In this 3rd book in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, the homicide detective investigates a woman's bizarre death. The book can be read as a standalone but - for maximum enjoyment - the series is best read in order.
*****
The Quebec village of Three Pines, near the United States Vermont border, is a sylvan haven that harbors artists, poets, bohemian inn owners, and a variety of other residents. Three Pines also has more than its share of murders, which makes it well known to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache - head of homicide at the Sûreté du Québec.
As the book opens, self-proclaimed Wiccan (witch) Jeanne Chauvet is vacationing in Three Pines, staying at the inn/café run by Gabri and Olivier.
Gabri, who likes to arrange spontaneous entertainments for the villagers, takes it upon himself to announce that 'Madame Blavatsky' (aka Jeanne) will hold a séance and speak to the dead.
Villagers show up for the séance, but the dead don't, and someone suggests that the decaying, haunted Hadley House, where terrible things have happened, might be a better location.
The residents (reluctantly) agree, and - shaking in their boots - make their way to the Hadley House at the appointed time. Amidst the fearsome atmosphere, spooky noises and clammy walls, a villager named Madeleine Favreau dies suddenly, her face twisted into a horrible grimace.
Chief Inspector Gamache shows up to investigate, and learns that Madeleine was murdered.....essentially scared to death.
Gamache and his regular team, Agents Jean Guy Beauvor and Isabelle Lacoste, set up an incident room for the investigation.
The investigators are joined by detectives Robert Lemieux .....
......and Yvette Nicol, sent by the Sûreté.
The reader soon learns that both Lemieux and Nicol have an agenda, which harks back to an event that occurred several years before. At that time Gamache publicly exposed a corrupt Sûreté Superintendent named Pierre Arnot, and sent him to prison. Arnot has been seeking revenge ever since, as have his allies in the Sûreté…..who HATE Gamache.
As the Chief Inspector works hard to solve Madeleine's murder, his enemies work just as hard to undermine Gamache and secure his resignation....or worse!
The usual recurring characters make an appearance in the story, including painter Clara Morrow and her artist husband Peter - who's jealous of his wife's success (he's SUCH a creep); Myrna Landers - a psychologist who now owns a bookstore; Ruth - an elderly, hard-drinking, foul-mouthed poet who adopts a duck; and Reine-Marie - Gamache's librarian wife. There are also an array of new characters, all of whom have some relationship with the victim Madeleine.
Secrets are revealed as the story unfolds, Gamache learns some unpleasant truths, and everyone snacks on delicious sandwiches prepared by Gabri.
The book is enhanced by vivid descriptions of the characters, the town, and Hadley House and - as usual in Louise Penny's books - augmented by the philosophical musings of the main characters.
This is a good addition to the Inspector Gamache series, recommended to fans of mysteries.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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