A review by booklistqueen
The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny

mysterious reflective slow-paced

On an island deep in the Québec woods sits a solitary monastery closed off to the world. Two dozen monks have taken a vow of silence and spend much of their day singing ancient chants to God. When the choir director is murdered, Gamache and Beauvoir discover a massive rift among the quiet monks. Yet the cracks in the Sûreté du Québec threaten to intrude on the case.

I found it refreshing to have a mystery not set in Three Pines for a change. The monastery was the perfect setting for a murder, with a whole new set of characters who are all suspects. The focus on the Gregorian chants fits into Penny's art mystery trend. However, I didn't like how the greater drama with Gamache and the Sûreté was inserted into The Beautiful Mystery. I was frustrated by the ending though, admittedly, it did set the stage for plenty of drama in the next few books.