In the Woods is a long 429 page crime drama, think creepy law and order, set in Dublin Ireland. Apparently it is being set to film or so I thought and I devided to give it a read. I personally think it would make a terrible movie. But actually its going to tv, and that makes much more sense.
Detective Ryan tells a story about a horrible crime in his home town of Knocknoree, and how it could possibly relate to an experience he had as a child. He and his 2 best friends had gone into the woods to play. Only he was the only one to return home.
The crime he, and his partner Detective Cassie Maddox, is assigned is senseless murder of the town’s ballerina sweetheart, has the murder squad and the archeological dig where she was found, tied in massive knots. I had a sense of who the guilty party was from near the beginning and by the end I was half right. The person responsible I believe is supposed to be a huge shock, so I’m not sure what that says about the way I think!
In the end Detective Ryan practically falls apart and ends up loosing his partner and best friend. The crime gets solved, but it still doesn’t have a satisfactory ending. Don’t go looking for a happily ever after with In the Woods.
Honestly to read this book I think it takes commitment. It is fairly long and the first half of the story progresses at a snails pace and the second quarter not much faster. It was deeply interesting and more reminiscent of what could actually have happened if this were a true case. Realism! That’s the word I’m looking for. The book may hint at folk lore but in truth there is nothing so out of the ordinary. This is a thinkers book. It gets in your head and makes you try to sort things out for yourself.
Like I said before, this is not your happily ever after story. There are questions left in answered, though not technically a cliffhanger. The ending may even make you angry.
This was the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series written by Tara French. I’m not sure if I’ll ever read the rest of the series because I don’t quite know entirely how I feel about the way this one ended and if they are all similar… I will just have to wait and see.
I give In the Woods 3/5 stars
So, my little booklings, if yourin the mood for something a bit dark, mysterious, and cerebral then give In the Woods a try.
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