Reviews

The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny

cooperca's review against another edition

5.0

Again, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache led me to another great mystery...or is this case, two mysteries. One, concerning the death of a well liked Three Pines resident who dies of "fright" during a seance, and two, one more close to home and the continued storyline disgraced Arnot.

The continued use of the old Hadley home where the first murder Gamache investigated at Three Pines and again when another Hadley resident is murdered. It's cursed feel reminded me of the old Bates home of the Psycho movie. Once again we are thrown into a strange murder mystery where there are so many potential murders it felt like a great Hercule Poirot mystery.

jennc's review against another edition

5.0

I really liked this one. I didn’t figure out who the murderer was at all.

jonesam30's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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

4.0

charliegirl21's review against another edition

5.0

The most compelling part of these books, aside from Gamache himself, is this place of community that we all wish existed. A place of acceptance and escape from the current busy world we all are stuck in. If anyone knows where a Three Pines exists in the real world, please let me in on the secret.

chickaboogawah's review against another edition

dark mysterious relaxing medium-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? No

4.0

ash738's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

tamarant4's review against another edition

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...

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Fatphobia

rants_n_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

thebookishpersuasion's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

4.25

kmthomas06's review against another edition

4.0

I liked this addition to the series. It is a bit of an odd one with the discussion of Wicca, magic, and seances and seemed a bit less atmospheric than usual for all that. But it did finally complete the big plot arc that's been building since the first book of the mysterious Arnot case and its aftermath. I do appreciate when I get answers and I liked the conclusion for this. I knew there was a reason I wanted to like Agent Nichol in spite of myself.