The Trespasser by Tana French
Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey, Adult and Reference Services
Genre: Mystery
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: Antoinette Conway is both the only female in the Dublin Murder Squad and a newbie. At the end of an all-night shift, Conway and her partner, Steve Moran, are called to investigate a murder case. The victim, Aislinn Murray, who appears to have been living a squeaky clean life, has been found dead in her apartment after an anonymous phone call alerted the police to a woman who had “fallen and hit her head.” Conway’s position on the squad is tenuous. Except for her partner, the other detectives do not like her, they want her gone, and she has been subjected to harassment. This uncomfortable position forms the foundation of Conway’s inner dialogue, and it also adds to the intrigue of the plot. Conway must not only find out who killed Aislinn Murray, she must also discover who is behind the harassing and who amongst her squad is giving her truthful or false information about the case.
My Review: Conway is a flawed character with a hot temper, but that is part of what makes this book such an engrossing read. Since the book is written in the first person point of view, the reader “hears” all of Conway’s thoughts: outrage, anger, frustration, disappointment, puzzlement. This makes Conway into a sympathetic character. The inner dialogue and complicated work situation together make for a taut, gotta-finish-this-soon mystery!
Three Words That Describe This Book: gutsy, complex, believable
Give This a Try if You Like… Lynda La Plante mysteries, especially Prime Suspect (Jane Tennison mysteries) or La Plante’s Anna Travis mysteries.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!