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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
This was the best one since the first one, Still Life. I was truly surprised at the ending!!
I think this is my favorite book from the series so far. As much as I love Three Pines, this book came right when I was starting to think, how many people can be murdered in this town?? And she changed the setting. The setting itself of this lodge deep in the woods and its connection to Canadian and indigenous history was one of the high points, as were the dysfunctional family dynamics. It’s always fascinating to see writing that reveals how much our families shape us and how much our perceptions can dictate our experience.
Okeee dokee, done with these books!
Morrows are terrible people. I’m not buying for one second that Charles morrow was leaving behind love for his children. Give me a break. They are just nasty! Very repetitive and slow moving. The way Penny describes Finney as so ugly, Veronique as soooo big, and Ganache as a giant; it’s too much emphasis on physical appearances.
Morrows are terrible people. I’m not buying for one second that Charles morrow was leaving behind
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am binge listening my way through the Gamache series and I still cannot believe that it has taken me so long to read a Louise Penny novel. She is an absolute master at building a storyline and creating characters over the course of multiple books. That said, I must say that this is the weakest of her books thus far - and I think that it is due to the fact that I miss the residents of Three Pines! A few other reviewers have mentioned that the mystery in this book was a bit weak. I will concur; however, the true joy of this series is the slow burn of the underlying plot and the way that the author builds her characters and tells their story. I can't wait to dive into #5!!
My favorite Louise Penny book to date. Very whodunnit and just so enjoyable to read and follow the mystery along with the characters.
This was my favorite of all the Louise Penny books I’ve read so far.
Armaud Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, are celebrating their anniversary at the same lodge they have celebrated all the previous ones. While there, a family of grown children, their mother, and their stepfather arrive for a family reunion. None of them like each other very well, and no one else at the lodge likes them, except for the younger brother and his wife, who end up being Gamache’s friends, Peter and Clara. When one of the siblings end up dead, Gamache is pulled into the mystery.
What Penny does so well is to show the secrets that every person keeps, sometimes even from themselves. The human follies and failings that keep us from being divine. She does an excellent job at reminding us that everyone has something to hide.
Armaud Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, are celebrating their anniversary at the same lodge they have celebrated all the previous ones. While there, a family of grown children, their mother, and their stepfather arrive for a family reunion. None of them like each other very well, and no one else at the lodge likes them, except for the younger brother and his wife, who end up being Gamache’s friends, Peter and Clara. When one of the siblings end up dead, Gamache is pulled into the mystery.
What Penny does so well is to show the secrets that every person keeps, sometimes even from themselves. The human follies and failings that keep us from being divine. She does an excellent job at reminding us that everyone has something to hide.
3.5 Stars. This is the 4 th book in the series about Inspector Gamache. This one does not take place in 3 Pines, but in a luxury lodge build a century ago in the Canadian forest nearby. The Gamaches have come there to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Someone, of course, dies. I enjoyed the change of scenery, but 3 Pines is visited during this novel for those of us who must have their hit. I listened to this on audio. The narration is WONDERFUL.
A comforting, cozy mystery series i continue to enjoy!
The fourth Armand Gamache book takes place at the Manoir Bellechasse rather than in Three Pines.
Armand and his wife Reine-Marie are staying at the exclusive resort to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The other guests are the Finney family; they have gathered for a family reunion. As expected, one of the Finneys is killed so Gamache and his team investigate. The story has the feel of a locked-room mystery because the murderer is certainly one of the guests or staff. What is particularly unusual is the method used to kill; it is even more of a mystery than the identity and motive of the killer.
In some ways it was a relief to have the book set outside of Three Pines because after the first three books, it felt like Cabot Cove. For those missing the idyllic village, there is a visit where some of the residents make an appearance. Clara and Peter Morrow once again are central figures. The character of Peter has always troubled me to some extent, especially his jealousy, and this book does go a long way to explaining the reasons for his personality.
There is a truly dysfunctional family in this book. There is little to like about the Finneys; they are totally obnoxious, always making nasty comments to each other. They hold grudges and resentments. Behaviours that they adopted as children, as they competed for their father’s love and attention, continue into adulthood. There are some attempts to show some positive qualities, but I found them unconvincing. A loving father would be angry with his daughter when some graffiti defames and degrades her? Why wouldn’t Irene Finney tell her adult children about her chronic pain that made even touch painful? Surely saying something loving wouldn’t increase that pain? And Marianne Finney is so intelligent and creative and successful, but names her child Bean so a grandmother won’t know her grandchild’s gender?
There are other weak justifications for behaviour. The killer’s motive is unconvincing since the victim is totally innocent and merely an expedient scapegoat. And the method of murder takes days to execute so is it supposed to be a premeditated crime or a crime of passion? And as in A Fatal Grace, there are so many variables that the killer could not control (like ensuring that the victim would be in a particular spot during a storm) so had to have a great deal of luck.
Readers of Penny’s novels will find it easy to find the usual Penny touches. There’s the detailed description of food, an overweight character, and the Agatha Christie gathering at the end. I did find the tea party before the killer is taken into custody a bit over-the-top. Gamache, again, is almost sanctified. The climactic scene which also equates him as a Burgher of Calais willing to sacrifice himself for others is a bit much. Attempts to give him flaws are weak because he always recognizes and admits his errors.
Everything – except Bean’s gender – is tied up nicely at the end. Since this book explains much about Peter Morrow, I am wondering whether further books in the series will delve into the backstories of other Three Pines characters. I think other village residents probably have interesting histories as well.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/DCYakabuski).
Armand and his wife Reine-Marie are staying at the exclusive resort to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The other guests are the Finney family; they have gathered for a family reunion. As expected, one of the Finneys is killed so Gamache and his team investigate. The story has the feel of a locked-room mystery because the murderer is certainly one of the guests or staff. What is particularly unusual is the method used to kill; it is even more of a mystery than the identity and motive of the killer.
In some ways it was a relief to have the book set outside of Three Pines because after the first three books, it felt like Cabot Cove. For those missing the idyllic village, there is a visit where some of the residents make an appearance. Clara and Peter Morrow once again are central figures. The character of Peter has always troubled me to some extent, especially his jealousy, and this book does go a long way to explaining the reasons for his personality.
There is a truly dysfunctional family in this book. There is little to like about the Finneys; they are totally obnoxious, always making nasty comments to each other. They hold grudges and resentments. Behaviours that they adopted as children, as they competed for their father’s love and attention, continue into adulthood. There are some attempts to show some positive qualities, but I found them unconvincing. A loving father would be angry with his daughter when some graffiti defames and degrades her? Why wouldn’t Irene Finney tell her adult children about her chronic pain that made even touch painful? Surely saying something loving wouldn’t increase that pain? And Marianne Finney is so intelligent and creative and successful, but names her child Bean so a grandmother won’t know her grandchild’s gender?
There are other weak justifications for behaviour. The killer’s motive is unconvincing since the victim is totally innocent and merely an expedient scapegoat. And the method of murder takes days to execute so is it supposed to be a premeditated crime or a crime of passion? And as in A Fatal Grace, there are so many variables that the killer could not control (like ensuring that the victim would be in a particular spot during a storm) so had to have a great deal of luck.
Readers of Penny’s novels will find it easy to find the usual Penny touches. There’s the detailed description of food, an overweight character, and the Agatha Christie gathering at the end. I did find the tea party before the killer is taken into custody a bit over-the-top. Gamache, again, is almost sanctified. The climactic scene which also equates him as a Burgher of Calais willing to sacrifice himself for others is a bit much. Attempts to give him flaws are weak because he always recognizes and admits his errors.
Everything – except Bean’s gender – is tied up nicely at the end. Since this book explains much about Peter Morrow, I am wondering whether further books in the series will delve into the backstories of other Three Pines characters. I think other village residents probably have interesting histories as well.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/DCYakabuski).