The Chief Inspector Gamache series are mystery books primarily set in the fictional town of Three Pines, a quaint village in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. Populated with many delightfully endearing and complex characters, engaging and suspenseful mysteries, and a peaceful community anyone would want to call home, the Gamache books go beyond simple murder mysteries. At the “heart” of the series is the gentle and wise Chief Inspector Gamache, a man dedicated to his friends and family.
Louise Penny says of her novels, “These books are murder mysteries, but they’re not about murder. They’re about love and belonging, about loyalty and choices. And the courage to be good.” She adds, “These books are about community. About love and belonging. About the great gift of friendship. How lucky I am to live in Three Pines. In every way. With you. We are never alone.” It is this sense of community and caring that readers say draws them to revisit the books again and again.
Despite the occasional murder or crime that disrupts Three Pines, it is “a place of refuge,” and a place author Louise Penny says is somewhere she would choose to live. Many fans of the series note that the town is filled with characters who could become your friends, delicious cuisine you would want to eat, and a compassionate detective who you would count on to solve any crime.
Readers typically recommend starting a series from the first book for the fullest experience. However, in the case of the Chief Inspector Gamache series, Lucy H. offers a different suggestion. The knowledgeable bookseller, who owns and operates a bookstore in the small Quebec village Louise Penny calls home, suggests readers start with The Brutal Telling (Book 5) instead of Still Life (Book 1) if readers dislike Still Life or have a difficult time getting into the book. She recommends this because The Brutal Telling launches a significant storyline, the characters are well established, and it also happens to be one of her favourites.
What does Louise Penny think of Lucy’s suggestion? Lucy says that Louise agrees, considering it the first book following the original quartet. So if you are interested in starting this series, or if you want to recommend the series to your friends, The Brutal Telling just might be the preferred introduction to the charm of Three Pines and to what has enticed readers into eagerly awaiting the next instalment of Gamache and his friends.
