The Trespasser

A Novel

By: Tana French

Narrated by: Hilda Fay

The best-selling novel by Tana French, author of the forthcoming novel The Searcher, is “required reading for anyone who appreciates tough, unflinching intelligence and ingenious plotting” (The New York Times). She “inspires cultic devotion in readers” (The New Yorker) and is “the most important crime novelist to emerge in the past 10 years” (Washington Post).

“Atmospheric and unputdownable.” (People)

In best-selling 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-the-numbers box. Other detectives are trying to push Antoinette and Steve into arresting Aislinn's boyfriend, fast. There's a shadowy figure at the end of Antoinette's road. Aislinn's friend is hinting that she knew Aislinn was in danger. And everything they find out about Aislinn takes her further from the glossy, passive doll she seemed to be.

Antoinette knows the harassment has turned her paranoid, but she can't tell just how far gone she is. Is this case another step in the campaign to force her off the squad, or are there darker currents flowing beneath its polished surface?

©2016 Tana French (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"[Narrator] Hilda Fay gives a keenly considered performance.... Subtle distinctions among Irish accents play a fascinating part in Fay's performance." (AudioFile)

“A tour de force.... When you read Ms. French - and she has become required reading for anyone who appreciates tough, unflinching intelligence and ingenious plotting - make only one assumption: All of your initial assumptions are wrong.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

"Tana French is the most interesting, most important crime novelist to emerge in the past 10 years." (The Washington Post)

"[Tana French] inspires cultic devotion in readers…most crime fiction is diverting; French's is consuming." (The New Yorker)

0utstanding story, characterization and narration.

I have read all of Tana French's books and although I loved all of them , I think this is her best. The plot is full of surprises and the dialog in the interviews is frequently astonishing. Taut psychological drama. Audio book was wonderful with a great narrator .

Another great novel!

What did you love best about The Trespasser?

Excellent story with depth and insight into how personal history and hidden agendas mold an individuals actions!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, this story had plenty of twists and misconceptions to keep me riveted until the very end.

Which character – as performed by Hilda Fay – was your favorite?

Hilda Fay's performance was excellent overall and the depth of emotion she conveyed to the character Antoinette was fantastic!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Tag line? Perhaps "ever shifting perspectives".

Any additional comments?

Unfortunately, I can't listen to any more Tana French books, as I've listened to them all. But I will be looking up Hilda Fay to listen to more of her performances!

Just Don't Like This D

I loved the narrator, the story was pretty good, but it was too long, and try as I might, I STILL can't like this detective. She is just too cold and angry and too proud if her total lack of humanity. So she's got balls; how about a heart?!

Meh...

Lots of good things in Tana French books but they are usually too long and this one is no exception. For me, there’s not enough plot to justify the length. Too many bloated cop interviews that add up to little or no advancement of the story. I always feel mildly irritated listening to her books. Like, “just f*#king get there already”.

It was ok

I love Tana French and have read all of her books. This was my least favorite. I really disliked the main character and got weary of the character cliches throughout this book. She tries to keep the magic flowing in this like precious but it just felt ... stretched. Still a good read by most standards- just not Tana's best.

I expected a lot more from a bestseller

This book dragged on and on! I bought it because it was listed as a bestseller. I have never been disappointed with a bestseller selection until now. The book wasn't terrible, it just wasn't great! I put it down several times because I was bored, it took me longer than normal to finish!

Excellent story badly narrated

Audible listeners know that a bad narration can kill a great story. Hilda Fay is totally wrong for this mystery. First, she is incapable of changing her vocal qualities enough to give a credible narration of male and female voices. This is a tragedy, because French is an excellent writer who deserves a GREAT narrator.

About the story: a complex tale about a disheartened detective who has one last chance to prove she can do the job, which involves the murder of a woman by a shy man who apparently stalked her prior to killing her. I won't say more because it might spoil the book. As usual, French delves into the motivations of the detectives pursuing a case as those of the victim and possible murderers.

She's written better stories

The last 3 hours were great. the story was off and on good, then boring, then good for the many hours preceding the last 3.

SLOW

A pretty good 12 hour listen compressed into 20 hours. Way too much time spent on red herrings.

Not her best

I find Tana French to be frustratingly uneven. Loved Broken Harbor, not a fan of The Likeness. This book falls somewhere in the middle. The mystery is weak and it's overwrought with an incredibly long and drawn out ending.