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tamarant4's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Kneeling in the fragrant moist grass of the village green Clara Morrow carefully hid the Easter egg and thought about raising the dead, which she planned to do right after supper. [opening line]
It's spring in the cosy Canadian village of Three Pines, and a famous psychic has come to stay at the B&B. Well, not that famous; not actually a psychic; and not that willing to parade her skills for the villagers. Nevertheless, they decide to hold a seance in the old Hadley House, a nexus of nastiness in the first novel and generally not a cheerful place. What could possibly go wrong? One of the participants is literally scared to death: or is she?
Chief Inspector Gamache and his team become involved in the investigation, turning up some old secrets, some new friends and an undercurrent of treachery. Nothing is quite what it seems, and Myrna's explication of 'near enemies' -- emotions and their almost-indistinguishable opposites, such as attachment / love, pity / compassion, indifference / equanimity -- provides one route towards solving the crimes. (I use the plural because besides murder, there is corruption, slander and deceit. Jealousy is not a crime, but there's a lot of that here too.)
I know these people are imaginary, but I like them: their friendly rudeness, their long-held secrets, their idiosyncrasies, and especially Gamache's determination to be, and do, good. Louise Penny's prose occasionally jolts me, especially when her viewpoint character changes abruptly, but on the whole it's well-written and evocative. I can see myself becoming addicted to these novels...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Fatphobia
dantemkunc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, and Xenophobia
Minor: Fatphobia
babayagaofficial's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cancer, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
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