“What happened here last night isn’t allowed,” said Madame Dubois. It was such an extraordinary thing to say it stopped the ravenous Inspector Beauvoir from taking another bite of his roast beef on baguette. “You have a rule against murder?” he asked. “I do. When my husband and I bought the Bellechasse we made a pact….Everything that stepped foot on this land would be safe.” It is the height … land would be safe.”
It is the height of summer, and Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache are celebrating their wedding anniversary at Manoir Bellechasse, an isolated, luxurious inn not far from the village of Three Pines. But they’re not alone. The Finney family–rich, cultured, and respectable–has also arrived for a celebration of their own.
The beautiful Manoir Bellechasse might be surrounded by nature, but there is something unnatural looming. As the heat rises and the humidity closes in, some surprising guests turn up at the family reunion, and a terrible summer storm leaves behind a dead body. It is up to Chief Inspector Gamache to unearth secrets long buried and hatreds hidden behind polite smiles. The chase takes him to Three Pines, into the dark corners of his own life, and finally to a harrowing climax.
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What an insightful story, bittersweet as well, but graciously profound! Louise Penny really seems to grasp social insights and relationships well. I thoroughly appreciated Penny’s lessons in how clinging to perceived injustices for a lifetime affects and shapes a person’s character, their outlook, and actions to situations, which for Clara and …
This may be my favorite Louise Penny so far. The way she gets at family dysfunction with compassion was so amazing, and the mystery itself left me guessing until almost the end. I LOVED it.
Louise Penny is an amazing author and this series is spectacular. Books need to be read in order. They just get better and better. Had the pleasure last week of seeing her speak about her writing. She is very entertaining, funny and totally enchanting. I will always read her next installments in this wonderful series!!!!!
Okay, this one is in the range of 4 to 4-1/2. There was so much I enjoyed about A Rule Against Murder: the writing, the descriptive details, the wonderful characters (I love Gamache at this point!), and the puzzling mystery. I thought I had it figured out about midway through. And this is where I was disappointed: the actual solution is kind of …
One of my favorite Louise Penny books.
I love this series so much! The characters are wonderful, especially Armand and Reine-Marie. I like that this book had a different setting, but some of the same characters as previous books. This book has an interesting mystery and I was surprised by the ending with how it was committed. The setting is so richly described that I felt like I …
Louise Penny scores again. I am now going to start and reread them in order.
Read February 7, 2020
Whoa. WOW. Holy cow.
Never, ever, saw that coming.
WHAT a psychotic family.
I do not think we have seen the last of all that whole mess.
I cannot read these fast enough. L O V E them!!
Superb writing, enjoy following the exploits of Inspector Gamache and his team. The plot, the settings, the pace keeps you reading until it is finished. Always looking forward to the next story.
It’s such a treat to visit Three Pines. This one is set at a resort in a nearby town, and it has all the beauty and twists and turns that Louise Penny is known for.
Louise Penny and Three Pines are great reads.
All Louise Penny books get 5 stars! I love the Inspector Gamache series – for more, see my review on the boxed set.
CI Gamache and his wife are spending their anniversary at the Bellechasse hotel situated just over the mountains from 3 Pines so you can still get a taste of your favourite characters. A family run hotel with familiar staff who have been welcoming our couple for many years.
Staying at the hotel is the Finney family. A family that has many secret’s …
Love Louise Penny. I am addicted to her novels
I came to Louise Penny late and I feel lucky to have found her. This didn’t disappoint (nor have any other of her series). I recommend her to everyone.
3.5 stars rounded up. This is book 4 in the Armand Gamache series and I recommend that you read them in order, as there are continuing plot developments. I thought that the first 100 pages were rather slow. My wife read this book before me and she thinks 4 stars and says that the author spends time developing intricate characters/plot lines. She …
All of Louise Penny’s books are fabulous. Beautifully written and a great mystery.
I’m enthralled by Louise Penny, cannot get enough of her main character, Armand Gamache! This book takes us away from the regular setting of Three Pines and into a dysfunctional family at a resort located in the woods of Quebec where a tragedy occurs and Armand must weave through some interesting characters to find the murderer. Loved every page! …
Have read all of Penny’s books in this series…some are better than others but they are all worth reading.
I love ALL of Louise Penny’s books. She is an exceptional writer in my opinion!