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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...
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
kerryamchugh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
The one where the Arnot case really starts to re-appear in Gamache's life. As per usual for the series, a whodunit with emotional depth and intrigue from start to finish.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Murder
Minor: Violence
princess_azula's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Terminal illness, and Police brutality
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Trafficking, Car accident, and Pregnancy
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am really enjoying reading about Chief Inspector Gamache and his team, and all the familiar faces of the Three Pines residents.
This book, the third in the series, continued the ongoing backstory of the Arnot case that took place years before we meet Gamache in Still Life. The current mystery is of a woman frightened to death at a seance. Gamache’s team now includes Agent Yvette Nichol, obnoxious and grating, and Agent Robert Lemieux, as amiable as Nichol is repellent.
The convergence of the plot lines at the end didn’t work for me. It shook me out of my suspension of disbelief that’s necessary for any appreciation of a fictional tale. It was too improbable. Aside from that, I enjoyed it and I wanted to see the hand-painted wooden Easter eggs.
This book, the third in the series, continued the ongoing backstory of the Arnot case that took place years before we meet Gamache in Still Life. The current mystery is of a woman frightened to death at a seance. Gamache’s team now includes Agent Yvette Nichol, obnoxious and grating, and Agent Robert Lemieux, as amiable as Nichol is repellent.
The convergence of the plot lines at the end didn’t work for me. It shook me out of my suspension of disbelief that’s necessary for any appreciation of a fictional tale. It was too improbable. Aside from that, I enjoyed it and I wanted to see the hand-painted wooden Easter eggs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Eating disorder, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
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
franklola's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship
le3713's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Cancer
kelly_e's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Title: The Cruellest Month
Author: Louise Penny
Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #3
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: September 6, 2007
T H R E E • W O R D S
Cozy • Atmospheric • Mystifying
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Inspector Gamache is called to Three Pines, the morning after Easter, and is faced with an unusual crime scene. The previous night, some of the town folks gathered for a séance in an old abandon house. Unfortunately, it went horribly wrong and one villager lies dead. Gamache soon unearths toxic secrets, all while shielding his team from that there is traitor amongst them.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was so happy to be back in Three Pines! Part of the reason I love this village so much is I am a native Eastern Townships girl myself and I know the area in which it is based on, so I'm instantly transported to the little town and the atmosphere just really comes to life.
The mystery is definitely slow to unfold here, but I enjoyed some of the other side stories (particularly the Gamache angle) just as much. As previously mentioned the setting, the characters and the food are what makes this series so comforting. I'll admit it took me two tries to get through installment, but I think it's more to do with me being unable to believe the plot line. This isn't to fault Penny, but more of a personal preference. And I know I am early on in the series, but I want so much more depth from some of the less prominent characters.
I'm looking forward to seeing where Gamache and the eclectic cast take me next in A Rule Against Murder
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Agatha Christie fans
• Three Pines devotees
• slow build mystery readers
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Once found, Three Pines was never forgotten. But it was only ever found by people lost."
"Loss was like that, Gamache knew. You didn't just lose a loved one. You lost your heart, your memories, your laughter, your brain and it even took your bones. Eventually it all came back, but different. Rearranged."
"'One day you'll hear them. In the quiet, some whisper you'd mistaken for the wind all your life. But it'll be the trees. Nature is talking to us all the time, it's just hearing that's the problem. Now I can't hear water or flowers or rocks. Well, actually, I can but just a little. But trees? Their voices are clear to me.'"
Author: Louise Penny
Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #3
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: September 6, 2007
T H R E E • W O R D S
Cozy • Atmospheric • Mystifying
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Inspector Gamache is called to Three Pines, the morning after Easter, and is faced with an unusual crime scene. The previous night, some of the town folks gathered for a séance in an old abandon house. Unfortunately, it went horribly wrong and one villager lies dead. Gamache soon unearths toxic secrets, all while shielding his team from that there is traitor amongst them.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was so happy to be back in Three Pines! Part of the reason I love this village so much is I am a native Eastern Townships girl myself and I know the area in which it is based on, so I'm instantly transported to the little town and the atmosphere just really comes to life.
The mystery is definitely slow to unfold here, but I enjoyed some of the other side stories (particularly the Gamache angle) just as much. As previously mentioned the setting, the characters and the food are what makes this series so comforting. I'll admit it took me two tries to get through installment, but I think it's more to do with me being unable to believe the plot line. This isn't to fault Penny, but more of a personal preference. And I know I am early on in the series, but I want so much more depth from some of the less prominent characters.
I'm looking forward to seeing where Gamache and the eclectic cast take me next in A Rule Against Murder
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Agatha Christie fans
• Three Pines devotees
• slow build mystery readers
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Once found, Three Pines was never forgotten. But it was only ever found by people lost."
"Loss was like that, Gamache knew. You didn't just lose a loved one. You lost your heart, your memories, your laughter, your brain and it even took your bones. Eventually it all came back, but different. Rearranged."
"'One day you'll hear them. In the quiet, some whisper you'd mistaken for the wind all your life. But it'll be the trees. Nature is talking to us all the time, it's just hearing that's the problem. Now I can't hear water or flowers or rocks. Well, actually, I can but just a little. But trees? Their voices are clear to me.'"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Cancer
katymaryreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My favourite Inspector Gamache book so far (I know I have a lot to go). Inspector Gamache's own past comes to haunt him in a big way in this book, and I like how his story relates to the mystery he came to Three Pines to solve. Atmospheric, intriguing Can't wait to read more - the question is whether to rush right on to the next one or to pace myself!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Police brutality, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Racism, Violence, and Grief
My favourite Inspector Gamache book so far (I know I have a lot to go). Inspector Gamache's own past comes to haunt him in a big way in this book, and I like how his story relates to the mystery he came to Three Pines to solve. Atmospheric, intriguing Can't wait to read more - the question is whether to rush right on to the next one or to pace myself!
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