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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Not a strong entry for the Gamache series.
I know this isn't a hot take, but Peter Morrow is just not worth this much writing, let alone an entire book dedicated to finding him. And to add insult to injury, the mystery was really just nonexistent... following the path of Peter wasn't so much a mystery as a travelogue, and Louise Penny just kind of threw in a random crime at the end as a non-rewarding reward for getting to the finish line.
The stakes just weren't very high here in my opinion, and there wasn't much development in our main characters to make the journey worth it at all. Peter's gone off to ~find himself~ and ~rediscover the basic truths of his art~ and I just don't care. And I'll just say it—Gamache NOT in the Sûrete is BORING?! And I have a feeling that Louise Penny, in the course of writing this book, kind of felt it too. I think the (surprise, at least to me) ending will be a good thing for the series in the long run, so while I won't be listing this in the favorites column I'm hoping it'll lead to better things.
Total sidenote: I've actually listened to this whole series in audiobook format, and this was the last recorded by Ralph Cosham before his death. I actually wasn't totally taken with him as the narrator during "Still Life," but now I cannot imagine this narrative universe without him. So I wanted to conclude with a quick thank you to Cosham for bringing this story, and particularly Gamache, to such vivid life over ten books. I'm not sure how the next man in will measure up, but I know it'll be a different experience for sure. As always, I'm onto the next!
I know this isn't a hot take, but Peter Morrow is just not worth this much writing, let alone an entire book dedicated to finding him. And to add insult to injury, the mystery was really just nonexistent... following the path of Peter wasn't so much a mystery as a travelogue, and Louise Penny just kind of threw in a random crime at the end as a non-rewarding reward for getting to the finish line.
Spoiler
I will say that Peter's death in the end truly did shock me; I thought for sure they'd find and save him from himself but that Clara would realize he's not worth it after all this chasing. So points to Penny for subverting my expectations there. And I know this is kind of awful, but I think Peter's death will positively serve the series in future. I've been getting pretty tired of his jealous angst toward Clara and her (sometimes willing) blindness to it, and I wasn't convinced his attitude could be reformed. So really this is the best case scenario.The stakes just weren't very high here in my opinion, and there wasn't much development in our main characters to make the journey worth it at all. Peter's gone off to ~find himself~ and ~rediscover the basic truths of his art~ and I just don't care. And I'll just say it—Gamache NOT in the Sûrete is BORING?! And I have a feeling that Louise Penny, in the course of writing this book, kind of felt it too. I think the (surprise, at least to me) ending will be a good thing for the series in the long run, so while I won't be listing this in the favorites column I'm hoping it'll lead to better things.
Total sidenote: I've actually listened to this whole series in audiobook format, and this was the last recorded by Ralph Cosham before his death. I actually wasn't totally taken with him as the narrator during "Still Life," but now I cannot imagine this narrative universe without him. So I wanted to conclude with a quick thank you to Cosham for bringing this story, and particularly Gamache, to such vivid life over ten books. I'm not sure how the next man in will measure up, but I know it'll be a different experience for sure. As always, I'm onto the next!
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:
No
Armand Gamachen tarina jatkuu; Kohtalokas kotiinpaluu on jo sarjan kymmenes osa. Kaksi osaa vuodessa -tahti on ollut tasainen, kiitos vaihtuvien suomentajien ja sen, että alkuperäisteoksia on riittänyt hyvin. Niitä riittää edelleen: tätä kirjoittaessani Penny on kirjoittanut sarjaan jo 18 osaa. Ollaan siis vähän yli puolessa välissä tähän asti ilmestyneistä. Suomennosvuoro on tälläkin kertaa Timo Korpilla, joka selviää työstään hyvin, poislukien kohdat, joissa alkuteoksen englanninkieliset sanaleikit paistavat vähän läpi. Vaikeahan niitä onkin kesyttää.
Edellinen osa, Särö pimeydessä, paketoi kasaan monta kirjaa kestäneen juonikuvion ja nyt uuden osan alussa rikoskomisario Armand Gamache on vaimonsa kanssa vetäytynyt viettämään rauhaisia eläkepäiviä Three Pinesin leppoisiin tunnelmiin. Kirjakaupan, bistron ja puutarhakutsujen välissä on vanhan poliisin hyvä olla. Mutta eihän se koskaan niin mene.
Taidemaalari Clara Morrow lähestyy Gamachea moneen kertaan, ennen kuin saa avattua suunsa ja kertoo, mikä häntä vaivaa. Morrowien avioliitto on ollut koetuksella, kun menestynyt taiteilijamies Peter ei kestänyt Claran kukoistukseen noussutta taideuraa. Clara antoi Peterille lähtöpassit vuodeksi. Vuoden jälkeen heidän pitäisi palata yhteen ja päättää tulevaisuudestaan. Vuosipäivä tuli ja meni, mutta Peteristä ei kuulu mitään, ja Clara on huolissaan.
Gamache ja Clara alkavat yhdessä tuumin selvitellä, minne Peter on kadonnut. Apuun saadaan kirjakauppias Myrna, mutta myös Gamachen luottomies Jean-Guy Beauvoir, jonka kautta saadaan tueksi Sûréten virkakoneistoa, vaikka varsinaisesta poliisitutkinnasta ei – ainakaan alkuun – ole kyse. Eihän tässä nyt kuitenkaan mitään murhaa olla tutkimassa.
Lukija pääsee mukaan tutkimuksiin, joissa Claran tunnelmat vaihtelevat uhmasta epätoivoon. Peterin jäljet johtavat Quebecin erämaihin, jonne seurue päätyy. Lukijakin pääsee siis matkustamaan seuduille, joissa harvoin kuljetaan. Ennen kuin mysteeri selviää, matkassa on monta käännettä.
Kohtalokas kotiinpaluu on kelpo jatko hyvälle, luotettavalle sarjalle. Sarjan monet kirjat ovat dekkaripiirien palkitsemia; tämän osan piti tyytyä ehdokkuuksiin. Sellaiset tuli kuitenkin sekä Anthony Awardsista että Agatha Awardista. Tässä osassa kiinnostavinta oli Gamachen siirtyminen eläkkeelle aikaisempien osien dramaattisten käänteiden jälkeen. On mielenkiintoista nähdä, millainen tutkijanura eläkeläis-Gamachelle sarjan mittaan muotoutuu. Jatkan siis edelleen tämän sarjan suosittelua, mutta kirjat kannattaa kyllä lukea oikeassa järjestyksessä.
---
In this tenth instalment of the Armand Gamache series, "A Long Way Home," the story unfolds in the tranquil backdrop of Three Pines, where retired Chief Inspector Armand Gamache seeks solace with his wife after the events that transpired in the previous book, "How the Light Gets In." However, when artist Clara Morrow approaches him with her marital concerns, peace eludes him. Her successful career has strained her relationship with her artist husband, Peter, who disappeared after a year-long separation agreement with Clara. Worried about his absence, Clara seeks Gamache's help to find Peter, sparking an unconventional investigation.
---
In this tenth instalment of the Armand Gamache series, "A Long Way Home," the story unfolds in the tranquil backdrop of Three Pines, where retired Chief Inspector Armand Gamache seeks solace with his wife after the events that transpired in the previous book, "How the Light Gets In." However, when artist Clara Morrow approaches him with her marital concerns, peace eludes him. Her successful career has strained her relationship with her artist husband, Peter, who disappeared after a year-long separation agreement with Clara. Worried about his absence, Clara seeks Gamache's help to find Peter, sparking an unconventional investigation.
The narrative follows Gamache and Clara's quest to unravel the mystery behind Peter's disappearance. Despite initially steering away from a police investigation, their journey leads them to the wilds of Quebec. Clara's emotions fluctuate from defiance to despair as they traverse rarely-trodden paths. The reader is taken on this investigative journey, encountering several twists before the mystery finds resolution.
Gamache's transition into retirement following the series' earlier dramatic events makes "A Long Way Home" a compelling addition to the series. The intrigue lies in observing how his retired life shapes up as an investigator. The book didn't win the usual accolades but was nominated for both the Anthony and Agatha Awards. I recommend this series, emphasizing the importance of reading the books in sequence to appreciate the narrative's depth and continuity fully.
The true rating is 3.5 stars.
When reading the synopsis of this book, I was really excited. Peter and Clara Morrow are some of my favourite characters in this series. However, there were parts of this book that lagged a bit. The ending was heartbreakingly good, but perhaps a little too resolved? I'm torn between loving the hopefulness of Penny's endings and finding it a little too simplistic. Regardless, I'm definetly going to keep reading this series.
When reading the synopsis of this book, I was really excited. Peter and Clara Morrow are some of my favourite characters in this series. However, there were parts of this book that lagged a bit. The ending was heartbreakingly good, but perhaps a little too resolved? I'm torn between loving the hopefulness of Penny's endings and finding it a little too simplistic. Regardless, I'm definetly going to keep reading this series.
I like these books for the insight and characters. This book was interesting the first 1/3 but then...it just sort of fell apart. Murder felt thrown in as an after thought. And the plot was hard to follow. I felt like Clara was a different person in this book but am wondering if she is changing. I would have preferred a book 1/2 the length. Overall it felt like a tv show where an actor doesn’t renew their contract or gets fired and they have to come up with a hasty explanation.
My least favorite of the Gamache series, coming after my favorite. seemed like Penny had a development with one of the characters that she wanted to make happen, and so built a very flimsy mystery structure around it. Very very slow....luckily it's far enough along in a great series that I won't abandon it - but man I hope no one picks this up as their first!!!
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Penney knocks it out of the park again. Even though Gamache is no longer part of the Surete, he still finds investigating is in his blood. With the help of Beauvoir and some Three Pines friends they search for another friend. Along the way they learn about art in a whole new light, discovering what makes an artist or maybe even breaks one. Peter is missing and they are determined to find him dead or alive, hoping for the latter. Gamache is once again on the case but this time unofficially until they find what they are looking for
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excellent story and story line -- really makes you think. Some of the things in the story were unusual -- maybe far fetched, but the author brings it all together. Love seeing different parts of Canada in her stories.