Word on the street was that this book wasn't any good, but I quite enjoyed it, and it's even got a pretty satisfying ending, which French's first book, In the Woods, didn't exactly have to many readers. Although The Likeness isn't a sequel to In the Woods, it's written from the p.o.v. of Cassie Maddox, one of ITW's main characters. It's not necessary to have read the first book (the case, though--"Operation Vestal"--is alluded to a number of times), but it helps add to Maddox's character development and the overall tension of the book.

French's gorgeous descriptions of the Irish countryside (not too rural: outside of Dublin) are enjoyable enough on their own--they're lovely in a mysterious and slightly dangerous way--never ever a 'tourist's postcard' way--but it's also got a full cast of nice juicy (if not altogether likable) lads and lassies (is that right?). I preferred the female point of view to ITW's p.o.v. of Rob Ryan if only because Ryan was kind of a dunderhead mid-way through the book, especially about his and Cassie's relationship. It's nice to get more of her and to see her interact with the surrounding story, mystery, and characters, both alive and dead.

It's certainly not a traditional who-done-it, but it's a mystery nonetheless, and I felt it was a pretty darn successful one at that. Enjoy!