My Love Affair with The Inspector Gamache Series and Louise Penny

I found my way to the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny because of Covid-19.  When Connecticut shut down, my mother was left bookless.  On my frantic hunt for books my voracious reader of a mom had not read, I found this series.  My curiosity piqued, I bought just a couple in case Mom did not like them.  

Within pages of the first book, I was hooked.  Delightfully believable characters, a magical setting, and an ability to articulate an understanding of human emotions and frailties are woven into murder mysteries solved by the very intelligent and charming Chief Inspector Gamache.

As an ex English teacher, I am a book snob.  I admit it freely.  I frequently put down books that are not well written or lack depth.  This is not so of any of the Gamache books I have read so far.  I am currently on Book 7, A Trick of the Light, and I am still blown away by Penny’s ability to continue her series in a small town with a number of recurring characters.  As I started this particular book, I pondered “how will she move forward with these characters inhabiting a small town while being fresh?”  

My answer, with each novel, Penny fleshes out more of her character’s personal histories, fears, motivators, and frailties. An omniscient point of view allows readers to not only view the psyche of the characters but also how each character interacts with the others.  

Penny has addressed racism, homophobia, corruption, addiction, and greed among the vast themes into which each book delves. The setting of Three Pines, an off the beaten path town outside of Montreal and Quebec is reminiscent of the small New England villages I love.  The mysteries are well thought out and logical.

If you have never read this series, and you enjoy murder/crime mysteries, this is the set for you.  I highly suggest reading the books in order as listed below. You can read them out of order, but there will be some character changes and spoilers you would have preferred to follow. 

Should you read it? Yes if you love murder mysteries.

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Individual books in order by title

Boxed Sets