In the Woods

I love Raymond Chandler’s hardboiled crime novels featuring Detective Philip Marlowe. In the Woods is the first time I’ve encountered so much of what I love about those books, complete with a haunting, melancholy ending, but without the sexism and occasional racism or homophobia, and set in Dublin instead of Los Angeles. It’s a beautifully written labyrinth of mysteries, murder, and criminal investigation, interwoven by the personal and professional relationships of differently damaged humans. I found it completely engrossing and it’s just the beginning of what’s now a six-book series, so I can’t wait to read more.

Very good book. Heard good things about it and picked it up, even though the mystery/police-procedural story isn't my thing. Quite liked and will definitely pick up the author's next book (The Likeness).

More of a psychological who-dun-it, then a strict this-is-how-the-police-solve-crimes case study. Also, the book does NOT follow the basic A,B,C steps of other murder stories. I was guessing, confused, and led in circles many times by the different twists and turns. Plus, the almost supernatural aspect of the aforementioned "Woods" plays with the genre and makes the book a solid read.

I'd recommend it, definitely to people who like murder mysteries, but also to people who don't.