Charlie M. (bookaddicted) -
Helpful Score: 3
Better than her first "Into the Woods" in some ways. I found "Into the Woods" a bit drawn out and the ending confusing. Here, she seems to have found more of her stride and fleshes out the character of Cassie Maddox.
Deborah S. (debstoiber) reviewed The Likeness (Rob Ryan & Cassie Maddox, Bk 2) on + 21 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The second novel by Tana French concentrates on one detective, Cassie Maddox, as she finds herself going back into undercover work to find the murder of a young woman named Lexie Madison. Cassie, still scarred from her last case in the Murder Squad gets caught up in the life of Lexie: her friends, her lifestyle and why she died. As she lives Lexie's life she becomes more obsessed with young woman and will stop at nothing to find her killer.
This is a well-written, thought provoking novel in which Ms. French takes us once again through the steps of solving a complicated murder. Deliberately paced to make the reader want more, this novel makes you slow down and absorb every detail. As with real life, the author shows that the answer is never wrapped up in a single package. Critics of the her first novel "In The Woods" will be happy to note there is not the loose ends at the conclusion of this book. Answers are given-it is up to you to decide if the characters will survive and move on.
Well worth reading and keeping on your favorite bookshelf at home. 4 out of 5 stars.
This is a well-written, thought provoking novel in which Ms. French takes us once again through the steps of solving a complicated murder. Deliberately paced to make the reader want more, this novel makes you slow down and absorb every detail. As with real life, the author shows that the answer is never wrapped up in a single package. Critics of the her first novel "In The Woods" will be happy to note there is not the loose ends at the conclusion of this book. Answers are given-it is up to you to decide if the characters will survive and move on.
Well worth reading and keeping on your favorite bookshelf at home. 4 out of 5 stars.
Laurie R. (dragonfly521) reviewed The Likeness (Rob Ryan & Cassie Maddox, Bk 2) on + 7 more book reviews
Really enjoyed this book. Tana French is a great mystery writer with rich characters and a great story. I read Faithful Place and think that it is even better. Looking forward to her next novel.
I have not read "In The Woods" by French, so coming into the scene with "The Likeness" allowed me to have no expectations. Immediately the premise of the book captured my imagination and I enjoyed the style and pacing of the story to the point that I turned down other activities while on vacation last week.
Pluses: Sharp dialogue, absolutely exquisite descriptions of the "house characters", and French beautifully conveys the longing of main character Cassie/Lexie. The world French creates inside the house is surreal, but again, the reader may find it inviting to picture herself as a part of the group living there. French does a great job of creating longing in the reader too.
Detractions: Bogs down a couple times... but my suggestion is to push through it. French eventually moves the story onward. Main character Cassie is sometimes a bit over the top - but what do I know? I don't hang out with Irish female detectives. Still, French could have toned her down a bit and she still would have had a great main character - and more believable.
Noteworthy: Although on one hand it's nice to have "all" the questions answered at the end (well, MOST of the important questions anyway), the author spoon feeds a bit too much in those last 30-40 pages. Still, it's hard to ding French for answering the reader's silent wondering. But I found the revealing ending to be a bit reminiscent of a Murder She Wrote TV scene. (Oh, I happen to like Murder She Wrote, but this isn't the same thing, so I wish French would have been a bit more tight-lipped.)
Result: Highly recommend to those who loved the movie Dead Poet's Society, the book "The Light of the Evening", and who can handle a little bit of the creep factor.
I have already ordered French's first book, "In The Woods".
Pluses: Sharp dialogue, absolutely exquisite descriptions of the "house characters", and French beautifully conveys the longing of main character Cassie/Lexie. The world French creates inside the house is surreal, but again, the reader may find it inviting to picture herself as a part of the group living there. French does a great job of creating longing in the reader too.
Detractions: Bogs down a couple times... but my suggestion is to push through it. French eventually moves the story onward. Main character Cassie is sometimes a bit over the top - but what do I know? I don't hang out with Irish female detectives. Still, French could have toned her down a bit and she still would have had a great main character - and more believable.
Noteworthy: Although on one hand it's nice to have "all" the questions answered at the end (well, MOST of the important questions anyway), the author spoon feeds a bit too much in those last 30-40 pages. Still, it's hard to ding French for answering the reader's silent wondering. But I found the revealing ending to be a bit reminiscent of a Murder She Wrote TV scene. (Oh, I happen to like Murder She Wrote, but this isn't the same thing, so I wish French would have been a bit more tight-lipped.)
Result: Highly recommend to those who loved the movie Dead Poet's Society, the book "The Light of the Evening", and who can handle a little bit of the creep factor.
I have already ordered French's first book, "In The Woods".
A good, imaginative mystery. I don't read many mysteries and stumbled on Tana French's first book, In the Woods. I liked it and decided to try more. I liked The Likeness even more! Her books are long, but worth it.
Suzanne S. (sslowe) reviewed The Likeness (Rob Ryan & Cassie Maddox, Bk 2) on + 80 more book reviews
I was afraid that the author had ruined Cassie Maddox for me, because initally she was weak and unfocused. I was so happy to have her redeemed in the end, because she really is one of my favorite literary characters. The book was very readable and unfortunately for PBS members, I'm sending it on to my sister who I introduced to Cassie in "in the woods".
This was my first Tana French novel, and I am glad to have "found" her. The characters are well-developed and the plot is unique. Be ready for a gritty read.
