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Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #6.5
The Hangman
On a cold November morning, a jogger runs through the woods in the peaceful Quebec village of Three Pines. On his run, he finds a dead man hanging from a tree.
The dead man was a guest at the local Inn and Spa. He might have been looking for peace and quiet, but something else found him. Something horrible.
Did the man take his own life? Or was he murdered? Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called to the crime scene. As Gamache follows the trail of clues, he opens a door into the past. And he learns the true reason why the man came to Three Pines.
This book is a quick and easy read for people on the go.
The dead man was a guest at the local Inn and Spa. He might have been looking for peace and quiet, but something else found him. Something horrible.
Did the man take his own life? Or was he murdered? Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called to the crime scene. As Gamache follows the trail of clues, he opens a door into the past. And he learns the true reason why the man came to Three Pines.
This book is a quick and easy read for people on the go.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
5443 people are currently reading
14018 people want to read
About the author
Louise Penny
83 books26.1k followersLOUISE PENNY is the author of the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (seven times), and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. In 2017, she received the Order of Canada for her contributions to Canadian culture. Louise lives in a small village south of Montréal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,198 reviews
February 24, 2022
The Hangman (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #6.5)
by Louise Penny, Robert Bathurst (Narrator)
From what I can tell, this short story, set in the world of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, is part of a Canada program to assist adults learning to read English. I'm just reviewing the story based on my having read the first six full length novels in the series (seven now, review to be written after this one). There is no need to read this story when it comes to the rest of the series since it doesn't change anything in the world of CI Gamache.
As a Gamache series lover, I feel like Gamache is out of character here. The reason may be to keep things simple for the reading program, hopefully he wouldn't treat a traumatized civilian the way the treats the guy in this story. The civilian finds an obviously dead man hanging from a tree and Gamache berates the man for not doing certain things. I would have done exactly as the man did and I don't think it makes sense, at all, for Gamache to demand to know why the man didn't act otherwise. Gamache does berate his underlings in this manner, at times, but I do not think he'd do the same thing to just any person who stumbles across a dead body.
by Louise Penny, Robert Bathurst (Narrator)
From what I can tell, this short story, set in the world of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, is part of a Canada program to assist adults learning to read English. I'm just reviewing the story based on my having read the first six full length novels in the series (seven now, review to be written after this one). There is no need to read this story when it comes to the rest of the series since it doesn't change anything in the world of CI Gamache.
As a Gamache series lover, I feel like Gamache is out of character here. The reason may be to keep things simple for the reading program, hopefully he wouldn't treat a traumatized civilian the way the treats the guy in this story. The civilian finds an obviously dead man hanging from a tree and Gamache berates the man for not doing certain things. I would have done exactly as the man did and I don't think it makes sense, at all, for Gamache to demand to know why the man didn't act otherwise. Gamache does berate his underlings in this manner, at times, but I do not think he'd do the same thing to just any person who stumbles across a dead body.
October 26, 2018
A necessary re-read, now that I have completed the first six novels in Louise Penny’s stunning series. While I used this short story to test the waters, now that I have proper context, I chose to return and properly review the piece. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is back in Three Pines, bringing along with his the Homicide squad of the Sûreté du Québec (or ‘Quebec Provincial Police’, the first time Penny has anglicised the force) to investigate a man found hanging by a tree. The jogger who found him has been quite distant and uncooperative, leaving Gamache to wonder if he might be involved. After discovering the victim’s name, Arthur Ellis, the team finds that he’s been staying at the local bed and breakfast, formerly the Hadley House. Ellis left a fairly clear suicide note in his room, though Gamache is not entirely sold that this was how the act played out. While engaging with some of the locals, Gamache realises that the victim may have additional secrets that are only now coming to the surface. When the medical examiner notices odd ligature marks not attributable to a rope, it becomes apparent that there is a killer in Three Pines, but what motive might they have? Additionally, how could Ellis, a visitor himself, have pushed someone to kill him in such a public manner? Penny pulls the reader in with this stunning short story, easily finished in a single sitting. With nothing really spoiler-related within this piece, I suppose it could be enjoyed as a standalone, as I did the first time around. Fans of police procedurals and Canadian mysteries will also find something worthwhile.
I am happy to have found yet another Canadian author whose work falls within one of the genres I enjoy so much. Set in rural Quebec, the series is sure to have a lovely Canadian flavour, something that will enrich the reading experience and have it stand out in the genre. Penny provides the reader with some interesting exploration of Chief Inspector Gamache, though nothing new for the series reader. Gamache has a curious way about him, highly intelligent but also down to earth as he investigates the crime before him. He does not come across as condescending, but also gets to the root of the matter in short order and does not appear to suffer fools. Penny’s descriptive nature provides an interesting sampling of some other members of the Homicide team, though nothing sensational comes from the pages of this piece. The story moves quickly, as it must with its brevity, and the reader must follow the movements of both the characters and the plot. Penny keeps the reader in the middle of the investigation, dropping hints throughout as she pushes towards the reveal, which ties the entire experience together. With this ‘short case’ done, it is time to return to slower and more thorough plots in full-length novels. With a new novel set to come out later this autumn, I have no time to wait. Back to the binge!
Kudos, Madam Penny, for reminding me how a masterful storyteller hones her craft!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I am happy to have found yet another Canadian author whose work falls within one of the genres I enjoy so much. Set in rural Quebec, the series is sure to have a lovely Canadian flavour, something that will enrich the reading experience and have it stand out in the genre. Penny provides the reader with some interesting exploration of Chief Inspector Gamache, though nothing new for the series reader. Gamache has a curious way about him, highly intelligent but also down to earth as he investigates the crime before him. He does not come across as condescending, but also gets to the root of the matter in short order and does not appear to suffer fools. Penny’s descriptive nature provides an interesting sampling of some other members of the Homicide team, though nothing sensational comes from the pages of this piece. The story moves quickly, as it must with its brevity, and the reader must follow the movements of both the characters and the plot. Penny keeps the reader in the middle of the investigation, dropping hints throughout as she pushes towards the reveal, which ties the entire experience together. With this ‘short case’ done, it is time to return to slower and more thorough plots in full-length novels. With a new novel set to come out later this autumn, I have no time to wait. Back to the binge!
Kudos, Madam Penny, for reminding me how a masterful storyteller hones her craft!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
October 20, 2014
I did not pick up anywhere, when buying this book, that this was a short novel/novella, neither was I aware that the story was written at the request of ABC Life Literacy Canada, for its Good Reads Books selection. The aim was to provide books for adults with reading difficulties.
Reviewed as such it worked. It is a fast-paced, simplified story of a man found hanging from a tree outside Three Pines. At first glance it looked like a suicide, but Chief Inspector Armand Gamache did not think so and he proved his theory of a murder.
One reviewer said it is admissible for Louise Penny fans, but for other readers it would be a waste of time. I totally agree. The story had a interesting plot though. But that was all it was. An outline for a story. The bare basics of a novel.
Nowhere is it mentioned in the book that it is a short novel and what the purpose is. That omission gets the stars falling to the ground like snow flakes in my rating. I have no problem with the noble idea behind the reading project at all. But why present it as a 'normal' Louise Penny novel to the rest of the world who do not participate in the project?! It should not be mentioned at the back of the book, but right on the first page of the publication. It should be mentioned in the blurb as well.
I have the greatest respect for authors participating in the project:
Good Reads books are ideal for people on the go, who want a short read; who want to experience the joy of reading; who want to get into the reading habit. However I have a huge problem with misrepresentation particularly in a blurb.
Since I expect the usual richness of plot, place and people, I would not have bought this book if I knew. It is not the kind of Louise Penny book I would want to purchase and read.
Reviewed as such it worked. It is a fast-paced, simplified story of a man found hanging from a tree outside Three Pines. At first glance it looked like a suicide, but Chief Inspector Armand Gamache did not think so and he proved his theory of a murder.
One reviewer said it is admissible for Louise Penny fans, but for other readers it would be a waste of time. I totally agree. The story had a interesting plot though. But that was all it was. An outline for a story. The bare basics of a novel.
Nowhere is it mentioned in the book that it is a short novel and what the purpose is. That omission gets the stars falling to the ground like snow flakes in my rating. I have no problem with the noble idea behind the reading project at all. But why present it as a 'normal' Louise Penny novel to the rest of the world who do not participate in the project?! It should not be mentioned at the back of the book, but right on the first page of the publication. It should be mentioned in the blurb as well.
I have the greatest respect for authors participating in the project:
Good Reads books are ideal for people on the go, who want a short read; who want to experience the joy of reading; who want to get into the reading habit. However I have a huge problem with misrepresentation particularly in a blurb.
Since I expect the usual richness of plot, place and people, I would not have bought this book if I knew. It is not the kind of Louise Penny book I would want to purchase and read.
June 11, 2021
A short read that captured my attention and left me pondering the following:
"There's a killer in every village. In every home. In every heart. All anyone needs is the right reason." (p 59)
"There's a killer in every village. In every home. In every heart. All anyone needs is the right reason." (p 59)
March 20, 2023
Such a fun little mystery! Super easy read, took me about an hour. The writing was good, definitely had me guessing. I loved the mysterious yet fun ‘whodunnit’.
Stocking stuffer gold right here.
Stocking stuffer gold right here.
November 21, 2016
In the throes of a reading slump and scrolling through available now on Overdrive this one comes up. Just perfect for a one hour bedtime story to get me through the night when nothing else was calling out to me.
Murder a la carte for Inspector Gamache in Three Pines. I guess he was in a bit of a slump as well and needed something easy to solve.
Murder a la carte for Inspector Gamache in Three Pines. I guess he was in a bit of a slump as well and needed something easy to solve.
October 29, 2021
5★
“Chief Inspector Gamache warmed himself by the fire in the bistro. Around him, other customers drank hot chocolate and coffee and ate pastries. Fires roared in the fireplaces at both ends of the cozy room. Gamache took a sip of coffee and ate a pastry. The November cold had gotten into his bones even on the short walk, and he was only now warming up.”
This is not a taster or a teaser short story for followers of Armand Gamache. This is a short book for ‘new readers’. I have quoted the paragraph above so that Louise Penny fans (I am one) will see how Penny has modified her language to suit people who are either learning to read and want to enjoy books or are learning English as an additional language. Kids could read it, too.
It's a good story, incidentally.
Fans will recognise the simplified description of the bistro. I used to speak some French and German, but there is no way on earth I could read Penny’s books in either language. Give me one written like this, and I might be able to make sense of the story.
She has retained the good-natured banter between the old friends in Three Pines. Here, Chief Inspector Gamache is speaking with Gabri, an owner of the bistro, and Myrna, who owns the neighbouring bookstore. The subject is the conversations they had had with a man who was just found hanging in the woods.
“‘Funny,’ Gabri jumped in. ‘He asked me the same question. Wanted to know if there were many young men around. Aside from me, though, I couldn’t think of any.’
Both Gamache and Myrna looked at Gabri. He was many things, but young wasn’t one of them.
‘It must be nice to live in your head, my dear.”’ Myrna smiled.
‘It is, you know,’ agreed Gabri. ‘In my head I’m young and slim and very rich.’
‘You are, for sure,’ said Chief Inspector Gamache. He knew that Gabri and Myrna were very rich indeed, rich in the things that matter. In friendships and laughter, in kindness and company.”
Needless to say, the old poet Ruth and her duck don’t make an appearance. I’m not sure how Penny would have modified Ruth’s colourful language!
It’s a satisfying mystery with an interesting bit of hangman history woven in. And, of course, she makes reference to Gamache’s thoughtful, somewhat reserved manner, as shown in his interaction talking to a cyclist about the case.
“Paul Goulet turned out to be a nice young man. He had a ready smile and warm eyes.
‘How can I help you, Chief Inspector?’
They stood on the wide porch of the Bed and Breakfast. Paul was in his bicycling outfit of very tight pants and a very tight top. Armand Gamache was glad those clothes didn’t exist when he was twenty years old. And he vowed never to wear them now. Not that his wife Reine-Marie would allow it. The two of them often went for slow, quiet bike rides around the mountain in Montreal, sometimes taking a picnic.
But when Gamache saw what Goulet was wearing, he suddenly knew why bicyclists went so fast these days. He would, too, if he were wearing basically nothing."
I did a lot of volunteer reading help over the years, and it was always a challenge to find a story engrossing enough for a 14-year-old boy who didn’t want to read about the boy who throws a ball for a dog. I would search for ads for motorbikes or simple articles about sports to try to get them interested.
I think of the millions of migrants all over the world in their new countries, having possibly picked up different languages along the way but now wanting only to settle in and settle down in an adopted homeland. What better way to welcome them than with good stories, simply told in language they can understand? I think Penny has done a five-star job of it.
It’s a wonderful Canadian initiative, and I commend Grass Roots Press for making these books available for new readers, “who want to experience the joy of reading”, as they put it. Read about them here
https://us.grassrootsbooks.net/pages/...
and here
http://www.louisepenny.com/literacy.htm
“A brand new novella, with Chief Inspector Gamache and set in Three Pines, is now available through the publishers, Grass Roots Press. It's written as part of a programme called GoodReads Canada, which was created by national literacy organizations to publish books aimed at emerging adult readers. So, THE HANGMAN is written at a grade 3 level, for adults. Very clear, very simple. Not really the most complex plot or style, for obvious reasons.”
“Chief Inspector Gamache warmed himself by the fire in the bistro. Around him, other customers drank hot chocolate and coffee and ate pastries. Fires roared in the fireplaces at both ends of the cozy room. Gamache took a sip of coffee and ate a pastry. The November cold had gotten into his bones even on the short walk, and he was only now warming up.”
This is not a taster or a teaser short story for followers of Armand Gamache. This is a short book for ‘new readers’. I have quoted the paragraph above so that Louise Penny fans (I am one) will see how Penny has modified her language to suit people who are either learning to read and want to enjoy books or are learning English as an additional language. Kids could read it, too.
It's a good story, incidentally.
Fans will recognise the simplified description of the bistro. I used to speak some French and German, but there is no way on earth I could read Penny’s books in either language. Give me one written like this, and I might be able to make sense of the story.
She has retained the good-natured banter between the old friends in Three Pines. Here, Chief Inspector Gamache is speaking with Gabri, an owner of the bistro, and Myrna, who owns the neighbouring bookstore. The subject is the conversations they had had with a man who was just found hanging in the woods.
“‘Funny,’ Gabri jumped in. ‘He asked me the same question. Wanted to know if there were many young men around. Aside from me, though, I couldn’t think of any.’
Both Gamache and Myrna looked at Gabri. He was many things, but young wasn’t one of them.
‘It must be nice to live in your head, my dear.”’ Myrna smiled.
‘It is, you know,’ agreed Gabri. ‘In my head I’m young and slim and very rich.’
‘You are, for sure,’ said Chief Inspector Gamache. He knew that Gabri and Myrna were very rich indeed, rich in the things that matter. In friendships and laughter, in kindness and company.”
Needless to say, the old poet Ruth and her duck don’t make an appearance. I’m not sure how Penny would have modified Ruth’s colourful language!
It’s a satisfying mystery with an interesting bit of hangman history woven in. And, of course, she makes reference to Gamache’s thoughtful, somewhat reserved manner, as shown in his interaction talking to a cyclist about the case.
“Paul Goulet turned out to be a nice young man. He had a ready smile and warm eyes.
‘How can I help you, Chief Inspector?’
They stood on the wide porch of the Bed and Breakfast. Paul was in his bicycling outfit of very tight pants and a very tight top. Armand Gamache was glad those clothes didn’t exist when he was twenty years old. And he vowed never to wear them now. Not that his wife Reine-Marie would allow it. The two of them often went for slow, quiet bike rides around the mountain in Montreal, sometimes taking a picnic.
But when Gamache saw what Goulet was wearing, he suddenly knew why bicyclists went so fast these days. He would, too, if he were wearing basically nothing."
I did a lot of volunteer reading help over the years, and it was always a challenge to find a story engrossing enough for a 14-year-old boy who didn’t want to read about the boy who throws a ball for a dog. I would search for ads for motorbikes or simple articles about sports to try to get them interested.
I think of the millions of migrants all over the world in their new countries, having possibly picked up different languages along the way but now wanting only to settle in and settle down in an adopted homeland. What better way to welcome them than with good stories, simply told in language they can understand? I think Penny has done a five-star job of it.
It’s a wonderful Canadian initiative, and I commend Grass Roots Press for making these books available for new readers, “who want to experience the joy of reading”, as they put it. Read about them here
https://us.grassrootsbooks.net/pages/...
and here
http://www.louisepenny.com/literacy.htm
“A brand new novella, with Chief Inspector Gamache and set in Three Pines, is now available through the publishers, Grass Roots Press. It's written as part of a programme called GoodReads Canada, which was created by national literacy organizations to publish books aimed at emerging adult readers. So, THE HANGMAN is written at a grade 3 level, for adults. Very clear, very simple. Not really the most complex plot or style, for obvious reasons.”
June 17, 2023
I picked this audiobook out on Libby based entirely on length (it was super short and I was at the tail end of a really long road trip) and had no idea that it was book 6.5 of an ongoing series. I think I might've gotten a bit more of out of it had I read the previous novels, but it was still a solid murder mystery. The plot was very Agatha Christie-ish and I really liked the main character. If I ever manage to finish any of the series I've already started (ha!), I'd definitely like to delve further into the world of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache.
February 22, 2020
This novella is an entertaining murder mystery. A man is found hanging in the woods, and Chief Inspector Gamache has to solve the puzzle as if this was a suicide or murder. There are secrets, lies, and red herrings.
Due to the short page length of 90 pages, there is no meandering. I highly enjoyed this mystery and it held my attention well.
This one works perfect as a standalone, and it does not reference any events from the previous books of the Inspector Gamache / Three Pines series. Some of the characters from the series are present, but this novella explains well enough who the character is, so you will not be confused at all.
Due to the short page length of 90 pages, there is no meandering. I highly enjoyed this mystery and it held my attention well.
This one works perfect as a standalone, and it does not reference any events from the previous books of the Inspector Gamache / Three Pines series. Some of the characters from the series are present, but this novella explains well enough who the character is, so you will not be confused at all.
January 22, 2022
Finally a Gamache the fits my attention span!
A cute fun read - I would have been (and usually am) less enamoured by a 400+ page version.
January 4, 2018
So cold and damp in Quebec....just like here, Brrrrrr....and a man is hanging in a tree in front of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Quebec Provincial Police.
Lies and falsified names muddle the clues, but not enough for Inspector Garmache and sidekick Inspector Beauvior to find the guilty party.
Super short little murder-mystery. Fun returning to Three Pines and reading Louise Penny again.
October 3, 2020
I quickly read this novella of less than 100 pages. Louise Penny has written this book for the Good Reads project. The story takes place in the peaceful Quebec hamlet of Three Pines, and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Inspector Beauvoir check the crime scene and follow a trail of clues.
Huge thanks to Annapolis Valley Regional Library, South Shore Public Libraries and the librarians, who manage, organize and keep the libraries running, for the loan of this book.
Huge thanks to Annapolis Valley Regional Library, South Shore Public Libraries and the librarians, who manage, organize and keep the libraries running, for the loan of this book.
April 18, 2017
I decided to read all of the books in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series and this was the next one. This really isn't a book. It is a novella. 96 pages on Kindle. So it is a quick read. It was a fun and enjoyable little read. It really pales in comparison to the other books in the series but if your goal is to read everything in the series . . .
A jogger discovers the body of a man hanging from a tree outside the village of Three Pines. Both the jogger and the dead man were guests at the local Inn and Spa. Did the victim commit suicide? Or was he murdered? These are the questions Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is confronted with as he investigates the death. Why was he visiting Three Pines? As he investigates Gamache discovers lots of lies. Even the victim's life seems to be a lie.
This would probably be a good book to read if you are waiting in an airport or relaxing on a beach. Or maybe sitting in a bistro enjoying a café au lait and a pastry. It is definitely a stand alone story and regular readers of the series wouldn't miss much if they skip this one. Unless you are obsessive and want to say you read everything in the series.
A jogger discovers the body of a man hanging from a tree outside the village of Three Pines. Both the jogger and the dead man were guests at the local Inn and Spa. Did the victim commit suicide? Or was he murdered? These are the questions Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is confronted with as he investigates the death. Why was he visiting Three Pines? As he investigates Gamache discovers lots of lies. Even the victim's life seems to be a lie.
This would probably be a good book to read if you are waiting in an airport or relaxing on a beach. Or maybe sitting in a bistro enjoying a café au lait and a pastry. It is definitely a stand alone story and regular readers of the series wouldn't miss much if they skip this one. Unless you are obsessive and want to say you read everything in the series.
July 31, 2019
“The Hangman”, 2010, is prevalently an e-book. My new trade paperback was a coup; won as my choice of reading challenge prize. How is this for a literary record? I started and finished it, the day I received it in the mail! Except children’s books, I don’t believe I open any, the day I procure them and certainly do not finish books in a day. That was a fun mystery gulp, that I expected to be brief. Those I consulted were right, that this story works solo. Anyone fond of continuity and detailing, however, will keep these volumes in sequence.
Another crime occurred outside the new Three Pines spa. Only those of us well-versed in this series, know the history of the creepy house that preceded the spic-and-span, gorgeous spa and that its present owners, Dominique and Mark, are newcomers. Armand references very fleetingly how much the location has changed for the better; an observation that would be wasted on anyone who does not start with the first novel, “Still Life”. I learned before beginning to read the novella, that it is written with simple language, in contribution to a Canadian literacy program. If you think about it: adults learning to read need mature content, in brief stories at a basic level. Despite not being as in-depth, colourfully, and richly-written as usual: the mystery and familiar values of the people and place come through well.
A man known only as a guest, is dead outside that inn. It takes a lot brainstorming and research to contemplate a reason for killing him. Louise successfully incorporates compelling details for the homicide team to uncover: a formidable historic name-association I was unfamiliar with, except as a literature prize. Therefore, interest is maintained for advanced readers and naturally, for Louise’s completionist collector fans, too.
Another crime occurred outside the new Three Pines spa. Only those of us well-versed in this series, know the history of the creepy house that preceded the spic-and-span, gorgeous spa and that its present owners, Dominique and Mark, are newcomers. Armand references very fleetingly how much the location has changed for the better; an observation that would be wasted on anyone who does not start with the first novel, “Still Life”. I learned before beginning to read the novella, that it is written with simple language, in contribution to a Canadian literacy program. If you think about it: adults learning to read need mature content, in brief stories at a basic level. Despite not being as in-depth, colourfully, and richly-written as usual: the mystery and familiar values of the people and place come through well.
A man known only as a guest, is dead outside that inn. It takes a lot brainstorming and research to contemplate a reason for killing him. Louise successfully incorporates compelling details for the homicide team to uncover: a formidable historic name-association I was unfamiliar with, except as a literature prize. Therefore, interest is maintained for advanced readers and naturally, for Louise’s completionist collector fans, too.
November 18, 2013
Author Louise Penny is not only a wonderful author but a genuinely good person. At the request of ABC Life Literacy Canada, Penny penned The Hangman to very particular specifications for its Good Reads Books selection (not to be confused with this website). These books serve adults with reading difficulties and, therefore, adhere to simpler vocabulary and a 100-page limit. It's an incredibly admirable goal: to provide intelligently written books that are accessible to all reading levels.
That's why it hurts me to have to admit that The Hangman simply doesn't measure up to Penny's usual fare. Forget about matching The Brutal Telling or A Rule Against Murder. The Hanging doesn't even rise to the level of A Fatal Grace, the second book in the Gamache series and — until now — the weakest.
True-blue Gamache fans, like me, will want to read The Hangman, as will readers who are still building up their vocabulary and skill. Others will want to give The Hangman a pass. For Armand Gamache fans, the novella is set early in the series, before The Brutal Telling, when the spa at Three Pines was still open.
That's why it hurts me to have to admit that The Hangman simply doesn't measure up to Penny's usual fare. Forget about matching The Brutal Telling or A Rule Against Murder. The Hanging doesn't even rise to the level of A Fatal Grace, the second book in the Gamache series and — until now — the weakest.
True-blue Gamache fans, like me, will want to read The Hangman, as will readers who are still building up their vocabulary and skill. Others will want to give The Hangman a pass. For Armand Gamache fans, the novella is set early in the series, before The Brutal Telling, when the spa at Three Pines was still open.
June 22, 2018
I love the raison d'être of The Hangman.
From Louise Penny:
In fact, I wrote THE HANGMAN a couple of years ago as part of GoodReads Canada - an initiative for adult emerging readers. The idea is to give adults who are improving their literacy skills adult books to read - so they don't have to read children's books. It's a wonderful idea - one that started, I believe, in the UK and has since spread. THE HANGMAN is in fact a novella - written intentionally at a grade 3 level...simple words and sentences, but adult themes. It's set in Three Pines and is a mystery featuring Gamache.
From me:
She accomplished her goal beautifully. While, it cannot be as nuanced and complex as the Three Pines mysteries which I love, it's a good mystery for adults working on their literacy skills, and it stays true to the detectives and to the Three Pines characters.
3.5 stars
From Louise Penny:
In fact, I wrote THE HANGMAN a couple of years ago as part of GoodReads Canada - an initiative for adult emerging readers. The idea is to give adults who are improving their literacy skills adult books to read - so they don't have to read children's books. It's a wonderful idea - one that started, I believe, in the UK and has since spread. THE HANGMAN is in fact a novella - written intentionally at a grade 3 level...simple words and sentences, but adult themes. It's set in Three Pines and is a mystery featuring Gamache.
From me:
She accomplished her goal beautifully. While, it cannot be as nuanced and complex as the Three Pines mysteries which I love, it's a good mystery for adults working on their literacy skills, and it stays true to the detectives and to the Three Pines characters.
3.5 stars
September 1, 2020
I had taken a break from this series for a few years and felt it was time to catch up with old friends. This short novella was a nice segue back into lives of CI Gamache once again. Perhaps because it was so truncated, I thought the conversations were a bit stilted or unnatural, more so than I remembered. I hope I don't find that true when I begin reading the series again. Regardless, it was a quick enjoyable little mystery for a rainy afternoon.
April 19, 2023
Very short novella in the Gamache series, but excellent as are all of the books in this series that I have read.
March 2, 2023
3 Stars. A touch light. I enjoyed the way Chief Inspector Gamache worked toward resolution. At 80 pages, it is a novelette; I read it in a slim paperback; it's a stand-alone. Penny wrote "The Hangman" for a GoodReads Canada program to assist adults learning to read English. Excellent, and good on her. I hadn't heard that until after my reading. She doesn't see it as part of the continuum of the Gamache series; I do and found it enjoyable in that context. It even includes some of the regular characters! We open with a man found hanging in the woods outside the village in Quebec's Eastern Townships. First thought to be a suicide, the question of murder arises quickly, yet it is never fully determined until late. The dead man's name? He registered as "Arthur Ellis" at the Inn and Spa in Three Pines. In time Inspector Beauvoir realizes that name was the pseudonym for Canada's official hangman until the country's last hanging in 1962! Why was the man here? The use of the name must mean something. Read it and you too will find out. PS: "The Arthur Ellis" is the name of the Crime Writers of Canada annual mystery award of which Penny has two! (December 2020)
September 12, 2021
A jogger finds a dead man hanging from a tree while on a morning run in the woods outside Three Pines village. Chief Inspector Gamache is called to the scene and so the mystery begins. ‘The Hangman’, Armand Gamache 6.5, was written for the GoodReads Canada program. The program publishes books aimed at emerging adult readers, so it comes in at about 80 pages and is written at a grade 3 level, for adults. This means everything is clear and simply put within a not very complex plot. Having said that it is still a fairly solid and enjoyable Three Pines mystery. Certainly recommendable for Gamache fans and one to suggest to less accomplished readers or second language learners.
April 29, 2023
While watching the Three Pines series on Amazon Prime, I saw that one episode was based on The Hangman, a short story by Penny that I had never heard about. It is numbered 6.5 so is fairly early on in the series.
Summary: a jogger who is staying at the local Inn and Spa discovers a body hanging in the woods outside Three Pines. He summons the police who quickly determine the man was murdered. It is not long before Inspector Gamache and his team uncover the man's true identity and his purpose for being in the village. Gamache gathers the suspects in the living room of the Inn to do the great reveal, channeling Christie's Hercule Poirot.
This short story is interesting but thinly developed. It can be read in less than an hour.
Summary: a jogger who is staying at the local Inn and Spa discovers a body hanging in the woods outside Three Pines. He summons the police who quickly determine the man was murdered. It is not long before Inspector Gamache and his team uncover the man's true identity and his purpose for being in the village. Gamache gathers the suspects in the living room of the Inn to do the great reveal, channeling Christie's Hercule Poirot.
This short story is interesting but thinly developed. It can be read in less than an hour.
October 31, 2019
Poe used to claim that the best book is a novella, a book that could be read in a single sitting. And while this is not the typical Louise Penny/Inspector Gamache mystery we are used to, all the elements of Penny’s greatness are here. We have familiar characters, and setting (Three Pines) and a dead person hanging from a tree in the woods. Penny simplifies the story since it was written for emerging adult readers, and while we miss a lot of the legwork and brainwork involved in typical Gamache books, I think old Edgar Allen would enjoy curling up one cold winter night with The Hangman!
October 24, 2022
Chief Inspector Gamache notes in this sad short story that there's a killer in every village, home and heart, and all that's needed is the right reason. Gamache is called to the scene of a man found hanging from a tree in the woods, just outside Three Pines. Did he commit suicide, was he murdered; if so by whom and why? An intriguing very short and easy read.
July 26, 2025
On a cold November morning, a jogger runs through the woods in the peaceful Quebec village of Three Pines. On his run, he finds a dead man hanging from a tree. The dead man was a guest at the local Inn and Spa. He might have been looking for peace and quiet, but something else found him. Something horrible. Did the man take his own life? Or was he murdered?
This is not entirely a Gamache mystery. It’s a stand-alone novella that is set in Three Pines and featuring Gamache. I read that it was written as part of GoodReads' Canada literacy program, so it’s on about a 3rd grade level but aimed at adults, adults who are “learning readers”. That certainly made it clear and simple with the plot and the writing not as complex as Louise Penny's usual novels. This takes nothing away from the story itself, whatsoever.
It's November... a jogger discovers a dead man hanging in a tree, and it appears to have been a suicide. The dead man was a guest at the local inn and spa and has left his suicide note there...but things don’t add up. The dead man’s hands and pants are clean, a surprising fact if he actually had climbed the tree to hang himself. Gamache suspects it was murder and soon the dead man’s secrets are all dug up and revealed. It was no surprise that the man’s past had led to this killing.
I thought that this was a bit of a strange subject for 3rd graders...but it had been a long time since any of my 3 kids were 3rd graders and children today see worse, I guess, on TV. If you are a new reader to this series, please know that you won't get to know Armand Gamache or his second-in-command Beauvoir, very well, but you will come away knowing that they are very skilled, very successful, investigators. Beauvoir searches for clues while Gamache contemplates the crime. The other characters have personalities, interests, secrets, but we are only given what we need to know for this story, whereas usually in Louise Penny’s books the characters are so fully three-dimensional you feel like you could meet and know them immediately if you could ever actually find and visit Three Pines. (I believe it's a fictional place, but I could be wrong. I'll have to ask "Mr. Google" about that:)
The plot is of course, is not very complicated but there are a few "red herrings" and overall, it kept me involved. There also aren’t the usual multiple plotlines going on, but it was a nice visit to the little village of Three Pines with a couple of the regulars. It was an almost "gentle" book, at least for one that starts off with a dead man hanging in a tree. I guess that was because of the age group this was written for.
I thought the happenings at the end was a nice touch, a very typical “detective novel” ending. Gather all the suspects, make a few suggestions, then announce the killer. One, two three...over and done!
I think anyone who reads the series will enjoy this brief visit. I would recommend this one to even those that haven’t ever read the series, since it's a quick short read, and a brief introduction into the Three Pines world. Remember though, that it is written simply for a reason, and it’s not a full representation of this author's style. The remainder of the series will be more "adult rated."
I asked about Three Pines, and this is the info from "Mr. Google". "The fictional village is inspired by the real-life village of Knowlton, located in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. (See..."Mr. Google" helps me to learn something new every day:)
This is not entirely a Gamache mystery. It’s a stand-alone novella that is set in Three Pines and featuring Gamache. I read that it was written as part of GoodReads' Canada literacy program, so it’s on about a 3rd grade level but aimed at adults, adults who are “learning readers”. That certainly made it clear and simple with the plot and the writing not as complex as Louise Penny's usual novels. This takes nothing away from the story itself, whatsoever.
It's November... a jogger discovers a dead man hanging in a tree, and it appears to have been a suicide. The dead man was a guest at the local inn and spa and has left his suicide note there...but things don’t add up. The dead man’s hands and pants are clean, a surprising fact if he actually had climbed the tree to hang himself. Gamache suspects it was murder and soon the dead man’s secrets are all dug up and revealed. It was no surprise that the man’s past had led to this killing.
I thought that this was a bit of a strange subject for 3rd graders...but it had been a long time since any of my 3 kids were 3rd graders and children today see worse, I guess, on TV. If you are a new reader to this series, please know that you won't get to know Armand Gamache or his second-in-command Beauvoir, very well, but you will come away knowing that they are very skilled, very successful, investigators. Beauvoir searches for clues while Gamache contemplates the crime. The other characters have personalities, interests, secrets, but we are only given what we need to know for this story, whereas usually in Louise Penny’s books the characters are so fully three-dimensional you feel like you could meet and know them immediately if you could ever actually find and visit Three Pines. (I believe it's a fictional place, but I could be wrong. I'll have to ask "Mr. Google" about that:)
The plot is of course, is not very complicated but there are a few "red herrings" and overall, it kept me involved. There also aren’t the usual multiple plotlines going on, but it was a nice visit to the little village of Three Pines with a couple of the regulars. It was an almost "gentle" book, at least for one that starts off with a dead man hanging in a tree. I guess that was because of the age group this was written for.
I thought the happenings at the end was a nice touch, a very typical “detective novel” ending. Gather all the suspects, make a few suggestions, then announce the killer. One, two three...over and done!
I think anyone who reads the series will enjoy this brief visit. I would recommend this one to even those that haven’t ever read the series, since it's a quick short read, and a brief introduction into the Three Pines world. Remember though, that it is written simply for a reason, and it’s not a full representation of this author's style. The remainder of the series will be more "adult rated."
I asked about Three Pines, and this is the info from "Mr. Google". "The fictional village is inspired by the real-life village of Knowlton, located in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. (See..."Mr. Google" helps me to learn something new every day:)
November 23, 2025
I’m doing a reread of the Three Pines series—and to catch up on the newly released ones, as I’m behind now by a few years—and finally got my hands on this novella set at #6.5 in the series.
I’d been told this novella wasn’t crucial to the series, and I knew that to be true as the core books never left anything up as unresolved. But I wanted to read it anyway—a Gamache is a Gamache! Right?
Meh. I love Penny, and I adore Gamache… this novella was not only slightly out of character for him but also so utterly short and basic that it stripped away all the Penny-isms that I love best about this series. The lingering settings, the emotional dialogue, the understated yet masterful depictions of humanity and hope.
Read it if you’re a completionist, I suppose. But if you don’t need to, I’d skip it.
I’d been told this novella wasn’t crucial to the series, and I knew that to be true as the core books never left anything up as unresolved. But I wanted to read it anyway—a Gamache is a Gamache! Right?
Meh. I love Penny, and I adore Gamache… this novella was not only slightly out of character for him but also so utterly short and basic that it stripped away all the Penny-isms that I love best about this series. The lingering settings, the emotional dialogue, the understated yet masterful depictions of humanity and hope.
Read it if you’re a completionist, I suppose. But if you don’t need to, I’d skip it.
March 23, 2022
This was a super quick short story. While it had Gamache, he didn't seem to be his usual sharp investigator self. I know this one was written to be easy-to-read, but wasn't up to the usual standards I have grown to expect from Louise Penny.
Had to read it though!
Had to read it though!
September 3, 2013
I'm not a big fan of short stories or novellas because they never seem to go further than an outline type story, but I loved this novella by Louise Penny. When a man is found dead, hanging from a tree in Three Pines, Chief Inspector Gamache must decide whether this is a suicide or a murder. Everything points to murder, but the man has left a suicide note in his room at the Inn and Spa. The man's past will determine the answer.
One of the best things about Penny's stories is her little gems that are thrown into her books. For example: "He sounds so normal. Seemed so normal. Gamache had to agree. But he also knew normal people were killed all the time. It was the murderer who wasn't normal."
Though this is not supposed to a necessary part of the Three Pine series, I suggest all serious Armond Gamache fans read this book. And, who that has ever read one of Louise Penny's books, is not now a true fan of this series?!?
One of the best things about Penny's stories is her little gems that are thrown into her books. For example: "He sounds so normal. Seemed so normal. Gamache had to agree. But he also knew normal people were killed all the time. It was the murderer who wasn't normal."
Though this is not supposed to a necessary part of the Three Pine series, I suggest all serious Armond Gamache fans read this book. And, who that has ever read one of Louise Penny's books, is not now a true fan of this series?!?
September 9, 2018
I've read the first 6 books of the series, and always enjoy them. This one was not really quite as enjoyable, due mainly to the absence of one of my favorite characters, the famous poet Ruth, who tries to be an ornery, unlikable old woman and fails miserably. She gets away with things that would get her shot in the city, like taking a drink from your scotch without asking, etc.
But it was a very quick read, and pretty enjoyable. It was mostly just Chief Inspector Gamache in this one, and he's always interesting. But if you like this, you really need to start with book one and read the entire series.
But it was a very quick read, and pretty enjoyable. It was mostly just Chief Inspector Gamache in this one, and he's always interesting. But if you like this, you really need to start with book one and read the entire series.
February 26, 2019
Lost a star for being a super short story, despite being billed as a novella.
If you love Gamache and were waiting for book 7 when first published, I guess it would have been a nice appetizer while waiting for the main course.
Unfortunately, it just left me wanting more Gamache, Three Pines and all of their friends.
If you love Gamache and were waiting for book 7 when first published, I guess it would have been a nice appetizer while waiting for the main course.
Unfortunately, it just left me wanting more Gamache, Three Pines and all of their friends.
October 1, 2017
Rating: 3.5/5
The Hangman is part of a collection of short stories that is geared towards encouraging people to read. At under 100 pages, I picked this up for a read-a-thon and flew through it.
The Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series has been on my TBR for quite a while now, so I was pleasantly surprised when I came across this at my local library.
This was a fairly simple story, in the ‘locked room’ style. However instead of a ‘locked room’ it was set in a secluded town called Three Pines. The author included a detailed backstory for the suspects that fit well into its short length. Although I did enjoy it, I wish that there were more clues throughout instead of having the reader find out many facts when the truth is revealed. I am hopeful that the full length installments for the Armand Gamache series will allow for more of a build up.
I recommend The Hangman to mystery fans who are looking for a quick read.
To read more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://mlsredhousereviews.wordpress....
The Hangman is part of a collection of short stories that is geared towards encouraging people to read. At under 100 pages, I picked this up for a read-a-thon and flew through it.
The Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series has been on my TBR for quite a while now, so I was pleasantly surprised when I came across this at my local library.
This was a fairly simple story, in the ‘locked room’ style. However instead of a ‘locked room’ it was set in a secluded town called Three Pines. The author included a detailed backstory for the suspects that fit well into its short length. Although I did enjoy it, I wish that there were more clues throughout instead of having the reader find out many facts when the truth is revealed. I am hopeful that the full length installments for the Armand Gamache series will allow for more of a build up.
I recommend The Hangman to mystery fans who are looking for a quick read.
To read more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://mlsredhousereviews.wordpress....
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