In the Woods by Tana French

I read so much about In The Woods and saw that it won the Edgar for the best first book, so last time I was at the library I decided to pick it up. I am glad that I did, because after a slow start, I have to give this book an A-.

From the author's website:
As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children, gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled shoes, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.
Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox – his partner and closest friend – find themselves investigating a case with chilling links to that long-ago disappearance. Now, with only snippets of buried memories to guide him, Rob has the chance to unravel both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.

Sometimes I have a difficult time reading books set abroad. I believe a part of it is because of the slang and local language that is used in the book that can be frustrating to me. I am embarrassed to say I almost had to force myself to start reading In the Woods, and there were several times I almost put the book down. I just finished it and I loved it. I loved the author's voice... once I got used to it... and loved Rob and Cassie's relationship. I had part of the mystery figured out fairly early on, but there were plenty of reasons to continue reading it. I was somewhat disappointed with the ending, but I don't know if the book would have worked if it was written any other way. I don't want to give away anything, so I don't think I can explain myself too well, but I would recommend that you pick this book up if you haven't already. It did take me awhile to get into it, so if it has the same effect on you... DON'T give it up! This was a perfect fit for J. Kaye's Suspense Challenge in the police procedural category.

I am going to read another library book next. I am not sure what it is called (it's in the other room and I am way too lazy to go and get) but it is something different from what I usually try. I have off tomorrow from all of my jobs, but am planning on meeting up with a friend of mine. I also want to get some errands in, but I don't think anything is too pressing so I am hoping for some reading time. I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!