Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Minotaur (2009), Edition: F First Edition, 322 pages
Description
In this classic drawing room mystery, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is looking forward to celebrating his wedding anniversary at the remote, luxurious Manoir Bellechasse. As Gamache's holiday becomes a busman's anniversary, he learns that the seemingly peaceful lodge is a place where visitors come to escape their past, until that past catches up with them.
Media reviews
Louise Penny applies her magic touch to A RULE AGAINST MURDER, giving the village mystery an elegance and depth not often seen in this traditional genre.
User reviews
LibraryThing member brenzi
Another satisfying sojourn with Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and the Montreal Surete as they try to solve the case of the toppling statue. This time the mystery does not take place in the charming village of Three Pines and I understand the author’s reasoning. I mean, how many murders can take
Gamache and his wife are celebrating their anniversary at the lovely and impressive Manoir Bellechasse, hotel for clientele seeking a private, elegant repose in the Quebec forests. Also in residence is the Morrow family, reuniting to mark the occasion of the placement of a statue honoring their late husband and father. This is a family unlike any I know. They take greed and self-serving to a new level and you just know that they’re in for a fall. And fall it does; the statue, that is. And in so doing manages to kill someone. Accident?? Now really. Be sensible. This is a murder mystery. We’re off and running, trailing the Chief Inspector as he tries to solve the murder case, uncover the unfathomable family secrets and come to terms with some of his own ghosts.
Penny masterfully weaves all the elements together to create the mosaic that becomes the latest murder investigation. And before you know it, thoughts of the missing Three Pines characters are gone as you become completely absorbed in the current crime resolution. Not only are you trying to figure out who the murderer is and how it was possible to commit the murder, but what is the mystery in Gamache’s past and what made the Morrow family such an unpleasant group of individuals and what family secrets are they hiding. And finally the hotel and its staff provide many secrets themselves. Put it all together, stir it up and, voila, you’ve got one fantastic mystery. Again. Even without the Three Pines regulars. Highly recommended.
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place in the same quiet little community? But I did miss the banter and interaction that the other Three Pines residents provided in the earlier books in this series, for awhile anyway.Gamache and his wife are celebrating their anniversary at the lovely and impressive Manoir Bellechasse, hotel for clientele seeking a private, elegant repose in the Quebec forests. Also in residence is the Morrow family, reuniting to mark the occasion of the placement of a statue honoring their late husband and father. This is a family unlike any I know. They take greed and self-serving to a new level and you just know that they’re in for a fall. And fall it does; the statue, that is. And in so doing manages to kill someone. Accident?? Now really. Be sensible. This is a murder mystery. We’re off and running, trailing the Chief Inspector as he tries to solve the murder case, uncover the unfathomable family secrets and come to terms with some of his own ghosts.
Penny masterfully weaves all the elements together to create the mosaic that becomes the latest murder investigation. And before you know it, thoughts of the missing Three Pines characters are gone as you become completely absorbed in the current crime resolution. Not only are you trying to figure out who the murderer is and how it was possible to commit the murder, but what is the mystery in Gamache’s past and what made the Morrow family such an unpleasant group of individuals and what family secrets are they hiding. And finally the hotel and its staff provide many secrets themselves. Put it all together, stir it up and, voila, you’ve got one fantastic mystery. Again. Even without the Three Pines regulars. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member bell7
Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie are away, celebrating their anniversary in a small hotel in the middle of nowhere. The Finney family are the other guests, "celebrating" a reunion, but each of them seem deeply unhappy underneath their surface behavior. When murder intrudes,
I absolutely love this series, and I find it so hard to explain exactly why. I read more analytically if there's something I don't like, something I can focus on outside of the story. But the Three Pines series completely draws me in to that world, to these characters whom I've come to care so much about that I can smile or tear up depending on what's going on in their lives and hearts. I got up this morning with about 80 pages left, put on a pot of coffee, sat down on the couch to read and didn't get up to get my cup of coffee until I'd finished the book (and if you know me at all, you know almost nothing gets between me and coffee first thing in the morning). This fourth book in the series is the first to be set away from Three Pines, but I was not at all disappointed by the results. Once again, the characters' inner struggles are the focal point, because twisted human emotions are what lead to murder and Armand Gamache carefully exposes his own and others' secrets to find the truth. If you've been putting off reading the series, all I can say is, what are you waiting for?
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Inspector Gamache and his team have a wealth of suspects to sort through: the question is not why but how?I absolutely love this series, and I find it so hard to explain exactly why. I read more analytically if there's something I don't like, something I can focus on outside of the story. But the Three Pines series completely draws me in to that world, to these characters whom I've come to care so much about that I can smile or tear up depending on what's going on in their lives and hearts. I got up this morning with about 80 pages left, put on a pot of coffee, sat down on the couch to read and didn't get up to get my cup of coffee until I'd finished the book (and if you know me at all, you know almost nothing gets between me and coffee first thing in the morning). This fourth book in the series is the first to be set away from Three Pines, but I was not at all disappointed by the results. Once again, the characters' inner struggles are the focal point, because twisted human emotions are what lead to murder and Armand Gamache carefully exposes his own and others' secrets to find the truth. If you've been putting off reading the series, all I can say is, what are you waiting for?
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Imagine going on a much-anticipated vacation to a remote resort where you can forget all about work -- only you can't, because your work follows you there. That's exactly what happens to Chief Inspector Gamache as he and his wife celebrate their anniversary at the Manoir Bellechasse in rural
In a series of strong murder mysteries, this is the best developed to date. The crime is seemingly impossible, yet when the method is finally revealed, the alert reader will remember clues which were woven into the story so naturally that they didn't seem to be clues at all. A Rule Against Murder is equal to Agatha Christie at her best.
This book could be enjoyed as a stand-alone, although I would strongly encourage reading the books in this series in the order of their publication.
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Quebec. When the body of one of their fellow guests is discovered under circumstances that suggest murder, Gamache becomes both investigator and witness.In a series of strong murder mysteries, this is the best developed to date. The crime is seemingly impossible, yet when the method is finally revealed, the alert reader will remember clues which were woven into the story so naturally that they didn't seem to be clues at all. A Rule Against Murder is equal to Agatha Christie at her best.
This book could be enjoyed as a stand-alone, although I would strongly encourage reading the books in this series in the order of their publication.
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LibraryThing member richardderus
**I don't know how it happened, but I never posted this review. Careless of me.**
I'm mad at Louise Penny because of book #5 in the Three Pines/Chief Inspector Gamache mysteries, and I want to take it out on her now, but in fairness I just can't. I loved this book as much as I expected to. I thought
The Gamaches seem so at home in the splendid, isolated Manoir, with its beautiful robber-baron-era main building and its spectacular lake. The murder this time is one I was saddened by; the murderer was one I felt so strongly about that I hollered at the pages, "Don't do it!" in the vain hope I could alter the course of the action.
I couldn't.
Damn.
But the real surprise here is the Morrows...Peter and Clara Morrow show up at the Manoir to be at a special family reunion of Peter's horrid family. I know families like this exist. I belong to one. But it's really distasteful to watch the Morrow clan in action. I suppose if my family still had money, we'd behave pretty much exactly like the Morrows, and I mean exactly, down to every detail of the action. Recessions, divorces, and bad business decisions be praised!
I like Clara a little less now; I like Peter almost not at all; and the Gamaches are aces in my book, though I suspect that Armand would wear on me if he's really like he was at the very, very end of this book...a little too perfect. And I still could not WAIT to get to book five! I was panting for it!
Bah. Humbug.
I'm mad at Louise Penny because of book #5 in the Three Pines/Chief Inspector Gamache mysteries, and I want to take it out on her now, but in fairness I just can't. I loved this book as much as I expected to. I thought
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that moving the action out of Three Pines would make me grumpy, but instead it made me feel, more than ever, that I want to live in Three Pines because Manoir Bellechasse is close for those times I need to get away from the hectic hustle and bustle of Three Pines (snort).The Gamaches seem so at home in the splendid, isolated Manoir, with its beautiful robber-baron-era main building and its spectacular lake. The murder this time is one I was saddened by; the murderer was one I felt so strongly about that I hollered at the pages, "Don't do it!" in the vain hope I could alter the course of the action.
I couldn't.
Damn.
But the real surprise here is the Morrows...Peter and Clara Morrow show up at the Manoir to be at a special family reunion of Peter's horrid family. I know families like this exist. I belong to one. But it's really distasteful to watch the Morrow clan in action. I suppose if my family still had money, we'd behave pretty much exactly like the Morrows, and I mean exactly, down to every detail of the action. Recessions, divorces, and bad business decisions be praised!
I like Clara a little less now; I like Peter almost not at all; and the Gamaches are aces in my book, though I suspect that Armand would wear on me if he's really like he was at the very, very end of this book...a little too perfect. And I still could not WAIT to get to book five! I was panting for it!
Bah. Humbug.
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LibraryThing member cameling
How can one not like crime fiction that incorporates poetry, humor and a good dose of whodunit investigative processes? Throw in what seems to be the most dysfunctional family whose members appear not only to detest each other but also make it a game of hurling cruel digs at each other.
Set in an
There is no shortage of murder suspects among the guests and staff at the hotel but it's the why that continues to escape our investigative team. And what's with the strange child, named Bean and all her clocks? Who really is the hulking chef? Even Chief Inspector Gamache is not without his skeletons.
Pure entertainment in every page
Set in an
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idyllic vacation spot way out in the hinterlands of Montreal, our intrepid poetry-spouting Chief Inspector Armand Gamache thinks he's there to celebrate his anniversary but soon finds himself amongst a cast of oddball characters, one of whom appears to have been murdered by the newly erected marble statue of her father.There is no shortage of murder suspects among the guests and staff at the hotel but it's the why that continues to escape our investigative team. And what's with the strange child, named Bean and all her clocks? Who really is the hulking chef? Even Chief Inspector Gamache is not without his skeletons.
Pure entertainment in every page
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LibraryThing member EllenH
This is the 3rd book in the series that I read. Having skipped #3 I realise it is important to read this series in order. There were things from the 2nd that needed resolving and weren't mentioned here. I was hoping for a different location than 3 Pines and the Manoir was a nice location. The first
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100 pages, as in her other books, slogged as the story was set, but later it was really well done. An enjoyable, complicated mystery. Show Less
LibraryThing member tututhefirst
Gamache takes his beautiful wife Reine Marie to the idyllic rustic Manoir Bellechasse to celebrate their wedding anniversary (it is where they spent the first night of their honeymoon). While he's there another family has taken over the rest of the lodge, and it soon becomes apparent that these
As one would expect, there is a murder on site, and Gamache (along with his second in command, Jean-Guy Beaumont) goes about the ugly task of interviewing this most unhappy group of visitors and staff to solve the mystery. They are an intriguing group: the chef who looks familiar to Jean Guy, and Reine Marie, the aloof maitre d', the surly summer hire, the shy and nervous gardener, the sons of the deceased (one a total snob, the other --well---), the widow of the deceased (who has re-married) and her husband, the daughter of the deceased and her child (we must question whether a child named "Bean" is male or female--I won't tell) and the proprietess who owns and runs the shop.
Add in the ex-son-in-law (sitting in a Vancouver jail for investment fraud) and Gamache's struggles with his memories of his deceased father and this book becomes one with layer upon layer of complexity. It is frankly magnificent.
Although this is not set in Three Pines, Penny manages to involve the villagers (Peter is the son of the deceased pater who is being memorialized) and she evokes the quiet, beautiful wilderness that is the hallmark of the other books in the series.
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people do not like each other very much. They are there to commemorate their deceased father by unveiling and dedicating a statue to him.As one would expect, there is a murder on site, and Gamache (along with his second in command, Jean-Guy Beaumont) goes about the ugly task of interviewing this most unhappy group of visitors and staff to solve the mystery. They are an intriguing group: the chef who looks familiar to Jean Guy, and Reine Marie, the aloof maitre d', the surly summer hire, the shy and nervous gardener, the sons of the deceased (one a total snob, the other --well---), the widow of the deceased (who has re-married) and her husband, the daughter of the deceased and her child (we must question whether a child named "Bean" is male or female--I won't tell) and the proprietess who owns and runs the shop.
Add in the ex-son-in-law (sitting in a Vancouver jail for investment fraud) and Gamache's struggles with his memories of his deceased father and this book becomes one with layer upon layer of complexity. It is frankly magnificent.
Although this is not set in Three Pines, Penny manages to involve the villagers (Peter is the son of the deceased pater who is being memorialized) and she evokes the quiet, beautiful wilderness that is the hallmark of the other books in the series.
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LibraryThing member diva0301
This is the fourth, and best so far, mystery about a small Quebec community called Three Pines, which has had far more than its fair share of homicide in the last few years. The writing is lyrical but not precious, the mystery (and the "how" done it in particular) is a great puzzler, and the chief
The Three Pines books are not in any way self-consciously "literary." Yet each imbues the crime investigation with questions about the nature and limits of family bonds, loyalty, and lost opportunities. In this most recent novel, the answers to these questions and the central mystery unfold in an arc that is poignant and deeply moving.
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detective is so fully realized that his character and its complexities are equally as fascinating as the crimes. In each book, the author also helps us rediscover bits and pieces of poetry that reveal something of Mr. Gamache as well as advancing the plot.The Three Pines books are not in any way self-consciously "literary." Yet each imbues the crime investigation with questions about the nature and limits of family bonds, loyalty, and lost opportunities. In this most recent novel, the answers to these questions and the central mystery unfold in an arc that is poignant and deeply moving.
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LibraryThing member jarvenpa
Oh, yay, I still have one more Louise Penny from my customer to read and return. Please let there be sufficient reading time in my days!
And so there was. Penny is very very good at what she does. Here we have an atmospheric story of love and loss and miscommunication. Secrets, murders, bees...
Now I
And so there was. Penny is very very good at what she does. Here we have an atmospheric story of love and loss and miscommunication. Secrets, murders, bees...
Now I
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have to seek out all of the other Gamache novels. Show Less
LibraryThing member JenJ.
For the first time, we leave Three Pines for the majority of our story. It's an interesting choice and one I couldn't support long term, but it actually made for a nice change. The Morrows are a terribly messed-up family, but fascinating. I found it interesting that we never do find out if Bean is
Listening to the Blackstone Audio edition narrated by Ralph Cosham.
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a boy or a girl. Penny often creates suspense by making it clear that clues have been found by the officers, particularly Gamache, but waiting to share that information with us. I can't decide if I like the increased suspense enough to excuse what can feel like deliberately withholding or trickery. Still, loving the series as a whole - the characterization is really excellent and I look forward to seeing which supporting characters will be featured in the next title. I wonder if Yvette Nicole will ever return or if her arc is done? I'd like to get to see more of her under more pleasant circumstances.Listening to the Blackstone Audio edition narrated by Ralph Cosham.
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LibraryThing member TadAD
Another thoroughly enjoyed book in Louise Penny's mystery series. We don't actually have the pleasure of being in Three Pines for this one, but Manoir Bellechasse was an acceptable substitute. One of the things that makes these books so enjoyable is that the author hasn't frozen her characters.
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Each new volume gives us a bit more insight into the history and personalities of the characters, making them more believable. Show Less
LibraryThing member BrianEWilliams
This is a good plot driven mystery with character development and background of CI Gamache, who is a continuing character in the author's series. The mystery involves a murder at a secluded resort during a family reunion. By coincidence, Gamache is at the resort with his wife on an annual vacation
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at the same time as the unrelated family reunion. The family members are not very likeable throughout the story, even the family member who is murdered. The mystery involves the identity of the murder er and how the murder was actually committed.(How did the murderer push over a heavy statue?) There's several red herrings, and the identity of the murderer came as a surprise to me. Show Less
LibraryThing member whimsicalkitten
As in her Three Pines mysteries, Louise Penny relies on her charming detective, Armand Gamache, to play the lead role. But in setting this novel in a grand manor in the woods on the other side of the mountain from Three Pines, she is free to expand on his character, his life, and his family without
When sister Julia is crushed to death by a statue of the family patriarch, Gamache and his team - Agents Lacoste and Beauvoir - arrive to help him unravel the mystery. In doing so, they repair some of the wounds that have destroyed the Morrow family, but at the same time, shatter the peaceful cocoon of the Manoir.
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the distraction of the entire band of Three Pines characters. The connection to Three Pines is maintained, however, through Peter and Clara Morrow, who are members of the highly dysfunctional Morrow family, who are staying at the Manoir Bellechasse at the same time as the Gamache's are there to celebrate their anniversary. When sister Julia is crushed to death by a statue of the family patriarch, Gamache and his team - Agents Lacoste and Beauvoir - arrive to help him unravel the mystery. In doing so, they repair some of the wounds that have destroyed the Morrow family, but at the same time, shatter the peaceful cocoon of the Manoir.
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LibraryThing member bookappeal
I cannot say enough good things about this writer. Though I missed Three Pines dearly in this book, it was getting to be quite the unpleasant place to live, what with all that murder! Penny cleverly includes tidbits of the quaint village and adds a new aspect to Chief Inspector Gamache. Getting to
If you haven't read this series yet, I recommend it to anyone who likes deeper, more thoughtful, but still suspenseful mysteries.
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know his wife, Reine-Marie, a little better was also a treat. The plot is well-developed, the characters just the right mix of bizarre and real, and the atmosphere cloying, stormy, and buggy - just as summer should be in a remote, wooded area, even if one is staying at a luxurious inn with delicious food and drink. Gamache displays his usual unmatched intelligence but also faces his own demons while trying to inspect the emotional wounds of his suspects.If you haven't read this series yet, I recommend it to anyone who likes deeper, more thoughtful, but still suspenseful mysteries.
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife are vacationing at the Manoir Bellechasse across the mountains from the village of Three Pines. The "Finney" family is having their annual reunion there. Gamache meets the various members of the family. All of them have a few eccentricities. When the
This is my favorite in the Inspector Gamache series to date. The quirky family and staff of the Manoir was full of suspects. It kept me interested to the very end.
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brother "Spot" arrives, Gamache is surprised to discover that he knows him. When one of the siblings turns up dead, Gamache calls in his team to begin the investigation. The biggest question is how the murderer was able to accomplish the act of murder. This is my favorite in the Inspector Gamache series to date. The quirky family and staff of the Manoir was full of suspects. It kept me interested to the very end.
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LibraryThing member m4marya
This book reads more as a traditional mystery than the others. We learn more about the inspector, and yet I found myself less interested than the rest. I love Clara as a character and all the others of Three Pines. This bookk takes us away from all that to a resort not far from Three pines, but
That bias of mine, the love for the other characters in Three pines other than the Inspector, completely influences my feelings towards this book. It was still well written and the dynamics of a not so healthy family relationship is perfectly written.
I really enjoy her books and this one was great. We learn more about the main character, but it felt a bit like the editor asked her to write more about the inspector, and to move away from Three Pines. Perhaps it was just my bias, my love for Clara and Three Pines that had just liking this book and not loving it, but it feels more formulaic--more of a traditional mystery.
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still far enough away. That bias of mine, the love for the other characters in Three pines other than the Inspector, completely influences my feelings towards this book. It was still well written and the dynamics of a not so healthy family relationship is perfectly written.
I really enjoy her books and this one was great. We learn more about the main character, but it felt a bit like the editor asked her to write more about the inspector, and to move away from Three Pines. Perhaps it was just my bias, my love for Clara and Three Pines that had just liking this book and not loving it, but it feels more formulaic--more of a traditional mystery.
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LibraryThing member cyderry
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec takes his wife of many years, Reine-Marie, to Manior Bellechasse in rural Quebec to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Their peaceful solitude is interrupted by the arrival of a dysfunctional family that includes Peter and Clara Marrow
Gamache sends Reine-Marie to Three Pines which is just over the hill while the investigation proceeds. The personal relationship and their family interaction is more prevalent in this book as we learn of Gamache's family history.
The story is again intricately woven around the lives of the characters drawing the reader farther and closer with each page trying to determine how the mystery will be resolved and whose demons will be exorcised.
Since this book was set outside of Three Pines but incorporated Three Pine residents, the shift didn't bother me as much as I anticipated. However, it does make one stop and think, are Peter and Clara a major reason that we haven't figured out yet for all of these murders?
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from Three Pines. Murder seems to follow the Inspector since the sister of Peter Marrow is found dead a little later so that the time which should have been peaceful and relaxing has turned deadly.Gamache sends Reine-Marie to Three Pines which is just over the hill while the investigation proceeds. The personal relationship and their family interaction is more prevalent in this book as we learn of Gamache's family history.
The story is again intricately woven around the lives of the characters drawing the reader farther and closer with each page trying to determine how the mystery will be resolved and whose demons will be exorcised.
Since this book was set outside of Three Pines but incorporated Three Pine residents, the shift didn't bother me as much as I anticipated. However, it does make one stop and think, are Peter and Clara a major reason that we haven't figured out yet for all of these murders?
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LibraryThing member hemlokgang
Audiobook..............Not my favorite one in this series. I think I missed all the wonderful characters from Three Pines. This story was set at a resort.
LibraryThing member WeeziesBooks
A Rule Against Murder is the second Louise Penny book that I have read and again, I enjoyed it completely. Chief Inspector Gamacheis the head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec. He is a strong character and yet he has his own personal history and demons that he must cope with. In this book
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Inspector Gamache and his wife come to Manoir Bellechasseto to celebrate thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. While staying at the Manior, they are somewhat overtaken by the Morrow family who are meeting for a reunion. The unique characters and the twist and turns of the plot, combined with of an unexpected death, make this an enjoyable murder mystery that is light and enjoyable. Show Less
LibraryThing member mks27
Although this book is not set in Three Pines, the setting and mystery are a treat. Much is revealed about Peter and Clara Morrow and Inspector Gamache's father. Again, as with all of Penny's mysteries, the human heart and soul is examined. In this case, sibling rivalry and family dynamics are most
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prominent. Penny excels at writing the final scenes where the murderer is revealed, noting that moment of life or death in wonderful thought and detail, and when all is finally explained. This series just kepts getting better. 4 stars Show Less
LibraryThing member mikedraper
Armand Gamache and his wife arrive at Manoir Bellechasse, for their thrity-fifth wedding anniversary.
They are the ideal guests, undemanding and happy with what they get. They are pleased to see their old acquaintance, innkeeper Clementine Dubois, at the reception desk.
Clementine tells them that the
The highlight of the Finney's vacation is the unveiling of a statue of Mrs. Finney's former husband, Charles Morrow.
We learn of some of the family antagonisms which come to a point when the statue of Morrow is overturned and beneath the statue is the body of one of the Finneys.
As the family is interviewed, we observe more petty jealousies and dislikes that the family had for one another.
The author knows her psychology and must have an extensive knowledge of family intrigue since she does such a fine job describing the Finneys.
I enjoyed the book, it is well done and includes memorable characters and vividly described settings. I kept trying to guess who the killer might be, only to be surprised.
They are the ideal guests, undemanding and happy with what they get. They are pleased to see their old acquaintance, innkeeper Clementine Dubois, at the reception desk.
Clementine tells them that the
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Finneys have take the other five rooms for a reunion, all arriving in their expensive cars and asking for free upgrades.The highlight of the Finney's vacation is the unveiling of a statue of Mrs. Finney's former husband, Charles Morrow.
We learn of some of the family antagonisms which come to a point when the statue of Morrow is overturned and beneath the statue is the body of one of the Finneys.
As the family is interviewed, we observe more petty jealousies and dislikes that the family had for one another.
The author knows her psychology and must have an extensive knowledge of family intrigue since she does such a fine job describing the Finneys.
I enjoyed the book, it is well done and includes memorable characters and vividly described settings. I kept trying to guess who the killer might be, only to be surprised.
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LibraryThing member smik
Wealthy, cultured and respectable, the Finney family is the epitome of gentility. When Irene Finney and her four grown-up children arrive at the Manoir Bellechasse in the heat of summer, the hotel's staff spring into action. For the children have come to this idyllic lakeside retreat for a special
A guest at the hotel, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache suddenly finds himself in the middle of a murder enquiry. The hotel is full of possible suspects - even the Manoir's staff have something to hide, and it's clear that the victim had many enemies. With its remote location, the lodge is a place where visitors come to escape their pasts. Until the past catches up with them...
This is another fine offering from Louise Penny.
I've written before about detectives whom I enjoy renewing acquaintance with - Reg Wexford, Guido Brunetti, Precious Ramotswe, and just recently I added Bennie Griessel and Kubu Bengu to that list - well, Armand Gamache is one of those. I also enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about his personal life, and to strike up a better acquaintance with his wife, Reine-Marie.
One of the things that I like about Armand is his strength of character. There's a touch of humour in A RULE AGAINST MURDER when some of the Finney family write him off as a shopkeeper, well below their social status. Most of them are very surprised to find out his true identity.
He reminds me a lot of Maigret, and I'm not sure whether that is not his "Frenchness" coming out.
The plot of A RULE AGAINST MURDER is beautifully constructed, and apart from Gamache himself there are some very interesting characters such as the chef Veronique, the child Bean, and the owner of Manoir Bellechasse, Madame Dubois. There's something a little cozy about the construction, something Poirot-ish about Gamache too. In many senses it is a locked room mystery - someone in the house party must have committed the murder.
The other aspect of the book that struck me is how it builds on our knowledge of the characters from the village of Three Pines whom we may have met in earlier books. Even if you haven't read any of the earlier books, do get this one.
And here is some information to make you find the earlier ones:
* Agatha Award Best Novel winner (2007) : Dead Cold
* Barry Awards First Novel winner (2007) : Still Life
* Anthony Awards First Novel winner (2007) : Still Life
* Agatha Award Best Novel winner (2008) : The Cruellest Month
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occasion - a memorial has been organised to pay tribute to their late father. But as the heat wave gathers strength, it is not just the statue of an old man that is unveiled. Old secrets and bitter rivalries begin to surface, and the morning after the ceremony, a body is found. The family has another member to mourn.A guest at the hotel, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache suddenly finds himself in the middle of a murder enquiry. The hotel is full of possible suspects - even the Manoir's staff have something to hide, and it's clear that the victim had many enemies. With its remote location, the lodge is a place where visitors come to escape their pasts. Until the past catches up with them...
This is another fine offering from Louise Penny.
I've written before about detectives whom I enjoy renewing acquaintance with - Reg Wexford, Guido Brunetti, Precious Ramotswe, and just recently I added Bennie Griessel and Kubu Bengu to that list - well, Armand Gamache is one of those. I also enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about his personal life, and to strike up a better acquaintance with his wife, Reine-Marie.
One of the things that I like about Armand is his strength of character. There's a touch of humour in A RULE AGAINST MURDER when some of the Finney family write him off as a shopkeeper, well below their social status. Most of them are very surprised to find out his true identity.
He reminds me a lot of Maigret, and I'm not sure whether that is not his "Frenchness" coming out.
The plot of A RULE AGAINST MURDER is beautifully constructed, and apart from Gamache himself there are some very interesting characters such as the chef Veronique, the child Bean, and the owner of Manoir Bellechasse, Madame Dubois. There's something a little cozy about the construction, something Poirot-ish about Gamache too. In many senses it is a locked room mystery - someone in the house party must have committed the murder.
The other aspect of the book that struck me is how it builds on our knowledge of the characters from the village of Three Pines whom we may have met in earlier books. Even if you haven't read any of the earlier books, do get this one.
And here is some information to make you find the earlier ones:
* Agatha Award Best Novel winner (2007) : Dead Cold
* Barry Awards First Novel winner (2007) : Still Life
* Anthony Awards First Novel winner (2007) : Still Life
* Agatha Award Best Novel winner (2008) : The Cruellest Month
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LibraryThing member porch_reader
This is the fourth book in the Chief Inspector Gamache/Three Pines series.
Many of you are fans of this series, so I know that I am preaching to the choir everytime I profess my love for Louise Penny's books. I was a little worried because this book is not set in Three Pines, a town that reinforces
Many of you are fans of this series, so I know that I am preaching to the choir everytime I profess my love for Louise Penny's books. I was a little worried because this book is not set in Three Pines, a town that reinforces
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Penny's comforting writing style and Inspector Gamache's gentility. However, I enjoyed [A Rule Against Murder] as much as the other books in this series. Some new supporting characters are introduced. As always, Penny provides us with a deep understanding of these characters through sharing a few salient details. We also learn more about Gamache's past in this book. And the mystery itself, focused around a dysfunctional family who have gathered at an inn for a reunion, kept me guessing until the end. This series continues to be entertaining, and as I get to know the main characters, I look forward to getting to know them better with each book. Show Less
LibraryThing member ffortsa
Quite good. This episode takes place at a resort, to which the Gamaches go each year to celebrate their anniversary. An odd and difficult family is ensconced in the rest of the hotel, and when the last members of the tribe show up, the story is tied back to Three Pines.
I was interested in the
I was interested in the
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topics Penny drew on: a financial disaster that reminded me of Lloyds of London's terrible insurance pool for some pharmaceutical problem that bankrupted so many people, and also what I saw as her tribute to Julia Child (perhaps). Again, Gamache is there to analyze a dysfunctional family, and we see the problems secrets cause. Show Less
LibraryThing member katiekrug
I will probably not be one of the die-hard fans of this series, though I can see their appeal. And I will keep reading them, but I won’t be waiting with bated breath for the next book to be published. I think I still have three still to get to. These are decent enough mysteries, though in all
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four that I’ve read so far, I’ve found the actual crime and mystery to be secondary to the excellent character development and lovely descriptions of everything from food to flowers to furnishings. I did find this entry to be more interesting, as it tells more of Gamache’s personal story and I liked very much the relationship depicted between he and his wife. Show Less
Awards
Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence (Shortlist — Novel — 2009)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2008
2020
Physical description
322 p.; 6.47 inches
ISBN
0312377029 / 9780312377021