A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel

Ms. Penny has a winner of a series in my opinon. Three Pines is a most intriguing village in Canada. With vibrant characters and the multilayer plots of thier lives intermingling with the main murder makes these novels quite interesting and "meaty" to read. Inspector Gamache is a noble character, while I enjoy him immensely he does have faults and that makes him more interseting and yes, likeable. This murder mystery continues the plot line of Gamache's problems with the Suriete as well.

I have read with pleasure this latest book featuring Armand Gamache and his team. I think the series improves with each novel because of the added details in the lives of the established characters. It has been good to have a change of venue but I do hope some more will be set in Three Pines because of the characters and the atmosphere of that isolated town. I highly recommend this book but would suggest that readers start with the first title in the series "A Still Life" and work their way to this book.

Rule Against Murder is yet another tremendous novel from Louise Penny. I thought maybe I would not like the book as much if it did not take place in Three Pines since the Three Pines setting and all the residents were a big part of the reason I loved the first books so much. There was no reason to worry, this book surpassed all of my expectations. The family that the Gamaches encounter on their vacation is dysfunctional to say the least. Every family member was complex and interesting and could have made for an entire novel on their own. We also learn a lot more about one of the Three Pines residents and what we learn is dark and disappointing, but also enlightening. There is so much going on in this mystery, every character has their own secrets and history and all of these backstories set up the main mystery, the murder. Louise Penny makes every sentence count. When the murderer was revealed at the end, I went back and re-read parts of the book since so many of the clues were so subtle and clever that I missed them the first time around. I still can't figure out Bean! Armand is one of my favorites characters of all time. Louise Penny has become one of my favorite writers of all time. This series is so unique, I hope she continues writing it for many years to come. I will certainly keep reading.

I'm a big fan of this series, ordering new releases as soon as they're announced. When this one came in, I stopped reading another book so I could get to it right away. Penny created an outstanding double mystery here. The first, who did it, was not clear to me until near the end. There were certainly a wide range of candidates, though. When the mystery was summed up in the final pages, it's clear that there were plenty of good clues scattered here and there. Then, of course, there was the second mystery. How was this murder accomplished? The method of death seems impossible for one, or even a few people to arrange. At times, it seemed as if the murderer employed magic. However, like any good magic trick, the impossible becomes simple once the secret is known. This secret, too, is explained, and its knowledge is woven into the fabric of the story. If there were separate scores for plotting and for character development, I'd give both categories 5+. As it is, we'll have to just settle for a single 5-star rating. Congratulations to Ms. Penny on an outstanding work.

Every summer the Gamache's go on vacation together. This year they stay at the luxurious Manoir Bellechasse in Quebec. Chief Inspector Armand especially loves the getaway with his beloved spouse that gives him time away from criminal activities. The only other visitors are the Finney brood celebrating a reunion of sorts at the manor. The family matriarch Irene hosts a gala in tribute to her late husband. The highlight of the festivities is the unveiling of a statue in her spouse's honor in the Manoir's garden. However, when the statue crumbles off its base it kills one of the middle age adult daughters. Although on vacation, Gamache cannot let it go as an accident; instead he investigates expecting to discover an accident, but instead finds a dysfunctional family who loathe one another. Murder is not out of the question even as the snooty Finney brood insult and scorn the chief inspector for his respectful methodology and worse for his ancestry. Part of the fun in this Quebec police procedural is the disdainful treatment by the haughty Finney family who assume Gamache is an idiot beneath them socially and intellectually; a sort of loose nod to Colombo. The investigation is top rate enhanced by the obvious flaws of the lead character, his wife (who brings some humor with her not again reaction) and the prime suspects. Fans will enjoy the intelligent and dedicated (this time instead of the Surete insisting obstinate, the Finney brood does) Gamache's vacation at an isolated resort as he relishes the investigation (see STILL LIFE and THE CRUELEST MONTH). Harriet Klausner