Book giveaway: The Secret Place by Tana French

[TinaMumsnet]

'I know who killed him.'

Could these few words, posted on a notice board in an exclusive girls' boarding school, be Detective Stephen Moran's passport to the Murder Squad?

We’re really excited to be giving away 300 copies of The Secret Place this week. Beautifully written and drenched in suspense, we haven't been able to stop talking about this book here at MNHQ.

Click here to find out more, and apply for a copy.

This giveaway is sponsored by Hodder.

Tweet using #TheSecretPlace.

Got my copy in the post today. My lovely neighbour took the parcel so I can start it this weekend. Wow, it's a huge book! Might take me a while to post on here. Looks good and I am looking forwardvto reading this.

Got my book, thanks!

Got mine, too. Reading the slightly hefty 'Palace Walk' by Naguib Mahfouz at the moment, but Secret Place is definitely next on the list.

Received mine and will be starting it tonight unless I find a Secret Place to put the children this afternoon

Just started reading this book and am already wanting to carry on reading it rather than doing the washing - ironing - cooking etc Its definitely going to be one of those 'I cant put it down 'books

Just received my copy, thank you so much. Just finishing PD James' book The Private Patient, and will start this one.

Just finished it in one sitting. Great book, kept me guessing til the end. Would definitely recommend it

I received mine the other day too. I did try to tweet a pic of it but it failed (phone battery low, 3g thingy being erratic) so have just tried again. Hopefully this time it'll work although I admit I'm not 100% sure what I'm doing with Twitter.

Haven't got very far with it yet but that's due to work. The little I have read is promising so looking forward to reading the rest.

I don't know who killed him (yet) but am really loving this so far. It's long but already 180 pages in and only started it yesterday. Very compelling and I like the move in time between chapters back and forth. I childishly really like the matching book mark too.

Will update when I have read more but thanks so much for sending on.

Got the mysterious package through the post...opened and was delighted "look a fantastic book to read whilst I'm away next week"...made the mistake of "just peeking inside" and was gripped.

Warning: Don't open the cover until you've got time to read it....I did and now I have to pull an all night packing session to get us away in time. A seriously imaginative storyline, very evocative of place and time and with lots of angles.

Hope you all enjoy it: I did.

Noooo I'm so jealous I didn't get picked.

Hope everyone is enjoying it and I can't wait til it's released to read it.

Just been to the post office to pick this up, was expecting a t-shirt I'd ordered so this was a nice surprise xD

Thanks for the book.
I devoured it in a couple of days, ignoring my ever long to do list.
It's a like an Irish mean girls, with murder.
The book is tightly plotted with some switchback turns, even though areas (like the murder itself) are very sketchy.
I was fascinated by the portrayal of the tightly knit female friendships, the particularly bitchy queen bee and the relationships in whatever form with the nearby boys' school. Made me more glad than ever not to have attended an all girls school. Also liked the politics and procedure of the police investigating the murder.
Can't say I really went a bundle on the more woo parts with smashing light bulbs and witch insinuations, but hey overall I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading it all over again.

Received my copy with thanks Mumsnet....this was one hefty read! The story is told in 2 perspectives, the first voice is the detective's, investigating the murder of a boy in the grounds of a Dublin boarding school. The second voice is recounting the lead up to the murder and involves a group of 4 girls. I found both "stories" well written and mostly believable and appropriate for the reflected characters. However, I did find the book overly long and felt that some of it could have been edited away without harming the integrity of the storyline. This is the first Tana French book I have read and found her writing very entertaining. The only criticism I would have is that in trying to reflect the younger voice authentically I found the language rather dated which resulted in me feeling a bit annoyed. These criticisms are only minor and I truly enjoyed the book and found the writing and storyline gripping.

Right my review

I love Tana French. I love following the different stories of the murder squad. This has to be my favourite alongside In the Woods. I have to admit that I always hope to hear a mention of Ryan in the books and desperately hope there is another novel featuring him and Cassie as they became so real to me that I long to know what they are upto.

Anyways back to The a Secret Place.
I liked the way the story was told in different time periods in alternate chapters. I liked both police officers and as with all her books found myself caring about both. At the point where he thinks Conway has listened to Mackey and is dropping him I felt genuinely gutted for him.
I couldn't put the book down. I found the characterisation of the teenage girls brilliant and it took me back to my teenage days and the amount of love time and energy you invest in your teenage friendships. I also enjoyed the "magic" within the story. I spent many hours with my friends convincing ourselves we could move objects etc and found this to be a very real part of the intense teenage friendship.

I don't want to give too much away as others will still be reading. But again as with all her books I flipped from being on the edge of my seat tense with worry over my favourite characters to almost weeping with nostalgia for memories that Tana French's writing always evokes in me. I love her books. I always feel like I'm there in the thick of the action. I can smell the school and the gardens and can feel the grass under my feet.

I'll stop now as I'm gushing but suffice to say this book did not disappoint and I'm now waiting for her next novel with great anticipation!

Just receieved the book, it looks amazing - it's a really lux looking book, I can't wait to get started, it's pretty thick and the school holidays so I don't know when I will have time to get through it!

Thanks for the book.
I too read it really quickly !
I loved all the mean girls action & although didn't find it totally gripping I did find it very well written & interesting
I haven't read any of her others so have ordered them from my local library - will get stuck into them when kids are back to school & have more free time

Thanks for the book - I actually managed to read it before I go away today! I was interested enough to keep turning pages, and of course, I wanted to know who the killer was. However, I couldn't describe this book as gripping, tense or full of suspense - in that way I felt it was lacking. I'm a big reader and have often reached such a tense point in novels that I'm having palpitations, but this book never took me there.

I also felt that the girls' characters were very one-sided and the amount of attitude and rudeness shown to each other and adults in authority a bit over the top. I have two girls, one of which is a teenager (with all the trimmings) and I also work with young people so I know about attitude, but I think the girls in this book were too much. I also attended a girls' school and none of us would ever have spoken to teachers, police etc in that manner (I know - times were different back in the day blahdeblah). I found the style of writing a little irritating also - too many words in italics in general conversation. On the plus side I enjoyed watching the two detectives' relationship develop and I imagine that they will feature again in future novels.

Sorry to be a little negative - I did enjoy the book but I don't think it lived up to all the hype that went with it. Clearly others have loved it. Please don't exclude me from reviewing other books - I have loved reading previous Mumsnet book offers!

Releasethehounds I agree with you actually. I really did enjoy the book though!

Thank you so much for the lovely book. Not started it yet, only just got back from my hol. Sorry won't be able to 'tweet' as I am not on 'Twitter'.

butch I feel exactly the same about Ryan and Cassie. Have you seen the film rights have been bought? I would love to see a cinematic version of the story.

Just starting to settle into this book! It got me hooked. 54 pages in and I am hooked!! I have mentioned to Friends and they are looking forward to the release date!!

Littleturkish- no I didn't know the film rights had been bought. I hope it lives up to the book.
I think Ryan and Cassie have to be my favourite partnership of all time. There was so much potential for them and it just seemed so final and cut short (I'm aware that it's only a book and that I probably need to get out more)

I have so many unanswered questions about In the Woods. What happened to his friends.

butch you and me both! I really want to know if SHE knows, and if she ever plans on telling the story.

As an aside- if anyone has finished the book, would anyone be willing to post it to me if I paid the postage and I'd post it back afterwards? I will go and buy it when it's out anyway, but it's killing me knowing you've all read it and I haven't.

If that's against the rules, then I'm really sorry, I just had to ask!