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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I have to admit I wasn't paying as close attention to this book as I have with other Three Pines mysteries- nothing to do with the book itself but because of life right now. So I might not have liked this book as much just because of the mood I've been in. But I will say, I kinda knew right from the jump that Peter wasn't coming out of this one alive and realizing that so early on just killed (pun kinda intended
Contains spoilers! Do not read if you haven't finished book
Mixed emotions 3.5 - 4 stars
On the one hand, it's always a pleasure to spend time with the residents of Three Pines. And this books gives us more time with the characters, for sure. I like the extra time with Ruth especially.
But on the other hand, the mystery was not so mysterious. As soon as a certain old poet started playing uncharacteristically nice with the "artist" who even on the second interview had a blank canvas in front of him, the gig was up.
Gotta read it if your a Armand Gamache fan, but definitely different from the others.
Mixed emotions 3.5 - 4 stars
On the one hand, it's always a pleasure to spend time with the residents of Three Pines. And this books gives us more time with the characters, for sure. I like the extra time with Ruth especially.
But on the other hand, the mystery was not so mysterious. As soon as a certain old poet started playing uncharacteristically nice with the "artist" who even on the second interview had a blank canvas in front of him, the gig was up.
Gotta read it if your a Armand Gamache fan, but definitely different from the others.
Very slow start. Very slow first half. This is the only Inspector Gamache I've considered abandoning.
But then, finally, fully half way through, the intrepid quartet of Clara, Myrna, Gamache and Beauvoir journeys to (the real town of) Baie Ste Paul and the action picks up.
There's a complicated plot, a few loose ends, and a somewhat unconvincing bit of melodrama in the final pages. But this series is all about the very likable characters. And some repartee that is laugh-out-loud funny. The bathtub is just a metaphor. (You'll know what that means by the last page.)
But then, finally, fully half way through, the intrepid quartet of Clara, Myrna, Gamache and Beauvoir journeys to (the real town of) Baie Ste Paul and the action picks up.
There's a complicated plot, a few loose ends, and a somewhat unconvincing bit of melodrama in the final pages. But this series is all about the very likable characters. And some repartee that is laugh-out-loud funny. The bathtub is just a metaphor. (You'll know what that means by the last page.)
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was all over the place... I started it and stopped for several weeks and only resumed because Serena hinted at big exciting event, which I felt zero emotional impact of when it actually happened... and Scotland? Rabbits? Asbestos????????????? I sometimes feel like Louise Penny draws motifs out of a hat but this was especially disorienting. (She always makes dramatic metaphors out of them, too; "Just because something is natural doesn't mean it is good - like asbestos" is something that was definitely said at one point.) Didn't feel like a murder mystery. Where was the excitement!!
Spoiler
The only little bit I liked was the Ruth - evil murderer interaction and subsequent explanation.
I agree with other reviewers saying that it wasn't much of a mystery but having just finished it, I feel like the ending made up for that. The mystery itself was such a long slow build and I can see how that's frustrating for some people.
I understand that Peter had to die to get Clara's love life moving along in the series, but I still cried. He had redeemed himself by sacrificing his happiness for Professor Norman and his life for Clara.
Snippets I liked:
"Her father had jokingly accused her of living in the wreckage of her future."
"There are those who seem to turn to the sea, always changing, always adapting. But never settling down. And those who turn to rocks and stones... Solid but stuck."
I understand that Peter had to die to get Clara's love life moving along in the series, but I still cried. He had redeemed himself by sacrificing his happiness for Professor Norman and his life for Clara.
Snippets I liked:
"Her father had jokingly accused her of living in the wreckage of her future."
"There are those who seem to turn to the sea, always changing, always adapting. But never settling down. And those who turn to rocks and stones... Solid but stuck."
Not my favorite Gamache mystery, but the previous ones were hard acts to follow.
Second of Penny's Gamache series that I've read. This one I liked less than the first one. The story was a bit slow and relatively unveventful. Apparently others disagree but to each their own.
Rounding up to 3 just for old times sake- this was not a great story or one of the better visits with the characters I’ve come to enjoy.