The Long Way Home

It was time for me to revisit Gamache and the people of Three Pines.  I had halted in part because the storyline had become so difficult to process emotionally (a sign of good writing, I suppose), and in part when I learned that the narrator Ralph Cosham had passed.

But it was time to move on, and time to listen to the last of the Gamache books that Cosham did narrate, The Long Way Home (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk 10).

This story is all about where Clara's husband Peter has gone to, and along the way, how everyone is living within their new positions and life roles after great turmoil, upheaval, and change of the past several books - Gamache, Beauvoir, and the several of the residents of Three Pines have adjustments to work through.  Which brings us back to Peter.  Clara and Peter had a trial separation of 1 year, and Peter was supposed to return to figure out where they go for now.  But he hasn't, and something must be wrong - but what?

There is a lot of symbolism in this story - in the title, the book cover, and the "clues" Peter has left behind.  

I do really enjoy this series.  During this particular book, I laughed throughout and cried once (I cannot say more without spoilers).  I will miss Ralph Cosham, but he did a beautiful job with this last book (and all those proceeding it). 

Going forward, I will be quicker to listen to The Nature of the Beast (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk 11) and the other books in the series.  I hope narrator Robert Bathurst is a good fit (Louise Penny says he is), and I look forward to my next visit with Gamache and the residents of Three Pines.

The Beautiful Mystery

Title: The Beautiful Mystery

Author: Louise Penny ; Read by Ralph Cosham (IMDB) (AudioFile)

Publisher: Macmillian Audio

Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache / Three Pines Mystery, Bk 8

ISBN: 9781427226099

Length: 11 discs; 13.5 hours

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

It's the next in the series, and I'm getting behind.  It qualifies for the 8th annual Canadian Book Challenge.

Comments:

Oh, Beauvoir! ::sigh:: Deep breath in, deep breath out.  Have I mentioned how I hate addiction?

Anyway, Gamache and Beauvoir go to a secluded and hidden monastery in the depths of Quebec where one of the monks has been murdered.  This order, long thought gone, has recently exposed itself by way of a recording of their Gregorian (plain) chant.  Apparently this caused a rift among the brotherhood that leaves Gamache and Beauvoir suspecting every one of those left surviving.  Which, of course, means the reader is also left with suspicions - even if you have formed theories along the way.

Beyond the mystery, the book offers and intriguing look into both the chant (which I find lovely though perhaps not in such a religious light) and what a small group of men cut off from the world need to sustain themselves.  One is a doctor, one is a engineer sort, one is excellent with the animals, another with the plumbing.  They garden, sing and worship together.  It was all a very interesting look at the social structure, which is actually right up my alley considering my education in sociology.

I have a few other audiobooks to listen to, but once I've finished those I'll be listening to the next book in this series, How the Light Gets In.

A Trick of the Light

Title: A Trick of the Light

Author: Louise Penny ; Read by Ralph Cosham (IMDB) (AudioFile)

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache / Three Pines Mystery, Bk 7

ISBN: 9781427213204

Length: 9 discs; 13 hours

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

It's the next in the series.  There's another coming out soon and I hope to catch up.

Comments:

There's been another murder in Three Pines.  In Clara Morrow's garden, no less.  But does it have something to do with art?  Something to do with Clara?  Or is it something else altogether?

So this book addresses the subject of addiction.  You may know by now that addiction is not a favorite topic.  It bothers and frustrates me on so many levels.

But of course addiction isn't the only topic of discussion in this book.  Also brought out are faith, hope, change, jealousy, despair, relationships.  Really when it comes to the span of human emotions, characteristics, and conditions, Louise Penny seems to hit most of them.

Anyway, regarding the characters...

Peter and Clara are having a rough time, but I have hope for them.

Olivier is adjusting to being free and back in Three Pines.  And it is an adjustment for him and everyone around him.

And Beauvoir.  Oh Beauvoir.  Why'd he have to be like that?  Why's he have to go from being a favorite to what he is in this book.  I was so aggravated with his character in this book.

Anyway, I've already started the next book, The Beautiful Mystery.

Bury Your Dead

Title: Bury Your Dead

Author: Louise Penny ; Read by Ralph Cosham (IMDB) (AudioFile)

Publisher: Macmillian Audio

Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache / Three Pines Mystery, Bk 6

ISBN: 9781427210715

Length: 10 discs ; 13 hours (Includes interview with the author)

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

It's the next in the series, it fits The 7th annual Canadian Book Challenge, and I wanted to know what happened after the way the last book in the series ended.

Comments:

This book was full of drama with 3 different cases being looked into.  I was interested in all three for different reasons, but I'm not sure how to discuss them without giving too much away. 

One of the mysteries was the case Gamache was actively assisting with.  A case that involved a literary and historical society (referred to as the Lit and His - pronounced Hiss). 

I assure you this is one of the aspects that intrigued me.  It was a library.  It was a historical society.  It brought another look into the Quebec French/English relations - something I know practically nothing about outside of this series. 

And Gamache was able to take Henri (his dog) practically everywhere!  I found that constantly intriguing.  I learned in high school French classes that in France dogs are allowed where they never would be in the U.S. (minus assistance dogs).  But I didn't know this was true for Quebec, and even if I had known... He took his dog to the library!  I would love to take my sister's dog to the library/post office/etc.

Another of the mysteries was not necessarily new, but looked at from a new perspective.  I have to say, throughout this part of the mystery I really found myself liking Beauvoir (I suppose I've grown to like him more as each book progresses, but this part was a spike on an otherwise slight incline).  Something about how he was handling the situation...

The third mystery going on throughout was a flashback sort of thing.  By far the most suspenseful and dramatic of the three, this was the story line that evoked more emotionally. 

And that being said, Bury Your Dead is one of the best in the series for me.

Audio sample:



Interview with author from end of book:

The Brutal Telling

Title: The Brutal Telling

Author: Louise Penny; Read by Ralph Cosham (linked to Facebook)

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Mystery aka Three Pines Mystery, Bk 5

ISBN: 9781433297113

Length: 11 discs ; 13 1/2 hours

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book: It was the next in the series.

Comments:

So this time the story is set around Labor (Labour) Day.  That's right, we're talking September.  I cannot seem to get on track with this series!

A man is found dead in the Bistro, and nothing but questions surround him.  Who is he?  Who killed him?  What's the weapon?  Why was he killed?  Where was he killed?

I don't know what to say for this one, overall.  Partially because I don't want to give the story away and most of my impressions are about big things.  Partially because I made the mistake of reading some poor - mediocre reviews on Goodreads before writing this, and I've got other people's reactions and impressions in my head.

Personally, I enjoyed the book.  I like the writing style.  I like Gamache.  And I'm always interested to "see" more of the residents of Three Pines.  As for the mystery, it was really a question of faith (and I don't mean the religious type).  How much do you believe in the characters you've met and grown to "know" throughout the series?  There was a story/legend/myth attached to this mystery.  It was interesting, but personally I would have preferred to hear it all at once instead of broken into pieces throughout the story.

I look forward to listening to the next book, Bury Your Dead.

A Rule Against Murder (The Murder Stone)

Title: A Rule Against Murder aka The Murder Stone

Author: Louise Penny; Read by Ralph Cosham (linked to Facebook)

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Mystery aka Three Pines Mystery, Bk 4

ISBN: 9781433251290

Length: 9 discs ; 11 hours

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I cannot seem to read this series in the right season.  Armand Gamache and his wife are celebrating their anniversary at the same lakeside retreat, Manoir Bellechasse, they go to every year.  As their anniversary falls on Canada Day (July 1), it's very much summer and hot.  (Unlike here were it is, though mild for winter, still snowy or icy or at least slushy - please I'll take snow over slush any day.)  But this year is different from previous anniversaries.  This time there's a murder.  As it turns out, Three Pines is just a stone's throw away, so we get a brief glimpse of the characters introduced in the three preceding books.  But really, character-wise, this book most offers a chance to become more familiar with both Armand Gamache and Peter Morrow.

As for the mystery, there's the usual range of suspects, from the family of the victim to the staff of the Manoir Bellechasse.  But this time the real question isn't as much who (though that IS a question) or why (ditto) but HOW?  I did not guess the how.  But I did have a feeling which clues were important, just not why they were important.  And I didn't guess the murderer.  And I'm incredibly frustrated that the unisex (as in the gender is a secret) child of the victim's family was STILL a secret at the end of the book.

Anyway, maybe if I speed up my listening I might manage to catch up to the proper holiday/season.  Book five is The Brutal Telling.

The Cruelest Month (The Cruellest Month)

Title: The Cruelest Month aka The Cruellest Month

Author: Louise Penny; Read by Ralph Cosham

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Mystery / Three Pines Mystery, Bk 3

ISBN: 9781433233777

Length: 10 Discs, 12 Hours

Obtained: ILL Library audiobook copy

Comments:

I dragged myself through this book.  I don't know if it's because I need a break from the series, if it's because I didn't like how that underlying mystery I mentioned with the second book was coming out, if it was Peter's jealousy of Clara's work. (I had a big problem with Peter's attitude.  I was literally shaking my head and saying, "No, no, no," at points.)  Whatever the reason I'm going to take a break now.  Maybe I'll try reading the next one in print.  Shake things up a bit.

 But for a bit more about the actual story... The first book is set around Canada's Thanksgiving, the second around Christmas and Boxing Day.  This time it's spring.  Right around Good Friday and Easter, in fact.  Clara's preparing a painting for a big-wig art guy (hence, Peter's jealousy), painted wooden Easter eggs are being prepared for the kids to find and trade in for chocolate, Ruth's caring for a pair of ducklings, a couple séances are being held, and oh, it looks as if someone has been scared to death.

I could have done without Clara's preparation of her art (for reasons mentioned above).  The spring atmosphere just didn't click with me the way fall and winter did in the previous books.  Maybe it was the muggy summer heat I was walking in while listening to most of this.  Anyway, Ruth was, as always, great.  The ducklings only added to that.  And the mystery was fine.  It tended to be overwhelmed by everything else that was going on with Gamache and his team, though.

There was one bit of philosophy I found particularly intriguing in the book, and it plays out in the conclusion (I don't think that's giving too much away).  There's an idea of a "near enemy" where one negative emotion is passed off as a positive.  The examples mentioned are Love (positive) vs Attachment (negative), Compassion (positive) vs Pity (negative), and Equanimity (positive) vs Indifference (negative).  I found this idea interesting and had to play with it a bit, considering who might fit what under what circumstances.

A Fatal Grace (Dead Cold)

Title: A Fatal Grace aka Dead Cold

Author: Louise Penny; Read by Ralph Cosham

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Series:  Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Mystery aka Three Pines Mystery, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780786168620

Length: 9 Discs; 10 1/2 hours

Obtained: Library audiobook copy

Comments:

This is my 4th for the Canadian book challenge.

While the victim in the first book was someone everybody loved, the primary victim in this one is someone everybody hates.  This made for an interesting change.  I had suspicions about who might have been the murderer, then was completely thrown off track before, in the end, having my original guess confirmed.  

And, of course, I enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from this series... The Chief Inspector himself, Clara and Peter, and the other Three Pine villagers and members of the investigating team.   As in the first, Gamache's team and their interactions and reflections (primarily regarding Gamache) are a large part of the book.

There's also an underlying intrigue that is taking place throughout the book as well.  I'm hoping the next book will have some answers about that aspect of things.  That's right, I fully intend to read the third book as I am becoming connected with this series.  I have to wait, though, for my ILL request to come in or for us to receive it (my boss is ordering it).

Still Life

Title: Still Life

Author: Louise Penny; Read by Ralph Cosham

Publisher: Blackstone (Print by St. Martin's)

Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780786171422

Length: 9 1/2 hrs

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I decided to listen to  this after skimming through a Wikipedia list of Canadian authors.  I recognized the name Louise Penny right away.  I remembered pre-processing (putting the barcodes on, etc.) this audiobook.  I was even more sure of my decision when I found out it's the first in the series.  So once I finished the SEAL Team Six audio, I checked this out.  At first I had some difficulties.  There was the accent (British) and the French words and names... On top of that, perspectives switch in a way that I suspect would be easier in print.  But soon enough I caught on.

The writing was good, though a bit more descriptive than I prefer at times.  A scene would be set with loads of analogies and, well, you could call it poetry in a way.  But I was reading a mystery, and I'm not one for much description anyway.  On the other hand, when I really listened to the imagery it was quite beautiful.  So if that IS your thing, this would be a positive point.

While description isn't my thing, characters ARE.  And this book had plenty of varied characters to learn and get to know.  There are the residents of Three Pines: Clara and Peter; the victim, Jane; Ruth and Myrna; Gabri and Olivier; Ben; and many others.  Also part of the story are those investigating.   Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, of course.  But also Jean Guy Beauvoir, Isabelle Lacoste,  and Yvette Nichol.  That last, Nichol was one that became intolerable, but which I actually liked and sympathized with longer than most of the characters in the book.

Funny thing.  Since this was an audio, I had to go searching for some of the names and spellings.  In the process I came across the Goodreads page and reviews.  It seems the characters are either applauded as being well developed or criticized for being unlikely.  I'd say it depends on the character in question.  However, considering they made the story for me, I'd lean toward the first opinion.

As for the mystery part of the story, this was mostly a watch the characters until the answer jumps out at you type.  I had suspicions as to the murderer that I started to doubt with all the red herrings, but then had reaffirmed at the end.

Since this is for the Canadian book challenge, I feel I should mention something in regards to the Canadian aspect.  First, Louise Penny is Canadian (born in Toronto, residing in Montreal).  The narrator, Ralph Cosham, is not Canadian.  One of those Goodreads reviews criticized him on this, and I could see her point (though his description says he has won the title "Audio Best of the Year" multiple times, so he's apparently supposed to be good).

The story itself is set in a small town in Quebec.  I found a few things of interest related to the setting.  One was a look into English/French relations within Quebec.  I knew that it has a large French-speaking population, but knew nothing of the politics.  Also interesting was the look into the Sûreté du Québec, which I (again) knew NOTHING about.  Yet another was how American some things sounded to me.  I guess I hadn't thought about how sharing a border would make for such similarities (I'm drawing a blank now, but there was something that surprised me toward the beginning of the book).

Since this is MUCH longer than I would normally go on, I'll leave off now.  But I would be interesting in reading more of this series in the future.