Still Life Deluxe Edition: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel

by Louise Penny

Genres: Cozy Mystery

336 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

LOUISE 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.

Reviews

[Alice]

It was wonderful to revisit book 1 in my all time favorite mystery series!

[Nieto Jovana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still Life by Louise Penny was a mixed experience for me. I can absolutely see why so many readers love this series — the writing is thoughtful, the setting is charming, and the mystery itself is well-crafted. The small village atmosphere and the slow unraveling of the plot create a very cozy, character-driven story.

That said, it was extremely slow for me. I struggled to get through the physical book and eventually switched to the audiobook just to keep myself moving forward. While the overall mystery and plot were strong, the pacing made it hard for me to stay fully engaged.

In the end, I can appreciate the quality of the storytelling and the depth of the characters — it just wasn’t the right fit for my reading style. A great book overall, but not necessarily for me.

[Annaliesa Johns · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the depth of the characters and how the book was written in general. My only issue is that I thought it was supposed to be a thriller and a big mystery and for me it kind of fell flat in that department.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Inspector Gamache series and had to get this beautiful new edition of the first book. I always love to go back to the beginning and see how different the story looks from the other side. the first book isn't the strongest in the series but it sets the scene well.

One of my only quibbles with the series is how the main circle of friends talks to each other. It doesn't ring true to me. Something in how she writes this dialogue feels artificial, and it's jarring to hear these supposedly close friends repeatedly insult each other. It's clear she's trying to illustrate a particular type of friendship and closeness, but it still feels out of place to me.

I also think that this book, and the series altogether, is almost a study of leadership. I've been wanting to write about leadership in this series for a while now. Maybe it's time to actually do that.