This is the second novel in the Chief Inspector Armand
Gamache series, but it also works as a stand-alone novel.
Yes, there are a few things from the first
novel,
Still Life, that are referenced in this book, but it’s not a huge
barrier to entry.
I don’t read many cozy mysteries, so it’s a bit hard for me
to give up the rollicking plots of mysteries with a thriller edge.
The plot is not the main reason to enjoy
this book:
the main draws are the
characters and the writing.
This series
takes place in Three Pines, a small village near Montreal, a village populated
with interesting but not too eccentric people.
It’s very reminiscent of Cicely, Alaska from the TV show
Northern
Exposure:
an isolated, village in
northern climes with interesting folks.
Three Pines is full of interesting, artistic folks.
The mystery itself was not a huge draw for me because the
murder victim was not a sympathetic sort, unlike the murder victim in
Still
Life.
For a dash of intrigue, the
sub-plot involving Gamache’s relationship with the police department was a lot
more interesting than the unraveling of CC’s murder.
I’d recommend this book for people looking for a story with
lived-in, psychologically-well-drawn characters.
It’s not a thrill-ride, but it’s a pleasant story about an
unpleasant murder solved by a supremely charming detective.
Refreshing is the word that comes to
mind:
it's refreshing that Gamache is in a stable
and happy marriage, and the story is a refreshing take on dour subject matter.
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