The Likeness: A Novel | Tana French

The Likeness: A Novel | Tana French | Exceptional

books:

The Likeness: A Novel

	The Likeness: A Novel Tana French Viking Adult, 2008 - 480 pages average customer review:based on 43 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Feckin' genius

It's feckin' genius, that's what it is. I couldn't write a single sentence as well as Tana French if I started now and lived to be a thousand. And she wrote a whole book, two books, of them. Flawlessly. Word after word, sentence after sentence, paragraph after paragraph, until the book is as perfect as it could be. It boggles the mind, it really does.

The first time I picked up Raymond Chandler, I knew I was in the hands of something profound and mysterious. I haven't had that feeling again for many years, till In The Woods, and even more powerfully, The Likeness.

Here's an Australian sheep rancher, talking about his daughter:

"But when she was nine, her mother had hemmorhaged, ...and bled out before a doctor could get there. 'Gracie was too young to hear that,' he said. '...I knew as soon as I told her. The look in her eyes: she was too young to hear it. It cracked her straight across.'"

"It cracked her straight across". That's the power of metaphor in the hands of a master. It conveys in a way that touches the heart what exactly happened, in the same way that Shakespeare would use metaphor and words.

It's a privilege to read Tana French, it really is. I feel only pity for the person who wrote of the unbelievable plot, I do. This book isn't about a plot, just as Chandler wasn't about plot, just as we don't read Shakespeare for the plot. Anyone can do plot; but to give feeling and life, undoubted life, to characters on paper, that is to marvel at.

for more information click here

Exceptional

Although I read and thoroughly enjoyed French's debut novel "Into the Woods", her sophomore effort is by far superior. It was truly an exceptional and thrilling read. The way French fleshes out Cassie Maddox, Lexie Madison and the four housemates is truly astonishing. I have always been fond of character-driven plotlines and novels, and French truly impressed me with "The Likeness". The amount of depth present in these characters - their motivations, relationships, and personalities - was both fascinating and engrossing. This was a book difficult to put down.

To put it simply and sincerely: I loved "The Likeness" and would recommend any reader interested in a solid character-driven novel and thrilling mystery to buy this book.

I look eagerly towards her next novel! Hopefully, the wait will not be long.

for more information click here

love love love!!

The Likeness, Tana French's second mystery novel, is an incredibly creative and engaging story about Cassie, a supporting character in her first novel In The Woods. I highly recommend reading In the Woods before The Likeness, because knowing a little about Cassie before diving into this novel makes it that much better.

Cassie, a former undercover agent is sent back into duty when a murder victim turns up who happens to look like her long lost identical twin. Cassie is put in a house with 4 of her best friends, and the suspense ensues.

I loved every word of this novel, from the brilliant descriptions of the house, to the vividness of every single character. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a great mystery, and especially to those who loved In the Woods as much as I did.

for more information click here

Top of my list

I loved every sentence. I think she is the best mystery writer in the business. Sorry John Sandford, but you've slipped to number two on my list.

Pulls you in & won't let you go....

Tana French has outdone herself with her second book. She combines her lyrical prose style with a gripping, well plotted murder mystery. I was so drawn into Whitethorn House & the denizens who lived there that I felt as if I were one of them. The characters & setting, & story are so gripping that for several days afterward I still felt as if I were living in the story. A totally absorbing book with a much more satisfying ending that her first novel.

for more information click here