The Library Lady’s review of The Grey Wolf (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #19) > Likes and Comments
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Kudos. Accurate. None of her work is about what it was in the first 5 or 6 books at all. Terrible demise of Three Pines, IMHO. Wins the award for the biggest decline in a long series. No contest.
I totally agree with you. The story line has become too complicated and I miss the locals of Three Pines,
Exactly how I feel. Has already decided not to read this and your review cemented that decision.
I haven't read this one yet but I completely agree with you on that the books have lost their charm. I read all of them and liked/loved them up to and including All the devils are here (I liked the books which were not set in Three Pines too). From there, for me, the books went downhill, and a World of Curiosities was outright bad, in my opinion. I think it is time for me to say Goodbye to Gamache and not read this one, to preserve both my memory of a great detective and human, and that of Three Pines and its great characters (even Ruth and Rosa were becoming a bit tiresome in the last book, who would have thought that possible).
Her last two books were a disappointment and this one is the same.
You are so right especially about what I missed the most: the wonderful characters and life in three pines. Also I listened to the audiobook and the new reader was very disappointing. I was confused about the plot and really didn’t care much by the end.
I've read all the books previously and agree. I'm still confused. Why the whole stolen coat thing? Maybe it makes sense in the cliffhanger ending but I don't understand the plot. Plus it really annoys me to wait this long for a book and it end in a cliffhanger. I will also wait and read the next one but it wasn't as satisfying and enjoyable as I had hoped.
I completely agree with you! Just finished this, which I would not have done without being so far into the series. I am zero interested in reading the next installment though. They can all die for all I care by now.
I read this book even though I wanted to DNF--I paid for it after all! I also found it confusing and implausible and there was no charm whatsoever. I will attempt the next book but only if I can check it out at the library.
Any theories on the point behind the stolen coat?? Also, theories on Langlois's real role / involvement in the water plot??
I'll be (somewhat begrudgingly) waiting for the loose ends to be resolved in the followup...
I agree with all the above comments. Really miss all the lovely 3 pines characters. Had a job getting to the end.
I gave up a third of my way through. Just couldn’t get involved with characters. I agree with you.
I was also disappointed with this effort by Ms Penny. The cobbling in components and scenes from previous works felt almost cheap and uninteresting, something I thought I’d say about this series.
I hope Gamache regains his hearing so he can regain some of his wit and charm.
I listened to the Audible format and I found that I often had to rewind for clarity because the conclusions drawn by the characters often didn’t make sense to me. Overall it seemed far fetched and disjointed with a lot of stretching to make conclusions that just didn’t convince me. I missed the camaraderie of the usual 3 Pines characters which instead were replaced with a lot of international travel. I have read every book in the series and always looked forward to the next book. However this one was an overall disappointment.
I totally agree. I’ve read all of her Gamache books, but the last two have been so confusing that I have a hard time focusing on the plot. And I get bored with all of Armand’s musings on who might have done what. I didn’t get why the monks had to be included and found that all confusing. Honestly, I couldn’t wait to finish it and move on to something I can follow. Guessing I’ll skip any more.
100% agree. This book was maddening with all the meandering here, there, and
everywhere. That kind of soap box cliff hanging ending is a total turn off. Instead of making me want to read the next book, it just makes me want to be sure not to read it.
I also loved Louise Penny's books until she started cutting Three Pines from the stories. For me the decline started with "The Long Way Home". The characters were all 3Pine but the story left 3Pine behind at the outset. Then Louise Penny included Hillary Clinton as an author and although I have great admiration for Hillary, I felt Louise did not need Hillary as a partner and I felt like Louise no longer had confidence in her writing. I also agree "The Grey Wolf" was a bit silly (torn pieces of paper, strange recipes, bizarre characters) and had way too many characters involved. I will continue to read Louise Penny because her early writing was so wonderful but I hope her future books are improved based on the criticisms covered in these reviews.
Totally agree with all comments, plot,no old characters, confusing
Was there any explanation of how Frere Sebastian got involved in the plot in the first place? I am mystified as to how a monk in a remote monastery would know about the plans….
I agree with most of these reviews. I miss the simpler murder mysteries.
I’m so glad someone else feels this way. The hero-worship of Gamache has gotten so far out of hand, and I missed all the Three Pines characters. And I could for the life of me follow this plot, while at the same time felt that the good guy/bad guy reveals at the end were painfully obvious.
I fear I have to agree. I found this one hard to follow and the various monks confused me. I will always read a Louise Penny novel but I wish she would go back to her roots
Your review is spot on. The new narrator isn’t good.
Could not agree more about the previous comments!!! I almost DNF but stuck with it and was even FURTHER CONFUSED at the end!!!I even wondered if it was someone else writing the book and not Ms. Penny😳😳😳
One further observation…why are all these “lay” people trying to get into monasteries where they don’t belong???
Well, I finished listening to it last night and I am glad it's not just me who loved her earlier books and then was very disappointed in this one.
I agree as well--I just got into the series last year and have therefore read all the books in a fairly short amount of time. The plots are getting really, really far-fetched and I wish she would let Gamache be a flawed human being instead of having to be so ridiculously perfect at all times. It's gotten where any time you see him seem to lose his temper or make a mistake you definitely know there will be a reveal shortly thereafter that it was all a ruse for one reason or another. The charm of the series for me was all these imperfect but kind-hearted people muddling along the best they could in the lovely setting of Three Pines. I hope future books will get back to that.
The way too convoluted plot seized control of the novel and left readers dazed and confused and yearning for our old friends - the inhabitants of Three Pines.At this point I don't care who the "Black Wolf" in the next book in the series will turn out to be and am unlikely to read that one.
I’m feeling the same way at this point. Long for a “simple murder” and some character development! Gamache and Jean Guy single handedly going into the water plant to save humanity was a step too far for me.
Agree with all the negative reviews of this book. Way too nonsensical plot. I truly enjoyed her novels up until the two previous ones and this one is her worst. Also, because I now read on kindle the assortment of characters and their involvement in the planned crime was very difficult to discern and harder to sort out. Very possible i might not have finished this one except I was on a long flight.
Completely agree. I used to love this series but not the direction it’s taken.
I think Fran’s comments are off the mark. The Three Pines people are still there, albeit in the background at least initially. Yes, Penny may have become a bit predictable, but she is still an excellent writer, so don’t let Fran’s disappointment keep you from enjoying the latest of Penny’s novels.
Who's Fran? I think you've got the wrong review!
I so agree. I cannot, perhaps will not finish. I care little about the confusing mishmash going on. I’ve been listening and the new narrator is stiff. I’m moving on.
Sadly, I have to agree. I loved this series in the past. Not sure if I will even finish this one though….
You’ve confirmed that my resolution not to read this book is a good choice. The series has jumped the proverbial shark.
You've described my thoughts about this book and the way her writing in this series has changed from the earlier books. I plodded through to the end just to see how it would turn out, but didn't enjoy the book at all.
I’m so confused as to where the bad guys are, where the mafia comes in, why the clerics are playing part-time detective and why everyone was congregating in the mission. Also is everyone in Canada corrupt? I was under the impression Gamache had uprooted the corrupt people in the police but now they are all back again? Does your average murder investigator get shot as much as he does?
I can’t decide which one was worse, World of Curiosities or this one. The thought screaming through my head at the last sentence was, “Nooooo …. a sequel?”
Thank you to the Library Lady for the candid review. I’m half way through and super confused already, and have no interest in a cliff hanger. I’ll respectfully retire this series. The earlier books were very enjoyable but it’s time to move on. Thanks.
Confusing mishmash indeed! Very disappointing. If the followup book, Black Wolf, is anything like the Grey Wolf, might have to skip it.
I'm relieved it's not just me. I realized part way through this one that I'm done with the series.
I just finished and I completely agree. I had to take a break because I was so confused about all the characters. Normally I like a lot of moving pieces in a mystery, but this was way too many and a lot of them didn’t seem to matter in the end.
Amen! I was rolling my eyes thru it all. Plot was predictable and took so many ridiculous turns . But alas I will read the next one. Thanks for putting my thoughts into words!
I do disagree. I think I enjoyed the book more than others because I had come across the “ mystery” of Chartreuse last year. My son-in-law had asked me to get him a bottle for Christmas because I have wonderful sources for obscure liqueurs. When I was unable to get a bottle, I decided to investigate. Chartreuse is made in only one monastery, by two monks, who each have half the recipe (exactly as revealed in the book). It turned out one of the monks had been sick in the prior year so none had been made. If you don’t know that fact, it would be hard to follow the story. I think Louise Penny needs to challenge even herself to stay fresh and ready to write. If you are familiar with the story of Chartreuse you are even more impressed that she weaved it seamlessly into the book. I also think the idea of our water supply being poisoned is something that scares us all so it is easier to believe the story line is “far fetched” then for us to realize how possible it really is. To me that makes the story more relevant and Penny an even better writer than others who would not face fears to create a story to answer the problem. Unfortunately for us, I don’t think there is anyone in the wings working to be sure this doesn’t happen. Another fantastic book, though it does contain her first cliffhanger. Here’s hoping she has lots if time to write and won’t leave us hanging for long!
I did know the backstory about chartreuse. It doesn't make the plot any less confusing, and it doesn't keep the use of Gamache as a superhero,and Penny's relegating the people of Three Pines into background characters any less disappointing. Someone mentioned the book Penny wrote with Hillary Clinton, and apparently since writing that book Penny has tried to model her current books on that one. It is not a good trend, and based on the responses I've gotten to this review, I'm not the only one who thinks so by a long shot
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Jul 31, 2024 07:46AM
Kudos. Accurate. None of her work is about what it was in the first 5 or 6 books at all. Terrible demise of Three Pines, IMHO. Wins the award for the biggest decline in a long series. No contest.
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I totally agree with you. The story line has become too complicated and I miss the locals of Three Pines,
Exactly how I feel. Has already decided not to read this and your review cemented that decision.
I haven't read this one yet but I completely agree with you on that the books have lost their charm. I read all of them and liked/loved them up to and including All the devils are here (I liked the books which were not set in Three Pines too). From there, for me, the books went downhill, and a World of Curiosities was outright bad, in my opinion. I think it is time for me to say Goodbye to Gamache and not read this one, to preserve both my memory of a great detective and human, and that of Three Pines and its great characters (even Ruth and Rosa were becoming a bit tiresome in the last book, who would have thought that possible).
Her last two books were a disappointment and this one is the same.
You are so right especially about what I missed the most: the wonderful characters and life in three pines. Also I listened to the audiobook and the new reader was very disappointing. I was confused about the plot and really didn’t care much by the end.
I've read all the books previously and agree. I'm still confused. Why the whole stolen coat thing? Maybe it makes sense in the cliffhanger ending but I don't understand the plot. Plus it really annoys me to wait this long for a book and it end in a cliffhanger. I will also wait and read the next one but it wasn't as satisfying and enjoyable as I had hoped.
I completely agree with you! Just finished this, which I would not have done without being so far into the series. I am zero interested in reading the next installment though. They can all die for all I care by now.
I read this book even though I wanted to DNF--I paid for it after all! I also found it confusing and implausible and there was no charm whatsoever. I will attempt the next book but only if I can check it out at the library.
Any theories on the point behind the stolen coat?? Also, theories on Langlois's real role / involvement in the water plot?? I'll be (somewhat begrudgingly) waiting for the loose ends to be resolved in the followup...
I agree with all the above comments. Really miss all the lovely 3 pines characters. Had a job getting to the end.
I gave up a third of my way through. Just couldn’t get involved with characters. I agree with you.
I was also disappointed with this effort by Ms Penny. The cobbling in components and scenes from previous works felt almost cheap and uninteresting, something I thought I’d say about this series. I hope Gamache regains his hearing so he can regain some of his wit and charm.
I listened to the Audible format and I found that I often had to rewind for clarity because the conclusions drawn by the characters often didn’t make sense to me. Overall it seemed far fetched and disjointed with a lot of stretching to make conclusions that just didn’t convince me. I missed the camaraderie of the usual 3 Pines characters which instead were replaced with a lot of international travel. I have read every book in the series and always looked forward to the next book. However this one was an overall disappointment.
I totally agree. I’ve read all of her Gamache books, but the last two have been so confusing that I have a hard time focusing on the plot. And I get bored with all of Armand’s musings on who might have done what. I didn’t get why the monks had to be included and found that all confusing. Honestly, I couldn’t wait to finish it and move on to something I can follow. Guessing I’ll skip any more.
100% agree. This book was maddening with all the meandering here, there, andeverywhere. That kind of soap box cliff hanging ending is a total turn off. Instead of making me want to read the next book, it just makes me want to be sure not to read it.
I also loved Louise Penny's books until she started cutting Three Pines from the stories. For me the decline started with "The Long Way Home". The characters were all 3Pine but the story left 3Pine behind at the outset. Then Louise Penny included Hillary Clinton as an author and although I have great admiration for Hillary, I felt Louise did not need Hillary as a partner and I felt like Louise no longer had confidence in her writing. I also agree "The Grey Wolf" was a bit silly (torn pieces of paper, strange recipes, bizarre characters) and had way too many characters involved. I will continue to read Louise Penny because her early writing was so wonderful but I hope her future books are improved based on the criticisms covered in these reviews.
Totally agree with all comments, plot,no old characters, confusing
Was there any explanation of how Frere Sebastian got involved in the plot in the first place? I am mystified as to how a monk in a remote monastery would know about the plans…. I agree with most of these reviews. I miss the simpler murder mysteries.
I’m so glad someone else feels this way. The hero-worship of Gamache has gotten so far out of hand, and I missed all the Three Pines characters. And I could for the life of me follow this plot, while at the same time felt that the good guy/bad guy reveals at the end were painfully obvious.
I fear I have to agree. I found this one hard to follow and the various monks confused me. I will always read a Louise Penny novel but I wish she would go back to her roots
Your review is spot on. The new narrator isn’t good.
Could not agree more about the previous comments!!! I almost DNF but stuck with it and was even FURTHER CONFUSED at the end!!!I even wondered if it was someone else writing the book and not Ms. Penny😳😳😳
One further observation…why are all these “lay” people trying to get into monasteries where they don’t belong???
Well, I finished listening to it last night and I am glad it's not just me who loved her earlier books and then was very disappointed in this one.
I agree as well--I just got into the series last year and have therefore read all the books in a fairly short amount of time. The plots are getting really, really far-fetched and I wish she would let Gamache be a flawed human being instead of having to be so ridiculously perfect at all times. It's gotten where any time you see him seem to lose his temper or make a mistake you definitely know there will be a reveal shortly thereafter that it was all a ruse for one reason or another. The charm of the series for me was all these imperfect but kind-hearted people muddling along the best they could in the lovely setting of Three Pines. I hope future books will get back to that.
The way too convoluted plot seized control of the novel and left readers dazed and confused and yearning for our old friends - the inhabitants of Three Pines.At this point I don't care who the "Black Wolf" in the next book in the series will turn out to be and am unlikely to read that one.
I’m feeling the same way at this point. Long for a “simple murder” and some character development! Gamache and Jean Guy single handedly going into the water plant to save humanity was a step too far for me.
Agree with all the negative reviews of this book. Way too nonsensical plot. I truly enjoyed her novels up until the two previous ones and this one is her worst. Also, because I now read on kindle the assortment of characters and their involvement in the planned crime was very difficult to discern and harder to sort out. Very possible i might not have finished this one except I was on a long flight.
Completely agree. I used to love this series but not the direction it’s taken.
I think Fran’s comments are off the mark. The Three Pines people are still there, albeit in the background at least initially. Yes, Penny may have become a bit predictable, but she is still an excellent writer, so don’t let Fran’s disappointment keep you from enjoying the latest of Penny’s novels.
Who's Fran? I think you've got the wrong review!
I so agree. I cannot, perhaps will not finish. I care little about the confusing mishmash going on. I’ve been listening and the new narrator is stiff. I’m moving on.
Sadly, I have to agree. I loved this series in the past. Not sure if I will even finish this one though….
You’ve confirmed that my resolution not to read this book is a good choice. The series has jumped the proverbial shark.
You've described my thoughts about this book and the way her writing in this series has changed from the earlier books. I plodded through to the end just to see how it would turn out, but didn't enjoy the book at all.
I’m so confused as to where the bad guys are, where the mafia comes in, why the clerics are playing part-time detective and why everyone was congregating in the mission. Also is everyone in Canada corrupt? I was under the impression Gamache had uprooted the corrupt people in the police but now they are all back again? Does your average murder investigator get shot as much as he does?
I can’t decide which one was worse, World of Curiosities or this one. The thought screaming through my head at the last sentence was, “Nooooo …. a sequel?”
Thank you to the Library Lady for the candid review. I’m half way through and super confused already, and have no interest in a cliff hanger. I’ll respectfully retire this series. The earlier books were very enjoyable but it’s time to move on. Thanks.
Confusing mishmash indeed! Very disappointing. If the followup book, Black Wolf, is anything like the Grey Wolf, might have to skip it.
I'm relieved it's not just me. I realized part way through this one that I'm done with the series.
I just finished and I completely agree. I had to take a break because I was so confused about all the characters. Normally I like a lot of moving pieces in a mystery, but this was way too many and a lot of them didn’t seem to matter in the end.
Amen! I was rolling my eyes thru it all. Plot was predictable and took so many ridiculous turns . But alas I will read the next one. Thanks for putting my thoughts into words!
I do disagree. I think I enjoyed the book more than others because I had come across the “ mystery” of Chartreuse last year. My son-in-law had asked me to get him a bottle for Christmas because I have wonderful sources for obscure liqueurs. When I was unable to get a bottle, I decided to investigate. Chartreuse is made in only one monastery, by two monks, who each have half the recipe (exactly as revealed in the book). It turned out one of the monks had been sick in the prior year so none had been made. If you don’t know that fact, it would be hard to follow the story. I think Louise Penny needs to challenge even herself to stay fresh and ready to write. If you are familiar with the story of Chartreuse you are even more impressed that she weaved it seamlessly into the book. I also think the idea of our water supply being poisoned is something that scares us all so it is easier to believe the story line is “far fetched” then for us to realize how possible it really is. To me that makes the story more relevant and Penny an even better writer than others who would not face fears to create a story to answer the problem. Unfortunately for us, I don’t think there is anyone in the wings working to be sure this doesn’t happen. Another fantastic book, though it does contain her first cliffhanger. Here’s hoping she has lots if time to write and won’t leave us hanging for long!
I did know the backstory about chartreuse. It doesn't make the plot any less confusing, and it doesn't keep the use of Gamache as a superhero,and Penny's relegating the people of Three Pines into background characters any less disappointing. Someone mentioned the book Penny wrote with Hillary Clinton, and apparently since writing that book Penny has tried to model her current books on that one. It is not a good trend, and based on the responses I've gotten to this review, I'm not the only one who thinks so by a long shot
