As the early morning mist clears on Thanksgiving Sunday, the homes of Three Pines come to life - all except one...To locals, the village is a safe haven. So they are bewildered when a well-loved member of the community is found dead in the maple woods. Surely it was an accident - a hunter's arrow gone astray. Who could want Jane Neal dead In a long and distinguished career with the Surete du Quebec, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache has learned to look for snakes in Eden. Gamache knows something dark is lurking behind the white picket fences, and if he watches closely enough, Three Pines will begin to give up its secrets...
Still Life (Chief Inspector Gamache)
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From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Canadian Penny's terrific first novel, which was the runner-up for the CWA's Debut Dagger Award in 2004, introduces Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. When the body of Jane Neal, a middle-aged artist, is found near a woodland trail used by deer hunters outside the village of Three Pines, it appears she's the victim of a hunting accident. Summoned to the scene, Gamache, an appealingly competent senior homicide investigator, soon determines that the woman was most likely murdered. Like a virtuoso, Penny plays a complex variation on the theme of the clue hidden in plain sight. She deftly uses the bilingual, bicultural aspect of Quebecois life as well as arcane aspects of archery and art to deepen her narrative. Memorable characters include Jane; Jane's shallow niece, Yolande; and a delightful gay couple, Olivier and Gabri. Filled with unexpected insights, this winning traditional mystery sets a solid foundation for future entries in the series. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* The residents of a tiny Canadian village called Three Pines are shocked when the body of Miss Jane Neal is found in the woods. Miss Neal, the village's retired schoolteacher and a talented amateur artist, has been a good friend to most of the townsfolk, so her loss is keenly felt. At first, her death appears to be a tragic accident--it's deer-hunting season, and it looks a stray hunter's arrow killed her. But some folks are suspicious, and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Montreal Surete is called in to investigate. Accompanying Gamache are his loyal assistant Beauvoir and Yvette Nichol, a new addition to Gamache's team. The trio soon finds that the seemingly peaceful, friendly village hides dark secrets. The truth is both bizarre and shocking, even to the jaded Gamache and his team. This is a real gem of a book that slowly draws the reader into a beautifully told, lyrically written story of love, life, friendship, and tragedy. And it's a pretty darn good mystery too. This belongs in the same league with such other outstanding Canadian mysteries as Eric Wright's Charlie Salter series. Emily Melton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Toni Osborne
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
This novel is written with the bilingual, bicultural aspect of the Québécois life in mind. It is narrated with emotions and very delightful; the characters have depth and are compassionate. This mystery is very engaging and Inspector Gamache is destined for stardom....can't wait to read the next novel in this series.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was a great read. I loved the look into the art world: artist temperments and gallery owner deceit. Although murder is at the core of the story, somehow,, reference to food and wine and the nature of the chief characters I always feel a warmth and safety set up by Penny. A compelling read!!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A good introduction to Louise Penny. Looking forward to her other books.
An interesting introduction also to life in the French part of Canada.
An interesting introduction also to life in the French part of Canada.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Mystery
The author knows how to keep her readers intrigued. Her characters are believable and the solution satisfying. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Eunice
4.0 out of 5 stars
An impressive debut
This is the second crime series I've started reading by an aspiring, previously unpublished Canadian author, and in that context I'm tempted to lower my standards. Read more
Published 5 months ago by W. Bortolin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stellar mystery writer
This book lays the foundation for a series of first rate mysteries which transcend the whodunit interest. Read more
Published 6 months ago by sandra bassett
4.0 out of 5 stars
good beginning
I listen to this audiobook knowing there were 8 books to date in the series. I liked the characters and the feel of the story. Read more
Published 7 months ago by A. Jacques
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still Life by Louise Penny
Excellent book! one of my favourites. The first of several books with the same theme. The story takes place between Montreal and a small village in Quebec.
Quite unusual. Read more
Quite unusual. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Nicky
4.0 out of 5 stars
Contemporary Quebec
Well written, well thought-out and well characterized by Louise Penny as always.
Mystery set in the two solitudes of Quebec. Good read and good bargain.
Mystery set in the two solitudes of Quebec. Good read and good bargain.
Published 13 months ago by smokey
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not impressed...
Being out of reading material, a rare situation for me, I picked up this book in the
local drug store, not knowing this author but rather intrigued by reviews on back
and... Read more
local drug store, not knowing this author but rather intrigued by reviews on back
and... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Gwenneth N. Steward
4.0 out of 5 stars
Smart murder mystery à la Agatha Christie!
Still Life, Louise Penny's debut novel, was published in 2005. I can see why it won so many distinctions and awards. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Pat the cat
4.0 out of 5 stars
Marvelous Debut of a Quebec Mystery Series
Louise Penny's 2005 debut novel, "Still Life," introduces us to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec (the provincial police, equivalent to the RCMP in the rest of... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Alison S. Coad
2.0 out of 5 stars
Talk about lack of service
The book is great but you don't expect a vendor to take a week or more to ship a book.
Published on Dec 31 2010 by Reviewer1
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