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knit_the_resistance's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Le Sigh. I loved the first Three Pines books which were engrossing because they were relatable. As the series has expanded, Louise Penny has invented ever more outrageous, bizarre scenarios. This is her darkest book yet with a truly appalling villain (imagine if Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill had a baby together and raised it with both of their worst qualities). But he's not even the worst part of the book. Several times I had to put the book down and message people from my Ologies book group to reassure me that it was going to be ok.
The reason it is 3.75 and not 4.0 is that the killer is so obscure that it feels like a last minute implausible "Oh wait, I forgot to wrap up the reason I started the whole book."
the huge plot point? the giant "gun" in the woods (why didn't she call it a missile launcher? is that a Canadian thing?) that part is true. Listen to the afterword.
The reason it is 3.75 and not 4.0 is that the killer is so obscure that it feels like a last minute implausible "Oh wait, I forgot to wrap up the reason I started the whole book."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Murder, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Kidnapping, Gore, and Torture
libscote's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
3.5
Not my favorite Louise Penny. This one felt a bit like, where has this kid been all these other stories? And really this supergun is hidden? Oh well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
ashstrausser's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Child death
akgeekgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Child death
Moderate: Police brutality
kimveach's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Deportation, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Medical content, Torture, Violence, Infertility, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence
franklola's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcohol and Addiction
luveloise3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, and Death
Minor: Mass/school shootings and Torture
cpoersch's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
terriep's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Another winner (literally, won the Anthony award) - what I like about Penny's books is that even though there are some characters that show up in most of them, we always learn something new about them, adding even more depth. And, most of the murders are very unique. I guess the murder itself isn't particularly unique, it's the setting and the reason for the murder. She provides such well researched variation in the circumstances around the murder that solving the puzzle is always a surprise.
This time, though the murder takes place in the village of Three Pines (and it's a child which may be a trigger for some), the surrounding cause is due to events from 30 years ago and weapons development/sales. Very different from the one set in a monastery or the one in Quebec where a historian is killed and we readers learn so much history and background about Quebec. She's a master at that.
Gamache is still in retirement though there are job opportunities being presented - so where will the next book take him? I already have it on hold at the library.
This time, though the murder takes place in the village of Three Pines (and it's a child which may be a trigger for some), the surrounding cause is due to events from 30 years ago and weapons development/sales. Very different from the one set in a monastery or the one in Quebec where a historian is killed and we readers learn so much history and background about Quebec. She's a master at that.
Gamache is still in retirement though there are job opportunities being presented - so where will the next book take him? I already have it on hold at the library.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
rachelkreadsbookz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death