot a rabbit. They make a stew and bond.
The perfect read for those who like Night Boat to Tangier, The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn, or some of the quieter Stephen King novels.