Book Review: Broken Harbour by Tana French.

Hello everyone, having a good Sunday? I've got a book review for you all today! It's the first book I've read in three years that hasn't been a uni book. It felt so good to finally read something that I actually want to read. 

This is Broken Harbour by Tana French and it was such a bargain! I got it for like £1-2 in some shop that was getting rid of everything when it's just under a tenner online. So, let's get into the review!

The Background

Broken Harbour is the fourth novel of the Dublin murder squad by Tana French. I didn't know it was part of a series but it doesn't matter too much, because the books are told through different perspectives from various detectives on different cases which sounds good so I'll have to pick up the other ones soon!

Anyway, Broken Harbour is about tough cop, Mick 'Scorcher' Kennedy, who sticks to the rules and works hard at his cases. He is Murder Squad's top detective which is why he is handed the biggest case yet by his boss, O'Kelley. He is famed for keeping control of everything but he is troubled by his dark and tragic past. His new case is about a family called the Spains who have been murdered apart from the mother Jenny who is in intensive care. The father Patrick and the two children have been brutally murdered on one of the half-built/half-abandoned supposedly luxury developments.

At first, Kennedy and his rookie partner, Richie believe it's going to be an easy solve especially as they get a particular person in custody. But there are too many things that aren't as easy to explain such as the half dozen baby monitors, the cameras which point at the huge holes littered around the house. Not only that, the computer has been completely erased of all files and the story Jenny told her sister Fiona about an intruder who has been coming into the house, slipping past all of the locks and alarm.

Also, Broken Harbour, now called Brianstown, holds alot of memories for Kennedy and as his deranged sister, Dina, turns up and sends everything down the drain for him again, he is being constantly reminded of a tragic incident that happened when he was a child and he begins to lose control on things which, naturally, affects his handling of the case.

My Thoughts

I don't usually read crime stories but this one was good, very psychological thriller-like! But I will say right now if you have any sensitivity towards particular issues such as suicide, depression and blood, this is your warning now because there is alot of detailed descriptions of such subjects which may be triggering.

This is a complex yet well-written book full of emotions and secrets. The crime is brutal in its nature and Tana French doesn't hold back with the details. Not one scene is hurried or shoddy. However, this doesn't work for French sometimes because some scenes could definitely be shortened because some moments became a little bit tedious but not overpoweringly so.  She does so well describing Broken Harbour aka Brianstown as a haunting place of hopelessness that was once full of rich, vibrant people looking forward to a new future. It leaves you with a feeling of creepiness that makes you glad you don't live there! 

Around halfway through the book, it becomes harder to figure out who the murderer is and there are two distinct suspects. One of them is the prime favourite and the other suspect is the father himself, Patrick Spain. The narrative twists and turns are done so well that you are torn between who actually committed the murder. Not only that, when Dina (Kennedy's sister), comes onto the scene and throws Kennedy's world off balance when he should be focusing all of his energy into the case, it gives you an insight into what Kennedy's life is really like and what he has been through.

The books picks up pace just after halfway and scene after scene builds up the tension of who the suspect is, what motives are there and just what happened in Kennedy's past to make him and Dina the way they are. It is highly gripping and has you glued to the book all the way to the end. The climax is ultimately emotional and shocking. French writes so well that no detail is left out and each character is brought to life perfectly in the 544 pages. Well worth a read!

You can buy this book here for £8.99

Have you read this? What do you think of it?

If you have any recommendations for me, let me know!

Thankyou for reading.

Laura.

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