Reviews - The Cruelest Month

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1.93k reviews for:

The Cruelest Month

Louise Penny

3.96 AVERAGE

mariannethelibrarianne's review against another edition

5.0

I always hate saying goodbye to the 3 Pines Community. This is just another Louise Penny books that I didn't want to see end.

bethpeninger's review against another edition

4.0

Scared to death...or was it something else? An Easter Sunday séance at the Old Hadley House goes horribly wrong when a member of the group dies from fright. Gamache and his team are wondering why anyone would voluntarily go near or enter the Hadley House and try not to let its past history keep them from entering the house and investigating the suspicious death. At first glance, it seems nobody would ever want to kill the victim or see any harm come to them. But as Gamache and his team dig below the surface of everyone who had a relationship with the victim it becomes clear that maybe almost everyone actually has motive! It's going to take some serious concentration to break open this case. Meanwhile, Gamache himself is being targeted both in the media and by a superior due to a case from years ago. Things are heating up and Gamache is unsure who he can trust and who is for, not against, him. As the two events come closer to a conclusion, Gamache himself is opened up to danger.

I really liked this particular title, more so for the Gamache storyline involving the Arnot case from years before. I am digging how Penny brought all these loose ends together and tied them into a bow and handed it to Gamache for resolution. Or perhaps it is just resolution for now. Future titles will reveal that. I am fascinated by how Penny kept a hated character still despicable and yet used them so well in Gamache's story. I finished the book no warmer toward Agent Nicole even though, in theory, I should be. Penny's ability to show the light and shadow of characters in this particular title was really good. I am loving this series and ready to read the next installment...as soon as it becomes available at my library!

dragoncodes's review against another edition

5.0

Excellent mystery, wonderful characters, and the setting is amazing. Love this series.

lizstonehi42's review against another edition

4.0

4.25. My favorite so far of this cozy, funny and well-written series.

ckughen's review against another edition

4.0

funny mysterious tense medium-paced

cassiev1019's review against another edition

4.0

Another fun, easy read. The mystery waned a bit on this one, but the characters are so cozy!

re121258's review against another edition

5.0

I discovered this series from the DorothyL reading list. The first entry , Still Life, was good so I read the second, A Fatal Grace which I also enjoyed. However, this third entry is the one where I've seemed to have fallen in love with this series and the characters involved.

Ms Penny paints a wonderful sense of place with fully developed characters. The mystery here was interesting with a bit of mysticism thrown in. I was happy to find out more information on the Arnot case which is a continuing story through all the books.

Happily I still have three more books in the series to enjoy and plan on taking my time with each one.