The Brutal Telling
A Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery
Paperback - 2018
The New York Times Bestseller
'Penny . . . is at the top of her game' ( Toronto Star )
When Chief Inspector Gamache arrives in picturesque Three Pines, he steps into a village in chaos. A man has been found bludgeoned to death, and there is no sign of a weapon, a motive or even the dead man's name.
As Gamache and his colleagues start to dig under the skin of this peaceful haven for clues, they uncover a trail of stolen treasure, mysterious codes and a shameful history that begins to shed light on the victim's identity - and points to a terrifying killer...
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Add a Quote“Gamache knew it was impossible to split language from culture. That without one the other withered. To love the language was to respect the culture.” - p. 340
“Murders are about emotions. Emotions gone bad and gone wild. Remember that. And don’r ever think you know what someone else is thinking, never mind feeling.” - p. 75
PimaLib_SamR
Mar 07, 2016
Better to accept the wretched truth than struggle, twisting, to make a wish a reality.
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#5
THE BRUTAL TELLING is the fifth installment of author Louise Penny’s popular mystery series. The inimitable Inspector Armand Gamache returns to the remote Quebec village of Three Pines to solve yet another murder. As the story unfolds, he and his team interact with the many quirky residents of Three Pines that fans like me have grown to love, along with a few new ones. But all is not light-hearted. The characters, who charmed readers in previous books, now are slowly revealing their flaws and imperfections. This is the darkest book so far in the series. The setting of the dense woods and forest is so integral to the story’s mood and plot. Secrets and lies abound. Author Louise Penny does a masterful job balancing the tragic with moments of humor while including a little Canadian history and First Nations culture. At the end of this complex puzzle, readers are left to ponder the fate of one of Three Pines’ locals. I’m looking forward to Book #6.
I struggle with sticking with cozy mystery series...and while these are only MOSTLY cozy, I occasionally have a hard time suspending my disbelief at the number of murders in this small town setting. However, I really do enjoy the characters and keep reading!
Second in Armand Gamache mysteries set in Montreal (have read the first, Still Life 11/16)
The best story in the series (so far). Much to ponder in relation to the storyline.
Not Penny's best work. The final chapter seems like a coda wherein the author tries to convince the reader of the plot conclusion. I found myself as much in disbelief as one of the main characters.
Another great Louise Penny book. Chief Inspector Gamache books are always engrossing. Great character development helps immensely.
Multiple "brutal tellings" drive the characters in the fifth and, so far, best book of the series as Penny continues to develop her writing skills. The scene is shifting in Three Pines; the idyllic pastime of its denizens is perturbed as new inhabitants arrive and a beloved villager departs in shocking disgrace. What do these disquieting changes bode for the next book?!
A story that revolves around the deep troubling secrets of one of the residents of Three Pines. Could Olivier possibly be a murderer? Greed, jealousy and fear of exposure are themes in this novel. Have the characters and lives of the Three Pines residents changed forever?
A bit of a disappointing ending and not my favorite Penny novel but still an entertaining, good read.