The book spoke to how justice is not always clear-cut, and that sometimes rural justice is a different kettle of fish altogether… The masterful and eloquent writing evoked the menace and unease which contrasted greatly with the tame and idyllic setting. The plot was a page turner which divulged that even the most bucolic places often hide dark and nasty underbellies. Both characters were damaged, yet together they formed a bond that I am confident will eventually heal them both. I loved the way Cal bonded with Trey in a fatherly/friendly manner. Trey Reddy was a character that pulled at your heart-strings. And hey, he drinks my favourite Irish beer! He is an outsider, a newcomer, who is under constant invisible scrutiny by his neighbours. Strong in moral ethics, worldly-wise, and seeking sanctuary from a life that has been less than kind, he exudes a kind of calm, quiet strength. Set in a rural location in the West of Ireland, it evoked misty green fields, the smoke from peat fires, birdsong, and fresh air.Ĭal Hooper, the protagonist, was a great character.

This novel had three of my vital requirements in a novel: strong characterization, appealing setting, and a compelling plot. Cal is used to human behavior and he realizes that Trey wants something from him, he will just have to wait and see what that might be….Įventually, after several days where Cal takes Trey fishing, hunting, and working on his old house, Trey finally asks Cal to look for his older brother, who went missing months ago. Taciturn and skittish, Trey begins helping him with the desk. He has felt for some days that he was being watched, and now he knows who was watching him. One day while trying to repair an old desk that was in the house, a child comes to his yard. He bought a tumbledown old house outside of a village and spends his day trying to make it habitable once more. So, he up sticks and moves to Western Ireland. This coincided with the end of his marriage.

A twenty-five year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, the dynamics of his job had changed enough that he wanted out. He is a father to an adult daughter who lives on the American west coast. Not long divorced from his wife whom he loves, he is still reeling from the failure of his marriage. Cal Hooper is a very likable and strong protagonist.

The searcher tana