Comments on: “Faithful Place” by Tana French http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Mon, 11 May 2026 21:15:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443&cpage=1#comment-18597 girldetective Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:19:59 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443#comment-18597 Kate, as you can see I had a similar concern about how the mystery wasn't that mysterious; the killer and motive were pretty clear early on. Also, I've noticed that in each of her three books, she's left a blank, so I have to believe this is deliberate: In the Woods we never find out what happened to the original kids (and this, I think, is why people have a problem with this novel), The Likeness we never find out "Lexie's" past, and in this one we don't find out what exactly happened to Kevin. I think in each case, it's a tantalizing omission, yet one that's not critical to the arc of the book. I think the mystery and the psychology were more evenly balanced in The Likeness, and the hole in In the Woods was too gaping to feel good about the ending, while the relative obviousness of the villain here was what felt unbalanced. Kate, as you can see I had a similar concern about how the mystery wasn’t that mysterious; the killer and motive were pretty clear early on. Also, I’ve noticed that in each of her three books, she’s left a blank, so I have to believe this is deliberate: In the Woods we never find out what happened to the original kids (and this, I think, is why people have a problem with this novel), The Likeness we never find out “Lexie’s” past, and in this one we don’t find out what exactly happened to Kevin. I think in each case, it’s a tantalizing omission, yet one that’s not critical to the arc of the book. I think the mystery and the psychology were more evenly balanced in The Likeness, and the hole in In the Woods was too gaping to feel good about the ending, while the relative obviousness of the villain here was what felt unbalanced.

]]> By: Kate http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443&cpage=1#comment-18595 Kate Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:01:18 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443#comment-18595 I read this at the beach this year, as did my good friend and mom. My problem was that I was distracted from early on by the fact I knew who the killer was. My mom and friend (who weren't bothered by this) claim that they think she doesn't care about the structure of murder novels as much as writing about family dynamics and the (beautiful) descriptions of being young and in love and ready to leave everything. This may be true, but if it's the case, I sort of wish she wouldn't write in that genre. The problem is that if I can see the big neon sign flashing over the murderer's head, I start to lose faith when my sympathetic main character can't see the same sign. Maybe there are all sorts of reasons for this obtuseness on the part of Frank, but at the same time, he was so willing to believe one person in his life was the killer, I couldn't believe it took him so long to hone in on the other person who actually was the killer. Finally, we never did find out exactly what happened to Kevin, as I recall. I loved large swaths of this book, and I actually didn't mind the divorced cop trope because I liked the wife and the daughter (there was a point I was very nervous about the daughter's safety, though), and the relationships between the three of them. The family was memorable and interesting, and my heart ached for Rose, but I was so distracted by the murder that it interfered with my enjoyment of the book. I read this at the beach this year, as did my good friend and mom. My problem was that I was distracted from early on by the fact I knew who the killer was. My mom and friend (who weren’t bothered by this) claim that they think she doesn’t care about the structure of murder novels as much as writing about family dynamics and the (beautiful) descriptions of being young and in love and ready to leave everything. This may be true, but if it’s the case, I sort of wish she wouldn’t write in that genre. The problem is that if I can see the big neon sign flashing over the murderer’s head, I start to lose faith when my sympathetic main character can’t see the same sign. Maybe there are all sorts of reasons for this obtuseness on the part of Frank, but at the same time, he was so willing to believe one person in his life was the killer, I couldn’t believe it took him so long to hone in on the other person who actually was the killer. Finally, we never did find out exactly what happened to Kevin, as I recall. I loved large swaths of this book, and I actually didn’t mind the divorced cop trope because I liked the wife and the daughter (there was a point I was very nervous about the daughter’s safety, though), and the relationships between the three of them. The family was memorable and interesting, and my heart ached for Rose, but I was so distracted by the murder that it interfered with my enjoyment of the book.

]]> By: Steph http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443&cpage=1#comment-18588 Steph Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:35:45 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443#comment-18588 Yes, it's Scorcher! I'm still hoping for books on Stephen and Sam! Yes, it’s Scorcher! I’m still hoping for books on Stephen and Sam!

]]> By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443&cpage=1#comment-18561 girldetective Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:06:12 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443#comment-18561 SFP and Steph, is it Scorcher Kennedy? SFP and Steph, is it Scorcher Kennedy?

]]> By: Steph http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443&cpage=1#comment-18560 Steph Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:17:34 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443#comment-18560 I felt similarly to you about this one. I loved it because it's Tana French, but I still think that The Likeness is her best book to date. The mystery felt far more conventional and predictable in this one, and while the family and social dynamics in Faithful Place are interesting and quite different from the slice of Irish life explored in her previous novels, I felt I was less invested in Frank than I was with past narrators, Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox. Also, a friend of mine interviewed French about the star of her next book - I assumed it would be Stephen Moran, but it's not! Of course, I can't remember who it is at this point, but I do remember that it isn't Stephen, though I agree that it seems likely he'll get his own book one of these days. And you really do have to love the way French captures the melodious quality of the Irish dialect! I felt similarly to you about this one. I loved it because it’s Tana French, but I still think that The Likeness is her best book to date. The mystery felt far more conventional and predictable in this one, and while the family and social dynamics in Faithful Place are interesting and quite different from the slice of Irish life explored in her previous novels, I felt I was less invested in Frank than I was with past narrators, Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox.

Also, a friend of mine interviewed French about the star of her next book - I assumed it would be Stephen Moran, but it’s not! Of course, I can’t remember who it is at this point, but I do remember that it isn’t Stephen, though I agree that it seems likely he’ll get his own book one of these days.

And you really do have to love the way French captures the melodious quality of the Irish dialect!

]]> By: SFP http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443&cpage=1#comment-18552 SFP Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:38:14 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3443#comment-18552 I thought Stephen would be the main character in the next book, just like you, but I've since read an interview with French and it's going to be the other guy (I've forgotten his name), Stephen's boss. It'll be interesting to see how she turns him around and makes him someone we care about. I thought Stephen would be the main character in the next book, just like you, but I’ve since read an interview with French and it’s going to be the other guy (I’ve forgotten his name), Stephen’s boss.

It’ll be interesting to see how she turns him around and makes him someone we care about.

]]>