The brilliant new novel in the New York Times bestselling series by Louise Penny, one of the most acclaimed crime writers of our timeNo outsiders are ever admitted to the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, hidden deep in the wilderness of Quebec, where two dozen cloistered monks live in peace and prayer. They grow vegetables, they tend chickens, they make chocolate. And they sing. … And they sing. Ironically, for a community that has taken a vow of silence, the monks have become world-famous for their glorious voices, raised in ancient chants whose effect on both singer and listener is so profound it is known as “the beautiful mystery.”
But when the renowned choir director is murdered, the lock on the monastery’s massive wooden door is drawn back to admit Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the S ret du Qu bec. There they discover disquiet beneath the silence, discord in the apparent harmony. One of the brothers, in this life of prayer and contemplation, has been contemplating murder. As the peace of the monastery crumbles, Gamache is forced to confront some of his own demons, as well as those roaming the remote corridors. Before finding the killer, before restoring peace, the Chief must first consider the divine, the human, and the cracks in between.
The Beautiful Mystery is the winner of the 2012 Agatha Award for best novel, the 2013 Anthony Award for best novel and the 2013 Macavity Award for best novel.
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This is my first Louise Penny novel to read, and I am hooked. For me, Inspector Armand Gamache ranks as high as Guido Brunetti and Matthew Shardlake of whom I have read all their stories. I found Inspector Gamache because of my Mom and Brother and their sudden interest in my copy of W.H. Auden’s “Selected Poems.” Listening to them talk about …
I’ll read anything by Louise Penney. This one hit especially close to home, since I understand the worlds of monasticism and sacred music. Penney adds a true literary style to her skill at storytelling in the mystery series genre.
All right, fellow readers! I’ve just finished The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny and am still enthralled by Inspector Gamache and all the characters who end up in his gravitational pull. He is, by far, one of the most engaging protagonists I have come across in mystery fiction in a long while, and I’m so happy to have discovered these books, …
I love Louise Penny’s books, and I’m having so much fun reading her series this summer. This is number 8 and it’s a locked-room mystery in a monastery in the wilds of Canada. While I missed all the favorites from Three Pines, its a great story with a twisty plot.
Great. Googly. Moogly.
There are circles of hell for people like Francoeur [because you know and I know that there are people EXACTLY like him in the “real world”. Corrupt monsters don’t only exist in books]. I cannot only hope that his need for revenge comes back to bite him in a place that will cause GREAT PAIN.
Now I have to wait 6 weeks for …
I enjoy the character development in this book. The murder itself is almost background to the values/ethics/struggles of Inspector Gramache and his second in command, Bouvier. It’s great to read.
I enjoy each book in this series and its wonderful characters. This book takes place at a monastery in the woods, far from civilization. A monk has been found dead, murdered, in a secluded garden inside a locked monastery. These monks are famous for their beautiful voices when they sing Gregorian chants. This is the only time that they use …
One of the best
Once again my husband and I passed the miles away in the car listening to the incredible writing of Louise Penny! The Beautiful Mystery takes place in a different setting than most of her books – a monastery. My first thoughts were that this might get a little boring because of this setting – what was I thinking? Penny is a master of setting the …
My first Gamache book. It hooked me into the series and still one of my favorites
I love Louise Penny and I missed this book somehow. Good to have found one I have not read. Very different not being set in Three Pines but just as good but different.
Love the characters. Have followed them from the beginning. They become almost like family.
Her best book yet. Had me mystified to the very end. Bravo!
This is the Inspector Gamache book I have read more than once, and each time I get something new. Don’t miss it.
Louise Penny is brilliant
This is the first book I have read in this series,and I really enjoyed it. I love how the audio version brings the characters to life. I am going to try another , set in Three Pines. Penny’s writing style is just what I look for.
I love the setting, characters, and mystery.
i’VE READ EVERY LOUISE PENNEY AND LOVED THEM ALL. SHE IS MY FAVORITE MYSTERY WRITE I ADORE HER CHARACTERS…WISH I LIVED IN THEIR VILLAGE.
Love all of this authors books. I look forward to every one of them.
Love all Louise Penny books. This one is great.