Mystery Monday: A Rule Against Murder

 

Title: A Rule Against Murder (Chief Inspector Gamache #4)

Author: Louise Penny; read by Ralph Cosham

Publishing Info: Blackstone Audio, 2009 (original by Minotaur, 2008, 322 pages)

Source: Digital library

Publisher's Summary:

It is the height of summer, and Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache are celebrating their wedding anniversary at Manoir Bellechasse, an isolated, luxurious inn not far from the village of Three Pines. But they're not alone. The Finney family -- rich, cultured, and respectable -- has also arrived for a celebration of their own.
 

The beautiful Manoir Bellechasse might be surrounded by nature, but there is something unnatural looming. As the heat rises and the humidity closes in, some surprising guests turn up at the family reunion, and a terrible summer storm leaves behind a dead body. It is up to Chief Inspector Gamache to unearth secrets long buried and hatreds hidden behind polite smiles. The chase takes him to Three Pines, into the dark corners of his own life, and finally to a harrowing climax.

My Review:

This may be the most satisfying yet of the Inspector Gamache series, at least after the first. While the last two books have bothered me with the amount of plotting against Gamache that goes on, that has vanished from this book. We are still treated to some views of the dark interiors of people--this series really doesn't qualify as "cozy," not because it's a police procedural (though it is, for the most part), but because Penny doesn't flinch from exploring the dark bits in everyone. In fact, I could wish she did, because I'm not sure I believe everyone has so many dark bits, and a few of the characters who are supposed to be sympathetic end up not being very much so. (Ask me about Peter and Clara Morrow and their relationship and I'll probably start ranting).

On the other hand, the mystery kept me guessing, and both the puzzle and the clues were well-constructed. The gradual revealing of Gamache's own history always pull me in, and there was just about the right amount of action for me. The writing remains top-notch, the settings deeply evocative, and I remain ambivalent about the series. I'll keep going, but probably only in small doses.

Recommendation:

If you like your mysteries a bit more meaty than cozy, and don't mind feeling at times like everyone is a bit unpleasant underneath, this is a series you don't want to miss, because they are incredibly well-written. If, on the other hand, you prefer to stay on the lighter side of the mystery genre, you might want to think twice.

Full Disclosure: I checked A Rule Against Murder out of my (digital) library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Audio Mystery Review: The Cruelest Month

Title: The Cruelest Month  (A Three Pines Mystery)
Author: Louise Penny; narrated by Ralph Coshan

Publisher: Original St. Martin's Minotaur, 2008 (320 pages). My edition: Blackstone Audio, 2008.
Source: Library (on-line digital)

Summary:
In this third book featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (of the Surete de Quebec), we are back in Three Pines, where a resident has dropped dead--apparently of fright--during a seance in a house locally believed to be cursed. Not everyone is convinced it's quite that simple, however, and Gamache must figure out what really happened, all  while dealing with his own problems back at the Surete.

Review:
This series falls somewhere between cozy and police procedural, and the books are very well written. Aside from the minor necessity of suspended disbelief regarding the number of murders in the idyllic town of Three Pines as we work our way through the series, each book so far has been a well-crafted and highly believable mystery, with fully-developed characters.

Though I struggled a bit with this story, it was not because of any problem with the writing. On the contrary, it was because it was so well written.  The sense of doom that had been gathering about Gamache through the first books became very thick in this one, and there were a lot of betrayals to deal with, and I was forced to decide that I don't like betrayal. The author doesn't leave the reader in much doubt about what's going on, though Gamache takes longer, not being privy to everything we see. That was what made it so hard for me--trying to will him to see through certain people.

Because Penny doesn't shy away from the darker side of even good people, the village of Three Pines is both more real than most mystery settings, and a little less comfortable than I want it to be. I suspect that is brilliant writing, though if all the books are this intense, I'll have to pick and choose when I want to read them.

The audio was incredibly well done, and I found the reader's voicing of characters to be clear and distinctive. He handled the accents and the French words and phrases very well, a fact I appreciated the more as I'm currently listening with some cringing to a book in which the narrator is mangling the Spanish.

Recommended for:
Those who like a superbly crafted and well-written mystery, and are okay with some suspense of a more psychological than physical sort, and a little frustration with injustice.

Full Disclosure: I checked The Cruelest Month out of my (digital) library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Mystery Monday: A Fatal Grace, By Louise Penny

Title: A Fatal Grace
Author: Louise Penny
Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur, 2006. 314 pages.
Source: Library

Summary:
In the second Three Pines Mystery (see review of the first, Still Life, here), Inspector Gamache of the Surete de Quebec is back in the tiny village of Three Pines, this time looking into the death of an extremely unpleasant new resident. In the depths of winter, on an iced-over lake in the middle of a curling match, CC de Poitiers is murdered in front of most of the town. It looks like an impossible murder, especially as apparently no one saw anything. Gamache must apply his blend of careful police work and thoughtful understanding of people to find the killer, lest they strike again.

Review:
Once again Louise Penny demonstrates that she has a real gift for writing. The village comes to life in her hands, and I can almost feel the winter cold and storms (and I live in California!). Nor are her characters simple cut-outs. Every one, even the minor characters, has a depth that I as a writer envy.

The murder investigation is well-presented, though I guessed the killer long before Gamache did, and was bothered that none of the investigating team looked in that direction. There are a couple of sub-plots that also made progress. The obnoxious rookie is back, and may or may not have changed--Penny deliberately leaves some things ambiguous, though I think in the end they are made more clear. And there is another sub-plot, a more personal one for Gamache, that is completely left hanging, something that is okay since the main plot is dealt with, but which I still find itches me a bit. I am left wondering how many books I'll have to read to get this one cleaned up.

Overall, I think this is one of the best new series I've found in quite a while. I read right through this book practically without stopping (and that made me realize that I've been forcing myself to go forward with some books lately, and I'm not going to do that. If it's not the book for me right then, then I should cut my losses).

Recommendation:
For lovers of a cozy that isn't too cozy--no gimmicks, just a fully-developed story with great characters who sometimes make you squirm, just like real people. A touch of police procedural but with the warm heart of a cozy.

Full Disclosure: I checked A Fatal Grace out of my library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Mystery Monday Book Review

Title: Still Life
Author: Louise Penny
Publisher: St. Martin's, 2005
Source: Library

Summary:
Three Pines is just a quiet village not far from Montreal. But when a beloved member of the community turns up dead, the Surete sends in Chief Inspector Gamache to solve the problem. A first look suggests it's just a tragic hunting accident, but Gamache just has to look farther.  Despite the detective's official standing, this is a cozy, relying as much on the villagers and Gamache's instincts as police procedure.

Review:
This proved to be a very well-written mystery, with largely likeable but human characters, and a sufficiently complex plot that avoids the obvious killers. The setting is wonderful--the small Quebecois village sounds beautiful, and is populated with folks I hope to get to know better in future books (I took a sneak preview of the next book and it does look like we come back here; I was a bit worried, since I don't see how the Inspector can keep getting cases in such a small place. . . ).

Language, writing, and presentation of the culture all seem to me to be top-notch, and there are plenty of moments of very good writing and several thought-provoking lines. Also several laugh-provoking lines, some of them being the same. My favorite was "we should all eat what we kill. That would put an end to war."

The main sour note for me was provided by one of Gamache's investigative team, the rookie with an attitude. I kept wondering exactly what she was doing there, especially as we are shown inside her head from time to time. I wanted a little more resolution of her story, instead of what felt like just using her to make a point about Gamache. I should also note that the book does use an omniscient--or nearly so--perspective, allowing us to see from the perspective of many characters. This isn't necessarily bad, and is handled well enough to prevent confusion. For better or worse the shifting perspective makes the book more about the whole village and less about the detective.

Overall, I consider this a very promising first book in a new (for me--I realize the book has been out nearly a decade) series.

Recommendation:
For mystery fans who like a good village and a good plot.

Full Disclosure: I checked  Still Life  out of my library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."