In The Woods

Pick it up: If you like a police proecural and don't mind a dark plot. Well drawn characters, chilling crimes, and a strong sense of place, the books in the Dublin Murder Squad series are all highly recommended for readers of crime fiction.

The novel opens with a chilling prologue: in the summer of 1984, three children venture into the woods, but only one emerges. Twenty years later, that boy, Rob Ryan, is now a detective with the Dublin Murder Squad.

When the body of a twelve-year-old girl is discovered in the same woods, Rob and his partner, Cassie Maddox, are assigned the case. The eerie similarities to the unsolved childhood tragedy begin to unravel Rob's carefully constructed life and force him to confront the ghosts of his past.

As Rob and Cassie investigate the new murder, they navigate the secrets and intricate relationships within the small community surrounding the woods. The investigation becomes a journey into memory, trauma, and the unsettling atmosphere of a place that holds dark secrets. The novel masterfully blends a compelling crime investigation with a deep exploration of the psychological impact of the past on the present.

This is the first novel in the Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French, in which each novel focuses on one detective in the squad. They can be read independently and do not need to be read in order.