I thought that was a given. Frenchs the Likeness is unthinkable without Tartts , do i dare say masterpiece.French has managed to capture part of the atmospherer that Tartts book is full of in every page. It is, i think, her best book. Better than the The Little Friend And he Gold Finch. French just added a murder to the mix.I was fishing around for something to read yesterday and found a copy of The Secret History (Donna Tartt) that I'd forgotten I bought. So far I like it. Her writing reminds me of another time--19th century, maybe--and is quite similar to John Irving at the top of his game. I think it's fair to say that Tana French's odd students in The Likeness owe a lot to Ms. Tartt's odd Greek students in this book.