"The Secret Place" is a crime thriller novel by Irish author Tana French, first published in 2014. The novel is part of the Dublin Murder Squad series, which follows a group of detectives investigating crimes in Dublin, Ireland.
The story is set at an exclusive girls' boarding school, St. Kilda's, where a murder occurred a year prior to the events of the novel. Detective Stephen Moran, who had briefly worked on the case, receives an unexpected visit from a teenage girl named Holly Mackey, who gives him a clue that could help solve the murder. The clue leads Moran and his partner, Detective Antoinette Conway, back to St. Kilda's, where they spend a day investigating the murder with a group of teenage girls who were friends with the victim.
As the detectives and the girls delve into the case, secrets are revealed and tensions rise, leading to a shocking conclusion.
"The Secret Place" has been praised for its intricate plot, well-drawn characters, and evocative setting. The novel explores themes of identity, friendship, and power, and offers a nuanced portrayal of the complexities of adolescence and the pressures faced by young women.
The novel has been a commercial and critical success, and has been adapted for television. It is widely regarded as one of Tana French's best works and a standout in the crime thriller genre.
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