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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Penny really leans into the unattractive, unsympathetic, even unethical parts of her characters, and not just the side players and potential murderers. Our heroes are selfish sometimes, and weak, and cruel. It’s a thought-provoking context for a whodunnit.
Inspector Gamache hopes to put his detective instincts away for a bit while he celebrates his wedding anniversary with his wife Reine-Marie at a charming resort a few miles away from the town of Three Pines, a resort they end up sharing with the Finney Family and their annual reunion. But when the "horrible" younger brother and his wife the family has been talking about turn up, and it turns out to be Peter and Clara Morrow, old friends from Three Pines, things take an interesting turn. And then Gamache has to cut his vacation short and turn detective again when one of the paying guests turns up dead.
So far, I've liked all the Gamache books I've read, but some are better than others. In this one, I think Penny is on her A-game. I liked the family themes throughout and thought Penny was especially perceptive about human motivation in this one. She also kept me guessing right up to the final reveal. Recommended!
So far, I've liked all the Gamache books I've read, but some are better than others. In this one, I think Penny is on her A-game. I liked the family themes throughout and thought Penny was especially perceptive about human motivation in this one. She also kept me guessing right up to the final reveal. Recommended!
Compared to others in the series, this mystery feels a bit tepid. Set in a secluded resort away from Three Pines, it centers on the family of the least interesting character from the first three novels. The new additions to the family are painfully immature and petty, which precludes the humor and warmth that imbue the previous books with such charm. Inspector Gamache remains an honorable and thoughtful protagonist, but the murder mystery he unravels here remains puzzling for its unconvincing motive and slapdash reveal. Seeing that book 5 returns to Three Pines, I have hope that Penny returns to the village coziness and eccentric characters that made this series so uniquely enjoyable.
Previously on Goodreads, my review for book 3
You know?
These are really growing on me.
Thanks, Mom!
So, here's a stupid conversation I had with my mom last week while we were sitting in the waiting room between doctor's appointments.
Me: "Oh, hey, I'm listening to the next Louise Penny book."
Mom (perks up): "Which one?"
Me: "It's either the fourth or the fifth. It's the one that takes place in the lodge out in the wilderness and there are snotty rich people there while Gamache and his wife, Reine Marie, are celebrating their anniversary."
Her: "...?"
Me: ""
Her: "...I don't think I've read that one."
Me (putting it down to chemo amnesia): "Oh, I'm sure you have. Like I said, it's the fourth or the fifth one. Ruth Zardo's duck hasn't even begun to feature prominently. It was only born in the last book and Three Pines hasn't even shown up in this book. I don't know what else happens, yet, I'm not that far in so I can't tell you anything else, but I'm sure you've read it."
We look at Jim. He shakes his head and shrugs.
Mom: "Well...I haven't read these in order. I probably never read this one."
Me: "WHAT? You've been making me read these so we could talk about them but you haven't even been going in order?"
Her: "I just wanted you to read about the duck. The old lady and the duck are my favorite part."
*sigh*
Alright, well, I am reading these in order and the overall story, it is growing on me.
The mystery in this particular installment was actually kind of weak. I'd give it two stars. I'd come up with a far twistier Who/Why/How and was disappointed in the actual results. Ok, my explanation would have made it darker and more evil and this is a cozy mystery but still. I had one eyebrow raised (yes, I can do that) with that "Really?!?" look on my face for the last half of the last CD.
But who cares?
I'm not reading these for the crime-solving element. I'm reading these for a duck, because my mom told me to, and I've become fond of Chief Inspector Gamache and his wife and the village of Three Pines.
In addition, I loved the setting of this one and now I want to go to that lodge and eat Chef Veronique's food and hang out by the lake and look at the spiffy copper roof and smell the honeysuckle.
Completely charming.
Next, my review for book 5
You know?
These are really growing on me.
Thanks, Mom!
So, here's a stupid conversation I had with my mom last week while we were sitting in the waiting room between doctor's appointments.
Me: "Oh, hey, I'm listening to the next Louise Penny book."
Mom (perks up): "Which one?"
Me: "It's either the fourth or the fifth. It's the one that takes place in the lodge out in the wilderness and there are snotty rich people there while Gamache and his wife, Reine Marie, are celebrating their anniversary."
Her: "...?"
Me: "
Spoiler
The daughter is killed by the statue of her father? The rich family had all came together to remember the dad by putting a statue of him in the garden of this lodge? There's a big storm and, afterward, the gardener finds the girl squished under the knocked-over statue?Her: "...I don't think I've read that one."
Me (putting it down to chemo amnesia): "Oh, I'm sure you have. Like I said, it's the fourth or the fifth one. Ruth Zardo's duck hasn't even begun to feature prominently. It was only born in the last book and Three Pines hasn't even shown up in this book. I don't know what else happens, yet, I'm not that far in so I can't tell you anything else, but I'm sure you've read it."
We look at Jim. He shakes his head and shrugs.
Mom: "Well...I haven't read these in order. I probably never read this one."
Me: "WHAT? You've been making me read these so we could talk about them but you haven't even been going in order?"
Her: "I just wanted you to read about the duck. The old lady and the duck are my favorite part."
*sigh*
Alright, well, I am reading these in order and the overall story, it is growing on me.
The mystery in this particular installment was actually kind of weak. I'd give it two stars. I'd come up with a far twistier Who/Why/How and was disappointed in the actual results. Ok, my explanation would have made it darker and more evil and this is a cozy mystery but still. I had one eyebrow raised (yes, I can do that) with that "Really?!?" look on my face for the last half of the last CD.
But who cares?
I'm not reading these for the crime-solving element. I'm reading these for a duck, because my mom told me to, and I've become fond of Chief Inspector Gamache and his wife and the village of Three Pines.
In addition, I loved the setting of this one and now I want to go to that lodge and eat Chef Veronique's food and hang out by the lake and look at the spiffy copper roof and smell the honeysuckle.
Completely charming.
Next, my review for book 5
This series is just such a comforting and comfortable read. Like other wonderful series, you read these to see how all the characters are doing and how they develop. I like how the author is unafraid of letting a character go to his dark side.
This is the first Louise Penny book I have read but will be picking more up soon. Great mystery and wonderful characters, just one of those books that you love to grab a blanket and a coffee and curl up on the couch with.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Homicide head Gamache is vacationing at a lodge in rural Quebec when a woman is killed by the falling statue of her father. It's murder, but who did it, and how? Quite good for this series--I always find it illogical that one can set a murder series in a small town (how many murders can you have in a small town and who would stay there?) so getting out of Three Pines seems right. Why she had to drag citizens of the small town into this mystery I don't know; I think it would be better if she hadn't done so for again, how many murders can one average Joe encounter? But the family tensions are interesting, the setting is engaging, and the characters are enjoyably odd.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated