“‘A Better Man,’ with its mix of meteorological suspense, psychological insight and criminal pursuit, is arguably the best book yet in an outstanding, original oeuvre.” —Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal“Enchanting… one of his most ennobling missions.” —Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book ReviewCatastrophic spring flooding, blistering attacks in the media, and a mysterious disappearance greet … attacks in the media, and a mysterious disappearance greet Chief Inspector Armand Gamache as he returns to the Sûreté du Québec in the latest novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny.
It’s Gamache’s first day back as head of the homicide department, a job he temporarily shares with his previous second-in-command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir. Flood waters are rising across the province. In the middle of the turmoil a father approaches Gamache, pleading for help in finding his daughter.
As crisis piles upon crisis, Gamache tries to hold off the encroaching chaos, and realizes the search for Vivienne Godin should be abandoned. But with a daughter of his own, he finds himself developing a profound, and perhaps unwise, empathy for her distraught father.
Increasingly hounded by the question, how would you feel…, he resumes the search.
As the rivers rise, and the social media onslaught against Gamache becomes crueler, a body is discovered. And in the tumult, mistakes are made.
In the next novel in this “constantly surprising series that deepens and darkens as it evolves” (New York Times Book Review), Gamache must face a horrific possibility, and a burning question.
What would you do if your child’s killer walked free?
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Well written. Looking forward to more.
Not my favorite Louise Penny book but a good read none the less.
Love the characters.
As always, Louise Penney fails to disappoint! This book may be one of my favorites in the Gamache series.
I love and recommend all of The Gamache books. They are great.
I love Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache novels and have read ALL of them. She creates a world and characters that I long to return to. But A Better man–along with the one before it, Kingdom of the Blind–was her weakest. It’s probably inevitable that authors of long series become self-referential. Their characters’ foibles, once original, begin to feel a little too pat. As a novelist myself, I have to wonder if the pressure to put out a book a year–or sometimes more!– isn’t detrimental to the quality of the product. Whatever the reason, it feels as if the gruesome crimes in A Better Man and in Kingdom of the Blind are at once colder, the contrasting warmth of her Three Pines world less warm, than in her previous novels.
Have read every one of the Gamauche series. LOVE all the characters at
Three Pines. Very unique stories.
Glad Penney went back to a true murder mystery her strength. It’s time to stop Gamache bashing by his superiors. The characters are well developed in this mystery and you have multiple suspects. She also addresses living in abusive relationships. Great read
Another wonderful entry in Penny’s long-running series.
Love this series. Wonderful characters, writing that pulls you in, stays pitch perfect and makes you want to live in their world.
Louise Penny, always a brilliant writer, has outdone herself with A Better Man. She brings to light an even greater depth of emotion in her characters. The friendship and solidarity between Jean-Guy, Isabelle and Gamache parallel the strength of the Three Pines watching over the village. And in the mystery itself, there were too many twists and turns to count. Riveting!
A great story with an edge-of-your-seat climax. I loved this book!
Perfection! I know there are several schools of thought that warn that no human creation should aspire to be perfect, but Louse Penny’s A BETTER MAN is as close to it as I’ve ever seen. The writing and editing were beautifully, elegantly done, and the plots were so compelling that the “real world” had to take second place. I found myself as involved with Clara’s art critic dilemma as with the missing woman-murder case. Thunder storms here made good background for reading about rain and floods and daring solutions, my own (un)social media turned off as critiques and legal issues spun through the cyber-space of Louise Penny’s fictional world.
If one is stronger where one has been broken, then Gamache and his associates are strong indeed. They are also committed, despite temptation, to doing what’s right, no matter what and to seeking truth, despite preconceptions.
Wisdom reminders: I was wrong. I’m sorry. I don’t know. I need help.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? or is it “All truth with malice in it”?
The MOBY DICK references resonated with so many obsessions in this story, and also reminded me of a special student, whose case manager and I had insisted be main-streamed to a regular American Lit. class. His insightful question, “Do you think it might have helped if Ahab had a good counselor to help him work out his problems?” might apply to so many in this complex saga.