A Fantastic Mystery Series You Do Not Want to Miss!
Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache - Three Pines Mystery Series
Do you ever read a book and love it so much you want to share it with everyone? Well, this is exactly the way I feel about Louise Penny’s Three Pines mystery series. I read all of these books over a few months. There was no stopping to read anything else. I had to binge them. Really, they are that good! If you like a good crime drama, murder mystery, who done it type story with a variety of interesting and intriguing characters then you will get hooked by this series. Read on to learn more about Louise Penny’s fantastic series!
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The Books
Pictured above are the first five books of the Inspector Gamache/Three Pines mystery series. (For your convenience, they are also linked to Amazon.) There are eighteen books in the entire series. The first book was published in 2004. The most recent book was published in 2022. The next book in the series will debut on Oct. 29, 2024. If you would like to see the order of the books and all of the titles then click here to check out the list which includes a synopsis of each book. For full disclosure, there is some very colorful language at times. It isn’t constant but it is there.
The Setting - Three Pines, Quebec
Louise Penny created the little village of Three Pines using her hometown of Knowlton, Quebec as her model. In the books, the beautiful village is located a short distance north of the Vermont border. It is a peaceful, quaint place that is not easily found but once found it is a place that no one wants to leave. There is a bed & breakfast, a bistro, a bookshop, bakery, and grocery store. Everyone knows everyone else. It sounds like a place that would be almost perfect, except for the murders that occur there.
The Characters
The main character of this series is Inspector Armand Gamache. He is a good man; kind, understanding, observant, honorable, and unrelenting in his pursuit of suspects. The author wanted him to be someone she would want to marry. He has a team of detectives who are loyal to him. The people of Three Pines are as eccentric as they are varied. There are artists, a poet, a psychologist turned bookstore owner, and two young men who own the B & B and bistro. Of couse, there are various other characters as well. The author intricately builds the characters and helps the reader to know them well.
The Stories
In these books, the peaceful little town and its inhabitants are rocked by a murder or a murder commited elsewhere is connected to Three Pines or one of the people there. Inspector Gamache from the Sûreté du Québec and his team come and investigate. As the story plays out, the reader tags along with Gamache collecting clues and information. In an Agatha Christie style, the reader is solving the murder right along with the inspector. There are some twists and turns that keep the reader spellbound as the story advances and finally the crime is solved as all clues are revealed. I love that these books are not overly filled with gruesome imagery or unnecessary creepiness. They are more a contrast between the goodness, hope and warmth of the little village and the unthinkable act of murder.
Reading or Listening
The books are great if you want to just read them. They move along at a good pace and keep your attention. However, if you prefer to listen to audio versions then you will find the narrator to be exceptional. I have loved listening to these books because of the narrator, Ralph Cosham. His accent and the way he does the different character’s voices is perfect. This narrator does many of the books but then a different reader, Robert Bathurst, will do the rest. It takes some adjustment to the change but he is also an excellent narrator.
Audible is a great way to listen to books while driving, multitasking, etc. Once you try it you'll never go back!
And More Reading...
If you have read any of the Louise Penny Three Pines series please drop a comment below. I would love to know your thoughts.
If you are looking for some other great reads check out our Book Reviews section or click to take a look at one of these posts.
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Now if you will excuse me Book 5 is calling!
Happy Reading!
Karen
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Thank you for letting me know that movies will be on Prime. I will keep my eyes open! I love this series. And like everyone, I am in love with Gamache!!!!
I love everything about this series, especially Gamache!
I haven’t read this series yet, but it sounds really good!! Will be reading soon!! Thanks for recommendation!!!
I think you will like it! They are so good! Be sure to read them in order. They build upon the characters as they go along.
October 29!!! I wonder how long it will be before I can get the new Three Pines book from the library! And, yes! There is some very colorful language thanks to Ruth and her duck!