The Brutal Telling

This a very interesting, different and good book but leaves the ending open . . . If you need the answers to the mysteries involved in this book, you will need to read her next book BURY YOUR DEAD which is not as good and goes off the deep end several times.

Of all the books Louise Penny has written "The Brutal Telling" is the finest. There is something comforting and familiar about the characters who live and come together in this tiny Canadian village; however, Penny never lets the reader get too comfortable as psychological layers of seemingly normal lives come to light. A book I relished and hated to see end, incorporating literature, poetry, visual art, and theology. Like any great artist Penny weaves these threads together in nuanced small brush strokes, creating a simple picture comprised of many sophisticated layers.

The worst thing about reading a Louise Penny novel is that once it is in your hands, you can't bear to stop reading... but if you go on, you know that it will end. I hate it when that happens! This is the fifth novel about Twin Pines, about Chief Inspector Gamache and Clara and Peter Morrow and their... unique friends and neighbors, and about the incredibly picturesque village that only seems to be able to be found by those who need it... and by murder. Yes, I definitely recommend reading these books in order. I can guarantee that if you read one, you will want to read them all, so you might as well start at the beginning. Penny's prose is marvelous. The love of language, English and French, is more evident than ever in this beautifully crafted book. Love of art and of artists is evident in the treatment of Clara's and Peter's painting, of Ruth Zardo's poetry, of good cooking, of the treasures that Gamache discovers throughout the book. Particular mention must be given to the food. I thought that Lawrence Sanders would always be the unrivaled king when writing about food... could anyone read a "Deadly Sin" book and not crave a sandwich -- wet or dry -- and the matching ale? And the meals Archie ate... But Penny has clearly taken up the sceptre, and after a few of her descriptions of redolent soups, fresh, crusty bread and delicate salads, I was forced to adjourn to the local French cafe for lunch -- taking the book with me, of course! Penny does so much in a single mystery novel: celebrating art, celebrating the wisdom and nurturing spirit that is Gamache, exploring the things that allow people like you or me to do terrible harm. She is a master.

What a Book! Glorious reading! From the very first page the story unfolds and grabs you arm ..I will give you a warning! Start reading when you have a day to read and read and then finish! This is another author that has captured my head and heart. The characters will remind you of a simplier life, to one that grew up in a small village and who's parents home backed up to the deepest of woods, you can relate and go inside of the bistro and meet the lives so very realistic. Around mid-way of the book, your sure where this is leading, sure of the road ahead, but not so, it takes your thoughts and throws them away. Only to be replaced with delightful in an impossible crime mystery. This was my first book from this author but, it will certainly not be the last. Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, reminds me of the Chief of the Surette in France, of the valleys and towns in the villages which I ran and played as a child. The story is real, the characters are unique and if, you find this novel not to your liking, then check to see if the tin man has your heart. I keep a book journal and keep track of the books I read, a page in the back mark the failures, which are rare, and a page to mark as a re-read. Five more stars for this book, making it a 10 star book!

Meet as charming and clever a cast of characters as a reader would ever want to know. Add to that a setting that is as important as any character as it sets the stage so well for this mystery that Louise Penny you can tell pours her heart and soul into. This is my first Chief Inspector Gamache novel, but it won't be my last. Gamache is from Surete du Quebec and he and his men handle some of the worst crimes there are. This story takes place in the small village of Three Pines, where the people are warm, loyal, and all seem to know each other. The description of Three Pines and the surrounding area is a lovely countryside setting that leaves you wishing you could visit, at least at first. The bistro where the action in the story is centered comes alive with the people, and the food. You can almost taste the roasts, cheeses, and hot, buttery bread. The bistro owner, Olivier, is every one's favorite until he becomes the prime suspect in the crime that rocks this village and the people who love spending time in it. So what happens to all this warmth and charm that brings it to a screeching halt? A dead body! It is found and the police must solve the crime. This is a who-done-it with all the good parts that leave you questioning what will happen next, and what does each clue mean, until you realize you already know, except---you really don't. Just when you think you are having that ah-ha moment, things go off in another direction. The villagers you loved and "knew" in the beginning begin to make you doubt them as everyone seems to be a suspect with the bistro's owner seeming to be at the top of the list. Inspector Gamache is clever and follows every lead, even when it takes him to other parts of the country. The people in Three Pines start to look at each other and suddenly, everyone could be guilty and nobody trusts anyone any more. The more we find out about the characters who live here, the more secrets are revealed. Gamache knows they are hiding something but it is a while before he figures out who is hiding what and who isn't hiding anything at all. We discover the body wasn't killed in the bistro as is first thought but rather was moved. Nobody even knows who the dead man is...or do they? This is just plain fun if you are a mystery lover. No tricks or techno unrealistic garbage...just pure mystery a la "the butler, in the pantry, with the candlestick" (Fans of the game CLUE will understand). This is a trail that you will follow to the end with great anticipation and if like me, certainly you know who did what, only to find you were wrong! Inspector Gamache is a smart and savvy character as he calls in witnesses and experts to analyze the crime. It isn't long before all the villagers who were so trusting realize that the murderer must be one of their own! So many COULD have done it and had cause but their motives are all different. The puzzle gets more tangled and although the clues are there to be seen, there just isn't a way to put it all t

"The Brutal Telling" by Louise Penny is as much literary saga as mystery. As with any good saga the residents of the Canadian village of Three Pines are both fascinating and alive as they go about their daily lives that flow among the shops and houses surrounding the village green. As with any good mystery, the reader quickly becomes a participant in solving the crime at hand. Featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his homicide team for the Sûreté du Québec, this fifth and latest entry in the Three Pines series meets and exceeds expectations set by previous books. The first chapter of this tale opens deep in the forest where we overhear a conversation between a man identified only as "The Hermit" and a man called Olivier. The tone carries hints of fantasy and the forest primeval as The Hermit warns, "Chaos is here, old son." There is an immediate sense of isolation and fear. The story then quickly shifts to the village and the discovery of the body in the village Bistro, a body recognized only by the Bistro's owner Olivier, who chooses to keep his knowledge of The Hermit to himself. Enter Chief Inspector Gamache and the hunt is on. Who is the dead man? Where was he killed and why? Who is telling the truth and who is lying? Who amongst them is a murderer? "The Brutal Telling" stands out from the standard issue police procedural because, intertwined with the familiar workings of the murder investigation, are bits of poetry, art, and culinary magic. There is also history, philosophy, psychology, and wisdom woven into a tapestry that feels both ancient and new. Readers new to the series will be as delighted as those returning. This is a place where you want to linger and wander about. With "The Brutal Telling" Penny has produced that rare find: a literary mystery. Like good coffee on a cold day, it should be sipped slowly and savored to the last drop. This review is based on an Early Reviewer's copy supplied by Minotaur Books through [...]