Book Review: The Trespasser, Tana French

Photo from amazon.com.

Publisher’s Description for The Trespasser, by Tana French:

In bestselling author Tana French’s newest “tour de force” (The New York Times), being on the Murder Squad is nothing like Detective Antoinette Conway dreamed it would be. Her partner, Stephen Moran, is the only person who seems glad she’s there. The rest of her working life is a stream of thankless cases, vicious pranks, and harassment. Antoinette is savagely tough, but she’s getting close to the breaking point. 
Their new case looks like yet another by-the-numbers lovers’ quarrel gone bad. Aislinn Murray is blond, pretty, groomed-to-a-shine, and dead in her catalog-perfect living room, next to a table set for a romantic dinner. There’s nothing unusual about her—except that Antoinette’s seen her somewhere before. And that her death won’t stay in its neat by-numbers box.

When I was little, and I'd managed to get my hands on some grape or orange Bubble Yum or Hubba Bubba, I'd have a pep talk with myself: "You can DO IT this time!"

It never worked. 

The flavor was always so concentrated and intense when I put a piece in my mouth that I both loved and couldn't handle it. I'd try and chew through the candy-like texture until it mellowed out and became actual gum. But it invariably overwhelmed me so much that I'd have to swallow it for some relief. 

This is basically the same way I've handled Tana French books—until now. It took all six books in this series, but I've finally cracked the code with The Trespasser:

1. Listen to the audiobooks so it's basically impossible to skip ahead and ruin the ending because it's too intense to handle. This way, your anxiety about the whodunnit can stay at bay while you enjoy the experience.
2. Enjoy the story as much as possible, because French can paint a mood like no other, and the wrap-up never quite lives up to the anticipation and atmosphere of the book. The experience is always better than the ending.
3. Pack your suspension of disbelief for the 20 pages of prose-etry dialogue from an ancillary character that will inevitably crack the case wide open 15% from the end.

With French, it's always worth the ride. 

PS - Come find me on Goodreads.

Liking Lately: January Finds

Photo from feralaudio.com.

1. My Favorite Murder podcast. True crime is something that's always interested me but which I was always afraid to admit. If I say that I'm interested in true crime and serial killers, aren't I more likely to end up in jail, wrongfully committed? If you listen to the podcast, you know that talking about it is a super scientific way to keep it from happening ("it" being either wrongfully committed or being murdered yourself). Plus, it's nice to finally know I'm not alone: The podcast's Facebook group has more than 90,000 members. And it makes sense, doesn't it? If you're a normal, well-adjusted human being then it's sort of fascinating to see when someone isn't. And I suppose this human fascination is why murder mysteries, Law & Order SVU (Benson and Stabler 4eva), Bones, Criminal Minds, NCIS, and the like are so popular. 

The podcast also reminded me of Michelle McNamara's website, True Crime Diary, which I've been hearing about for a long time. Unfortunately, Ms. McNamara passed away recently, but her work in researching and reporting on true crime cases and working toward solving them. 

Photo from epicurious.com. Don't skimp on the cheese.

2. Roasted butternut squash and kale salad. I made this a week or two ago and I can't stop thinking about it. Roasted garlic dressing! Cheese! Add a protein and you've got a main course. The leftovers will be great the next few days as the kale tenderizes in the dressing. I never eat leftover dressed salad unless it's kale. Use Trader Joe's tuscan kale and butternut squash zigzags to save on the prep time. 

3. Litsy. If Goodreads and Instagram had a baby, this would be it. It makes interacting over books fun, easy, and visually appealing. Post quotes, reviews, and blurbs, with or without your own edits. Add a book to your stacks directly from a friend's post, and collect points for your posts and interactions. I'm @TheCopyCait over there: feel free to add me.

Standing ovation with a sprinkling of copywriter envy for whomever wrote their tagline: "Litsy: Where books make friends."

Photo from screenfad.com.

4. Shameless. Not a new show, but new to me. Best described as a dramedy, this show has made me laugh and cry in seemingly equal measure. My husband and I started watching it a couple of months ago and pretty quickly got obsessed. I love getting into a show when it's far enough in that there are several seasons to binge on, while still a good season or two left in the tank. That's the sweet spot for me. You get the benefit of not having to wait for new episodes while still being able to participate in the fandom while it's going on. 

Photo from amazon.com.

5. Trader Joe's Mint Melange Tea. I usually take advantage of January to recover from the holiday chaos by slowing things down and coming back to center, so to speak. One way I do this is by sipping (decaf) tea at night. Mint, in various forms, has long been my go-to. I recently picked up this Mint Melange at Trader Joe's. If there isn't one near you, I understand it may be similar to Mighty Leaf Mint Melange. (It may well even be the same exact tea, given that TJ's contracts companies to make their products.) And of course, there's always good old Sleepytime.

What are you liking lately?

Friday Find: Physical Comedy...on Ice!

I don't know whether I've mentioned it here before, but physical comedy is my kryptonite. When anything visually funny happens in a TV show or a movie we're watching, my husband immediately and wordlessly rewinds it for me so I can watch it again. That's love.

Whether big or small, the fastest way to my funny bone is something visually/physically funny. Which is why my husband knew he had to show me this video immediately.  

Bonus, because my husband and I can't stop watching this: