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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Another wonderful inspector gamache tale. With each book penny brings you further into the world of three pines. I love spending time with these characters and chief inspector gamache and getting to learn some Canadian history along the way.
When reading a mystery series, I think it is a mistake to read the books out of sequence. But earlier this year my Mystery Book Club read Bury Your Dead, the sixth in Louise Penny's Armand Gamache series, and it was my introduction to this series. After finishing that book and loving it, I determined to read the series in order and I've been working my way through the books here at the end of the year.
Then I picked up The Brutal Telling, number five in the series and made another mistake. I was reading the book on my Kindle and thought I had started number four. By the time I had realized my mistake, I was already involved in the story. Now, I have to circle back and read number four. Sigh.
But having read Bury Your Dead earlier proved really problematic for reading this book because the final solution to this book's mystery is revealed there. And so, I read this book knowing all along who the murderer was. I knew so much more than the investigators and I kept having this impulse to shout at them, "No, no, you're getting it all wrong!" Somewhat surprisingly though, I found that knowing the solution really did not interfere with my enjoyment of the writing.
So, here we are in Three Pines, Quebec once again and once again there's been a murder. A man's body with its head bashed in has been found in Olivier's Bistro, the favorite gathering place for the villagers. It soon becomes apparent, however, that the man was not killed there. No enough blood. Obviously the body had been moved, but why?
As Gamache and his investigative team, including its newest member, Paul Morin, dig into the mystery, they find themselves stumped. At first glance the dead man had looked like a tramp, but on closer examination, he had obviously cared for himself and had lived a healthy and clean life. There's no identification on the body and none of the villagers will admit to knowing who he was. With no identity, no motive, no murder weapon, and no murder site, the investigation seems hopeless.
Still, the team plows doggedly ahead, and finally they get a break when Jean Guy Beauvoir discovers evidence that the body had spent some time on the floor of the old Hadley house, which is no longer a grim and scary place but has been bought and renovated into a bright and beautiful spa by Marc and Dominique Gilbert. Even though the wreck of a house has been changed beyond recognition, it still seems to be a magnet for murder.
But no. It turns out that even though the body had rested there for a while, it was not murdered there. Still not enough blood. And still no identity for the corpse.
Then the team gets its second break when a cabin in the woods is found and on the floor of the cabin is a large bloodstain. The place where the man lived and died has been found and in that humble cabin is a fortune in art! And still the dead man has no identity.
The mystery only seems to deepen and Gamache travels across the country to the Queen Charlotte Islands searching for a link to the man's past that may offer the key to the puzzle. Meanwhile, art experts are inventorying the treasures found at the cabin and trying to find how they came to be there. It seems that the Homicide Division of the Surete du Quebec and its director Chief Inspector Gamache may finally be stymied. But don't bet against them.
Louise Penny continued her string of winners with this book. She's given us characters in Three Pines that we care about and it is difficult to see their lives torn apart by the events in this book. But then, I know what's coming because I have already read Bury Your Dead.
Then I picked up The Brutal Telling, number five in the series and made another mistake. I was reading the book on my Kindle and thought I had started number four. By the time I had realized my mistake, I was already involved in the story. Now, I have to circle back and read number four. Sigh.
But having read Bury Your Dead earlier proved really problematic for reading this book because the final solution to this book's mystery is revealed there. And so, I read this book knowing all along who the murderer was. I knew so much more than the investigators and I kept having this impulse to shout at them, "No, no, you're getting it all wrong!" Somewhat surprisingly though, I found that knowing the solution really did not interfere with my enjoyment of the writing.
So, here we are in Three Pines, Quebec once again and once again there's been a murder. A man's body with its head bashed in has been found in Olivier's Bistro, the favorite gathering place for the villagers. It soon becomes apparent, however, that the man was not killed there. No enough blood. Obviously the body had been moved, but why?
As Gamache and his investigative team, including its newest member, Paul Morin, dig into the mystery, they find themselves stumped. At first glance the dead man had looked like a tramp, but on closer examination, he had obviously cared for himself and had lived a healthy and clean life. There's no identification on the body and none of the villagers will admit to knowing who he was. With no identity, no motive, no murder weapon, and no murder site, the investigation seems hopeless.
Still, the team plows doggedly ahead, and finally they get a break when Jean Guy Beauvoir discovers evidence that the body had spent some time on the floor of the old Hadley house, which is no longer a grim and scary place but has been bought and renovated into a bright and beautiful spa by Marc and Dominique Gilbert. Even though the wreck of a house has been changed beyond recognition, it still seems to be a magnet for murder.
But no. It turns out that even though the body had rested there for a while, it was not murdered there. Still not enough blood. And still no identity for the corpse.
Then the team gets its second break when a cabin in the woods is found and on the floor of the cabin is a large bloodstain. The place where the man lived and died has been found and in that humble cabin is a fortune in art! And still the dead man has no identity.
The mystery only seems to deepen and Gamache travels across the country to the Queen Charlotte Islands searching for a link to the man's past that may offer the key to the puzzle. Meanwhile, art experts are inventorying the treasures found at the cabin and trying to find how they came to be there. It seems that the Homicide Division of the Surete du Quebec and its director Chief Inspector Gamache may finally be stymied. But don't bet against them.
Louise Penny continued her string of winners with this book. She's given us characters in Three Pines that we care about and it is difficult to see their lives torn apart by the events in this book. But then, I know what's coming because I have already read Bury Your Dead.
'... it was vital to be aware of actions in the present. Because the present became the past, and the past grew. And got up, and followed you.
And found you. As it had ...'
'... Who wouldn't be afraid of [Conscience].'
Louise Penny does it again, it was a brutal telling.
And found you. As it had ...'
'... Who wouldn't be afraid of [Conscience].'
Louise Penny does it again, it was a brutal telling.
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Book #5 in the Inspector Gamache series. My least favorite of the books so far. Left too many things open about various characters. I suspect because it is really 1/2 of a story - to be finished in a later book. At least that is what I hope.
The book slowed down way too much in the middle, but picked up again with 40 to 50 pages to go. Had I not been so invested in the characters, which is very much to the author's credit, I would not have gone on.
Every book series has a book or two that don't seem to work as well as the others. For me, this one was it. It is not a bad book, but I'm glad I didn't jump into the series at this point.
The book slowed down way too much in the middle, but picked up again with 40 to 50 pages to go. Had I not been so invested in the characters, which is very much to the author's credit, I would not have gone on.
Every book series has a book or two that don't seem to work as well as the others. For me, this one was it. It is not a bad book, but I'm glad I didn't jump into the series at this point.
I have enjoyed all the Chief Inspector Gamache books and this one is no exception. However, this one felt a little slower than the others to me. And then the end felt a little rushed. But, it could just be that I was NOT happy with how it ended! I'm in shock because I didn't see it coming and I have a hard time believing it. In reading other reviews, it looks like the story line has a bit of continuation in the next installment in the series so beware that if you decide to read this book, you might want to read #6 right afterwards. I have a few other books lined up so I'll be left annoyed for a little while. Still, the town of Three Pines and the characters Penny has created are wonderful and I'll be back for more.
I'm officially five books in the Louise Penny series and I'm still not sure what to think. I like her mysteries. I love her characters. Her books are intellectual with complex story lines and even more complex characters. I like her books, I just don't know that I love them yet...
.
The Brutal Telling was a solid mystery. I was shocked by how she ended the story, but I was relieved to discover she continues it into the 6th book.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
Anyone else think her books would made a fantastic tv seires?? HBO, I'm looking at you 😋
.
The Brutal Telling was a solid mystery. I was shocked by how she ended the story, but I was relieved to discover she continues it into the 6th book.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
Anyone else think her books would made a fantastic tv seires?? HBO, I'm looking at you 😋
הספר מצוין אבל אני קצת עייפה מהסידרה. לוקחת הפסקה ועוברת לדברים אחרים עד שיתחשק לי שוב.
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was my second time reading this book and first time listening! It did not disappoint! Having steady known the characters, it was a lot of fun to listen to someone read their actions and words aloud. I absolutely love this series and there is never a dull moment in Three Pines.
Personally, I think it is important to read this series in order, so make sure you read the first four prior to diving into this one!!!
If you like the smarts of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, I think you will love Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Penny allows us to get to know him in a more personal level as well!!!!
Personally, I think it is important to read this series in order, so make sure you read the first four prior to diving into this one!!!
If you like the smarts of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, I think you will love Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Penny allows us to get to know him in a more personal level as well!!!!
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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