Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #16
The 16th novel by #1 bestselling author Louise Penny finds Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Quebec investigating a sinister plot in the City of Light.
Mystery
2020 Minotaur Books
Finished on January 15, 2021
Rating: 5/5 (Outstanding!)
Publisher's Blurb:
On their first night in Paris, the Gamaches gather as a family for a bistro dinner with Armand’s godfather, the billionaire Stephen Horowitz. Walking home together after the meal, they watch in horror as Stephen is knocked down and critically injured in what Gamache knows is no accident, but a deliberate attempt on the elderly man’s life.
When a strange key is found in Stephen’s possession it sends Armand, his wife Reine-Marie, and his former second-in-command at the Sûreté, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, from the top of the Tour d’Eiffel, to the bowels of the Paris Archives, from luxury hotels to odd, coded, works of art.
It sends them deep into the secrets Armand’s godfather has kept for decades.
A gruesome discovery in Stephen’s Paris apartment makes it clear the secrets are more rancid, the danger far greater and more imminent, than they realized.
Soon the whole family is caught up in a web of lies and deceit. In order to find the truth, Gamache will have to decide whether he can trust his friends, his colleagues, his instincts, his own past. His own family.
For even the City of Light casts long shadows. And in that darkness devils hide.
Bravo!! It would have been so easy to devour this latest installment in the Armand Gamache series, but I wanted to savor each and every page. Unlike The Long Way Home, I did not mind the change of location, which takes the Gamache family away from their friends in Three Pines. It was actually refreshing, as I've grown somewhat weary of the repetitive nature of Penny's more recent books. It was also nice to learn some background details of Gamache's family dynamics, although Daniel's storyline was a little annoying. I wanted to tell him to grow up!
Looking back on my reviews of the previous books in this series, I think this is one of the most exciting and suspenseful. There are many twists and turns and a couple of surprises toward the end of the book (one of which is a bit far fetched, but not completely improbable) and Penny continues to impress. My husband and I are both amazed that she keeps coming up with such interesting mysteries. She is truly a master!
Not only this an outstanding mystery, but the book's jacket and endpapers are lovely, bringing to mind the beautiful artwork of Vincent Van Gogh. The acknowledgements, which are full of love and warmth, are a joy to read as well.
Highly recommend!
I heard from someone in my book group that this one was awesome. Glad you liked it so much. I've only read about half of this series and I'm out of order as well....sigh...but, maybe I can catch up this year.
ReplyDeleteDiane, as tempting as it would be to read this one right away, I strongly recommend you read these books in the order in which they were published. That is, if you wish to avoid any spoilers!
DeleteI'm now officially three books behind in Three Pines books. I may gift myself all three books when I get a little more caught up. I remember thinking the very first book was a bit too cozy, but I loved the characters. Each succeeding book has only increased my pleasure with the series!
ReplyDeleteYou're in for a treat, Jenclair. I agree that Still Life felt very much like a cozy and I wasn't that impressed with the writing, but my goodness, has Penny grown as a writer! The characters have become old friends and I'm eager to see where she leads them in each new installment. Someday, I'll reread this via audiobook. Enjoy!
DeleteI will add this one to my list of books to read for Paris in July this year.
ReplyDeleteDeb, it's a perfect read for that challenge! If you aren't caught up on the previous books, you'll encounter some spoilers, but I don't think it's the end of the world if you do.
DeleteLes, I think you are taking over my 'job' as chief fan of Louise Penny! Ha! So glad you enjoyed this one so much. I felt it was my top book of 2020. And I understand that she's already written the next book, though it won't come out until August I think. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteLol! It would have definitely been at the top of my list for 2020. Yep, I can hardly wait for August. I guess now I'll start in on the Deborah Crombie series.
DeleteI've never read Louise Penny!! There is a lady in my book club that marvels at that every time she reads a new one. I must put her on my list.
ReplyDeleteTi, her books are very good, but the first is a little too cozy for my taste. If you do decide to give the series a try, I strongly recommend that you read them in order, but you are probably safe to skip Still Life.
DeleteThis is the next read for my book group but I'm behind on the series. Although I don't mind to read out of order nowadays because I have read quite a few in this series I would like to stay on track. Anyway, glad to hear there's going to be a great story ahead of me!
ReplyDeleteYou are in for a treat, Iliana! Enjoy.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed it so much. I need to start reading her .... especially since I live in Canada now .... though her characters are in Quebec ... which is a world away from here. Penny seems to have colorful plots...
ReplyDeleteI'm a little envious that you get to experience these for the first time, Susan. They are such good mysteries and so beautifully written. I can hardly wait for the next one, which is due out in August/September.
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