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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Not my favourite of Penny's stories, but still a great book. We get to find out more about Peter and about Gamache. Such rich inner lives! This woman really knows her characters.
The plot itself is a wonderful Agatha Christie locked room type mystery. The how-dunnit is almost as puzzling as the who.
The plot itself is a wonderful Agatha Christie locked room type mystery. The how-dunnit is almost as puzzling as the who.
Not my favourite in the series. I surmised from near the beginning how the death occurred, so that was a bit of a bummer. And a few key passages (where important things were revealed) were written in vague or confusing ways that I had to reread and I’m still not clear on. Still a fun enough read to help be through a reading rut.
I liked it but not as much as the others I have so far read in the series. I think I like it more when the setting is within Three Pines as the small village seems to really speak to me. I find I can get lost in her description of it. I couldn't warm up to the characters or the setting.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I absolutely love Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series, and A Rule Against Murder is no exception. This cozy mystery is more than just a whodunit, it’s filled with profound life lessons, particularly about family. Penny has a way of weaving together suspense and heartfelt truths that make her books so compelling.
In this installment, the story delves deep into the complexities of family relationships. One of the key takeaways for me was how family secrets can be so destructive if left unchecked. The book reminds us of the importance of honesty and communication. It also explores how blood ties don’t necessarily guarantee loyalty, something that really resonated with me. Family is about respect and support, not just shared DNA.
Another thing I loved was how Penny shows the lasting impact of our pasts. The characters’ childhoods and family dynamics shape so much of their present lives, for better or worse. But despite the dysfunction, there’s also a powerful reminder that love can endure even the messiest conflicts. And through Gamache’s perspective, the book beautifully illustrates how family isn’t just the one we’re born into, it’s also the people we choose to surround ourselves with.
This series is the perfect mix of cozy mystery and meaningful lessons about life.
In this installment, the story delves deep into the complexities of family relationships. One of the key takeaways for me was how family secrets can be so destructive if left unchecked. The book reminds us of the importance of honesty and communication. It also explores how blood ties don’t necessarily guarantee loyalty, something that really resonated with me. Family is about respect and support, not just shared DNA.
Another thing I loved was how Penny shows the lasting impact of our pasts. The characters’ childhoods and family dynamics shape so much of their present lives, for better or worse. But despite the dysfunction, there’s also a powerful reminder that love can endure even the messiest conflicts. And through Gamache’s perspective, the book beautifully illustrates how family isn’t just the one we’re born into, it’s also the people we choose to surround ourselves with.
This series is the perfect mix of cozy mystery and meaningful lessons about life.
I love Louise Penny's writing and her vivid description of scenes, the deep back story of each character and the food which is featured prominently.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This entry in the Armand Gamache series is the best I've read (I'm reading them in sequence, so this is only my 4th). I'd class this as a traditional country house-style murder mystery, with a cast of characters gathered at a remote lakeside inn. An upper-class family who all seem to loathe one another; a mix of "old family retainers" and summer employees; and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, there to celebrate their anniversary. Then, murder occurs...
Without any spoilers, I can say that the murder weapon is fairly unique. I also followed a red herring and was completely wrong about "whodunit." But as always, CI Gamache guides us through the clues, with many excursions into family grudges, his own late father's notoriety, and his troubled friends Clara and Peter Morrow who turn up partway into the story and play key roles. The climax is a bit terrifying, and well worth the buildup.
Definitely recommended, even if you haven't read any other books in the series.
Without any spoilers, I can say that the murder weapon is fairly unique. I also followed a red herring and was completely wrong about "whodunit." But as always, CI Gamache guides us through the clues, with many excursions into family grudges, his own late father's notoriety, and his troubled friends Clara and Peter Morrow who turn up partway into the story and play key roles. The climax is a bit terrifying, and well worth the buildup.
Definitely recommended, even if you haven't read any other books in the series.
Another good solid story by [a:Louise Penny|194243|Louise Penny|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1257567070p2/194243.jpg]. Her attention to detail in everything to the world outside, the world inside, family and friends is remarkable. And, how she brings so much of it together when the murder begins to be solved. I had no idea who did it this time and how that statue fell off of the marble box was fascinating. The only question left unanswered or I missed it is whether Bean is a boy or a girl...
This was the first Inspector Gamache mystery that I read. Too many clues in the narrative to say much without giving it away. Louise Penny's Quebec based stories make me want to go there.
At this point I'm hooked on the series. This wasn't as compelling a mystery of some of the others, but I love the escape into this fictional village outside Quebec and the smattering of poetry and French the author peppers throughout her books. On to the next one!