By: Louise Penny
Published: 2005
Audiobook Read by: Ralph Cosham
My rating: SPECTACULAR
This is yet another book that came to my attention through the wonderful reviews of my friend Sam. I am so glad to have found Louise Penny and her wonderful Chief Inspector Armand Gamache!
Armand Gamache loves his job and is well loved by those who work with him. When he is called out to investigate the suspicious death of an elderly retired school teacher in Three Pines, a town so small he can't seem to find it on his map, he has no idea of what a truly strange case it will turn out to be. Despite a surprisingly annoying rookie on his team they all work flawlessly together to uncover the truth about this death. As he leads his team in the investigation he begins to fall in love with this little lost village and the people who live there. Sitting alone in the early morning, he watches the town awake and realizes that there really are wonderful places of peace and tranquility left in the world. As long as you don't let a little matter of murder bother you!
I absolutely loved this book! Thank you so much, Sam, for turning me on to it! I loved Inspector Gamache. He is a wonderful person, full of kindness and compassion, ready to go the extra mile for those around him. So often, authors feel the need to make their detectives eccentric at the least and often arrogant and egotistical. Louise has given us a very different kind of detective, one who values the opinions of his team and is willing to listen to anyone who seeks his attention. He truly cares about the victim and those left behind and would never consider dehumanizing the crime.
The mystery itself was very engaging and kept me guessing all the way through. I loved how each new development was revealed to me just as it was found without trying to keep the mystery more mysterious! Louise has a style that keeps the story moving along nicely, throws in a pleasant smattering of humor, and provides characters that are very realistic and easy to relate to.
I listened to the audiobook read by Ralph Cosham. Ralph gave a bit of a monotone performance when it came to the narrative itself but did a pretty good job on the voices. Not my favorite reader but I won't hesitate to listen to other books he does.
Overall, I highly recommend this book! If you like a good mystery with a highly intelligent detective on the case, you'll love it!
Don't you just love a good read with some mystery thrown in for good measure,one that holds you captive throughout. Blessings jane
ReplyDeleteWow! That sounds like a really great book. I definitely will look for it. I love intelligent mysteries.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear that you enjoyed this one and fell in love with the character, Andy. This reminds me that I need to read another one of those myself.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting read to me Andy, so do tell, where do you find the time to read? You seem to live a very busy life so I'm curious is all. Have a fantastic day!
ReplyDeleteJane, I love mysteries in general but when I find one like this it's like finding the prize in the Cracker Jack box!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you won't be disappointed, Karen!
Thanks, Nancy!
Sam, I looked to see if you had read any more of them. I already have the next one on my TBR list!
Audiobooks while I work, Darlene, that's my secret!! :) With 4-6 hours a day to listen, it adds up quick! :)
Now that's thinking Andy!
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