Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery" by Louise Penny

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Review of "How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery" by Louise Penny

In this 9th book in the 'Chief Inspector Armand Gamache' series, the detective investigates the death of an elderly quintuplet. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters and background is a bonus.

*****

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is a troubled guy: his best homicide detectives have been transferred out of his squad and he's been saddled with a bunch of lazy losers.

His former mentee Lt. Jean-Guy Beavoir is not speaking to him and is once again abusing prescription drugs; he's still trying to ferret out corrupt individuals in the Sûreté du Québec (police department) and in return the powers that be want him gone; and he's landed a homicide investigation involving elderly Constance Oullet, the last member of the once famous Oullet quintuplets.

Turns out Constance Oullet recently visited the village of Three Pines, where Gamache has good friends and where he adopted his beloved German Shepherd Henri. Gamache simultaneously investigates the Oullet murder…….

…..and assembles a secret squad that retreats to Three Pines in an effort to foil an evil plot hatched by the above-mentioned corrupt individuals.

The story is well-crafted and engrossing though there are some slow spots about the lives of the quints and the 'voyeur-industry' that sprang up around them.

The characters are well-drawn and the residents of Three Pines are the kind of loyal friends we'd all like to have.

Every book needs a light side and there's an endearing scene where Henri (the dog) falls in love with Rose (the duck).

All of Gamache's determined activity leads to an excellent, exciting conclusion. A good mystery.

Rating: 4 stars

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Barb's Book Reviews

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Review of "How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery" by Louise Penny

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