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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
In the town of Three Pines a looming seance will have terrifying consequences and meanwhile the Quebec police department, the Sûreté du Québec, is on the verge of its own troubles. While the trappings of a murder mystery are certainly present, the observations of people, their secrets, their motives, and line between pity and compassion lifts the book above the usual limits of the genre.
Always reliable and pleasant to return to Three Pines with these exceptional characters-- the descriptions of setting, food, and personalities are always engaging. Too bad there is always a murder to solve too!
Jeanne Chauvet, a Wiccan, shows up on Good Friday and to her surprise, agrees to perform two séances, the second in the old Hadley house. Madeline dies during this séance on the night of Easter Sunday.
Chief Inspector Gamache and his team are called in to investigate this suspicious death. It is soon discovered that Madeline had ephedra in her system, leading them to believe it was murder.
While Gamache is working to solve the mystery of who murdered Madeline, someone is making unfounded accusations in the media, trying to hurt him and his family.
Also, Ruth hatches her beloved duckling, Rosa, from an egg.
Hazel could never beat Madeline at anything, which didn’t bother her until Hazel’s daughter came home from college and kissed Madeline first. Hazel knew then that she was going to kill Madeline. Hazel knew Madeline had previous heart damage, so putting ephedra in her food would kill her if she got scared. What she didn’t know is that Madeline’s cancer was back and she most likely would have died within a year anyway.
Gamache also confronts his boss and childhood best friend, Brébeuf. He was the one feeding the media the false information. Brébeuf resigns from the Sûreté.
Gamache and his wife join the villagers of Three Pines in fixing up the Hadley house at the end, breathing life back into the old place.
Chief Inspector Gamache and his team are called in to investigate this suspicious death. It is soon discovered that Madeline had ephedra in her system, leading them to believe it was murder.
While Gamache is working to solve the mystery of who murdered Madeline, someone is making unfounded accusations in the media, trying to hurt him and his family.
Also, Ruth hatches her beloved duckling, Rosa, from an egg.
Hazel could never beat Madeline at anything, which didn’t bother her until Hazel’s daughter came home from college and kissed Madeline first. Hazel knew then that she was going to kill Madeline. Hazel knew Madeline had previous heart damage, so putting ephedra in her food would kill her if she got scared. What she didn’t know is that Madeline’s cancer was back and she most likely would have died within a year anyway.
Gamache also confronts his boss and childhood best friend, Brébeuf. He was the one feeding the media the false information. Brébeuf resigns from the Sûreté.
Gamache and his wife join the villagers of Three Pines in fixing up the Hadley house at the end, breathing life back into the old place.
*I listened to this as an audiobook*
Another good book in this murder mystery series. However, probably my least favorite book so far in the series. I was a bit bored with the plot, it developed slower than usual, in my opinion. Also, the ending, with the partial resolution of the Gamache centered side-story, was a very anti-climatic and almost silly way to end that build up...
I will continue through the series, as I do enjoy the Agatha Christie-esque writing.
Another good book in this murder mystery series. However, probably my least favorite book so far in the series. I was a bit bored with the plot, it developed slower than usual, in my opinion. Also, the ending, with the partial resolution of the Gamache centered side-story, was a very anti-climatic and almost silly way to end that build up...
I will continue through the series, as I do enjoy the Agatha Christie-esque writing.
The mystery in this entry of the series was the weakest I've encountered so far. I didn't really feel attached to the goings-on in the main murder. I did care, however, about the Arnot case and how Penny would address what she's been building up over the last two books. In some ways I really appreciated it (highlighting police brutality to native peoples in Canada) but I didn't really buy the final twist or face-off between the characters involved.
Ruth Zardo and Gamache still make the series worth it for me to continue though.
Ruth Zardo and Gamache still make the series worth it for me to continue though.
Louise Penny did it again!!! Great story line, wonderful character development, lovely poetic and nature descriptions, and so many well expressed/set forth human challenges/growth opportunities. I am hooked!!!
I am reading all of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache books in order so this is my third experience with this author and I have to say that although each book has been a delightful whodunit, there's something special about The Cruelest Month.
This book has it all. There's a haunted house, a witch, secrets, a séance, turned loyalties and of course murder all with the backdrop of the cozy and beloved town of Three Pines. Oh, and I can't leave out the delicious food that is constantly described. (Yes, I want to eat everything the characters get to eat in this book! )
The plot is wonderful in a creepy way but it's really the writing that stands out and the depth of the characters that Penny manages to create. Inspector Gamache is really something special. He is so insightful and while he is a true hero he also reads as very real.
This book has it all. There's a haunted house, a witch, secrets, a séance, turned loyalties and of course murder all with the backdrop of the cozy and beloved town of Three Pines. Oh, and I can't leave out the delicious food that is constantly described. (Yes, I want to eat everything the characters get to eat in this book! )
The plot is wonderful in a creepy way but it's really the writing that stands out and the depth of the characters that Penny manages to create. Inspector Gamache is really something special. He is so insightful and while he is a true hero he also reads as very real.
Yet another great Inspector Gamache mystery! I want to move to Three Pines and I want to eat all the food that is served there.