Winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are … the woods. The locals are certain it’s a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter.
Still Life introduces not only an engaging series hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces—and this series—with integrity and quiet courage, but also a winning and talented new writer of traditional mysteries in the person of Louise Penny.
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Characters you come to know and love. You can’t wait for the next in the series.
I love a good mystery and this fit the bill. I enjoyed the characters an the setting. After reading the first in the series I was hooked and had to find the next!
This book was given to me by my great aunt, who loves a good mystery! It was unpredictable to me, but I admit I’m also not great at predicting the “Who” of “Whodunits.” I loved following Chief Inspector Gamache as he tries to solve a surprising death that might just be murder in a small hamlet that seems to connect to the local art scene. Gamache has interesting interactions with both a seasoned partner and a rookie, and studies the locals closely to try and suss out the killer (if any).
This French-Canadian mystery has a wonderful, atmospheric “feeling” I find hard to describe; It has a dreary feeling that is more stoic than hopeless, like Jo Nesbo’s The Redbreast or the Belgian television show Unite 42. I found it to be close to reading a “dark cozy mystery.” I’ve already ordered the second book!
Beautiful descriptions and fresh turns of phrases, this was an enjoyable read that held me in suspense to the end.
If you haven’t read any Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache mysteries you should start with her first, “Still Life.” You’ll be hooked and glad you did.
A very good read concerning the murder of a woman who was a local fixture in her community. There was some fascinating information about bows/arrows & how one became part of the murder. The various characters made for a real interesting cat-and mouse game as to who was responsible for Jane’s death. However, at the end when you finally think you find out who was the culprit, Inspector Gamache gives it a twist that makes you wonder who really did it.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Couldn’t put the book down. Can’t wait to start on the next!
Great picture of village life in Canada.
This author’s books have the best traits of mystery writing without violence or too much sex
The Inspector Gamache mysteries are enticing. Great read.
I’ve read all of her books and have really enjoyed them. Her characters are wonderful and unforgettable! I have passed all of the books on to my brother in Connecticut; he is also thoroughly enjoying them. Now his wife has started…..
This was the first book I read by this author. The plot was interesting and original although it felt like it didn’t move along as quickly as I was anticipating. Interesting characters but boring conversations at times. Guess I had to get used to Louise Penny’s style. I will try reading some of her later books.
You owe it to yourself to read this book and welcome the residents of Three Pines and Inspector Gamache into your life.
Reading the Chief Inspector Gamache Series is an wonderful way to spend curled up on the sofa. All of the books (I believe there are now 13+ books) are entertaining. Louise Penny’s style of description allows me to see Three Pines in my mind and I can actually visualize the characters. A word of caution, if you are new to this series I recommend starting with the first book “Still Life” and working forward.
I adore a good mystery, especially when the story’s full of fascinating and unusual characters. “Still Life,” the first book in the Three Pines series, delivers both, plus Louise Penny’s writing is lovely, like enjoying a fine meal slowly with wine. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
4.5 stars rounded down to 4 for a very well written cozy mystery. There is only 1 murder, and little violence.
This is book 1 in the Armand Gamache mystery series. It takes place in Three Pines, Quebec, a mythical village close to the US border with Vermont. Gamache is the Chief of Homicide with the Surete du Quebec. He lives and is based in Montreal, but investigates murders province wide.
He is called to Three Pines because of the suspicious death of Jane Neal, whose body was found in the woods near Three Pines.
The author introduces a wonderful group of well drawn characters in this village. Gamache patiently investigates with the help of his team and does find who the killer is with the help of various villagers.
The investigation is shown to be a team effort, which is how most murders are solved in real life.
I was not sure who the killer was until the end.
This part of Quebec has a fair number of anglophones, descendants of Loyalists who fled the US at the end of the US revolutionary war. Some of the tensions between anglophone vs. francophone are described with kindness. A family member gave me this book.
Two quotes:
A villager describing Gamache: “Ben had been expecting a francophone, perhaps even a unilingual French detective, so he’d spent a few minutes practicing his French, and how to describe his movements. Now this immaculate man with the trimmed mustache, the deep brown eyes looking at him over the rim of his half moon glasses, the three-piece suit(could that possibly be a Burberry coat?), the tweed cap with graying, groomed hair underneath, was extending his large hand-as though this was a slightly formal business occasion- and speaking English with a British accent. Yet he’d heard snippets of his conversation with his colleagues and that was definitely in fast and fluid French.”
Three Pines: “It’s a code. For the United Empire Loyalists. They settled all the land around here, except for the Abenaki of course.’ In a sentence, Gamache noticed, Ben had dismissed a thousand years of native habitation. “But we’re only a couple of kilometers from the border with the SDtates. When the people loyal to the crown during and after the War of Independence were fleeing, they had no way of knowing when they were safe. So a code was designed. Three pines in a cluster meant the loyalists would be welcome.’
Very character driven and enjoyable.
Reminds me of Agatha Christie in some ways such as setting of murders. Love the building of characters descriptions and the unique writing…slow build up but still entertaining!
This is the story of a murder in a small town in Montreal. Jane Neal was a well loved neighbor and friend, and she is seemingly murdered one morning after she reveals her painting called “Fair Day”. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called in to help solve the case.
Jane had painted what looks like a child’s drawing called Fair Day. As people start to see it, they realize that Jane has painted everyone she knows into the painting to show their varying personalities. The Chief and some of Jane’s closest friends are sure that this painting is what lead to her murder. But what they can’t figure out is why. And who. It takes the whole town going into Jane’s home and seeing her other paintings to finally piece together the whole story.
This was an okay book. I know several people who like Louise Penny’s books, but I didn’t think the book was that well written. I was disappointed in that fact because I was excited to read something that was recommended by a few people. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great. The story was all over the place, and the characters with wide swings of personalities that just didn’t add anything to the story.
It was a fast read, and for now it will stay my Canada book because I really want to move on to other countries. I may trade it out in the future.
The first book in my favorite mystery series, ever. Gamache is deeply humane. I recommend reading them in order.