Winner of the 2007 Agatha Award for Best Novel! Welcome to winter in Three Pines, a picturesque village in Quebec, where the villagers are preparing for a traditional country Christmas, and someone is preparing for murder. No one liked CC de Poitiers. Not her quiet husband, not her spineless lover, not her pathetic daughter–and certainly none of the residents of Three Pines. CC de Poitiers … CC de Poitiers managed to alienate everyone, right up until the moment of her death.
When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, of the Sûreté du Quebec, is called to investigate, he quickly realizes he’s dealing with someone quite extraordinary. CC de Poitiers was electrocuted in the middle of a frozen lake, in front of the entire village, as she watched the annual curling tournament. And yet no one saw anything. Who could have been insane enough to try such a macabre method of murder–or brilliant enough to succeed?
With his trademark compassion and courage, Gamache digs beneath the idyllic surface of village life to find the dangerous secrets long buried there. For a Quebec winter is not only staggeringly beautiful but deadly, and the people of Three Pines know better than to reveal too much of themselves. But other dangers are becoming clear to Gamache. As a bitter wind blows into the village, something even more chilling is coming for Gamache himself.
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I’m reading through this series and this book has really stuck with me, given the creativity Penny used in setting up the death/villain. If you’re looking for a well-written, unpredictable mystery set in an interesting small town, this is the book for you.
Louise Penny is quickly becoming one of my favorite mystery writers, a close second behind the incomparable Ruth Rendell. A Fatal Grace was, by turns, intriguing, suspenseful, and profoundly touching. Penny’s insight into the dark side of human nature ensures that her characters are always relatable and always fascinating. And her portrait of the idyllic Three Pines, with its dark secrets just below its picturesque surface, adds another dimension of richness to her tapestry.
This book is good to read sitting by a fire or in July in Florida.
My fingers, toes and ears hurt from the extreme cold throughout the whole book. As all of Penny’s books it is an original and we get to visit 3 Pines again.
How she comes up with all these original stories is so great for us.
Is murder and suspense more your idea of cozy? You will find all your heart needs in this wonderful book is second in her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series in Québec.
A compelling mystery, gorgeously rendered Christmas season in small-town Québec…parfait!
Louise Penny brings to life on the page the people we all know—the thoughtful, compassionate listener; the snarky, curmudgeonly neighbor; the beautifully unbalanced couple—one stylish and subdued, the other bumbling and boisterous; the quiet artist with a penchant for brooding; the classy, quintessential hostess. Yet they manage to never feel cliche, climbing from the page and developing their own unique identities, driving the story through twists and turns in the idyllic village of Three Pines. It’s a quick read, but I found myself slowing as I neared the end, reluctant to leave this place that feels like home. A Fatal Grace is the second book in a still-growing series (16 books so far), and though Penny does an excellent job orienting new readers, the book will have more meaning if you have also indulged in the debut book of the series (Still Life). This book will leave you wanting to linger a little longer, sitting on a bench on the village green or sipping cafe au lait in the bistro, just so you don’t have to say goodbye to characters who have become friends!
Love Gamache!
I’m just discovering and enjoying the Louise Penny Gamauche novels. Glad I found them.
All Louise Penny books get 5 stars! I love the Inspector Gamache series – for more, see my review on the boxed set.
This is the second in a long series of books by Louise Penny…each one unique in plotline and most taking place in the fictional small Canadian town of Three Pines with the protagonist, Inspector Armand Gamache. My husband and I have read each 5-star book in this series with great interest and have eagerly awaited the next. We are now looking forward to Penny’s next Gamache novel arriving in September.
I enjoyed this book so much, the audio version is a pleasure to listen to. This is the second in the series . The characters are expanding and some come and go, I enjoy that aspect of her work— it feels more true to life. I am starting the third book and intend to work my way through the series.
I love everything Louise Penny writes!! Her characters are incredibly original and interesting. Read all of her books!!
Great Series
Every Louise Penny Inspector Gamache book is extremely well written and the story is well crafted. Her characters are people you know and people you want to know. Each novel has opened my eyes to seeing things in a new way. How can you not love a series that is both a page turner and one you don’t want to read too fast as there are gems of truth and insight throughout. I cannot recommend this series highly enough!
4 stars for an entertaining mystery.
I enjoyed reading book 2 in this series, set in the mythical town of Three Pines, Quebec. This town is close to the US border in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec(between the St. Lawrence River and the US Vermont border). Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of the Homicide Division of the Surete du Quebec, is called to investigate the death of CC de Poitiers, electrocuted in front of an entire village.
He does solve the murder, and connects it with another murder in the city of Montreal, with the help of his dedicated team of excellent investigators. Along the way he uncovers some past secrets, which provide clues to the murders. I previously read book 1 in the series Still Life and recommend that you read it first. Book 1 was recommended by a family member and both my wife and I enjoy this series. There are a couple of characters that my wife really hated in this book. I read this library book in 3 days.
One quote:
“Because Armand Gamache knew something many of his colleagues never figured out. Murder was deeply human, the murdered and the murderer. To describe the murderer as a monstrosity, a grotesque, was to give him an unfair advantage. No. Murderers were human, and at the root of each murder was an emotion. Warped, no doubt. Twisted and ugly. But an emotion.”
Only the best. Hop on this series
Love reading Louise Penny books, very well written.
Louise Penny’s mystery novels go beyond the whodunit to contemplations on the emotions and motives of everyday people. Gamache is an amazing character, as are all the inhabitants of Three Pines.
Though this is the second story in the series, this is my 8th Chief Inspector Gamache story. Whenever they become available at the library is how I’m reading them. Events that are teasers in this story are answered in later books, but for me, they were “Aha!” moments, as I no longer felt like an outsider who only knew a part of a story, while everyone else knew the whole story. I’m also glad I did not have to read these in published order, as my anger for some of Gamache’s co-workers would have interfered with my enjoyment of later stories.
CC de Poitiers is a wretched person; Agent Yvette Nichol is a wretched person. However, one has a possibly redeemable character, while the other is just better off dead. How Gamache handles each person really adds to his character and how he believes his four tenets are paramount to being not only a good person, but a good leader. I wanted to know who one murderer was more as a puzzle, and not as justice, as her death was a good riddance. The other victim’s death aggrieved me, as it was cruel and senseless. This book was as difficult to read as How The Light Gets In, because there are just some really, really awful people in this story. Ruth, my favorite, Clara, a close second to Ruth, and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, one of my literary heroes, balance the horrid wretchedness of some really bad people. Yes, more than CC is a bad person in this story.
Clara’s kindness to a homeless lady, who knows of Clara’s work, provides readers hope. Ruth’s insight into the human soul offers hope. Reine-Marie’s and Armand’s relationship and value for one another offers hope. Readers needed hope in this tale, as it was definitely an emotional roller coaster. One moment I was laughing, and the next, my soul subdued.
Though I solved who committed the murder on the ice, I had no idea who or why the murder in the city occurred. Learning its answer was spellbinding. The power of this book is the focus on language and characters, not just people, but their characters as well.
all her books are just wonderful
This is my favorite author. I can’t wait for each book as it comes out.