2009 # 3

Tana French - The Likeness - Finished - 1/9/2009

In this second book by Tana French, her character Cassie Madox is coaxed back in to working undercover on a murder. (I am going to be very vague on the plot line here so as not to spoil the story). She joins a group of 4 university students who are living in Whitethorn House, an old manor house inherited by one of the 4. As a group the 4 are close and set apart from the rest of the student body by their demeanor and close private relationship. The murder victim was a girl and a member of this group, but her identity was initally unknown although she had papers in the name of Cassie's previous undercover persona. The action centers on the house and the life of the 4 as Cassie tries to trace the victims activities in an attempt to discover the killer. Meanwhile she working with her boy friend Sam O'Neill and Frank Mackey from the Murder quad. It's Frank who convinces her to take on the undercover job and is heading the investigation. This was a good read, tight and interesting plot with an interesting take on the anatomy of the students relationship. It can be read alone or after French's first book In the Woods.

ISBN - 978-0-670-01886-4, Suspense, Pages - 466, Print Size - R, Rating - 4.75