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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Love Three Pines.
Louise Penny creates a world so enchanting the reader longs to visit Three Pines, stay in the B&B, devour the marvelous food. And she also does murder so subtly it’s difficult for even the best armchair detective to figure out who done it.
The first book of a series, it introduces the most beloved charcharater I have ever read, a Canadian Chief Inspector.
Louise Penny is a wonderful author. The way she makes you feel as though you want to be in Three Pines at the cafe having breakfast, or hanging out in the bookshop is a huge part of her appeal. The mysteries themselves are always well developed and not easy to figure out. Still Life is a page turner.
One of today’s best main characters, great supporting characters and a village that I would love to visit. Wonderfully written! A favorite!
The absolute best. Read this first, then the others in order. Be not satisfied with two pines…
All of her books in this series are a good read
This is the first book of the Armand Gamache series of which I read most of them but not in order. I wish that I had read this book first because it would have made the following books easier to understand. This book opened up new characters with different goals and values. My favorite pastime while reading Penny’s books is figuring out the motivations driving each person in the book.
Due to the three-day weekend, binge reading really occurred. I’m glad I finally got to read the first of the Gamache series. The introduction of the characters that are so pivotal to all the mysteries was pleasurable, and as flawed as Ruth is, and as questionable as her behavior 60 years previously had been, I still love Ruth!
It also saddened me some to know the changes that will come to several of the characters, changes some need to make, and changes that happen to some. The characters are so “innocent” for lack of a better word; they are flawed, too, but likable, nonetheless. I’m also regretful that this story’s victim couldn’t have been someone else, because they seemed a very interesting person.
My favorite quote was the one on Ruth’s bathroom mirror; though, I do love and have W. H. Auden’s Selected Poems and Collected Poems.
The only reason I rated this a 4 star review concerns Gamache’s reference to his parents. He talks of them being old and with him for a long while and dying separately, but having read later books in the series, his parents die young, when Gamache was young, too, and they die together. I’m very confused by this rather large, significant detail.
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death of Jane Neal; a 70+ woman from a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal was a teacher and liked by many in Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border. Jane has been found dead in the woods from an arrow. 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.
This kept me guessing until the last 2 chapters.
This is the first book in one of my favorite series. Armand Gamache is a very interesting protagonist, and the other members of his team have their own quirks and weaknesses and are portrayed realistically. If you like to read books in a seties, as I do, you will love this series.
I am obsessed with the entire Inspector Gamache series. Well written and thoughtful, and I rate every book in the series either 4-star or 5-star.
Read them all!
I can’t say enough good things about Ms. Penny’s Three Pines series. These are mysteries I actually will and do re-read as the characters are so wonderful. Except for the murders I want to live in Three Pines although the books don’t all take place there. I hope she continues to add to this series and by all means join us fans at the Three Pines Bistro. I know you will find it wonderful.
All of the Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache books are excellent reading. Read them in order to fully understand the characters who bring each book to life. Her writing is exceptional. I have read them all a couple of times and still find them a pleasure.
This book, and the series it begins, led me to Quibec and the townships.
Love all of Louise Penny’s books. Am reading her latest one now. I would suggest you read them in order even though each book can be a stand alone one. She sometimes refers to something that happened in a previous book. The characters are wonderful and after a couple books you begin to feel as if you really know them. Being a lover of winter the winter settings are to my liking.
I came late to discovering Louise Penny and her wonderful Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete in Quebec. He and the wonderful, quirky, flawed characters in Three Pines are so true that one feels like they might be your own friend, I’ve read three books in the series so far and I plan to read them all.
Her books concentrate on the characters, not the crime itself, much like Elizabeth George and her DCI Lynley series. The characters are all well developed so you get a full picture of them, warts and all. Try her books. You won’t be disappointed.
Great characters I wanted to read about again.
We just read this in my book club! I love Louise Penny! Read it, and then let’s talk about the two meanings of the title!
You should all get to know Chief Inspector Gamache and Three Pines!