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Did your impressions of Trey and Cal change over the course of the book? If so, why? Who was your favourite character and why?
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For me there was an instant aura between Trey and Cal that immediately drew me in. I knew when Cal wanted to befriend the crows that he was a good, compassionate person, and was not surprised that he befriended Trey. I thought his way of engaging her with the refinishing of the desk was a perfect way of opening lines of communication with her. I thought Trey’s caution in trusting Cal was realistic and that her tenacity at getting him to look for Brendan was stellar. Over the course of the book my interest in them grew as their relationship grew. I loved how helping Trey in turn helped Cal sort through his feelings about himself and his relationship with his daughter. Trey was lucky Cal is the man he is because not only did she gain the skills of a cop to help her find her brother but she gained a role model of a father which she so desperately needed.
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I liked Cal and Trey throughout the story because, in a sense, they helped each other. Trey became like a daughter to Cal, redemption for being a less than stellar father to his own daughter Alyssa, according to his ex-wife. Donna felt that Cal acted like a cop instead of a father after Alyssa was attacked. I don’t believe that she was entirely right; fathers can show they are fathers through actions which is what Cal did; he got Alyssa’s attacker arrested and off the street. Unfortunately, he left the comforting to Donna. Trey is really raising herself with very little help from her mother and a missing father. Cal missed Trey’s companionship when he was threatened and had to send her away. When Trey was beaten, it is Cal that she goes to for help and wants him to stay with her until she is asleep; he is able to provide comfort. Cal is now more determined to find out what happened to Brendan. Because of Alyssa’s advice to Cal about Trey needing consistency and not someone else disappearing on her, he decides to stay in Ireland. Cal also lets Mart know that Trey will continue working with him and he doesn’t expect “the townland to give either of us any shit about it.” He is determined to keep her safe. Earlier in the story when he decides that she needs something good in her life, he teaches her how to shoot, but instructs her that they will only shoot something to eat. He also takes her fishing. All things that were enjoyable to him with his grandfather. Cal gets Trey one of Lena’s puppies and takes the runt for himself. I just wish there had been some way for Cal to take what he had learned to the authorities.
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In a way, this is a difficult question to answer. I have now read “The Searcher” twice and I enjoyed it so much the first time, I went straight to reading “The Hunter.” So, I am not sure I remember my early impressions of Cal and Trey, at least not with great clarity.
What is clear, is that they change over the course of the book and in ways I respect. Both of them confront their issues, Trey the loss of Brendan and Cal the personal losses that he came to Ireland to leave behind and perhaps even avoid altogether. I don’t think the bratty Trey letting the air out of Cal’s tires and egging his house really considered the answer she learned about Brendan’s fate and not only accepted but recognized for what it was, the end of one purpose for her. As Libby and Nancy note, Cal comes to terms with who he is and makes a decision to stay where he is. I think that until the end of the story, neither Trey nor Cal are willing to consider investing in their individual futures.
As for a favorite, I am not sure. I find it hard to imagine Trey’s life or the pluck she needed to get by. I would have been seriously challenged to have an adolescent Trey in my life. Cal is a relatable guy and I hope that he and Ardnakelty show up in more novels after “The Hunter.”
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With Trey, the biggest change for me was I thought she was a young boy. The reveal that she’s a girl changed my impression of her and my perspective on the dangers she faced among other things. For Cal, I initially thought he had a bit of a romantic notion of the Irish, the way he imagines them and wants them to be gentle, wise, and straightforward. This notion couldn’t be farther from the truth! So I liked seeing him have all his assumptions challenged, not only about Trey, but also about the people he meets, especially about Mart. It’s like he wasn’t expecting to have to use his detective skills again and had put them away, but then is forced to pull them out, dust them off, and sharpen them. I also enjoyed the journey Trey and Cal go on together; how they both are hurt and emotionally damaged at the beginning of the novel but heal together in their search for Brendan.
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Cal my favourite character, primarily because the story is told through his eyes. It was refreshing to be with a narrator who is a kind and sympathetic hero. I also liked all of the supporting characters too, Trey, Lena, and even Mart. They all had surprising depth. Mart was a fascinating villain to me because he is hiding in plain view. He immediately seems shrewd but amiable but I found my impressions of him shifting right alongside Cal’s. The fact that Mart is right there, befriending Cal but disguising his ulterior motives made him an intriguing character for me. What surprised me about my impressions of Cal and Trey was just how similar they are as people. They are both caring, stubborn, not talkative, cautious, and curious.
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My impressions of Cal deepened as the story went on. At first, I wasn’t sure if he was going to be a strong character, as he seemed to be running away and hiding from his troubles, but then I saw how he was needing time to reflect, taking things in and evaluating them, and admired him for that. He didn’t come to Ireland to hide; he came to find the solitude he needed to sort things out and heal. For better or for worse, he wanted to solve his issues without anyone else’s advice or interference. His strengths and motivations revealed themselves over time, and I ended up thoroughly loving his character. As for Trey, I was blindsided by the gender reveal– did NOT see that coming, because Cal, who seemed so wise, had zero clue, and I was seeing her through his eyes. Trey intrigued me from the get-go– wild, untamed, a feral creature, desperately seeking help and closure. My heart went out to him/her immediately. As the story progressed, and the other things were revealed, I admired her for her strength, courage, fierceness, and bond with Cal. She’s a remarkable child who, with the right opportunities and influences, could have a wonderfully fulfilled life. I don’t have a favorite between the two characters– they both were the stars of the story in my mind, and I enjoyed them both. As Maureen said, they do share a lot of similarities!
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