crafalsk264 's review for:

The Long Way Home by Louise Penny

4.0

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Former Chief Inspector of Homicide in the Sûreté du Québec Armand Gamache has “retired” to take up residence in Three Pines. Clara Morrow asks him to help find her husband, Peter, who has failed to make a promised rendezvous on the anniversary of their separation. Gamache calls upon his former second in command, Jean Guy Beauvoir, to help him with official aspects of the search for a man most people don’t consider missing

This is the tenth book in the Three Pines Series.  Penny continues to develop the characters who populate the village of Three Pines. Each book adds a new dimension to the story. In this entry, the Gamaches have relocated to Three Pines which has become almost a mystical place for Armand. He has become a true villager to the eccentric residents. The journey Gamache and Beauvoir  take to look for Peter reveals more of their history and relationship. Although they suspect that Peter has either chosen not to return or is no longer able to return, they follow his trail during his year away.

I am reading through Penny’s Gamache series and have enjoyed each of them. They have gotten better and better with each one. This one was better than those before. The themes of the series including Gamache’s continued clashes with his superiors are enhanced by other short term ones including relationships within the Art community and the pet duck add new elements to all. I heard the hosts of Currently Reading who are doing a deep dive in this series remarked on the Easter eggs through some themes, characters and other elements that continue to appear such as the silent monks who appear in this book as wedding music for Jean Guy Beauvoir and Gamache’s daughter, Annie. I enjoy these little nuggets and am looking forward to the next book. Recommend to readers of mystery-thrillers, crime, detective procedures, murder and Canada in this adult fiction offering.