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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Comfortable characters, an intriguing setting, a confounding mystery. I liked this installment, though some of the characters were oddly irritating. Beauvoir. He was kind of just a whiny plot foil in this story, with no real use of his own. I have yet to learn anything redeeming about Peter Morrow. It was nice to properly meet Reine-Marie, though.
I confess I was somewhat distracted by the notion of an inn (more properly, a resort) that manages to attract amazing staff who stay for 25 years. I can't even keep people for a month.
I confess I was somewhat distracted by the notion of an inn (more properly, a resort) that manages to attract amazing staff who stay for 25 years. I can't even keep people for a month.
It was not quite as much fun to not spend more time Three Pines as the mystery occurs elsewhere. However, another enjoyable Gamache mystery with lots of wisdom and poetry sprinkled in.
Penny has such a beautiful way of writing. Her perceptions of the psyche of people and the dynamics of families made this my favorite book in the series so far.
Inspector Gamache is back in A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny but this time the action is not in Three Pines but takes place at an old hotel in the Quebec countryside. This is the fourth instalment in the Inspector Gamache series but it reads well as a stand-alone. Gamache and his wife are celebrating their anniversary and enjoying the peace and quiet of their surroundings, which is soon disrupted by an entitled and dysfunctional family, guests at the same hotel. And then a body is discovered and off we go with the Inspector leading his team in the investigation of the homicide. The plot is well-developed and the reader is kept in suspense until the conclusion. The characters, good and bad, are interesting and original. Louise Penny, as usual, does not disappoint and will, time and again, return with more stories about Three Pines and the inspector. Something to look forward to. Highly recommended.
Armand Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, are on vacation at an isolated resort known for its pampering and great food. It's their 35 anniversary. They get stuck in one of the lesser rooms because there is a family reunion -- the Morrows -- a repulsive family. There to celebrate the patriarch by putting up a statue in the garden. The last to arrive is Spots with his wife Claire who turn out to be friends from Three Pines, Clara and Peter Morrow. Many old grievances and grudges are brought out. Sister Julia is killed by the huge statue crushing her the night of the unveiling.
Gamache has to turn to the past to find the murder. Only when the child, Bean, is in danger do things come to a climax and Gamache must deal with his fear of heights.
Murder by the maitre d because Julia's incarcerated husband was the one who ruined the man's father. Chef turned out to be famous cooking nun.
Statue moved because sugar on pedestal made it easy to slide.
Good mystery. Sad to see so little of Three Pines but how many murders could you set in that tiny town.
Gamache has to turn to the past to find the murder. Only when the child, Bean, is in danger do things come to a climax and Gamache must deal with his fear of heights.
Murder by the maitre d because Julia's incarcerated husband was the one who ruined the man's father. Chef turned out to be famous cooking nun.
Statue moved because sugar on pedestal made it easy to slide.
Good mystery. Sad to see so little of Three Pines but how many murders could you set in that tiny town.
Canadian Inspector and his wife are at a quaint French speaking wilderness Inn (or Manior as they call it) and are the only other guests there who are not related. The Morrow family is having a family reunion there and the author slowly unfolds each family member to the reader as well as several members of the staff. This book kind of reminds me of an old black and white film where a murder takes place at an isolated place and all the suspects are there and the criminal will eventually subtly reveal themselves. The book is peppered with French phrases, Bridge terms and overall several quotable lines such as:
"Eleanor Roosevelt rose; Not good in a bed, but fine up against a wall"
"I can resist everything except temptation."
"Never use the first stall in a public washroom."
"And of course her brain did not work. It had run away with her heart, the cowards, leaving her defenseless and blithering."
"So stop asking for what can't be given. And look for what is offered."
"The only thing that money really buys. Space"
I vacillate on what to score this book, but the more I thought about the book the more I liked it.
"Eleanor Roosevelt rose; Not good in a bed, but fine up against a wall"
"I can resist everything except temptation."
"Never use the first stall in a public washroom."
"And of course her brain did not work. It had run away with her heart, the cowards, leaving her defenseless and blithering."
"So stop asking for what can't be given. And look for what is offered."
"The only thing that money really buys. Space"
I vacillate on what to score this book, but the more I thought about the book the more I liked it.
I just finished listening to this during my commute and then put CD 1 in to start all over again. I have enjoyed Penny's writing and characters but thought the plots a little weak in earlier books; however, this one had me guessing nearly to the end. I love listening to narrator Ralph Cosham-- the subtle differences in voices for the characters is wonderful and I think I am learning French just a bit too while listening.
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
So far, not my favorite of a series. I do love the descriptions of the setting. Makes me want to go to a place like that. However, this one was much slower paced than the others. And I’m sorry, Clara and Peter Morrow bug the crap out of me. I find them to be completely irritating characters, and yet I know they’re part of the Gamache universe.