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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Following the events of book #9, we find a now-retired Armand Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, living in the village of Three Pines. Gamache is still contending with his internal demons when good friend Clara Morrow, newly successful artist, lays a problem before him: her husband Peter, from whom she separated over a year ago, was supposed to come home on that one-year anniversary. He never arrived, and she has not heard from him. She invites Gamache to help her find him, so they can both move forward, together or separately.
Gamache reluctantly agrees to help. But between Clara's demand that she lead and he follow, and Peter's own peripatetic travels over the past year, Gamache and his son-in-law Jean-Guy struggle a bit over what their role is supposed to be, even as they become more concerned about where their investigations are leading. And as so often happens with Penny's novels, murder becomes a possibility.
This novel will likely annoy readers seeking a page-turner. For me, the pleasures of spending time with the characters and watching them unravel clues to find Peter exceed any annoyances over the slow unfolding of the plot. There is also much discussion of art, particularly native Canadian artists and their communities and favorite locales.
Warning: the long, calm buildup does not preview the shocking resolution.
Gamache reluctantly agrees to help. But between Clara's demand that she lead and he follow, and Peter's own peripatetic travels over the past year, Gamache and his son-in-law Jean-Guy struggle a bit over what their role is supposed to be, even as they become more concerned about where their investigations are leading. And as so often happens with Penny's novels, murder becomes a possibility.
This novel will likely annoy readers seeking a page-turner. For me, the pleasures of spending time with the characters and watching them unravel clues to find Peter exceed any annoyances over the slow unfolding of the plot. There is also much discussion of art, particularly native Canadian artists and their communities and favorite locales.
Warning: the long, calm buildup does not preview the shocking resolution.
At this point in time, Penny (and specifically, the Gamache series) is an author and a story I can count on. I know I’m going to enjoy the further development of these characters I’ve grown to love, and I know it’s a book that will keep me from going into a slump.
That being said, I didn’t love this one as much as the previous few. The last book really felt like Penny was propelling us into territory where every book would be a five-star read for me. While I still really joyed this one, it also drug on a little bit for me. The middle was tough to get through, but once again, Penny ended it with a bit of a cliffhanger, and I’m eager to read the next book.
I loved how Penny involved so many of the characters in this one. I wasn’t sure how she was going to get Gamache in an investigation since he’s newly retired, but when Clare comes to him concerned that Peter is missing, Gamache, John-Guy and the rest of the Three Pines crew jump into action. I didn’t see the ending coming, and it honestly surprised me at the rush Penny took…but I’m also here for it!
That being said, I didn’t love this one as much as the previous few. The last book really felt like Penny was propelling us into territory where every book would be a five-star read for me. While I still really joyed this one, it also drug on a little bit for me. The middle was tough to get through, but once again, Penny ended it with a bit of a cliffhanger, and I’m eager to read the next book.
I loved how Penny involved so many of the characters in this one. I wasn’t sure how she was going to get Gamache in an investigation since he’s newly retired, but when Clare comes to him concerned that Peter is missing, Gamache, John-Guy and the rest of the Three Pines crew jump into action. I didn’t see the ending coming, and it honestly surprised me at the rush Penny took…but I’m also here for it!
If this is the final Armand Gamache story it is a good ending. The book felt as if it wrapped things up for him nicely. This particular story has a different feel to it than previous ones, no doubt due in part to the new hierarchy in place. I have enjoyed all of this series.
3.5
Not my favorite entry! It was bound to happen. The format was very different. And while I loved all the character interactions and moments, the mystery was kind of just a wild goose chase with limited time in 3 pines. It was missing some of the intrigue and vibes of previous books. But I really liked that we doubled back to the Peter/Clara unfinished business and that so many 3 pines characters were involved in trying to figure things out. I think this is serving as a reset because the previous book closed so story threads which is smart. I still enjoyed it quite a bit.
Not my favorite entry! It was bound to happen. The format was very different. And while I loved all the character interactions and moments, the mystery was kind of just a wild goose chase with limited time in 3 pines. It was missing some of the intrigue and vibes of previous books. But I really liked that we doubled back to the Peter/Clara unfinished business and that so many 3 pines characters were involved in trying to figure things out. I think this is serving as a reset because the previous book closed so story threads which is smart. I still enjoyed it quite a bit.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Love this series but this one is my least favorite thus far.
The tenth book in the series and this one was fascinating. Not a murder mystery, but a mystery just the same. Much more background on a Clara and Peter. I learned lots about the art world and artists. I'm now all caught up on this series and will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series that comes out in late summer.
All the usual Louise Penny characters appear in The Long Way Home. Chief Inspector Gamache has retired to live in the village of Three Pines, Quebec. His quiet, peaceful, contemplative retirement is interrupted by the disappearance of one of those characters, Peter Morrow. Gamache can't refuse to help locate Peter. Where has Peter gone. A year ago Peter's wife Clara asked him to leave their home due to some abusiveness. The agreement was the he would return in a year and they would reevaluate their marriage. But it has been a year plus a few weeks and no Peter. Will Gamache find him, will he be found alive and well? Read and see, or not.