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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Not my type of mystery novel...found following it to be confusing and a lot of unnecessary characters...plus the plot line was dull
Made a pledge to a friend to read #s 2, 3, 4 before going on to the end of the series. Another dandy "let's all gather in a hotel and (dunh dunh duhn) someone gets murdered" tale, in the Agatha Christie mold. Really enjoyed the crazy-family aspects, the bits about Inspector Gamache's father and the gorgeous setting.
Another rare but delightful aspect--a loving relationship between a couple married 30-odd years. Penny is occasionally repetitive (not surprising, when writing a series) and once in a while all the "Gamache is an explorer, going where no man went before" stuff is a little tedious. But am looking forward to the next few books.
Another rare but delightful aspect--a loving relationship between a couple married 30-odd years. Penny is occasionally repetitive (not surprising, when writing a series) and once in a while all the "Gamache is an explorer, going where no man went before" stuff is a little tedious. But am looking forward to the next few books.
A rich setting and well-developed characters make A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny a good mystery. The beautiful language and thoughtfulness of the narrative make it stand out.
This fourth in the series steps away from the town of Three Pines. Happily, in my opinion, because really the village needs a break from murders occasionally. Inspector Gamache and his wife are celebrating their anniversary at Manoir Bellechasse, a luxurious inn isolated on the shore of Lac Massawippi. The other rooms are occupied by the Finney family, as unpleasant as they are wealthy. The Gamaches are surprised when Peter and Clara arrive for the Finney reunion too. Of course, this is a mystery, so it’s not long before one of the Finneys is dead, crushed by a statue of her father, and all the family’s secrets, jealousies and insecurities come boiling to the surface.
Penny’s mysteries are about more than clues and suspects. They are about feelings, passions. Gamache realizes that at heart, most murders are real people who have let their emotions overcome them, who have reached a dark place and murder is the only way out. I was actually surprised by who the killer was in this one. The clues were there, but I guess I was looking in one direction, ignoring the other possibilities.
This installation can definitely be read as a stand-alone. We learn a lot about Gamache’s childhood and his parents. He’s a wonderful character, multi-dimensional, caring, a believer in hunches. He also leads his team of younger officers who were seen as misfits at one time or another well, providing support and independence. Each of the characters, from the police to the hotel staff to the Finney’s are well-drawn. You almost feel like you’re a guest yourself, seeing all the interactions, feeling the tension in the family, wishing you could relax down at the dock.
This is one of my favorite series at the moment. I’m glad I still hvae a few to read before I’m caught up.
This fourth in the series steps away from the town of Three Pines. Happily, in my opinion, because really the village needs a break from murders occasionally. Inspector Gamache and his wife are celebrating their anniversary at Manoir Bellechasse, a luxurious inn isolated on the shore of Lac Massawippi. The other rooms are occupied by the Finney family, as unpleasant as they are wealthy. The Gamaches are surprised when Peter and Clara arrive for the Finney reunion too. Of course, this is a mystery, so it’s not long before one of the Finneys is dead, crushed by a statue of her father, and all the family’s secrets, jealousies and insecurities come boiling to the surface.
Penny’s mysteries are about more than clues and suspects. They are about feelings, passions. Gamache realizes that at heart, most murders are real people who have let their emotions overcome them, who have reached a dark place and murder is the only way out. I was actually surprised by who the killer was in this one. The clues were there, but I guess I was looking in one direction, ignoring the other possibilities.
This installation can definitely be read as a stand-alone. We learn a lot about Gamache’s childhood and his parents. He’s a wonderful character, multi-dimensional, caring, a believer in hunches. He also leads his team of younger officers who were seen as misfits at one time or another well, providing support and independence. Each of the characters, from the police to the hotel staff to the Finney’s are well-drawn. You almost feel like you’re a guest yourself, seeing all the interactions, feeling the tension in the family, wishing you could relax down at the dock.
This is one of my favorite series at the moment. I’m glad I still hvae a few to read before I’m caught up.
I enjoyed it, of course, but I find her heavy-handed use of dropping bits of a background story here and there quite irritating. This book is a great example - a big to-do over a name that dribble by dribble comes out as Gamache’s father’s name...and dribble by dribble the back story of the father. During the 10-chapter set up, it’s annoying as the reader tries to figure out if it was a forgotten story arc from a previous book, or was the reader distracted when it was brought up...
Just my opinion, of course. I’m sure others find this method intriguing.
Just my opinion, of course. I’m sure others find this method intriguing.
The early books in the series flesh out the main characters which will appear in later books, developing their back stories and interrelationships. Generally, the crime -- and the mystery surrounding the crime -- provides the author with a springboard into personal and professional relationships. In short, the novels are very much characters studies and explorations of the human nature... and they're mostly quite well written. One small criticism: some of the unpleasant characters are extremely unpleasant, perhaps overly unpleasant. In some cases the reasons are revealed in subsequent books, in others they are to develop multiple suspects, and in still others it is simply because there are nasty people in this world.
Beautiful description with an interesting mystery and fascinating characters.
While the mystery of this book is solid, I was drawn in more by the overall atmosphere created by author Louise Penny. I could almost smell the forest around me and here the buzzing of the bees.
The characters are strong and well-developed, and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is a great protagonist-with scars, flaws, hopes, and dreams. The way he interacts with the crime scene and suspects tells a great deal about the man.
There are plenty of clues and red-herrings to drive the story forward, and a the side stories are just as compelling.
The characters are strong and well-developed, and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is a great protagonist-with scars, flaws, hopes, and dreams. The way he interacts with the crime scene and suspects tells a great deal about the man.
There are plenty of clues and red-herrings to drive the story forward, and a the side stories are just as compelling.
I don't know how she does it--I keep expecting the series to become tiresome or for everyone in Three Pines to get murdered. Penny writes a good mystery.
Very good, twisty mystery, but I missed the rest of Three Pines.
