It is April in the quaint village of Three Pines and the residents are preparing for their annual tradition of hiding wooden Easter eggs for the children to find and exchange for candy–a twist brought about because of a previous incident with bears. When an out of town guest, a practicing Wiccan, arrives at the local B&B she discovers that she has been tapped to hold a seance for the locals on Good Friday. Initially put off she rallies only to find that the inn holds no ghosts. But she knows where the ghosts are, for even she, a stranger, can sense the presence of evil from the old Hadley house, a known house of malevolence in the village of Three Pines. So the group schedules a repeat at the Hadley house in the dark of Easter Sunday evening. Despite their loathing of the place several villagers vow to attend the seance, knowing it will be an effort to overcome their palpable terror, and though all of the participants are frightened, in the end only one will be scared to death.
If there is murder in the Eastern townships, the steady presence of the Surete du Quebec’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his investigative team are soon to follow. But for Armand Gamache, a return to Three Pines will bring up his own ghosts. For he is haunted by an incident in his past, a decision that nearly brought the Surete to its knees and has forever tainted the Chief Inspector. With enemies sensed but unknown making their final moves to take him down once and for all, and a Judas in the ranks, Armand Gamache will have to keep his own demons at bay while seeking to expose the spirit of a murderer.
In the past week I have made the introduction of author Louise Penny through her debut novel, Still Life, delved further into the life of Armand Gamache in A Fatal Grace, and have once again returned to the village of Three Pines in The Cruelest Month. Why so much mystery in so little time? It is Louise Penny’s fault. I lay the blame fully at her feet. For she’s not only created an idyllic village (sans murder) filled with authentic and interesting people AND created a character in Chief Inspector Armand Gamache that you almost immediately feel a kinship with, but she has managed to tell a single-story mystery while submerging it within a tension-filled ongoing mystery that propels you into the next book the moment you finish the one you are reading. Or at least that has been my personal experience.
The events of a past case that dog Gamache to this day are hinted at in Still Life and become a much bigger part of the story in A Fatal Grace. By the time I was done with the second novel I was on the edge of my seat, agonizing about what might happen to Armand Gamache and his closest allies. It was so fraught with tension that I cannot imagine how agonizing it must have been for any of you who started reading these as they came out. I know I could not have stood to wait to see what happens next. And I didn’t, I went right into book three and although a variety of work and home activities drew out the reading of the book, my long reading jag that took me past the witching hour last night is proof that this story was never far from my mind and an urge to discover the next secret kept the pages turning.
As with the previous two novels, a handful of new characters is introduced and the reader also has the pleasure of time spent with favorite Three Pines residents. While the murder rate in this small village is cause for great concern, the plus for the reader is that a suspicious death means that we get to revisit friends and discover more of their flaws and more of the characteristics for which we adore them–sometimes those are one in the same. And in getting to know more about these folks we learn more about Armand Gamache and that, let me assure you, is a singular pleasure.
The Cruelest Month is Louise Penny’s best novel yet in the series, though it may have an unfair advantage. It builds firmly on the foundation of the previous two novels and is a strong and decisive Act III. Penny is skilled at weaving the important details of the previous stories into the current one in such a way that you are brought up to speed without the feeling of a recap. In fact, she leaves enough tantalizing details unsaid that if a person was to pick up and start this book first I think they would quickly find themselves compelled to go back to the beginning, not because they would feel lost, but because they would be itching to discover what Louise Penny is hinting at.
One week–three reviews. If you, dear readers, are not getting the message then allow me to spell it out very clearly and succinctly: Armand Gamache is a man worthy of your attention. Proud father, devoted husband, steadfast friend and a boss who inspires the very deepest of loyalties, Gamache is a fictional character whose life is one to emulate. Louise Penny has given readers something special here. It would be a shame to miss out on all the fun.
I just wish you wouldn’t be so wishy washy on how you really feel about this series. Come on man; be straight with us!!! 😉
On a side note that I haven’t shared with you but… I picked up Still Life from the library last week and am over half way done and yes I’m loving Armand Gamache and the characters of Three Pines. Ha! So did I surprise you???
I know, I really need to commit already. Right?
No freakin’ way?!?! I am very surprised, not so much about you loving Gamache (and he gets soooo much better in the next book) but that you picked it up. Cool!!!
lol i can tell “moderation” is not a word in your vocabulary! LOL LOL glad upi are still loving them! I’ve been looking in the used books but haven’t found any of hers yet!
That can certainly be the case, Deslily. 🙂 I’m getting well and truly primed for RIP now. Watching Marple all weekend and reading Gamache.
After finishing # 7, with # 8 still a couple of weeks (now 10 days) away, I decided to re-read Still Life. But I had to buy it, since I originally got it from the library. Same with the next 4 of them. That was when I started buying them – in hardcover – as they were published. I’m 120 pages into Still Life and it even better than I remembered. I’m delighted you are enjoying these so much. (see my new post).
I’m going back and forth right now on whether or not I will try to keep on reading these so that I can read 8 right away or not. At any rate I will probably do my part to thank Louise Penny by purchasing the new one during its first week of release since I’ve had the pleasure thus far for free.
So glad that you are enjoying anew Still Life. Its great when books are as good, or better, than we remember.
Oh, I forgot to say… you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. I thought A TRICK OF THE LIGHT (#7) was the best yet.
Excellent, even better news!
I finished Still Life about an hour ago. Since it’s still 9 days until A BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY comes out, I’m going to read the second book, A FATAL GRACE. Then I’ll go on to the Black Mask stories until MYSTERY comes in the mail.
Glad to hear it Richard. I went out to the library and got the remaining three books, books 5-7. I won’t get them all read before the 29th, but I wanted to be sure to have them on hand if my mood is to keep at them. I’m 40 pages away from being done with A Rule Against Murder and at this point cannot fathom anything but going right into the next book.
A RULE AGAINST MURDER is my lest favorite in the series. I saw the “trick” of it coming a mile away, I’m afraid. I’m about 90 pages into the second book. I remember HOW she was killed but not why or by whom.
I definitely think she projected that a little too much, but honestly I liked the book very much. I’ll wait though and get into that more in the review.
I am glad you are continuing to enjoy this series, Carl!
Thanks, I’m pretty addicted to it.
So, wait – HOW do you feel about Louise Penny again?? ‘Cause I’m just not sure if I should bother reading any of her books . . .
Kidding, of course 🙂 I’ll get on it, I swear! I just have a pile of books waiting by my bed (that doubled in size the day my vacation ended; rather poor timing on my part) that I have to get to first!
Thanks, as always, for sharing enthusiastic reviews with us, Carl!
Her writing is terrible and the characters are all cardboard. ;p Just kidding of course. I’m really loving her work. Started reading book 7 last night because a week away from Gamache had been just too much.
I enjoyed the third most of all as well, so far (I’ve only read the first two, besides that). The way that the other residents begin to take shape (I’m thinking of a couple in particular but don’t want to mention names, as there is some uncertainty about which will remain regulars) really added another dimension to my enjoyment of the series, but it’s Gamache who will take me back to it. I had 4 and 5 out from the library this summer, and they were shuttled back when the weeks started to slip away, but your enthusiasm is reigniting my interest!
Four is really different but I liked it very much. It is sort of relaxing after the intensity of the Arnot case in 2 and 3. If a murder mystery can be called “relaxing”. And then 5, The Brutal Telling, is FANTASTIC. Intense and surprising and a little bit creepy.
That’s good to know. I might not notice the contrast as much, given that I’m not reading them back-to-back, but having a sense of the mood is always helpful. And now I’ll be especially keen to read the fifth. I’m trying to keep my eyes on my own shelves for this season’s spooky reading, but all this talk of Gamache is making me want to buy the rest of the series, so that I can stick with that intent and still read on in the series: heh.
Have you ever tried any of Giles Blunt’s mysteries? They begin with Forty Words of Sorrow.
I have not heard of Giles Blunt, but I will go do some looking right away, thanks!
Yes, Gamache is certainly seasonal as there is always a murder or two going on in his neck of the woods.
Thank you, Carl! I have had Louise Penney on my mind from reading Cathy’s blog, Kittling: Books. She raves about Penney also and just shared an interview. I definitely have to start reading this series!
Yes Missy, I hope you do as it starts out good and just keeps getting better and better.