Book Review: The
Beautiful Mystery {A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel}
By Louise Penney
If
you love off beat murder mysteries involving charmingly eccentric characters
with exceptional plotting, I heartily recommend the series starring Chief
Inspector Gamache, a chief inspector with the Surete’ de Quebec.
In
this 8th installment, Gamache and his officer Jean-Guy Beauvoir are
called to a remote island to investigate the murder of the prior within the
cloistered walls of the monastery of Saint Gilbert –Entre –les-Loups {Saint
Gilbert among the wolves}. Apparently the order of Gilbertines, thought long
extinct, have been hiding behind the locked walls in the wilderness for more
than 400 years studying and singing the Gregorian chants that the monks
believed brought them closer to God. After a recording of the chants was released
to the public, the monastery earned money for much needed repairs. But they
also lost their near total anonymity.
It
became clear that the murder was committed by one of the monks. It was up to
Gamache and Beauvoir to investigate whom among the cloistered chanting men of
God murdered the world’s foremost expert on Gregorian chants.
I
absolutely love this series. Perhaps if you’ve not read one of Louise Penny’s
masterfully plotted stories, it would preferable to start with one of the of
the Three Pines mysteries that take place in a tiny village peopled with a
stunning array of fully fleshed out characters.
The first is titled “Still Life” and it is a fabulous introduction to
the series. While each book stands on its own, I’ve a deeper understanding of
Gamache and Beauvoir by starting at the beginning. Each new installment offers
new insights into the motivation, insecurities, fears, history, moral compass
and heart of these fictional friends.
Now,
I can’t wait for Gamache #9!
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