Ponder: The Hunter

The Hunter ©2024 is the second book in the Cal Hooper mystery series by Tana French. Reading the first book in the series The Searcher (1/15/25 post) before reading this one was the optimum way to enjoy the character development. Trey, the kid from the first book has aged a couple years and is now fifteen, with all the accompanying typical mannerisms of a teenager. Just as the disappearance of Trey's older brother Brendan is the driver in the first mystery, the return of Trey's father, Johnny, after a four year absence, is the driver in this second mystery. It is no spoiler to learn early on that Trey's father is a ne'er do well who is always quick with a made up story; he routinely reprises the role of an operator out to make a quick buck euro via some scam scheme.

Cal Hooper, the former Chicago cop, is settling into his life in his refurbished bungalow in Ireland. His relationship with Trey has grown closer; together they repair and refinish antique furniture. Cal's female neighbor Lena play a larger role in this second book in the series. Her behaviors, mannerisms, and unique insights add a good deal of character depth to the novel. The interactions among Cal, Trey, and Lena are to be savored. Trey's relationship with her "eejit" of a father is complicated and Trey plays her duplicitous role with Johnny very well. Other characters, such as the rooks who roost near Cal's house, inject rather humorous notes throughout and provide some comic relief. Per Wikipedia, rooks are "intelligent birds with complex behavioural traits and an ability to solve simple problems".

The Irish countryside once again plays a huge part in the ambience and plot advancement of The Hunter. Into what mess, mystery, and mayhem will Johnny leads the villagers of Ardnakelty, a rural community in western Ireland? Is there gold to be found in "them thar hills"? The climax near the end of the novel was gripping.

I enjoyed this book and was more relaxed with reading it as I adjusted to the author's style. What I initially interpreted in the first book as too much landscape description to suit my taste, I began to appreciate more in the second novel as I became aware of how much it added to the story. The Irish language and pub environment were the icing on the cake. The interplay among the characters is well worth the read. As in the first book, there is an unexpected twist to give the reader a bit of a jolt. No spoilers here. You have to read it for yourself to find out. 

★★★★☆ Really good; maybe only one weak aspect or limited audience