Monday, March 18, 2019

THE WITCH ELM


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The Witch Elm, Tana French, Viking, 2018, 509 pp
 
 
Just knowing that Tana French has a new novel puts me in an anticipatory state. I got on the waiting list at the library right away though it still took months to get a copy. Apparently I am not alone.
 
I had heard that The Witch Elm was not a Dublin Murder Squad sequel but a stand alone. It was more than worth the wait.

I have no intention of giving away any plot points. The novel takes its time, it messed with my head, it pretty much upended all my expectations of what it would be about and how it would turn out. The psychological tension built until I was beyond impatient to know all the answers to all the questions posed.

With her protagonist Toby, she created an unreliable narrator more confounding than I have ever come across before. Most of the time, he did not even believe himself. I was reminded of Cassie in The Likeness.

This is still a crime novel but the viewpoint is inverted to give the criminal mind prominence instead of the cop's. It is brilliantly done.

16 comments:

  1. Oh, how I *so* hate unreliable narrators...... [lol]

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    1. I must say I have grown to like them in stories over the years.

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  2. Oooo, sounds like a great read!!

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    1. Tana French has never let me down.

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  3. I didn't realize it was a stand alone and not related to her other books. So is Toby the criminal? Unreliable narrators can often throw me for a loop but we will see.

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    1. Oh no, I didn't say who was the criminal. No spoilers here!

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  4. I entirely agree with your review. It was an amazing read.

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    1. Thanks, Dorothy. I remember your review.

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  5. I had this from the library but, ran out of time and returned it unread. Glad you enjoyed it, I shall try again soon.

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    1. That happens to me all the time! In my opinion, it is worth a second try.

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  6. thanks, I need to try this author, finally. Which one would you recommend?

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    1. I recommend starting at the beginning with In the Woods. If you like her style of crime writing, which is unique to her, you will be good to go!

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  7. Most of the bloggers I follow who have read it, have loved it. One day, I, too, will read this amazing series.

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    1. You have a wonderful reading adventure ahead of you!

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  8. Another one to add to my ever growing TBR!

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