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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A rewarding re-read. The tv series Three Pines’ interpretation of the basic storyline was a bit of an improvement.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Rule Against Murder is a little bit of a change of course for this series, but not in a bad way. The book starts with Armand Gamache and Reine-Marie on their anniversary trip to a truly special hotel tucked away in the outskirts of Three Pines.
Where we normally get a murder within the first 3 chapters, in this story Penny introduces a whole new slew of hotel guests, all there for a family reunion. Instead, we spend the early chapters getting to know and OH do we get to form some opinions. By the time the murder happens, the reader is ready to point so many fingers.
If that feels crazy to spend too much time away from our normal Three Pines gang, fear not! Clara and Peter are part of this truly terrible family reunion.
This one has complex and rotted family dynamics. It’s got hotel staff who know their guests a little too well. It’s got Julia Child level dining with Alps like views. It’s got bees. And of course a murder, the one thing the hotel has a rule against.
I truly was clueless aa to who the murderer was the whole way but the reveal was so satisfying and done in a way where I never thought I had the wool pulled over my eyes. Well done even though I missed Ruth Zardo.
Quotes
The insult was part of her now.
Maybe he would even touch her now. Just touch her. She was starved for it.
Their mother knew where all their buttons were. And why not? She was the one who installed them.
She had a laugh like a french horn and the voice of a root vegetable.
This series gets better with each book--the characters and the connections between then grow deeper. As will most mystery series you don't have to read the Gamache series in chronological order, but it is so much richer if you do. This book explored some of the family history of Gamache and Clara's husband Peter. I never really liked or trusted Peter and this book gives some perspective on why I have the feelings I do. There some series family dysfunction explored in this novel and as usual Penny doesn't shy away from the pain, but she still manages to leave her characters and read with a sense of hope.