By Louise Penny

“It was one thing to forgive, it was another to climb back into the cage with that bear, even if it was wearing a tutu and smiling.”

Book #7 is more focused on the murder and the psychological complexities of some of the residents of Three Pines, and Jean-Guy: people we care about and will see again. I continue to shake my ahead in disapproval and disbelief at Peter, particularly at what is revealed in the final goodbye between him and Clara. At least Clara has Peter’s number now and hopefully will not be fooled again. I guess we’ll have to wait for another book for Gamache to be “forgiven” by Olivier. (Although he did absolutely nothing wrong and it was all Olivier fault. But if it makes Gamache happy, whatever)
I loved the role and the writing involving Alcoholics Anonymous. Louise really did her research. Not one false note.
The book ends with the reader wanting more. What will happen with Peter and Clara? Will Olivier finally accept responsibility for what happened to him? Will Jean Guy be alright? That final scene with Ruth was beautiful. Will hope be rewarded?
I see I say nothing about the murder and the mystery. The fact that the killer was who he was was very satisfactory to me. The character study of the victim was fascinating. So many shades of black and white in all of Penny’s characters. Except Gamache and his wife. And thank God for it.

November 11, 2018

By Louise Penny

“…while forgetting the past might condemn people to repeat it, remembering it too vividly condemned them to never leave.”

Gamache nodded. “Somehow the mapmakers missed Three Pines.” “Then how do people find it?” “I don’t know. Perhaps it suddenly appears.”

There is a lot going on in this 6th entry in the Inspector Gamache series. We learn that in between this one, Bury your Dead, and The Brutal Telling, the team has been involved in a devastating terrorist attack which has left Gamache and his #2, Beauvoir, wounded in body, mind and spirit. Firstly, this book deals with the beginning of their recovery from the effects. The second part is that Gamache has been nagged by Gabri into some niggling doubts about the guilt of Olivier in the death of the Hermit of book 5. So he sends Jean Guy Beauvoir to Three Pines to secretly re-investigate the murder. The 3rd concern in this book is the murder of Augustin Renaud who is obsessed with finding the famously lost grave of the Québécois and Canadian 16th century hero, Samuel de Champlain. This was an excellent book, which so far I have found all of Louise Penny’s to be. But I didn’t love it.

**spoilers**

It was just so sad. A promising character introduced in the previous book is dead. The attack that killed him and Gamache’s mission to save eastern Canada and the United States from devastation is re-lived through the book. We know that he was successful in one and unsuccessful in saving Morin, our guy, from the very beginning. And we learn to love and be very invested in Morin and his hopes and dreams as we read. Penny pulls out all of the stops to make sure we do. But we know he dies in the end. So no. Not my cup of tea. In fact, looking back, I think it was a little manipulative.

It dragged some in the middle. The Champlain parts and the exploration of the history and culture of Quebec were interesting and educational. But let’s face it, it was not exactly white knuckle or thought provoking reading.

Both the murder and the murderer of the fanatical archaeologist were not believable. The motive was very very weak. There was just very little reason for it. Unless I missed it, the perpetrator didn’t seem to have mindset or cause to do such a thing. I just didn’t believe it at all. It did not fall with Gamache’s oft repeated lessons on the deep seated reasons why people are driven to murder.

On the other hand, Beauvoir’s investigation into the murder of the Hermit was intriguing and involving. Good for him for solving this most difficult of conundrums on his own. The solution was shocking but made perfect sense. The clues were there, especially with the benefit of hindsight. I enjoyed how it all fit together with the previous book. The only thing is, I hated who the murderer was! I was appalled and heartbroken. What a tragedy.

Last but not least. I can’t stand that horrible Olivier who was freed from prison at the end of the book. He is a terrible person. And everyone loves him. I don’t get it. He had only himself to blame for being mistakenly convicted of murdering the Hermit. Stupid, greedy, ugly choices and actions. And Lies. The constant lies. In The Brutal Telling, after being lied to over and over Gamache begs him for the truth so he can help him. Olivier finally seems to realize it’s the end of the line and swears that this time he is telling the truth. What do we get? More lies. If he had finally told the whole truth after squandering chance after chance, Gamache would have looked elsewhere and the real murderer might have been discovered in the first book. And Then! And THEN! Gamache APOLOGIZES to him for having arrested him to begin with! After reopening an investigation that was over and done with it and saving Olivier’s life, Olivier has the gall to declare in front of everyone that he can’t forgive him yet, but maybe in time. Maybe. WHAT? And our buddies in Three Pines just go along with this mess. He gets a hero’s welcome from them when he should be given the cold shoulder and a punch in the nose. 

**End Spoiler**

So yes, all of the great things I love about Louise Penny were there: humor, deep interesting character development, a good puzzle, etc. etc. But there were too many disturbing turns to knock this down to 3 stars for me, when it is one of the very highest rated of her books from other readers.

July 17, 2018

by Louise Penny

“But odd as his family might be, they were nothing compared to this. In fact, that was one of the great comforts of his job. At least his family compared well to people who actually killed each other, rather than just thought about it.”

**Major Spoilers**

Long before I started reading Louise Penny, but read about her and was interested, I read a book review which expressed dismay that the murder was a beloved member of the community. From the first book I read in the series, I had assumed that the murderer was going to be Peter, and this book the reviewer was talking about was going to be a good bit down the road. So my reading has been colored by this assumption. I’m glad that is behind me now.
I was relieved that this is kind of a part one of a two part duo, because I was vaguely dissatisfied that Olivier still maintained his innocence at the end. There were also some things left hanging and some unanswered questions. On finishing this entry in the series, I really despise Olivier for his lies and greed and stupidity. I don’t care whether he is a murderer or not. If he proves not to be, I hope he isn’t accepted back as a beloved friend to all. In a way, this 5 star rating is contingent on how things play out in Bury Your Dead.

Questions and quibbles: Totally unbelievable that a prominent member of an Artistic community would feel such homophobia, let alone display it.
Why didn’t Olivier take even some of the treasures after he murdered the Hermit, or came back to find him dead? He could have found a hiding place.
Once the hermit was dead why did he still dump the body at the Hadley place? Why the hate? Why the risk? The jig was up at that point. That’s why Gabri says he didn’t do it. He couldn’t have advertised the murder if he had done it. 

July 2, 2018

by Louise Penny

“There are four things that lead to wisdom. You ready for them?’
She nodded, wondering when the police work would begin.
“They are four sentences we learn to say, and mean.” Gamache held up his hand as a fist and raised a finger with each point. “I don’t know. I need help. I’m sorry. I was wrong‘.” 

Excellent Mystery full of pathos, wisdom, and gentle humor. Many times, I had to pause to reflect on some of the thought provoking passages, descriptions, and observations. I came to strongly suspect who the actual murderer was a little less than half way through the novel. I was sorry that Yvette did not get straightened out and come to a self-realization by the end of the book. Her story was pretty much left to dangle. I trust that things will develop more positively with her as the books go on. Other than that, the mystery was resolved and explained in depth. My suspicions were confirmed on a few plot points which made me feel smart. That’s always a good thing! Justice was served. Definitely will be continuing with the next one soon. I hope to meet the characters again and to see that some damage has been repaired. Louise Penny is a wonderful writer. 

February 5, 2018