This is my favorite kind of mystery - totally character driven. It's not all people getting chased and things exploding and near death experiences. Almost all of the blood-pumping fear is created by the sinister nature of the crimes and the unsettling people connected to it. I think it takes a special kind of author to make a police questioning or interrogation into a fast-paced scene. Tana French is a mastermind at it. It reminded me of Rowling's Cormoron Strike series, but French was on the mystery scene much earlier than JK. I'm glad I finally found her. 
 As much as I loved this book, it totally drained me. One, because I stayed up til 2am finishing it, and two because it was just so darn dark and creepy. By the time I had read the last page, I couldn't believe how Rob's character had been left. French has gotta go back to Rob at some point in the series, right??? RIGHT??? I must know what happens to him (view spoiler)[ as well as Jamie and Peter. (hide spoiler)]