The Searcher: A Novel

This novel had three of my vital requirements in a novel: strong characterization, appealing setting, and a compelling plot.

Set in a rural location in the West of Ireland, it evoked misty green fields, the smoke from peat fires, birdsong, and fresh air.

Cal Hooper, the protagonist, was a great character. 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. He is an outsider, a newcomer, who is under constant invisible scrutiny by his neighbours. And hey, he drinks my favourite Irish beer!

Trey Reddy was a character that pulled at your heart-strings. I loved the way Cal bonded with Trey in a fatherly/friendly manner. Both characters were damaged, yet together they formed a bond that I am confident will eventually heal them both.

The plot was a page turner which divulged that even the most bucolic places often hide dark and nasty underbellies. The masterful and eloquent writing evoked the menace and unease which contrasted greatly with the tame and idyllic setting. The book spoke to how justice is not always clear-cut, and that sometimes rural justice is a different kettle of fish altogether…

There was one shocking plot revelation that surprised me as much as it did the protagonist, Cal Hooper.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and though I know it is a stand-alone novel, would love to see the characters of Cal Hooper and Trey Reddy return in later books.

Highly recommended!