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ricksilva's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A murder mystery set in a small town, where a woman who seemed to be universally loved is killed in what a first appears to be a tragic hunting accident.
Enter Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, and the idyllic small town of Three Pines begins to unravel. Dark secrets are uncovered, and a strange piece of artwork may hold the clue to solving the murder.
This was a well-paced and clever murder mystery with great characters and setting. Gamache himself is a really fun detective with a knack of seeing beneath the surface in people's interactions and getting a sense of the tensions and emotions in play.
The story involves the usual array of red herrings and plot twists, but it's the development of intricate character relationships and past history that really make this book stand out.
Enter Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, and the idyllic small town of Three Pines begins to unravel. Dark secrets are uncovered, and a strange piece of artwork may hold the clue to solving the murder.
This was a well-paced and clever murder mystery with great characters and setting. Gamache himself is a really fun detective with a knack of seeing beneath the surface in people's interactions and getting a sense of the tensions and emotions in play.
The story involves the usual array of red herrings and plot twists, but it's the development of intricate character relationships and past history that really make this book stand out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Homophobia
kajamae's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.75
At times a bit predictable but overall very enjoyable! Love the Three Pines introduction and getting to learn more about the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Terminal illness, Violence, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Homophobia
nastya_gu's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think I can't give a great review of this book until I read the second one on my own because I simply did not like this narrator at all. And I think I've heard him before, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this book is a lot funnier and more whimsical than I was getting from this narrator. I'm very interested to read the second in this series and see if my experience is very different than with this initial one. Also, I found Agent Nicol to be super annoying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
jessiejonesbentley's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Hate crime, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
prehistoricfern's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Murder
klenda_vee's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Murder
dreamyscientist's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
edmund_pearce's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? No
3.5
I finally tried a Louise Penny book!
I quite liked it in a lot of ways. It had just the tone I want in a mystery--a bit more serious than the cheesy side of cozies, but without being gory and graphic for no reason. I also feel like I understand a lot more about Canadian culture and the tensions therein than I did before.
I did guess the murderer, but only slightly ahead of the reveal, so basically just in time to be satisfying to my pride without actually losing much mystery. :-)
The pagan ritual aspect to the story did make me uncomfortable, so I'll be reading the next book to see if that tones down or not, and may or may not continue the series based on that.
There is a homosexual couple in this book, including a minor plot line about how they are unkindly treated.
I quite liked it in a lot of ways. It had just the tone I want in a mystery--a bit more serious than the cheesy side of cozies, but without being gory and graphic for no reason. I also feel like I understand a lot more about Canadian culture and the tensions therein than I did before.
I did guess the murderer, but only slightly ahead of the reveal, so basically just in time to be satisfying to my pride without actually losing much mystery. :-)
The pagan ritual aspect to the story did make me uncomfortable, so I'll be reading the next book to see if that tones down or not, and may or may not continue the series based on that.
There is a homosexual couple in this book, including a minor plot line about how they are unkindly treated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, and Cursing