World Literary Awards

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Tana French

タナ・フレンチ

Tana French

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1973-05-10 （Burlington, Vermont, United States）
Nationality
United States, Ireland
Languages
English
Residence History
Dublin, Ireland → Italy → United States → Malawi

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Theatrical actress, Voice actor
Active Years
1990-
Influenced By
Donna Tartt

Education

Trinity College Dublin
Drama / Acting (training) / Drama
Period: 1990年代
Country: Ireland
Trained in acting. Formal degree information not clearly documented.

Awards

Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Mystery/Thriller)
2007
Work: In the Woods
Category: ミステリー/スリラー
Organization: Los Angeles Times
Result: ファイナリスト
Edgar Award (Best First Novel)
2008
Work: In the Woods
Category: 最優秀デビュー長編
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: 受賞
Anthony Award (Best First Novel)
2008
Work: In the Woods
Category: 最優秀デビュー長編
Organization: Bouchercon (Anthony Awards)
Result: 受賞
Macavity Award (Best First Mystery)
2008
Work: In the Woods
Category: 最優秀デビュー・ミステリ
Organization: Mystery Readers International (Macavity Awards)
Result: 受賞
Barry Award (Best First Novel)
2008
Work: In the Woods
Category: 最優秀デビュー長編
Organization: Deadly Pleasures (Barry Awards)
Result: 受賞
Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Mystery/Thriller)
2010
Work: Faithful Place
Category: ミステリー/スリラー
Organization: Los Angeles Times
Result: ファイナリスト
Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Mystery/Thriller)
2012
Work: Broken Harbour
Category: ミステリー/スリラー
Organization: Los Angeles Times
Result: 受賞
Irish Book Award (Irish Crime Fiction Award)
2012
Work: Broken Harbour
Category: アイルランド犯罪小説賞
Organization: Irish Book Awards
Result: 受賞
International Dublin Literary Award (Nominee)
2012
Work: Faithful Place
Organization: International Dublin Literary Award
Result: ノミネート

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

In the Woods

2007 Mystery / Psychological thriller

A debut novel blending police procedural and psychological thriller elements, intertwining a childhood mystery with a present-day murder and exploring the investigators' personal histories and trauma.

Memory and traumaFriendshipEthics of investigation
Adaptations
  • [TV series (partly)] Dublin Murders (2019)

The Likeness

2008 Mystery / Crime fiction

Centers on Cassie Maddox, who goes undercover as a woman who resembles a murder victim, exploring themes of friendship, identity, and the costs of living another life.

Friendship and identityLiving as anotherAftermath of violence
Adaptations
  • [TV series (partly)] Dublin Murders (2019)

Faithful Place

2010 Mystery / Crime fiction

A protagonist returns to the neighborhood of their youth to confront a past crime, with emphasis on class, family ties, and the consequences of past choices.

Family and pastClass differencesReturn home

Broken Harbour

2012 Mystery / Crime fiction

Through a crime in a suburban development, it examines economic pressures, family breakdown, and the structure of fear, set against Ireland's changing economy.

Economy and classFamily breakdownFear and anxiety

The Secret Place

2014 Mystery / Crime fiction with YA elements

A murder involving schoolgirls that explores teenage friendship, secrets, and the impact of violence within a police investigation.

Shadows of friendshipYouth cultureSecrets

The Trespasser

2016 Mystery / Police procedural

Focusing on a member of the Dublin Murder Squad, it examines inter-officer relationships, investigative pressure, and obscured motives.

Workplace tensionInvestigative pressureEthics

The Witch Elm

2018 Gothic-tinged mystery / Literary mystery

Triggered by the discovery of a body, the protagonist's identity and family history are unravelled in this psychological and literary novel.

IdentityFamily secretsMemory

The Searcher

2020 Standalone mystery / Literary mystery

A protagonist who moves from the city to a small town becomes involved in a local crime, exploring personal redemption and community complexity.

Escape and redemptionCommunitySalvation

The Hunter

2024 Crime novel / Suspense

Against an unusually hot summer, the novel explores revenge, friendship, and loyalty; the subtle threat of climate change heightens the tension.

RevengeFriendship and loyaltyThreat of climate change

Bibliography

  • In the Woods
  • The Likeness
  • Faithful Place
  • Broken Harbour
  • The Secret Place
  • The Trespasser
  • The Witch Elm
  • The Searcher
  • The Hunter

Adaptations

  • TV series "Dublin Murders" (adapted in part from In the Woods and The Likeness)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
A blend of police procedural and psychological descriptionLyrical yet taut prose
Recurring Motifs
Tensions within friendshipMemory and traumaClass and economic background

Legacy

Highly regarded in Irish crime fiction and dubbed the "First Lady of Irish Crime." She blends police procedural and psychological drama, attracting an international readership and screen adaptations.

In Popular Culture

  • Adapted for television as the series "Dublin Murders"

Quotes

  • Called "the First Lady of Irish Crime."
    Source: The Independent (article) (2014)

Trivia

  • Spent childhood years in multiple countries including Ireland, Italy, the United States and Malawi.
  • Trained in acting at Trinity College Dublin.
  • Debut novel In the Woods won multiple awards for best first novel.
  • Official website: https://tanafrench.com