INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA December 2018 Indie Next Pick One of Kirkus Reviews’ Best of 2018 PicksBookPage Best of the Year 2018 A LibraryReads Pick for November 2018 A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Winner Washington Post’s 10 Books to Read This NovemberOne of PopSugar’s Best Fall Books to Curl Up With“A captivating, wintry whodunit.” —PEOPLE“A constantly surprising series that deepens and … With
“A captivating, wintry whodunit.” —PEOPLE
“A constantly surprising series that deepens and darkens as it evolves.” —Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review
Kingdom of the Blind, the new Chief Inspector Gamache novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.
When a peculiar letter arrives inviting Armand Gamache to an abandoned farmhouse, the former head of the Sûreté du Québec discovers that a complete stranger has named him one of the executors of her will. Still on suspension, and frankly curious, Gamache accepts and soon learns that the other two executors are Myrna Landers, the bookseller from Three Pines, and a young builder.
None of them had ever met the elderly woman.
The will is so odd and includes bequests that are so wildly unlikely that Gamache and the others suspect the woman must have been delusional. But what if, Gamache begins to ask himself, she was perfectly sane?
When a body is found, the terms of the bizarre will suddenly seem less peculiar and far more menacing.
But it isn’t the only menace Gamache is facing.
The investigation into what happened six months ago—the events that led to his suspension—has dragged on, into the dead of winter. And while most of the opioids he allowed to slip through his hands, in order to bring down the cartels, have been retrieved, there is one devastating exception.
Enough narcotic to kill thousands has disappeared into inner city Montreal. With the deadly drug about to hit the streets, Gamache races for answers.
As he uses increasingly audacious, even desperate, measures to retrieve the drug, Armand Gamache begins to see his own blind spots. And the terrible things hiding there.
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Louise Penny is nothing short of a genius when it comes to the art and craft of the the perfect mystery series. Her Inspector Gamache books are all winners– all them – including this one. If you’ve read none, start at the beginning with STILL LIFE so that you can get in on the masterful building of the lives of the recurring characters, They will soon feel like your own family…
So many secrets in this book. Cozy readers will love the mystery as well as the well defined community of three pines.
Louise Penny never disappoints! Chief Superintendent Armand Gamache, now suspended because of the events surrounding a massive drug bust, is back in Three Pines, the idyllic village south of Montreal. The intriguing characters in that village alone are sufficient reason to read this novel. But there is more! A strange will, continued intrigue in Quebec and Armand’s desperate quest to forestall the release on the streets of a crippling new illegal drug provide continuing suspense. Suffice it to say, things are not what they seem. But then, they rarely are in Ms. Penny’s delicious novels.
Another stunning book by Louise Penny. I love disappearing into the world of Armand Gamache and his friends. Captivating setting and compelling characters. Beautifully crafted!
In Kingdom of the Blind, Chief Inspector Gamache has been suspended because he let a dangerous drug hit the streets of Montreal, a consequence of his focus on arresting the drug kingpins who used Three Pines as a crossing point into the States. Beauvoir keeps getting hounded by the Powers That Be to pin the blame on Gamache, but he wavers until finally signing some papers (we don’t really know what they are). Meanwhile, Gamache is called back to the police academy to deal with a problem involving Amelia, the tattooed and surly police trainee whom Gamache hand-picked to attend the school. She’s apparently been selling drugs, and Gamache recommends expulsion. (At this point, I knew something was up, but I digress!). The main thread of the story begins when Gamache and Myrna, the bookseller, are summoned to a rickety house in another small town. They–and a young man named Benedict–have been chosen to be the trustees of the will left behind by a woman who called herself The Baroness. The Baroness cleaned houses in Three Pines and had three children who had grown to become successful adults, the two boys in investment gigs. Well, not far into the story, the Baroness’s rickety house falls on top of Gamache, Myrna, and Benedict. And, once they’re recovered from the wreckage, the body of the elder son of the Baroness is found dead, from foul play not the falling house. During the murder investigation, we learn the history of The Baroness’s family and the long-running feud with another family, going back to pre-war Germany. Needless to say, all is not as it seems, or, rather, everyone is not who they seem (hence, Kingdom of the Blind). I have to say, the ending surprised me in some ways–the motive for murder and who did it, for one–and confirmed my suspicions about other threads. But what happens with Beauvoir surprised me most of all (and I can’t say I like it!). So, onto the next one, which is the last in the series before the newest title is released this fall! I can’t wait!
A chilling, thrilling visit to Three Pines — perfect!
My favorite Louise Penny “Gamache” so far. The characters in this long and beloved series are fully formed, and some interesting new characters enliven the action. Humor and pathos are expertly woven into an inventive mystery of greed and murder. An enjoyable read.
Having to atone for the allowing of narcotic opioids to distribute its way to Montreal’s streets, Gamache is suspended, and not only that, he and Myrna have been named executor of a will for a person they do not know. Personal introspection occurs with many characters, as well as some twists we didn’t see coming.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge Louise Penny fan. Kingdom of the Blind is the best yet. Gamache is back, with his strong moral code and message of home amidst the darkness. The old gang is back, though I would have loved more more more of Ruth, the Bistro owners, and the Bookstore owner. I wouldn’t have changed a word of the book, though, so maybe I just need to move to Three Pines so I can check on the characters more frequently. I miss them between books.
If you’re up-to-date on the books, Gamache made a difficult decision in the last book. He must now deal with the consequences and try to make it right. It’s what Gamache does, always…but my heart was in my throat wondering if he could pull it off again.
If you have followed Louise Penny’s previous books, it builds on the past. The characters are so well drawn that you truly believe you would know them should you meet them on the street. A great read, the books leaves you wanting more.
This is the latest in Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series located in Three Pines. Penny is an outstanding author. Throughout her twelve books in this series she has created a group of characters that a reader truly cares about. I’ve enjoyed watching the development and growth of these characters as I would were they actual people and friends. Inspector Armand Gamache, the main protagonist, is a wise and wonderfully humane yet realistic man. While he is focal to all the books, other key members of the surete in Quebec and residents of the hidden village of three pines fill out the stories making the community and the characters relationships seem real.
The books, including this latest one, deal with hard, real life issues. The plots are well-constructed and one can never quite anticipate the endings. These are books where everything does not always turn out well for everyone. Rather like real life. However, I always end up satisfied and with a more positive outlook on life than I may have begun with.
Three cheers for Louise Penny. She has given many of us a great gift through her writing.
Love this whole series. I want to move to Three Pines and sit n the bistro with the characters
Read 9.9.2021
If you’re a fan of Louise Pennys series you’ll enjoy reading this. More about Gamach and his family and its set in Paris what could be better.
louise penny is always a great read
Another wide-ranging Inspector Gamache novel that captures timely crime trends, global intrigue, and the neighborly attraction of small town life, all tied up with satisfying resolve.
Great author great characters
Wonderful characters that live in your hearts forever.
Inspector Gamache is an interesting, bilingual fellow who appears warm and human to readers while maintaining his astuteness as Chief Inspector. Easy to relate to him and his cohorts while sadly other main characters departed, eg his daughter and son-in-law. Easy relaxing series of light reading.
Another Gamache and family story . . this time not in Three Pines