Most Wednesdays, I’m going to feature a book, CD, or movie someone has recommended to me. In the case of Still Life by Louise Penny, it was Rick and Carl who praised Penny’s series. Still Life is the first book in the series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec and his team of investigators. Still Life centers around the murder of an elderly artist. The residents claim it’s just a hunting accident, but Gamache knows better. He and his team investigate the tangled connections of small town life. I detected more than a little Maigret in Gamache. If you’re a fan of Simenon’s work, you’ll enjoy Louise Penny’s work. A film version of Still Life is being filmed in Canada as you read this. GRADE: B+
I really enjoy Penny’s books–they remind me of village cozies with a little more bite. I was unaware that this was a series, so started reading one of the later books first. If you’re new to this series, I recommend reading them in order because characters do recur and change over time.
Louise Penny is going to be the Guest of Honor in a few years at the Bouchercon in Toronto, Deb. Both Carl and Rick warned me that the books should be read in order, too. I made a few trips to Canada and was lucky enough to find all of Louise Penny’s books. Reviews to follow probably one per month.
I still have the first book on the shelf waiting to be read, ever since Beth sent it to Jackie. One of these days I may even read it.
I would move STILL LIFE up near the top of the stack, Jeff. It’s really good!
This series just gets better and better. The plot twist at the end of The Beautiful Mystery is a bona fide cliffhanger. You definitely need to read this series in order. And be sure to check out her website; it’s awesome.
I will definitely read the books in order, Beth. And, I’ll check out the Louise Penny website, too!
I liked the first one very much-but not enough to continue with the series. At this point, it would have to be more than the typical series detective to have me stick with it. This is true of all series though not just Penny’s.
I think Gamache is “more than the typical series detective”, Patti. He has a lot of depth, and as the series progresses that and his personality grow and develop, along with his fallibility to make him a character of great depth. This develops over the books, don’t expect it right off the bat, but it’s there and the books get better and better.
One problem I have is, though I am still reading plenty of mysteries they are mostly by favorite authors. I haven’t found a new series I’ve really enjoyed catching up on in at least a couple of years.
Same here, Jeff. I’m open to new authors and new series, but no one has wowed me.
I would echo Richard here, Patti and would encourage you to give book two a try. There is so much more going on with him and a few of the main characters as far as their own personal story arcs go. It isn’t like the reading equivalent of Midsomer Murders (which I love, not knocking it but there is just one formula there).
The first book has a few ‘first book’ issues but that being said it is a lovely start and one that compelled me to keep reading. It is rare that I read any sequence of books and keep feeling that the next one is even better than the one before but this has largely happened with Penny’s books.
I’ll have a review of Louise Penny’s second book, A Fatal Grace (2007) (Alternate title: “Dead Cold”), next month, Carl.
Louise Penny was an afternoon drive host on CBC radio in my city before she moved back to Eastern Canada and started writing the Gamache series. I enjoyed her as a host and looked forward to her first mystery. I was very disappointed and have no desire to try another one. I’m amazed at how popular the series has become and the number of awards she has won. I read last night in Books To Die For that Penny is the first author to win four Agatha Awards in a row.
You’re right about STILL LIFE having issues most First Novels are plagued with, Kent. But Rick and Carl assure me that the series gets better, the characters develop, and that Louise Penny deserves all those Agatha Awards she’s won. I’ll be posting my review of Penny’s second novel next month.