davita_d's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
magistratrium's review against another edition
3.0
This one seemed less cohesive and thought out than previous books, but I still enjoyed some of my favorite characters.
linda48's review against another edition
5.0
Couldn't put this book down. I'd be reading at 8:30 and look up to see it was 10:30. Crawl into bed and suddenly it was midnight. Just one more chapter - 12:45 am.
Louise Penny is certainly going over to the dark side with her most recent books. Here she delves into abuse, psychological and physical, women and children; the loss of a child; psychopaths and narcissists. Three main story arcs (major flooding in Quebec, Clara's art, and the search for a missing woman) bob and weave and intertwine among each other to form an intricate web of intrigue, mystery and crime, but all follow the theme of Melville's Moby Dick and the search for their individual "white whales."
Through it all, Gamache shows us that even the worst of people can have redeeming qualities and goodness exists in the world.
As always, I urge you to read the books in order - not difficult to do at all. In fact, I may be starting over from the first - just because. A word of warning: Her acknowledgements made me cry.
Louise Penny is certainly going over to the dark side with her most recent books. Here she delves into abuse, psychological and physical, women and children; the loss of a child; psychopaths and narcissists. Three main story arcs (major flooding in Quebec, Clara's art, and the search for a missing woman) bob and weave and intertwine among each other to form an intricate web of intrigue, mystery and crime, but all follow the theme of Melville's Moby Dick and the search for their individual "white whales."
Through it all, Gamache shows us that even the worst of people can have redeeming qualities and goodness exists in the world.
As always, I urge you to read the books in order - not difficult to do at all. In fact, I may be starting over from the first - just because. A word of warning: Her acknowledgements made me cry.
catechism's review against another edition
2.0
This didn't hang together very well. A lot of the subplots went nowhere (or came from nowhere), and they weren't very well integrated. The case was mediocre. I do still want to go back to Quebec, though, and it was a fine audiobook to listen to while rearranging furniture.
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
Those of us who rush to read the newest Louise Penny novel do so to keep up with Armand Gamache, his family, and his Quebec village, Three Pines. Gamache is a high-ranking police officer, in the Quebec Sûreté. Gamache was removed from duty and spent time on leave after a disastrous police operation in which he nearly lost his life. Thinking that he will resign, Gamache is offered the option of coming back as second-in-command. He takes it knowing that it will embarrass his higher-ups and give him the chance to return to the work he loves. He will be working under his son-in-law Jean-Guy Beauvoir.
The novel opens with spring flooding threatening nearly the entire province of Quebec. Those at the top are reluctant to take drastic action, and their caution could produce deadly consequences. Here we see Gamache in his characteristic manner acts with the intelligence that his readers love and respect. At the same time, a woman goes missing, and a police officer who knows her family, and her situation, urges an investigation despite the flooding. Gamache decides to go with another officer to her home, and her father’s home. He is driven to find this woman after seeing her father’s despair, and realizing that if his daughter Annie were missing, he’d go to the ends of the earth to find her.
Fans of the Gamache novels appreciate his thoughtful consideration of all aspects of his cases. He is deeply compassionate, and appears to be genuinely driven by a love of humanity, Canada, Quebec, his village and his family. He is thorough, and relentless. The plots of these novels are complex, and the solutions to crimes are never obvious. These are the elements that bring readers back again and again. Details of life in Quebec are thoughtful and never superficial, and for me, part of the delight of the Gamache series.
There are always one or two subplots in Penny’s novels. In this one, Myrna, an artist, becomes a victim of negative social media ridiculing her paintings. While this was an interesting thread, it wasn’t adequately developed. Social media is also being used against Gamache. Penny apparently wanted to make a valuable point about the harm that social media can do, which is a worthy theme. However, this aspect of the plot came up short.
Like other faithful readers, I will be waiting for the next installment of Gamache’s story.
The novel opens with spring flooding threatening nearly the entire province of Quebec. Those at the top are reluctant to take drastic action, and their caution could produce deadly consequences. Here we see Gamache in his characteristic manner acts with the intelligence that his readers love and respect. At the same time, a woman goes missing, and a police officer who knows her family, and her situation, urges an investigation despite the flooding. Gamache decides to go with another officer to her home, and her father’s home. He is driven to find this woman after seeing her father’s despair, and realizing that if his daughter Annie were missing, he’d go to the ends of the earth to find her.
Fans of the Gamache novels appreciate his thoughtful consideration of all aspects of his cases. He is deeply compassionate, and appears to be genuinely driven by a love of humanity, Canada, Quebec, his village and his family. He is thorough, and relentless. The plots of these novels are complex, and the solutions to crimes are never obvious. These are the elements that bring readers back again and again. Details of life in Quebec are thoughtful and never superficial, and for me, part of the delight of the Gamache series.
There are always one or two subplots in Penny’s novels. In this one, Myrna, an artist, becomes a victim of negative social media ridiculing her paintings. While this was an interesting thread, it wasn’t adequately developed. Social media is also being used against Gamache. Penny apparently wanted to make a valuable point about the harm that social media can do, which is a worthy theme. However, this aspect of the plot came up short.
Like other faithful readers, I will be waiting for the next installment of Gamache’s story.
alyssone's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
katienunnery's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
k_lee_reads_it's review against another edition
5.0
"That twisted reality, until malice and truth were intertwined and indistinguishable." - A Better Man
“Words are like feathers… It is so easy for them to come out, and they scatter on the wind before you know it. But like feathers, our words are not easy to gather back up again. Once out of your mouth, you simply cannot take them all back.” - The Witness Wore Red
I have just read two books in a row in which words play an important part. One book fiction; the other non-fiction. Both books, interestingly and not intentionally on my part, about abused women and the cycle of abuse.
Louise Penny highlights social media and it's effects on society today in her book, A Better Man. She also wraps an abusive relationship up into a murder. And through the main character, Gamache, she present to the reader three questions to ponder before speaking: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
There is some language in this book.
“Words are like feathers… It is so easy for them to come out, and they scatter on the wind before you know it. But like feathers, our words are not easy to gather back up again. Once out of your mouth, you simply cannot take them all back.” - The Witness Wore Red
I have just read two books in a row in which words play an important part. One book fiction; the other non-fiction. Both books, interestingly and not intentionally on my part, about abused women and the cycle of abuse.
Louise Penny highlights social media and it's effects on society today in her book, A Better Man. She also wraps an abusive relationship up into a murder. And through the main character, Gamache, she present to the reader three questions to ponder before speaking: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
There is some language in this book.