Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Minotaur Books (2016), Edition: Reprint, 400 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML: Hardly a day goes by when nine year old Laurent Lepage doesn't cry wolf. From alien invasions, to walking trees, to winged beasts in the woods, to dinosaurs spotted in the village of Three Pines, his tales are so extraordinary no one can possibly believe him. Including Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache, who now live in the little Quebec village. But when the boy disappears, the villagers are faced with the possibility that one of his tall tales might have been true. And so begins a frantic search for the boy and the truth. What they uncover deep in the forest sets off a sequence of events that leads to murder, leads to an old crime, leads to an old betrayal. Leads right to the door of an old poet. And now it is now, writes Ruth Zardo. And the dark thing is here. A monster once visited Three Pines. And put down deep roots. And now, Ruth knows, it is back. Armand Gamache, the former head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec, must face the possibility that, in not believing the boy, he himself played a terrible part in what happens next… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member cathyskye
I never thought this day would come. This is the first time I've been disappointed in a book written by Louise Penny, and making this admission hurts. I'm so used to writing glowing reviews of her work-- her fascinating, in-depth character studies, the sheer poetry of her descriptions-- that I'd
The Nature of the Beast just doesn't measure up to her previous books. Once again we have murders in Three Pines, a tiny village that's become the Cabot Cove of Quebec. Gone are her mouth-watering descriptions of meals eaten at the bistro. Gone are her insightful characterizations. Always before even the worst of her characters have been shown to have shreds of humanity. Here characters like John Fleming are simply evil.
In previous books, Penny would've broken our hearts with little Laurent's fate. Here he's little more than a plot device. I also experienced great anticipation knowing that my favorite character, Ruth Zardo, would have a larger role in this book, but her part fell flat. In fact, the entire book felt flat and slow.
In The Nature of the Beast, too many things stretched belief beyond breaking point-- even something based in truth like the "Whore of Babylon." I am familiar with Penny's current circumstances. Her beloved husband has Alzheimer's, and they've had to move from their idyllic life in the country to a condo in Montreal. Loved ones come before books. They always should. I've seen the deep affection her fans feel for Louise Penny. I am one of those fans, and I don't think I'm the only one who would rather she take some time off instead of risk causing irreparable harm to characters and to a village so many of us adore.
Show More
rather not say a word at all, but...The Nature of the Beast just doesn't measure up to her previous books. Once again we have murders in Three Pines, a tiny village that's become the Cabot Cove of Quebec. Gone are her mouth-watering descriptions of meals eaten at the bistro. Gone are her insightful characterizations. Always before even the worst of her characters have been shown to have shreds of humanity. Here characters like John Fleming are simply evil.
In previous books, Penny would've broken our hearts with little Laurent's fate. Here he's little more than a plot device. I also experienced great anticipation knowing that my favorite character, Ruth Zardo, would have a larger role in this book, but her part fell flat. In fact, the entire book felt flat and slow.
In The Nature of the Beast, too many things stretched belief beyond breaking point-- even something based in truth like the "Whore of Babylon." I am familiar with Penny's current circumstances. Her beloved husband has Alzheimer's, and they've had to move from their idyllic life in the country to a condo in Montreal. Loved ones come before books. They always should. I've seen the deep affection her fans feel for Louise Penny. I am one of those fans, and I don't think I'm the only one who would rather she take some time off instead of risk causing irreparable harm to characters and to a village so many of us adore.
Show Less
LibraryThing member CasualFriday
Okay, this was the most far-fetched entry yet in the Three Pines mystery series. After 11 titles, we know that the quaint and beautiful village of Three Pines has the highest per-capita murder rate on the planet. Could it get any worse? Yes. There is a weapon of mass destruction hidden in the
I want to make fun of this book. Penny’s plots are always complicated, but in this case one of the main clues, hidden in the script of a play, was downright ridiculous. The role played by an infamous serial killer was improbable. I suppose it is possible to hide a big-ass weapon in the woods near an adorable village with a bistro and used bookstore and B&B, but for me it strained credulity.
So, I want to make fun of this book, but it was so, so good! The story was riveting and all my dear favorite characters were on the case. In case audiobook fans are leery of the new narrator, who replaced the late Ralph Cosham – fear not, he’s very good.
Show More
Quebec woods. It is found by a child, the village’s resident Boy Who Cried Wolf, and it is only after he dies that anyone believes him.I want to make fun of this book. Penny’s plots are always complicated, but in this case one of the main clues, hidden in the script of a play, was downright ridiculous. The role played by an infamous serial killer was improbable. I suppose it is possible to hide a big-ass weapon in the woods near an adorable village with a bistro and used bookstore and B&B, but for me it strained credulity.
So, I want to make fun of this book, but it was so, so good! The story was riveting and all my dear favorite characters were on the case. In case audiobook fans are leery of the new narrator, who replaced the late Ralph Cosham – fear not, he’s very good.
Show Less
LibraryThing member nospi
Listened to Audible book narrated by Robert Bathurst. Bathurst does a good job but his performance of Ruth sadly doesn't come close to Ralph Cosham's.
This novel is set in Three Pines but is not a straight murder mystery. Once again Gamache must save the world singlehandedly - a bit far fetched and
Still it was an enjoyable listen but I am not sure I'll revisit this book anytime soon.
This novel is set in Three Pines but is not a straight murder mystery. Once again Gamache must save the world singlehandedly - a bit far fetched and
Show More
tends to put this book more in the action thriller category.Still it was an enjoyable listen but I am not sure I'll revisit this book anytime soon.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bookswoman
I don't know how Louise Penny does it, but each book in this series just gets better and better.
Armand Gamache has retired from the Homicide unit in Quebec, Canada. He and wife Renie Marie have moved to Three Pines, the small, well-hidden town that readers were first introduced to in the first book
However, Gamache cannot escape murder and his former colleagues at the Surete du Quebec. When a small boys turns up dead it is first ruled at an accident but Gamache isn't so sure and it turns out he is right. Who would kill a 9-year-old who had a wild imagination and loved to talk about space aliens, big guns and monsters?
The answers eventually lead back to one of the worst periods of Gamache's life. I had no idea the "who killed him" in this one but then, I seldom do in Penny's books. She is a master at giving multiple possibilities and putting out distractions that are much easier to follow than the true killer.
Now, to wait for a year until the next book.
Armand Gamache has retired from the Homicide unit in Quebec, Canada. He and wife Renie Marie have moved to Three Pines, the small, well-hidden town that readers were first introduced to in the first book
Show More
in this series, Still Life. However, Gamache cannot escape murder and his former colleagues at the Surete du Quebec. When a small boys turns up dead it is first ruled at an accident but Gamache isn't so sure and it turns out he is right. Who would kill a 9-year-old who had a wild imagination and loved to talk about space aliens, big guns and monsters?
The answers eventually lead back to one of the worst periods of Gamache's life. I had no idea the "who killed him" in this one but then, I seldom do in Penny's books. She is a master at giving multiple possibilities and putting out distractions that are much easier to follow than the true killer.
Now, to wait for a year until the next book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lit_chick
Nine-year-old Laurent Lepage has a vivid imagination – and an annoying habit of crying wolf. On a near daily basis, he regales the village’s adults with tales of aliens, dinosaurs, and other fantastical creatures he’s encountered in the woods of Three Pines. So it is not surprising that his
Isabelle Lacoste and Jean-Guy Beauvoir, of the Sûreté du Quebec, are summoned to Three Pines to investigate. Aramand Gamache, former head of homicide, retired and living in the remote village, works with his former staff to solve the crime. What they uncover deep in the forest sets off a sequence of events, which leads to an old crime, an old betrayal, and another murder. And last but not least – leads to the door of the cantankerous old poet, Ruth Zardo. And now it is now, she writes. And the dark thing is here.
The Nature of the Beast is the eleventh Three Pines novel. Penny does not disappoint with a solid story line and her usual roundup of eclectic characters – the Three Pines regulars, and, in this case, two mysterious CSIS agents and an aging physics professor from McGill Universtiy. If you’ve read and enjoyed the rest of this series, you must visit The Nature of the Beast.
Show More
latest breathless admission of an enormous gun in the woods of Three Pines, adorned with an evil Christian etching, goes unheeded. That is, until the boy is found murdered. Isabelle Lacoste and Jean-Guy Beauvoir, of the Sûreté du Quebec, are summoned to Three Pines to investigate. Aramand Gamache, former head of homicide, retired and living in the remote village, works with his former staff to solve the crime. What they uncover deep in the forest sets off a sequence of events, which leads to an old crime, an old betrayal, and another murder. And last but not least – leads to the door of the cantankerous old poet, Ruth Zardo. And now it is now, she writes. And the dark thing is here.
The Nature of the Beast is the eleventh Three Pines novel. Penny does not disappoint with a solid story line and her usual roundup of eclectic characters – the Three Pines regulars, and, in this case, two mysterious CSIS agents and an aging physics professor from McGill Universtiy. If you’ve read and enjoyed the rest of this series, you must visit The Nature of the Beast.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mirrani
I picked up The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny as part of a reading challenge. I needed a crime story and the audio book performed by Robert Bathurst was available at the library. I hadn't read any of the series previously, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book itself. It's your
The story takes place here Three Pines village, Canada, where Inspector Gamache and a slew of others want to find out who killed a boy who discovered a "monster" in the woods. At first everyone thinks the monster is just another make believe creature, but they soon discover that it really exists, just not as they imagined it was. Once the secret gets out, all kinds of people show up to examine the monster and see what it turns out to be. Meanwhile there is a play someone wants to put on and the boy's murder is still under investigation.
Yes, I felt that there were a lot of sub plots all rolling around together in one giant knot of story, but it didn't put me off in any way and as in all interwoven mysteries, each character's story has its purpose for being there. The writing style is such that I honestly felt as if I could have been watching a movie, which helped me settle into what others might consider to be confusion. The characters and plot were all clear to me, thanks to a pleasant writing style and narration that made the hours pass by quickly as I listened.
I finished the book feeling intrigued and felt as if I might want to explore the rest of the series. I love to read mysteries, but I generally figure them out right away. This one kept me unsure until nearly the end.
Show More
typical small town mystery, but it's well written and performed just as well, so it keeps the attention and made the experience an enjoyable one.The story takes place here Three Pines village, Canada, where Inspector Gamache and a slew of others want to find out who killed a boy who discovered a "monster" in the woods. At first everyone thinks the monster is just another make believe creature, but they soon discover that it really exists, just not as they imagined it was. Once the secret gets out, all kinds of people show up to examine the monster and see what it turns out to be. Meanwhile there is a play someone wants to put on and the boy's murder is still under investigation.
Yes, I felt that there were a lot of sub plots all rolling around together in one giant knot of story, but it didn't put me off in any way and as in all interwoven mysteries, each character's story has its purpose for being there. The writing style is such that I honestly felt as if I could have been watching a movie, which helped me settle into what others might consider to be confusion. The characters and plot were all clear to me, thanks to a pleasant writing style and narration that made the hours pass by quickly as I listened.
I finished the book feeling intrigued and felt as if I might want to explore the rest of the series. I love to read mysteries, but I generally figure them out right away. This one kept me unsure until nearly the end.
Show Less
LibraryThing member olegalCA
Eh, I wasn't too fond of the mystery. If Louise Penny though wanted to write the love story of Henri the dog and Rosa the duck I would read the hell out of that - and buy copies for all my friends.
LibraryThing member ethel55
Monsters, whether real or imagined, play a role in what started out as a creepier than usual episode in the Gamache series. Gamache's retirement to Three Pines, that special place that doesn't seem to appear on any maps, is disrupted by a missing child and the discovery that one of their own may
Show More
have had ties to sinister dealings. While New Chief Inspector Lacoste and Inspector Beauvoir are up to the task when the Surete is called in to investigate, retired Gamache is still able to do what he does best. Listen, and pull a few strings with former colleagues. Read in succession, I only know of a couple of series that do such a wonderful job of exploring both the major and secondary characters, layering in their stories in each installment. To think Ruth was labeled as nice at one time, and that the bistro/bookstore et al, weren't always right where they should be. Show Less
LibraryThing member Talbin
One of the best of the series.
LibraryThing member porch_reader
August is a bit of a rough month in my house. Not only does the heat and humidity reach its peak, but it is also the end of our lazy summer schedule and the return to homework, routines, and a packed schedule. But lately, August has redeemed itself. When I turn over the calendar to August, I start
I don't know how she does it. I keep thinking that there will be one book in the series that isn't quite as engaging. One book that I can put down for longer than a few minutes without wondering what happens next. But so far, each one is as good as the last. [The Nature of the Beast] combines a satisfying mystery with excellent writing and continued character development, especially for Inspector Gamache. If you haven't read any of Louise Penny's mysteries, I recommend starting with at the beginning of the series because the characters grow and develop over time. Also, if you haven't read any of Louise Penny's mysteries, I'm a bit jealous because I would love to have this whole series stretching out in front of me. As it is, I'll just have to wait for next August to revisit my friends in Three Pines.
Show More
to anticipate the next book in the Inspector Gamache/Three Pines mystery series. Lately, I've taken to buying each new addition to the series for my Kindle so that my mom and I can both read it as soon as it comes out. I don't know how she does it. I keep thinking that there will be one book in the series that isn't quite as engaging. One book that I can put down for longer than a few minutes without wondering what happens next. But so far, each one is as good as the last. [The Nature of the Beast] combines a satisfying mystery with excellent writing and continued character development, especially for Inspector Gamache. If you haven't read any of Louise Penny's mysteries, I recommend starting with at the beginning of the series because the characters grow and develop over time. Also, if you haven't read any of Louise Penny's mysteries, I'm a bit jealous because I would love to have this whole series stretching out in front of me. As it is, I'll just have to wait for next August to revisit my friends in Three Pines.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tututhefirst
With the publication of this 11th book in the Chief Inspector Gamache series, Louise Penny continues to delight her many fans. Each book builds on the previous ones, but can stand alone. This newest, to be published next week, introduces new characters - something we see in each volume - and a more
For those who are looking for cafe au lait and brioche by the fire in the bistro, and quirky quips from Gabri and Ruth, they are there, but they are more solemn, more philosophical, and not as lighthearted as some readers may prefer.
No true Gamache fan would dare give away a plot, and it was for this reason that I even refrained from reading the little tidbits that Miss Louise doled out over the last couple months. I wanted to read the entire book cover to cover so that I could feel the building tension, keep my mind spinning with all the marvelous possibilities Penny builds into her stories, and sit back with a grand sigh of satisfaction when the last page is read. Once again , she does not disappoint. The characters are the same (but they continue growing), the setting is the same (Three Pines after all is another character), and there is a murder. But the plot, the motivations, the murder itself, and the side/subplots are just new and different enough to make the reader, and the true fan say "She's still at the top of her game." It's magnificent. Don't miss it.
Show More
developed and nuanced view of evil -both from an historic point of view and as it pertains to today's world situation.For those who are looking for cafe au lait and brioche by the fire in the bistro, and quirky quips from Gabri and Ruth, they are there, but they are more solemn, more philosophical, and not as lighthearted as some readers may prefer.
No true Gamache fan would dare give away a plot, and it was for this reason that I even refrained from reading the little tidbits that Miss Louise doled out over the last couple months. I wanted to read the entire book cover to cover so that I could feel the building tension, keep my mind spinning with all the marvelous possibilities Penny builds into her stories, and sit back with a grand sigh of satisfaction when the last page is read. Once again , she does not disappoint. The characters are the same (but they continue growing), the setting is the same (Three Pines after all is another character), and there is a murder. But the plot, the motivations, the murder itself, and the side/subplots are just new and different enough to make the reader, and the true fan say "She's still at the top of her game." It's magnificent. Don't miss it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
First of all, kudos to the new narrator! As always, Ms. Penny wound the tension as tight as possible , brining the reader to the edge 9f her seat. What will happen if the world descends on Three Pines? What will happen if John Fleming, the essence of evil, is freed from prison? No spoilers here!
Show More
The best part is that there is a cliffhanger of an ending, so now I just have to wait for the next book! Show Less
LibraryThing member khiemstra631
The Nature of the Beast is a great addition to the Chief Inspector Gamache series. (It is a little difficult to get used to the inspector being retired to Three Pines, but it's nice how crime comes to him.) This time, a nine-year-old boy comes running & shouting into the bistro about having found
Show More
the largest gun ever made, complete with a monster on it, in the woods just outside of the village of Three Pines. Since this child, Laurent Lepage, has been prone to great exaggeration for the past three years, nobody pays the least bit of attention to his story. Armand Gamache loads the child into Gamache's car and takes him home to his parents. A day later, Laurent is found dead along the side of the road, the victim of an apparent bicycle accident. Only Gamache believes that things are not quite always as they seem. Why would the biggest gun in the world be just outside of Three Pines, pointed towards the United States? Perhaps most interesting of all is that the novel is based on a true historical event, abeit, a much covered-up event. Fascinating read! Show Less
LibraryThing member kebm1949
I really worried about the effect that a change in narrator would have on my enjoyment of audio edition of this book. Ralph Cosham has been an integral part of my enjoyment of Louise Penny's Three Pines mysteries from Still Life on. Well, I needn't have concerned myself. Robert Bathurst has stepped
Show More
into Cosham's shoes with a perfect fit. Welcome, Mr. Bathurst! Show Less
LibraryThing member nyiper
I have read every single one of Louise Penny's book, in order---so I KNOW, and love, these characters!! At least for me, I think this is the best one yet and I'm thrilled that she is at work on the next one!! And yes, the Author's Note at the end made it all the more wonderful.
LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
This book was incredible. I would have finished it in one sitting if the puppies hadn't tortured me last night to go to bed. I finished this tonight and it was just incredible! Armand Gamache (I still call him Inspector ) has retired with his wife, Reine-Marie in the little village of Three Pines.
Show More
Laurent Lepage, 9 yrs old is always raising the alarm about alien invasions, walking trees, dinosaurs, etc. So, when he comes running in telling about a huge gun with a winged monster, no one believes him. When he disappears, the village searches for him and the truth. Excellent book, just could not put it down! Show Less
LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
I love the Inspector Gamache novels. I love everything about them, from the relationships (platonic, familial, and romantic),to the Three Pines setting, to the way Penny just gets emotions and what makes a human being tick.
And then there are the mysteries. Penny's mysteries are always unique,
In The Nature of the Beast, Penny explores the concept of the boy who cried wolf, and what it means for a community when that child is finally telling the truth and still no one believes him. Monsters are more real than the characters, or readers, want to believe, and history creates a trail that can cause destruction in the present.
And then there are the mysteries. Penny's mysteries are always unique,
Show More
clever, unexpected, and multi layered. The mystery in The Nature of the Beast wasn't my favorite of hers, but it was still incredible-and Penny definitely did her research, as is revealed in the author's note.In The Nature of the Beast, Penny explores the concept of the boy who cried wolf, and what it means for a community when that child is finally telling the truth and still no one believes him. Monsters are more real than the characters, or readers, want to believe, and history creates a trail that can cause destruction in the present.
Show Less
LibraryThing member delphimo
Louise Penny knows how to write a memorable novel, and her writing seems to improve with each story. Of course, I enjoy the story, the setting, and the characters. Penny explores the insecurity and fears of Ruth in this story that spans the development of Three Pines. The story centers on the
Show More
discovery of a huge missile that hides in the forest, but is discovered by a young boy. Of course, no one in Three Pines believes the boy's story, until he is found murdered. Louise Penny delves deep into the individual's psyche to show an individual's vulnerability. I enjoy the interaction among Jean Guy and Armand and Ruth. The book balances among sadness, joy, and fear; but maintains that delicate balance. Show Less
LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
The Nature of the Beast, Louise Penny, author, Robert Bathurst, narrator
Three Pines is the name of the quiet village that former Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie have settled down in, since his retirement. She had once had a career at the National Library. The small
In this, the eleventh novel, the new narrator does an excellent job creating the tension of the murder investigation and also of expressing the humorous aspects of the broad assortment of characters as they interact. I have to admit that I was so engaged with the story that I listened from beginning to end in one day. I couldn’t wait to discover how the mystery would resolve itself. All of the loose ends were eventually tied up, and I think the author may have set it up for the next one in the series, or perhaps for one later on down the road, since some of the characters seemed to have left a kind of fingerprint for the next one, indicating that they might someday return to resolve other issues. There will always be those demented creatures desiring to invent destructive weapons, once the door opens on the possibility; there will always be those who try to prevent them and protect society. Also, it was mentioned that Inspector Gamache has been offered the job as Superintendent of the Sûreté du Québec. One is left conjecturing about whether or not he would take the job offer or would both he and his wife go into more professorial pursuits, like Professor Rosenblatt, the authority on guns.
Briefly, the story revolves around a young boy who has a reputation for telling lies. He is found murdered only a short time after he came running into the town’s bistro and excitedly announced that he had discovered a huge weapon in the woods, a weapon with a seven-headed monster writhing upon it. Needless to say, his story was not believed until his body was found and the weapon was discovered. Former Chief Inspector Gamache had been close to the child and although retired, he was drawn into the investigation, aiding the new Chief Inspector, Isabelle Lacoste. The twists and turns take the reader into the world of Gerald Bull, Saddam Hussein, the Viet Nam War, and John Fleming, a mad serial killer resembling the likes of Hannibal Lechter.
The story is cleverly rolled out with a wide assortment of subplots which misdirect and confuse, so the reader is always wondering what will happen next The mystery concerns Project Babylon, a secret program to develop a supergun, a weapon of mass destruction. While I found the idea a bit implausible, at the end of the audio, I learned that the story is actually based on the real Gerald Bull, a Canadian Artillery Expert commissioned by Saddam Hussein to build real superguns which were called Baby Babylon and Big Babylon. Fortunately, the weapon failed to work, but there still may be madmen out there trying to recreate a working model. The story was exciting as the search for the murderer progressed and the history of the weapon and its designer became the focus of the investigation. Fingers were pointed in many different directions which only enhanced the mystery. Sometimes it even felt that something supernatural might even be lurking in the background.
I fell in love with Inspector Gamache. I connected completely with his mostly quiet and thoughtful approach to crime solving and his willingness to put his life on the line to do what was right, willing to make the hard choices necessary to protect the most people. He seemed to exhibit that thoughtfulness in his relationship with his wife and in his approach to his retirement, as well. Reine-Marie was the ideal wife, completely supportive; they seemed fulfilled and content, simpatico, which made me admire them both. No one minor character in the novel seemed to take precedence over another. It was mostly about the Inspector and his approach to solving the crime and the mystery of the murder and the supergun.
I wondered if the opening scene with someone running from pursuers in the woods was meant to be a part of the boy’s imagination, his version of how he discovered the weapon, or was it simply a merging of the first and last scenes of the book, the discovery of the weapon and the end of it. It was definitely a device used to indicate some clues and to misdirect the reader since the person running seemed older than a boy with a stick that morphed into a rifle.
Three Pines is the name of the quiet village that former Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie have settled down in, since his retirement. She had once had a career at the National Library. The small
Show More
community is peopled with a menagerie of odd, but interesting, likeable creatures, appreciated for their strangeness. One character is an addle-brained, rude, crude talking woman who likes her drink. She has a pet duck named Rosa. Another is an artist described as having bits of food in her hair, while still another has purple hair combed in spikes. She is attempting to put on a play written by a serial killer! Then there is the former psychologist and bookstore owner, the grocer, the draft dodger and songwriter-singer and father of Laurent, the boy who likes to tell tall tales, and, of course, there is Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife, plus several others. Gamache was a former homicide detective with the Sûreté, (the police department). Some characters are not residents of the town but are drawn to it when Laurent discovers what he calls a huge gun with a monster writhing upon it. Two characters are from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the CSIS, one is a scientist who designed the supergun discovered in the forest, one is an unscrupulous arms dealer, one is a professor and scientist with a specialty in guns, one is a madman housed in the SHU, the special facility that handles high security prisoners. The number of characters can be very confusing for someone who has not read the previous 10 novels written about Inspector Gamache. In this, the eleventh novel, the new narrator does an excellent job creating the tension of the murder investigation and also of expressing the humorous aspects of the broad assortment of characters as they interact. I have to admit that I was so engaged with the story that I listened from beginning to end in one day. I couldn’t wait to discover how the mystery would resolve itself. All of the loose ends were eventually tied up, and I think the author may have set it up for the next one in the series, or perhaps for one later on down the road, since some of the characters seemed to have left a kind of fingerprint for the next one, indicating that they might someday return to resolve other issues. There will always be those demented creatures desiring to invent destructive weapons, once the door opens on the possibility; there will always be those who try to prevent them and protect society. Also, it was mentioned that Inspector Gamache has been offered the job as Superintendent of the Sûreté du Québec. One is left conjecturing about whether or not he would take the job offer or would both he and his wife go into more professorial pursuits, like Professor Rosenblatt, the authority on guns.
Briefly, the story revolves around a young boy who has a reputation for telling lies. He is found murdered only a short time after he came running into the town’s bistro and excitedly announced that he had discovered a huge weapon in the woods, a weapon with a seven-headed monster writhing upon it. Needless to say, his story was not believed until his body was found and the weapon was discovered. Former Chief Inspector Gamache had been close to the child and although retired, he was drawn into the investigation, aiding the new Chief Inspector, Isabelle Lacoste. The twists and turns take the reader into the world of Gerald Bull, Saddam Hussein, the Viet Nam War, and John Fleming, a mad serial killer resembling the likes of Hannibal Lechter.
The story is cleverly rolled out with a wide assortment of subplots which misdirect and confuse, so the reader is always wondering what will happen next The mystery concerns Project Babylon, a secret program to develop a supergun, a weapon of mass destruction. While I found the idea a bit implausible, at the end of the audio, I learned that the story is actually based on the real Gerald Bull, a Canadian Artillery Expert commissioned by Saddam Hussein to build real superguns which were called Baby Babylon and Big Babylon. Fortunately, the weapon failed to work, but there still may be madmen out there trying to recreate a working model. The story was exciting as the search for the murderer progressed and the history of the weapon and its designer became the focus of the investigation. Fingers were pointed in many different directions which only enhanced the mystery. Sometimes it even felt that something supernatural might even be lurking in the background.
I fell in love with Inspector Gamache. I connected completely with his mostly quiet and thoughtful approach to crime solving and his willingness to put his life on the line to do what was right, willing to make the hard choices necessary to protect the most people. He seemed to exhibit that thoughtfulness in his relationship with his wife and in his approach to his retirement, as well. Reine-Marie was the ideal wife, completely supportive; they seemed fulfilled and content, simpatico, which made me admire them both. No one minor character in the novel seemed to take precedence over another. It was mostly about the Inspector and his approach to solving the crime and the mystery of the murder and the supergun.
I wondered if the opening scene with someone running from pursuers in the woods was meant to be a part of the boy’s imagination, his version of how he discovered the weapon, or was it simply a merging of the first and last scenes of the book, the discovery of the weapon and the end of it. It was definitely a device used to indicate some clues and to misdirect the reader since the person running seemed older than a boy with a stick that morphed into a rifle.
Show Less
LibraryThing member cyderry
I love Armand Gamache and the village of Three Pines but this time the visit with them was unsatisfactory. Somehow or other the story (taken from true life) of the finding of a old rocket launcher by a small boy who normally cried wolf, did not engage me with the feelings that have previously been
The death of the 9 year old supposedly effects all the village residents but the reactions of the villagers seem to be more toward the massive threat from the rocket launcher than anything else.
I really didn't enjoy this one as much as the other Three Pines novels because the personal interactions didn't seem to be the same.
Show More
evoked.The death of the 9 year old supposedly effects all the village residents but the reactions of the villagers seem to be more toward the massive threat from the rocket launcher than anything else.
I really didn't enjoy this one as much as the other Three Pines novels because the personal interactions didn't seem to be the same.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Maydacat
A nine-year-old boy is a bit of a legendary pest when it comes to his tall tales born of his vivid imagination. When he tells people in the village of a gigantic gun in the woods with a beast on it, no one takes him seriously. Actually, someone does, and that is the boy’s undoing. Louise Penny
Show More
has woven together a plot so intriguing that you will be captivated by its unfolding. But the real pleasure in this series lies not in the plot, but rather it is the setting with its gentle nature and the characters who people it that captivate the reader. Show Less
LibraryThing member brangwinn
Penny takes us back to the small, hidden village of Three Pines, Quebec. There’s a real departure from her other books. The citizens we’ve come to know are now suspects as well in the death of a boy. His death is the tip of the iceberg leading to the discovery of a missile launcher which was
Show More
made to be sold to the highest bidder. New characters brought in to help solve the mystery of the missile launcher and discover where the plans are also suspects in the making of the launcher. I admire an author who can take a tiny bit of history and fabricate a page-turning story. Believe me, once you are half-way through this book, it’s going to be hard to put down. As always, Penny brings us new insights into the villagers and as always I wish I could visit Three Pines. Show Less
LibraryThing member JanetSketchley
Definitely a satisfying read, with characters I've come to love. Well-written, with some great lines and just enough humour to take the edge off the darkness. I think this is one of the best in this series.
LibraryThing member Perednia
Excellent for its portrayal of beloved characters -- how well do we really know them -- and setting further plot possibilities into motion.
LibraryThing member TadAD
This isn’t my favorite of the Inspector Gamache series. The characters were just a little flatter than normal…except, perhaps, for the insight into Ruth Zardo’s backstory, who is surely a favorite of everyone who enjoys these stories.
That said, it is still a pretty enjoyable mystery with
I find it interesting how much Yeats’ poem, The Second Coming, has become a staple reference of literature and commentary. I guess it feels totally apropos in this new era.
That said, it is still a pretty enjoyable mystery with
Show More
just a touch of thriller tossed in. I find it interesting how much Yeats’ poem, The Second Coming, has become a staple reference of literature and commentary. I guess it feels totally apropos in this new era.
Show Less
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Mystery — 2016)
Anthony Award (Nominee — Novel — 2016)
Agatha Award (Nominee — Contemporary Novel — 2015)
Lefty Award (Winner — 2016)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015-08-25
Physical description
400 p.; 5.5 inches
ISBN
125002210X / 9781250022103