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Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1-3
Still Life / A Fatal Grace / The Cruelest Month
Chief Inspector Gamache 3 Books Collection Set by Louise Penny (Still Life, Dead Cold, The Cruellest Month). Description:- Still Life: The discovery of a dead body in the woods on Thanksgiving Weekend brings Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his colleagues from the Surete du Quebec to a small village in the Eastern Townships. Gamache cannot understand why anyone would want to deliberately kill well-loved artist Jane Neal, especially any of the residents of Three Pines - a place so free from crime it doesn't even have its own police force. Dead Cold: Winter in Three Pines, and the sleepy village is carpeted in snow. It's a time of peace and goodwill - until a scream pierces the biting air. A spectator at the annual Boxing Day curling match has been fatally electrocuted. Despite the large crowd, there are no witnesses and - apparently - no clues. The Cruellest Month: It's Easter, and on a glorious spring day in peaceful Three Pines, someone waits for night to fall. They plan to raise the dead... When Chief Inspector Gamache of the Surete du Quebec arrives the next morning, he faces an unusual crime scene. A séance in an old abandoned house has gone horrifically wrong and someone has been seemingly frightened to death.
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First published August 26, 2014
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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 104 reviews
November 30, 2017
I am crazy about mysteries and thrillers ever since I discovered Nancy drew at 14 and so I have covered most of the authors Agatha Christie,Arthur Conan Doyle, Wilkie Collins,Caleb Carr ,Tana French ,Imogen Robertson ,JO nesbo , Gillian Flynn,Camelia Lackberg, Stiegg Larsson,Umberto Eco,Alan Bradley's Flavia De Luce and even Earle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason novels.However,the first time I read "Still Life" ,the first in the series ,I fell in love with Louise Penny's style of writing and of course Armand Gamache. Sample this : I've been treating you with courtesy and respect because that's the way I choose to treat everyone.But never ,ever mistake kindness with weakness" from Still Life or even this quote : You don't just lose a loved one.You lost your heart,your memories,your laughter ,your brains.Eventually it will come back but different and rearranged ".
With Penny it is not about the plot or the subplot ,but the writing that is profound and haunting and so bright that sometimes you forget that a murder has just taken place.How many of you have felt the same about the novels? And if I have left out any good mystery/thriller series please let me know .
With Penny it is not about the plot or the subplot ,but the writing that is profound and haunting and so bright that sometimes you forget that a murder has just taken place.How many of you have felt the same about the novels? And if I have left out any good mystery/thriller series please let me know .
October 31, 2014
I just finished Still Life,A Fatal Grace and The Cruelest Month and am totally hooked. I love the writing style of Louise Penny and the magical Three Pine setting for her village mysteries. But they are so much more. There are of course the quirky characters that inhabit the village, the requisite murders and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache who solves them with his equally quirky team "You must listen and watch"as you sip cognac by the fire in the bistro after a satisfying meal.(The food sounds so good and so French-I am going to look for my old French Cooking books and make some dishes) There is poetry, useful and true facts and oh the so human betrayals and jealousies and love-did I forget the paintings and books sprinkled throughout?. Can't wait to read the next three or four. I put them on my favorites list! I finished The Cruelest Month at Halloween--haunted house and death by fright-PERFECT!
September 9, 2015
A friend recommended this mystery series based in Quebec, and I've enjoyed devouring the first three books.
Penny skillfully wraps each mystery in humanistic themes established through poetry, literary references, and the physical environment. The murders themselves are always impractical and implausible, so leave any police-procedural preferences parked at the door, and enjoy the characters and the story.
Oh, and the descriptions of the delicious food in every chapter adds a lot of fun. I am now craving croissonts, and pretty sure I gained five pounds just reading these three books. I highly recommend for fun reading!
Penny skillfully wraps each mystery in humanistic themes established through poetry, literary references, and the physical environment. The murders themselves are always impractical and implausible, so leave any police-procedural preferences parked at the door, and enjoy the characters and the story.
Oh, and the descriptions of the delicious food in every chapter adds a lot of fun. I am now craving croissonts, and pretty sure I gained five pounds just reading these three books. I highly recommend for fun reading!
January 2, 2016
Still Life is the first book of this series. Since I had read one of the series before, I wanted to start at the beginning of the series in order to engage with the characters. As a first book, Ms Penny's writing style had not developed to the level I found so attractive. Knowing it improved with each book, I stuck with it. I highly recommend the series.
October 4, 2014
This is my third Louise Penny book and I really like them. The plots are intrigue and tightly woven. I never can guess the murderer before the end of the book. I also have a lot of guesses, and it's fun to keep wondering. I'm sure that I will read more books by this author-- a very good read. **stop here for spoilers*** Armond Gamache is once again investigating a murder. He uses people on his team that others reject, misfits. He learns that he should accept himself, and finally he does give away his troubles by giving his token of his father to his son. His career is scandalized and he still goes on. He carries on with the investigation. He finds out that a person who has always been second place doesn't want this to happen again. An old best friend moves in who has cancer. She gets better and old resentments surface. The friend starts being better at everything again, and the final straw is when she takes the boyfriend. So, she puts a drug, ephedrine in her drink and food. She kills her friend out of jealousy. When her daughter fell in love with the friend and liked her more that her own mother, it was just too much. Fun book- story, mystery. A good read. (warning-- a few F words.)
November 7, 2014
I just read the three books in the last month and they are some of the best mysteries I have ever read. I loved the character development and the book comes alive in you mind because the description of locals and people are so good. I fell in love with Three Pines!
August 11, 2014
Loved all 3 of these!
March 5, 2022
How nice to settle back into the charming little village of Three Pines in book two of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series.
The murder in this case is the extremely unlikable woman CC who pretty much every can’t abide for one reason or another, creating many suspect who might not wish for her to be living on the planet any longer. But how was she killed sitting quite far out on the ice watching a curling match?
These books are witty, smart interesting, with a bit of humor thrown in. Always a pleasure and I’m so glad there are close to 20 more in front of me to read in this series.
The murder in this case is the extremely unlikable woman CC who pretty much every can’t abide for one reason or another, creating many suspect who might not wish for her to be living on the planet any longer. But how was she killed sitting quite far out on the ice watching a curling match?
These books are witty, smart interesting, with a bit of humor thrown in. Always a pleasure and I’m so glad there are close to 20 more in front of me to read in this series.
August 3, 2024
“Clara had laughed. They shared a disdain for hard books. Not the content, but the cover. Hard covers were simply too hard to hold, especially in bed.”
Reading prompt: 1 of 3 books by same author-Louise Penny
Reading prompt: 1 of 3 books by same author-Louise Penny
July 20, 2021
If you love reading Agatha Christie's novels, you will love Louise Penny's also.
August 22, 2020
Megan turned me on to this series and I’ve loved them all. I almost gave up after the first two but now I’m hooked. Starting number 7 tonight.
January 15, 2015
I love love love Louise Penny books and Inspector Gamache. If you are looking for a new series to start Still Life is a wonderful place to start. Still Life begins the series of Canadian detective novels whose hero is Chief Inspector Gamache with his sidekick Jean-Guy Beauvoir. The series is mostly set in the small Quebec village of Three Pines where lives weave together and there is more than enough murder to be uncovered.
April 10, 2025
Actually, I only finished Still Life, the first novel in this three novel set. I found it engaging in the beginning, but it kind of dragged sometime after the middle. I am looking forward to the following stories as I do enjoy Louise Penny’s writing and I’m intrigued with the characters, notably Inspector Gamache.
August 19, 2014
I've loved all of her books. She is a beautiful writer and her characters are quirky and eccentric with a bit of "normal" thrown in... They come alive. By the time I finished her second one I felt like I was leaving good friends. Be sure to read them in sequence.
May 29, 2022
new to Louise Penny's books but after reading State of Terror needed more of this author. Canada's Queen of mysteries indeed!
looking forward to reading them all.
looking forward to reading them all.
August 23, 2020
An aptly titled book, The Cruelest Month, Book #3 in the Inspector Gamache murder mystery series, takes place in a small village and countryside near Quebec, Canada during April. Anyone who has lived or visited Northern America during this month will appreciate Penny's vivid descriptions of the rebirth and beauty combined with the cruel unpredictability of spring storms and frosts in Northern America.
The storyline carries along suspensefully as the descriptions of Janus-like April and the cozy comforts of home, hearth, friends and food warm our hearts. Yet, not every home or friend is true. Murder is amongst them., as the Inspector keenly observes:
“The room suddenly ached. Gamache wanted to take her composed hands in his. Any other senior officer in the Sûreté would think this not only weakness, but folly. But Gamache knew it was the only way he could find a murderer. He listened to people, took notes, gathered evidence, like all his colleagues. But he did one more thing. He gathered feelings. He collected emotions. Because murder was deeply human. It wasn’t about what people did. No, it was about how they felt, because that’s where it all started. Some feeling that had once been human and natural had twisted. Become grotesque. Had turned sour and corrosive until its very container had been eaten away. Until the human barely existed. It took years for an emotion to reach that stage. Years of careful nurturing, protecting, justifying, tending and finally burying it. Alive. Then one day it clawed its way out, something terrible. Something that had only one goal. To take a life.”
Penny crafts smart women characters and the insightful Inspector Gamache who listens to them as they help piece together the murder puzzle. There is Myrna, the black former psychologist who fled the big city for a more serene life as the village bookstore owner. ‘There are three couplings,’ said Myrna, herself leaning forward now, and whispering though she didn’t know why. ‘Attachment masquerades as Love, Pity as Compassion and Indifference as Equanimity. . . in any intimate relationship. Love wants the best for others. Attachment takes hostages.’”
The Inspector is a man after us readers’ hearts. “Gamache loved to see inside the homes of people involved in a case. To look at the choices they made for their most intimate space. The colors, the decorations. The aromas. Were there books? What sort? How did it feel?” Of course, he is a reader of people, who also loves books.
Good books., good food, good people. These are characters that welcome Inspector Gamache, and us, into their intimate spaces. And we cannot resist.
The storyline carries along suspensefully as the descriptions of Janus-like April and the cozy comforts of home, hearth, friends and food warm our hearts. Yet, not every home or friend is true. Murder is amongst them., as the Inspector keenly observes:
“The room suddenly ached. Gamache wanted to take her composed hands in his. Any other senior officer in the Sûreté would think this not only weakness, but folly. But Gamache knew it was the only way he could find a murderer. He listened to people, took notes, gathered evidence, like all his colleagues. But he did one more thing. He gathered feelings. He collected emotions. Because murder was deeply human. It wasn’t about what people did. No, it was about how they felt, because that’s where it all started. Some feeling that had once been human and natural had twisted. Become grotesque. Had turned sour and corrosive until its very container had been eaten away. Until the human barely existed. It took years for an emotion to reach that stage. Years of careful nurturing, protecting, justifying, tending and finally burying it. Alive. Then one day it clawed its way out, something terrible. Something that had only one goal. To take a life.”
Penny crafts smart women characters and the insightful Inspector Gamache who listens to them as they help piece together the murder puzzle. There is Myrna, the black former psychologist who fled the big city for a more serene life as the village bookstore owner. ‘There are three couplings,’ said Myrna, herself leaning forward now, and whispering though she didn’t know why. ‘Attachment masquerades as Love, Pity as Compassion and Indifference as Equanimity. . . in any intimate relationship. Love wants the best for others. Attachment takes hostages.’”
The Inspector is a man after us readers’ hearts. “Gamache loved to see inside the homes of people involved in a case. To look at the choices they made for their most intimate space. The colors, the decorations. The aromas. Were there books? What sort? How did it feel?” Of course, he is a reader of people, who also loves books.
Good books., good food, good people. These are characters that welcome Inspector Gamache, and us, into their intimate spaces. And we cannot resist.
August 5, 2020
I enjoyed this mystery. Author does a great job with character development. Love Inspector Gamache and his sidekicks though not sure where the author was going with Nichol - she was disappointing. As for who dunnit, you really don’t know till the end, which is always fun. Love the Quebec setting but just stop with all the food references! They were always settling into a cozy chair drinking a tot of something and eating some pastry. They may have solved the mystery but had to have gained 10lbs in the process!
October 31, 2021
Settling in to catch up with my favorite characters is so comfort and you are guaranteed to enjoy several laugh out moments at the most inopportune times.
As with the previous two books I had guessed whodunit from the outset but that is irrelevant because Louise Penny spins an amazing yarn and her multi-dimensional characters are always interesting and full of life.
The only negative side-effect of her books are entirely gastronomic... you will triggered into cooking up a storm....or reaching for a croissant or two...but what is a few extra kilos between friends!
As with the previous two books I had guessed whodunit from the outset but that is irrelevant because Louise Penny spins an amazing yarn and her multi-dimensional characters are always interesting and full of life.
The only negative side-effect of her books are entirely gastronomic... you will triggered into cooking up a storm....or reaching for a croissant or two...but what is a few extra kilos between friends!
January 4, 2025
Ok since I read #2 of the Inspector Gamache series I had to go back and read this one, which meant that I had some idea of where it would end and perhaps who the killer was. But I enjoy these books for the characters, the cozy setting, the descriptions of art, food and poetry passages. I think I share many interests with Ms. Penny, including a love of dogs.
I have never thought murder mysteries were very realistic anyway so I have picked them up as "light" reading material and puzzles to solve, not sinister gruesome books about killing.
I have never thought murder mysteries were very realistic anyway so I have picked them up as "light" reading material and puzzles to solve, not sinister gruesome books about killing.
August 13, 2017
I actually read these 3 books individually but in order and still am entranced with Gamsche and his cohorts. Ms Penny has created both colorful characters like Ruth and her duck Gabri and Olivier Clara and Peter as well as very imaginative mysteries. I adore the character of Gamache and have not been so caught up in a series as much in quite a while. He is thoughtful heroic but has his own secrets and foibles. Will be sad when I finish all his stories
June 12, 2019
I LOVE the Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny. The first one I read is #8: The Beautiful Mystery. I loved it so much, I immediately read the rest of the books in the series. Now, I'm waiting for the next one to be released in August. So, I went back to the beginning of the series and started with #1: Still Life. However, her writing then was not as good as it is now. But, I don't care; I love her that much. I will read the next 6, too, while waiting for the new one to be released.
January 15, 2020
I first read Louise Penny years ago, but didn't tackle the series in order. Now I am. This first book in the series made me fall in love with Gimache, and with the Canadian village of Three Pines. As a mystery writer myself, I picked up on clues that other members of my book club did not, but there were many surprises. The descriptions of the residents, and of the locale put me right there, salted with humor and wit throughout.
What an excellent start to the Detective Gimache series.
What an excellent start to the Detective Gimache series.
May 15, 2020
I’m not sure if Murder mystery is my genre. I enjoyed the way they solved the murder but I wasn’t real invested in the characters. The author didn’t make any of them very interesting to me. I ended up forgetting who they were because there was nothing really interesting about any of them. I’m very detail oriented, this book was ok, but I have just finished some novels that made this look like it was written by a first year student.
June 18, 2020
I am not actually writing a review but sharing a thought that this book stirred in me. The three graces were going to save Crie from CC 'murdering' her. And I actually reacted with "nobody saved me when Mommy was murdering me!" I couldn't keep myself from weeping... and I immediately imagined Jesus standing beside me, telling me, "I saved you many times, remember?" Indeed, I remember... that's why I'm sane and functioning still.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2020
Really fun first book of a series! Penny is masterful at deep point of view, creating authentic characters. I'm half-way into the second book of the series, and I can see how the reader will become invested in the characters. It's also a true "whodunnit" in the sense that the mystery is solve-able, but that does not mean it's easy. Get ready to hunker down for a good read, a good think, and a few cups of coffee.
December 31, 2020
Clever mysteries
These books are delightful. The characters are interesting, quirky, thoughtful, complex and endearing. Chief Inspector Gamache becomes someone you want to know. You develop respect for him as a person and a police officer. Louise Penny is wise and has a deep understanding of human emotions and motivation. Her writing is beautiful and thought provoking. If you love mysteries, these are excellent books.
These books are delightful. The characters are interesting, quirky, thoughtful, complex and endearing. Chief Inspector Gamache becomes someone you want to know. You develop respect for him as a person and a police officer. Louise Penny is wise and has a deep understanding of human emotions and motivation. Her writing is beautiful and thought provoking. If you love mysteries, these are excellent books.
March 22, 2023
Ooh! What a gem of a writer Louise Penny is. Having recently watched the Three Pines series on Amazon TV, I received the first 5 books as a present and dipped my toe in her literary waters. What a fantastic writer she is. I love detective Armand Gamache and his team. I love them even more for putting faces to their names from the TV series. Three Pines is a place I want to visit the writing is so good. Have devoured these 3 books and am now on the 4th. Gosh Louise - you are such a talent!
May 29, 2017
If you haven't read Louise Penny, you are missing one of the best mystery writers of the time! Set in Canada, Inspector Gamache is an intelligent crime-solving detective who seldom uses his gun. The characters are amazing individuals--just what you hope to find in your own home town.
Start with Still Life and you'll read the entire series!
Start with Still Life and you'll read the entire series!
July 26, 2017
Interesting writing with well-done characterizations. The mystery was pretty easy to figure out, but the town of Three Pines, the villagers, and the cops made it a very enjoyable read. Unfortunately, I could not get the first 'Three Pines' book, so I started on the second. The spoilers in the 2nd book will kind of negate the mystery of the first book when I finally get it. :/
October 6, 2017
Brilliant and affecting series
I purchased the first book on sale from Audible and quickly bought this box set before even finishing the narration (which was excellent btw). The mysteries are good but the characters are magnificent. She had a set touch in the crafting and depicting each and every one. These are people you want to spend time with.
I purchased the first book on sale from Audible and quickly bought this box set before even finishing the narration (which was excellent btw). The mysteries are good but the characters are magnificent. She had a set touch in the crafting and depicting each and every one. These are people you want to spend time with.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews