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General discussion and impression of this book after your first reading.
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I’ve been fortunate enough to get to read the Grey Wolf in advance of its release. Gamache is back and that makes me very happy. Without giving too much away, I think there are some lovely callbacks to previous novels that I think longtime readers will love. LP builds up the suspense to the climax really, really well and I literally couldn’t put the book down for the second half, so expect to read through the night until you finish like I did.
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So, I had every intention of savouring The Grey Wolf and taking my time reading it so I could soak up every detail on my latest visit to Three Pines but I just couldn’t! Louise did it again and had me glued to the page so I read it a lot faster than I wanted to. But I’m going to go back and reread it to pick up all the subtle details that I’m sure I missed the first time. My impressions – Exciting. Topical. Powerful.
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The Grey Wolf definitely has more thriller elements than previous Gamache books as there’s a lot more action and suspense and globe-trotting sleuthing. For me there are some State of Terror vibes going on but I can hardly fault Penny for wanting to take some risks in her 19th novel and break from the more traditional mystery formula. And this might be a bit of a spoiler but the book ends on a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for part two.
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It’s always such a joy to catch up with the Gamaches, Jean-Guy, Isabelle, and all the residents of Three Pines. I know my fellow Louise Penny enthusiasts will agree that they are like old friends. But this book really got me worried about them all because there’s a real menacing threat to everyone (and I mean everyone) in this book. There are definitely some nail-biting parts.
I know someone in the group mentioned that The Grey Wolf might be referencing ****spoiler alert**** a certain quote from The Beautiful Mystery about the two wolves and you were dead on. There are several lovely references to earlier books that are tied in beautifully (one of them being How the Light Gets In) and I plan to go back and re-read The Beautiful Mystery as a result.
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The new Gamache is truly a globe-trotting adventure, more’s the shame in that we’re not spending as much time in Three Pines as I would have liked. But no matter, our beloved friends in Three Pines do make their presence known through some lovely moments that reference earlier books (keep your eyes peeled). I do recommend that new readers of Louise Penny not start reading the series with this book. It’s not that they won’t be able to follow the plot and enjoy it, but it’s a different Gamache that they’ll experience from earlier in the series and they are going to miss all the wonderful “Easter Eggs” and character moments that are lovingly woven in to the book.
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If I were to sum up the Grey Wolf in comparison to other Gamache adventures, I’d describe it as epic and thrilling. It’s a ticking clock mystery so there’s a lot more sense of urgency for Gamache, Jean-Guy, and Isabelle to solve the puzzle before disaster strikes. I’m not going to write what that disaster is because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.
As with other Three Pines books, there are corrupt officials and untrustworthy people whom Gamache must figure out who to trust as he races to put a stop to a terrible impending crime.
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We’ve just posted our first spoiler free review here: https://www.bookclubfriends.com/author-specific-arti/a-non-spoiler-review-of-the-grey-wolf-by-louise-penny/
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I think I missed the setting of Three Pines and the lovely characters there!
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Yes, I agree! There wasn’t enough of the group dynamics and interactions. And no further development of any of the Three Pines main characters. But I loved this book so much because of the development between Gamache and Daniel. And the development of their relationship backstory. I know some were not convinced of the rift between them after All The Devils Are Here, so I think that for those readers, this will scratch that itch nicely. And I think the phrase “trust Louise” has been used in our group before too. For me, I think maybe that might mean more colour for each of our Three Pines characters. Eventually. And after The Grey Wolf, I will be ready to read whatever she has planned for a long time to come. Even without Three Pines as the main setting with all our beloved characters, this book was a big hit for me.
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I am one of those who did not like the explanation for the rift between Daniel and Armand in ATDAH. It didn’t make a lot of sense that he would hold on to that childhood misunderstanding for so long, never discuss it like a mature adult. It just made Daniel seem so immature and spiteful.
The drug abuse was never mentioned as a contributing factor in the rift. I was so angry when I read it since it WOULD have made so much more sense and would have been a much more compelling story. Will be interested in thoughts from other readers.
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Yes, I was thinking of you (not you specifically, but all of you in the group who had expressed disappointment with that aspect of the story)! I am so surprised that you’re angry with the drug abuse development! It’s so interesting to hear your thoughts, as I imagined that the “missing explanation” that was disappointing in ATDAH would have been satisfying or more appreciated. This is why I love the group discussions. Thank you, Ann, for providing such an interesting perspective. I would love to hear more as well.
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I’m more irked than angry — poor choice of words in my first response. As i said, if the drug abuse, his suicide attempt had been mentioned in ATDAH as the reason for the rift I would be fine with it. It’s a much more compelling story. But to just change things like this is annoying. 🙂 But, it might just be me. 🙂
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Well, angry would be valid! It’s great to hear a different perspective because I do agree with all your points. I think that maybe it was the excitement of finally getting the book and loving certain parts of it that made some of the other bits fade away into the background. I remember thinking the same way you did about Jeanne and just wondering when the “reveal” would happen so we could get it out of the way and move on. But even when knowing that LP is setting things in an effort to ramp up the tension and suspense, I didn’t mind because of the overall feeling I got from the book.
I think the development with Daniel is maybe like an onion getting peeled, where an author feels that they can add more details to history when it’s called for. And maybe it was more of an afterthought, after ATDAH. Maybe she even read some critiques and it influenced the development??? We’ll never know. But I think LP’s looking at the series overall and then tweaking as she goes. For example, her change in the backstory of how Gamache’s parents died.
But I will say, I don’t think it’s just you at all. That was a sticky point with many, so I can’t wait to hear the reactions from others who had the same POV with ATDAH. I find it really interesting! 🙂
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I was left dismayed. My second least favorite after A Beautiful Mystery. Maybe I have a thing against monks. I hope they don’t show up again, and I feel horrible about the ending. Then I am so sad the Facebook group was paused. I needed them. Then dealt with fighting with resistering with this site. Funny how real life situations gang up on our minds. Maybe it was my timing of reading the ending and the ending itself combined with a hopeless feeling in general.
I generally am a happy Penny follower.
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One thing I noticed about the Grey Wolf and A Beautiful Mystery (other than them both having monks) is that they both end with Gamache hurt and in pain, so in essence they both have somewhat pessimistic endings personally for Gamache. I don’t like seeing our kind and gentle detective put through the wringer, but it makes for good drama and suspense. Here’s hoping Gamache heals fully. I suspect that the next book won’t have as many or any monks. Not because so few we met survived in the book, but because I think LP wrapped up that plot this book.
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Sending you a hug
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I enjoyed it! It was much more action packed than previous books and much more specific to certain relationships. I just finished the first reading last night and will begin again tonight.
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In light of the current geopolitical situation, I think that The Grey Wolf is revelatory, reflective and hopeful. The Grey Wolf and The Black Wolf are going to be symbolic of our times.
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The Grey Wolf provided mystery, suspense, and twists and turns for an edge of the seat reading experience which I enjoyed to the fullest. Louise has raised a scary but relevant concern which we all need to be more mindful of – eco-terrorism. Plus, she certainly left us wondering what is coming next. However, I did not have that emotionally grounding feeling I usually get from a Louise Penny book. I missed the feeling of’ being at home’. Safe with my Three Pines friends. i missed their friendly banter, their instinctive awareness of when their neighbor needs help, that loving hand that lets you know you are not alone. Not only am I left wondering what comes next but I wonder if Gamache will recover completely and might we learn more about a new character, Shona Dorion the blogger. Wouldn’t Amelia and Shona make an interesting team?
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Oooh! A Shona and Amelia partnership would be very interesting! Great idea!!
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Libby,
Love your review. I was left with less of a positive feeling than usual and I think you just helped me see the reason, I miss my friends in Three Pines. I also realize the I miss the Bistro menu- what does that say about me? Even when the setting is Paris there is more family interaction. This book is primarily Armand, Jean Guy and Isabelle, and even they are not together but on separate missions. And yes, it hurt to see Armand injured again.-
Yes, I agree too, except I did love the family interactions here too. For example with the credit cards. I felt that this book was rewarding in this way, for the immediate Gamache family.
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Same! And also the scene with Daniel saying he trusts Gamache. Oh, the growth just warmed my heart!
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I thought the book leaned more towards being a thriller than mystery with its ticking time clock climax and global terrorist threat but I really enjoyed it a lot. The suspense wound up tighter and tighter and I read faster and faster! I also thought the central threat to the drinking water was high stakes and all the more frightening because it seems like something that could happen in the real world. If I had any quibble it’s what others have said – that we didn’t have as much time with our friends in Three Pines as I would have liked. But at least I felt the close connection between Gamache, Jean-Guy and Isabelle even when they were working apart. My other quibble is that I’m not a huge fan of cliffhangers. Thankfully, the book didn’t end with us not knowing what happens at the water plant. Still, I have so many questions.
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I’m torn. I really wanted to like it and there were things about it that I did like. This is more of Ed thriller than a mystery, which is fine with me. I enjoy thrillers but they need to make sense and so many things just did not make sense. Too many red herrings to keep track of, too many characters brought in from previous books. I figured out the twist pretty early on and was yelling at Gamache about it. Similar to WOC where many of us figured out who Fletcher was before Gamache, but at least him I wasn’t sure until pretty near the end. Here I knew very early on.
The prose was lovely, as usual. And her trademark humor was evident. Still plenty to enjoy in between rolling eyes at the inanity!
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I agree with you. Overall, I loved the prose and the humour and the heartwarming moments between Gamache and Jean-Guy and Daniel. Looking back at the story, I agree with everything you say here, but while I was reading the story, I was enjoying the ride. I think there were a few moments that took me out of it, but they were short lasting, compared to the rest of it, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
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This was an excellent read. AND I agree with all the details that I’ve read other members here have issues with. The inconsistencies, plot points, backstory gaps, and leaps of faith are all 100% valid. But, I really loved this book and will read it again. It’s interesting to note that Myrna’s influence wasn’t present in this book, and because of that I feel something missing. Maybe it’s because Myrna embodies the spirit of Three Pines in a strong way.
And I want to acknowledge the increasing strength of Louise’s voice on so many different social issues; drug abuse, sexuality, the treatment of first nations people, attitudes towards differently-abled persons, eco-terrorism, politics. I know that many readers want and miss the comfort of Three Pines and that this book was disappointing in this respect, but I greatly admire how Louise is using her global influence to shine a light on abuses of power and wealth. This is perhaps, especially with respect to current events, one of the most important global social issues at the moment.
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I read it in 4 days, life got in the way, and I was exhausted at the end. I did read the first 50% straight thru, had to put it down because my eyes kept closing, and was totally captivated by it. Not having the option to read the second half at one setting made it more difficult to keep track of everyone. Was it just me or did you have trouble remembering who all the new people were? My major feeling at the end of the book was exhaustion, I’d like to reread it and try to figure out how many days the events cover, sometimes it seemed like Armond must have more hours in his day than I do. Did he ever sleep? LP has certainly done it again. What an imagination and brain she has.
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I remember seeing a post here about the characters too – there is a list here with all of them from the Grey Wolf, and I agree that there were so many to try to keep track of. And I also wanted to reread it almost as soon as I finished reading it for the first time too.
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I was somewhat disappointed… Knowing that, as always, things will work out in the end, I kept reading, but this book did not grab and grip me like the others. Obviously, a plot thick as this one would have a lot of characters and moving parts, but I don’t know – something was missing for me.
anyone else feel this way?
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I don’t know..it grabbed me. I read it pretty quickly. But I was “pulled out” by a lot of the…inanity? Not sure if that’s the right word. Just so many things did not make sense — the whole thing with the coat! How the heck was that supposed to clue Gamache in on what was happening? And I figured out pretty quickly that the character being made out to be the villain was not actually the villain and was yelling at Gamache to just call her already! The whole thing with the monks didn’t make sense — how did Brother Robert realize it was Brother Sebastien making the confession yet Brother Sebastien did not recognize Brother Robert’s voice? Even Gamache going into Olivier and Gabri’s bedroom in the middle of the night had me rolling my eyes! I know it was supposed to be funny, but crikey, why would he risk scaring his friends like that? Why couldn’t he call first? Ring the door bell or even simply knock on the bedroom door? What if Olivier had a weapon under his pillow?
But her prose was characteristically lovely, most of the humor was funny. I enjoyed the touching moments in Three Pines — Gamache and Daniel’s relationship growing, and Ruth with Jean-Guy was such a sweet moment. So for me, the good still balanced out the bad.
I will read The Black Wolf when it comes out next year, but I don’t think these things will have been improved. But hopefully we will have more of the Three Pines moments.
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Thank you, Ann!
You’ve touched on all the things I was thinking/noticing — and yes, Louise’s writing is still lovely. It took me almost two weeks to read Grey Wolf, just because it didn’t grab me and it did confuse me in many ways.
Perhaps by the time I read it again (I will be starting Still Life for the 10th time tonight!) I will see it differently. And yes, when “Black Wolf” comes out next year, I will look forward to it.
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I enjoyed it immensely and for four main reasons, summarized in ascending order. I enjoyed the addition of other settings, especially those in Canada. It seems to me that Louise Penny captures that landscape and people so vividly. I really want to visit Blanc-Sablon, both to see such a rugged and beautiful area and to meet the people who make that community their home. I found Commander Michaud an inspiring character. I enjoyed revisiting the monastery and finding Claude Dussault in another story. Reason three, I found this an intricate plot. I know I have yet to locate all of the links of its various threads and I expect to continue to enjoy the search. Like some others, I have a sense of incompleteness too. This is the first LP book that I have seen so clearly communicate that there is more to the story. Finally, I really enjoyed the character development of Armand and his “sons” and the increasing maturity of their relationships. I believe that is another discussion question I hope to join. I always enjoy “Three Pines” and its residents, of course, and they did not disappoint.
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I liked The Grey Wolf for Louise Penny’s writing and complex story construction. Granted, Three Pines takes a back seat, but the village still provides an anchor for all the foreign locations. I see The Grey Wolf as a story of relationships, choices and trust/distrust. It is not “sanctuary in certainty.” It is “life made up of tiny choices. Like a pointillist painting, no one dot, no one choice, defined it. But together? There emerged a picture. A life.” Clara’s “latest work, part of a series she was calling Just before something happens” foreshadows the choices in the story. “The works ached of anxiety and excitement. Of potential and promise and peril. Of hope, but also dread. Anything might happen. . .” Many terrible things do happen, but Armand sees fireflies “being a small light in the night purpose enough. A show of defiance. These tiny creatures were the resistance against a vast darkness.” How this resonates in today’s situation. While Three Pines seems to provide comic relief, for the most part, for serious happenings, there are numerous subtle comic points during times of tension, such as Beauvoir finding out that Manon Legace is a sanitation engineer while they are trying to shut down the treatment plant. I don’t like that it ends with a cliffhanger, but the resolution of story this complex would seem somewhat artificial and not like life with choices, relationships and cliffhangers.
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Yes I agree completely but you have have expressed your thoughts much more eloquently than I would be able to.
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Thank you, but you are very articulate which I have seen in other of your posts.
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Thank you Nancy, you are too kind. I will enjoy giving my hearts for all the very insightful comments!
Sometimes I feel like that child in the classroom who avoids eye contact with the teacher so I won’t be called upon. Not because I don’t know at least part of the answer, but here, I think there are readers who know the answers more fully, and can express their thoughts beautifully. I am just happy to be able to hear all these intelligent thoughts and be part of a genuinely caring community. I enjoy learning when others know more.
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Wonderful points, Nancy. It’s interesting that you noted the fireflies – a symbol of hope and light in the darkness. I noticed that Louise mentions fireflies several times at significant points in the story. They catch Armand’s attention early on. Then, later, he remembers them when he thinks he might be dying at the water plant and they bring him comfort. I thought this detail was so beautiful and poignant. Louise is masterful at introducing what you think is just a small observation but then she brings it back to create a bigger picture – one that results in a profound and meaningful moment. The fireflies are like one of her dots of paint on her larger canvas.
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I am an absolute fan of this book. I listened to it as soon as it arrived on Audible and had to stay up late to see it through, but it was a total treat. And then I took my time and read the book while listening to it again. The feel of this book is tension, as opposed to cozy relaxation and “quiet murder”; the stakes are high, and the action relentless. I enjoyed that, because even though there’s a lot going on, and a lot of characters to keep track of, I felt that I was never separated for too long from Armand, Jean-Guy, or Isabelle in any particular spot, which makes me happy. They are involved pretty much every step of the way. I love being inside those characters’ heads, and I loved that the spotlight was on them in this book. They are a family unto themselves, and their trust, love, intelligence, and competence makes them a formidable team. I love the other main Three Pines characters, and always want to feel/see their presence in each book and spend at least SOME time in the village, but I would follow Armand, Jean-Guy, Isabelle, and their families anywhere in the world that LP wants to put them and would still probably enjoy it. That said, I was satisfied that there were some beautiful moments spent in Three Pines with my other beloved characters (Ruth has some great moments, in particular). What I enjoyed the most in this book was the blend of compelling plot (I just went along for the ride, content to let it unfold) and some beautiful intimate moments between characters that I care about, and some selfless acts from some that I learned to care about; these all-too human people who try to mount a “resistance against the darkness.” I am disconcerted by how the story ended, and anxious to move on to the next chapter, to see what comes next.
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Susan, describing the feel of the book as “tension” is bang on. There definitely is little respite or time for Armand’s usual contemplation or reflection in The Grey Wolf. It’s go-go-go right from the start and I thought this made sense given the stakes. I loved that Armand, Isabelle, and Jean-Guy worked so well together and thought there were some really lovely moments between them. I also felt that the passage of time seems to be weighing heavily on Armand. I noted that it came up a lot – about how his work and his choices have negatively impacted the lives of the younger generation, notably Charles, Shona, Daniel.
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I loved the book. It’s certainly a departure from a whodunnit mystery set in Three Pines. Instead, we get a full-on thriller with an international scope and high stakes. Louise’s recurring themes of corruption and abuse of power take on an even broader scale, with corruption this time reaching the highest echelons of the Canadian government, the RCMP, and the Catholic Church.
There are shadowy ties to international criminal cartels (the mafia and possibly another group?) and unknown bad actors within the U.S. scientific or military community. After all, who stole those deadly agents? Louise masterfully underscores the devastating impact of corruption through the revelation of Daniel and Gamache’s troubled past with Jeanne Caron and the Deputy PM. Caron’s lies and manipulation, along with her boss’s ambitions, deeply fractured the father-son relationship and nearly cost Daniel his life. This more than anything else in the story illustrates how those in power can harm the individuals who stand in their way of achieving more power and control. I can’t wait to see how this will all unfold in the pursuit of the Black Wolf.
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I agree with so much of what has already been said! I have also decided to to reread THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY because of the past connections.
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Ann Lozier, I understand your discomfort with Daniel holding on to his anger with his father for so long. However, I want to confirm that this truly happens. I was in my 50s while talking with my sister that I blurted “but she lied to me”. At that moment we both understood, for the first time, why I had been at odds with our mother since I was 7. That lie left me unable to trust her. How sad for both of us.
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I know that some readers felt adrift from Three Pines in the book given that there are only a few short scenes there and with our Three Pines friends, so that’s totally understandable. But I think LP did it on purpose to give us that extra sense of danger. Yes, Three Pines is safe from the big water threat because they are lucky enough to be on well water (lucky, that). But the residents are not safe from harm, as we see when Gamache’s family is threatened by Lavigne. And when General Whitehead outlines to Jean-Guy the chaos that would be unleashed by an attack Jean-Guy realizes that “Three Pines was not safe after all.”
I can’t help but think that the black wolves are going to come hunting in Three Pines in the next book. I know it’s a small detail, but LP has Gamache observing real wolves several times in the book and I just take this as subtle foreshadowing that Gamache is going to confront the big bad wolf. In Chapter 14 while in Three Pines Gamache tells Reine-Marie of the terrorist plot and describes: “There had been no question that Armand would tell Reine-Marie everything. And he had, to the accompaniment of the crickets and frogs and the far-off howl of a wolf, down from the mountains to hunt.” Then later in the chapter still talking with Reine-Marie Gamache notes, “He smiled his thanks for that optimism. It helped, the dark and cold. When they could hear the far-off howling of a wolf in pursuit.” And of course in Chapter 21 Gamache encounters a real wolf at the abbey!
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Katherine, I agree with your assessment abut the foreshadowing — those wolf references kept popping up, and I loved that! it kept reminding me that “the wolves are at the door,” so to speak. I, too, think that we’ll be see more of a bigger threat in the next book; the Big Bad Wolf behind what has come before. And I think the Mafia will be a big factor in the story. I can’t wait!
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I also agree with the many wolf references, but since wolves hunt in packs, I think there will be a pack in the next book.
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Yes, I think you are right Nancy. And what a great analogy with wolf packs! In The Grey Wolf, there were politicians, organized crime, law enforcement and citizens spread across different countries. I think that we will see many more people revealing their black wolf sides in the next book.
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Exactly May. As adults we don’t realize that our children are sponges absorbing everything they hear and see and making their own decisions based on that input. It becomes an ingrained part of who we are and how other relationships develop. So what Daniel reveals to his dad in All The Devils Are Here is still very much a part of his relationship with Gamache. Add that to what happened when he was older with Jeanne Caron and WOW what an emotional nightmare to untangle.
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Great thoughts about Daniel. It is a shame that Daniel hasn’t gotten help to deal with this before now. However, in his defense, he went to jail and his father could have stopped that. That’s a hard pill to swallow. We have no idea what Daniel, as a son of a well known figure, experienced in jail. It may well have been brutal. I want to applaud Armand for not compromising his values but I can’t get over the fact that he let Daniel go to jail. He let his son suffer when he could have stopped it. Daniel would possibly not been sentenced to jail if not be in HIS son.
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A few points in response to those already made. First, I do disagree that we don’t see character development as much in this story. I really loved the evocation of the horrid events in A Beautiful Mystery in this book. It seems almost inevitable that revisiting the monastery would trigger difficult memories for Jean-Guy, especially concerning the drug-induced choice he made to leave with Francoeur. The dock as departure point is a hot point of real pain for both Gamache and Jean Guy. The scene when they are departing for the second time is, to me, quite poignant as JG acknowledges his own black wolf of his anger and the addiction related to it. Of course, there is also that teaser with Gamache wondering why JG loathes the Catholic Church so much (I kind of expect that we will find out in The Black Wolf, but I’m a bit worried about what other trauma our poor guy may have experienced as a child).
Regarding Daniel, I think it’s quite realistic that we uncover his story in pieces over the series. That’s kind of how life works. As for the comment that Gamache could have kept Daniel out of jail — I’m not sure how. There were lots of layers of authority above Gamache at that time, and some of them really didn’t like him. Plus the levels of corruption in the Surete and in Quebec in general would have complicated things enormously. It’s interesting to me that both Daniel and JG have a shared history of addiction — we knew that Daniel was involved with drugs, but I don’t think that we had known he had an addiction.
I, too, am impressed by Penny’s weaving in of so many important topics in this novel, especially climate change. One of the most poignant moments for me was at the end, when Gamache, Jean Guy and Reine-Marie leave the bistro and are kicking leaves like children as they walk home. It is a pure moment of time that takes them all away from the many horrors around them, and I thought it was a brilliant piece of writing.
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Oh, I love your thoughts on this! I felt the same; I really enjoyed all the moments that Armand and JG shared as they returned to the abbey, the scene of so many heartbreaking moments for them both. And I loved that they both recognized that they had weathered that storm, and were now “OK,” with their relationship stronger than ever. I also was intrigued about that teaser regarding JG’s loathing of the Church, and Armand’s intention to get to the bottom of that, some day. I want to know, too! I saw hints when he visited Washington that he had some unpleasant memories related to his Catholic school upbringing; the priest with the cane, the nuns who were so dour, etc. — his 10 year old self must have had some trauma there, but what was it? I want to know!
I was also intrigued by the parallels of Daniel’s and JG’s histories with drugs— both getting into serious trouble and nearly losing their lives; both becoming so disconnected and hateful towards Armand. No wonder Armand was so dismayed when he saw signs that JG was developing his addictions; he’d seen it before. I wonder if LP had planned that all along, or she merely added to Daniel’s backstory as a way of fleshing out that relationship even more. Either way, I accept that it worked for me as a reader. And maybe it could eventually make Daniel’s and JG’s relationship stronger, since they have that in common. I wonder if Daniel ever goes to NA meetings?
And that scene when Armand, Reine-Marie, and JG walk home, kicking the leaves— that was beautiful, wasn’t it? I could just see that, and hear that (and was SO sorry that Armand could not, but I hope things improve for him in the future. I’m counting on it)!
So even though this book was a true thriller, I was emotionally satisfied to have so many intimate moments regarding these characters, and will be wanting more. Armand and his loved ones (his “two sons”, his beloved wife and daughter; his grandkids, and his “other daughter”, Isabelle), with their deep, complex relationships, as well as his deep trust and friendship with those wonderful friends in Three Pines, are what I enjoy most about these books, which is saying a lot because I enjoy so many things about them!
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Kathi I am worried that Jean-Guy has something painful related to his childhood at a Catholic school too. Louise definitely hints at it and I’m pretty sure she’s setting up a future storyline. Seeing Armand and Jean-Guy revisit the monastery is a beautiful full-circle moment for the two of them. They were wedged apart the first time, and now they are drawn closer together in the second, both acknowledging their anger and hurt and their inner “black wolves.” I also don’t think Armand could have really done more to help Daniel because his case was already in the hands of the judicial system and no longer a police matter. Caron pulled strings and Daniel was taken out of court-ordered rehab and then charged with trafficking – all these things are in the hands of lawyers and the Crown attorneys, not the Surete. So it was a fait accompli for poor Daniel!
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The kicking the autumn leaves was such a beautiful touch. I’m sure it’s something many of us remember doing in our childhoods. I remember carefully collecting the colourful leaves and then my mum would use wax paper and an iron to flatten them to preserve them. Louise has a wonderful way of conveying a nostalgic feeling for something but also reminding us to savour the small moments in life. They are precious.
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So happy to return to the Gamache universe!THE GREY WOLF really hit home in some frightening ways to our current world situation. Louise Penny, ever extremely tuned in and observant, finds a way to capture that in her work. It will be hard to wait a year for THE BLACK WOLF.
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When I first understood how the Book Club Friends admins had organized the discussion of “The Grey Wolf,” I was a bit skeptical, unsure that by the time November 29 rolled around there would be more to read if I had already started looking at this forum. Well, that is certainly NOT the case from what I see today. Every comment has added more insights, reasons to look for more connections and clues to the story and poignant moments for the characters. I find the plot reminiscent of “State of Terror” with the international connections, the threat of sabotage and civil unrest, corrupt officials etc.! It also reminded me of “How the Light Gets In” when Francouer was personally after Gamache but also in the service of a corrupt government official who intended to blow up the bridge over the St. Lawrence to create a similar civil unrest to advance his power and create an excuse to separate Quebec from the rest of the country. I am confident there are clues I have still to appreciate. I suspect I may not recognize some of those until reading “The Black wolf.” I find it very intriguing to think there is more to come!
Having said that, I also found the character development the most rewarding part of this story. The picture of Daniel that emerges here is much more nuanced than previous stories. Even though he and Armand return from Paris with an understanding of and greater respect for one another, the Daniel in this story is a much more complex person, more mature and willing to look at himself honestly. It is hard to imagine Armand and Jean-Guy becoming closer but LP manages that too. Both of them seem to me to be more accepting of themselves, Jean-Guy more introspective and Armand more willing to be vulnerable.
As far as Jean-Guy’s view of the Catholic Church, I am confident the brash, opinionated and unfiltered Jean-Guy would have struggled in a Catholic school. I hope this is a thread LP connects in the next story.
Finally, I share the hope that we see more of a connection between Jean-Guy and Daniel.
Thanks, everyone, for the contineud comments.
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I agree with everything you’re saying! So many good insights keep coming in.
As for the things to come, I’m with you —- there are probably some clues in this story as to where the next one is headed. I think that Shona the Vlogger is going to play a bigger role, tracking clues about Mob connections, and I wonder if the all the people supposedly “cleared of suspicion” in the final investigation are truly to be trusted (I’ll bet not; but who?). And yes, yes, yes to the continually deepening and evolving character development, particularly with Armand, JG, and Daniel. I hope we get to see a lot more of that; it would be interesting to explore JG and Daniel developing an even deeper bond, considering all that they have in common. And yes, please, I want to earn more about JG’s childhood, and how it shaped him. I’m sure he was considered a handful in his school days, but I’d like to hear all about it!
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I’m sure that Shona will come up in the next book because in The Grey Wolf we never get the results of the investigation into pollution wavers and sale of controlling interests in Canadien resource-based companies that Armand asked her to do.
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Oh, that’s right— her focus may indeed bring her more into the corrupt politicians and businesspeople than the Mafia — but then again, they might all be interconnected; I think maybe they are, based on Jean Caron’s boss’s connection.
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And somehow, I think that St. Gilbert’s and the lake will be involved because of the red dot on the map that was right where the monastery is located.
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Good point!
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In previous books, Daniel and Jean-Guy have seen themselves as competitors for Armand’s respect. I think it would be wonderful for them to explicitly see themselves as allies. And Shona is a character I would like to see again. Someone earlier mentioned a Shona and Amelia collaboration (I have lost track of who to credit with this idea). That would be a fascinating duo.
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Yes!!
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I think that was Libby with the Shona/Amelia team idea. I would like to see Amelia come back in TBW. I think our team needs a few more greys to fight all the blacks that will come out of the dark in the next book.
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I love all your points. I hadn’t picked up on the similarities between Francoeur’s plot and the one in The Grey Wolf but now it seems so obvious after you mentioned it. Francoeur did try and elevate that corrupt premier through domestic terrorism. I wonder if Penny intended that? I’m sure she did. There are so many callbacks in The Grey Wolf to earlier books in the series. But are the two plots connected in some way? I thought there were a lot of similarities to State of Terror too but I liked The Grey Wolf much more. But I wonder if we will see Ellen Adams appear in the Black Wolf? I too hope Jean-Guy and Daniel will bond in the future. They now have something in common that is separate from Armand so we shall see what happens. I would love to see them teaming up to rescue of Armand in some way.
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Gamache is put through a lot of traumatic things in this book! Not only did he revisit traumatic past memories about Daniel, Jean-Guy, and the disaster in the factory, but he also was gravely injured and had yet another professional friend he trusted turn out to be a very bad guy. And he still doesn’t know who’s behind the terrible plot.
I enjoyed the story most when the focus was on Gamache, Jean-Guy, and Isabelle working together to solve the puzzle. Gamache’s moral courage is at full strength, and I always enjoy seeing him working through the clues, the ethical dilemmas and strategizing who to trust and bring into the investigation. There are some fun surprises as a result. And there’s lots of action and suspense. I read it very quickly so I probably missed some clues that I maybe shouldn’t have.
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I like your take on things here. I, too, really enjoyed the smooth interplay between Armand JG, and Isabelle as they worked together to solve this problem. I always enjoy seeing that; this little family of people who trust and know each other so well, who are individually so smart and competent, but when working together, are even more formidable. And when they work so closely together, there are so many more opportunities to delve into their interpersonal character development, which I love. I was really tickled when I first read the synopsis of the book pre-publication, when they mentioned how these three were going to be the key players in this outing. I felt like I’d been handed an early Christmas present!
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The discussion on Daniel has made me wonder about his wife. At the moment I can’t even remember her name. What have we learned about her that I have missed?
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Her name is Rosalyn, and she’s a successful businesswoman who I believe has something to do with fashion design. I remember her trying to explain and defend what she did for a living to Haniya Daoud (sp?) in The Madness of Crowds. She often has done babysitting for Annie and JG, too, especially when they all lived in Paris.
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Louise knocked it out of the park again. There was a lot of drama and suspense in this book yet she still managed to include those character moments I love so much. Our beloved heroes now have long, rich histories together, and Louise draws from this very effectively. Gamache, Isabelle and Jean-Guy seem more settled, calm, and trusting with each other. It’s the outside world that is in chaos.
My one quibble was that the people who were in danger were so cryptic in how they communicated their secrets. Charles, Dom Philippe, and Jeanne all opted to leave very obscure, vague clues that our detectives (and us readers) had to figure out. It didn’t seem to jibe with the urgency of the situation. Thousands of lives are in danger (including their own), yet they go through elaborate schemes to drop torn recipes in jacket pockets, leave odd cocktail recipes in Three Pines, and knock over glasses of water? However, I didn’t dwell on these details too much. I reasoned that they were scared to death, and maybe they were worried about being watched and tipping the terrorists off, just like Gamache was worried about doing. It wasn’t too much effort for me to suspend my logic and simply sit back and enjoy the story because Louise kept things moving at a fast pace and she included many interesting and touching moments with Gamache and his family. I loved seeing the familiar faces from past books and the hints at a larger, more sinister global plot. I also enjoyed Gamache’s smart moments, like when he reasoned out the plot might be related to water security and when he thwarted the terrorists’ plans with his clever switcheroo.
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I don’t think I appreciated just how fearful some of the main characters had reason to be until my second read when I picked up on Charles’ fear and the look of “panic” Armand sees in his mother’s eyes. At first, I thought Charles’ parents were unfeeling. Looking back, they probably felt they had no recourse except to seem to have disowned him and that is probalby exactly what Charles told them to do.
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Yes, exactly. I didn’t truly understand why Charles’ parents would be so cold and distant upon hearing that he had recovered from his addiction, not to mention that he had died! “He’s got you fooled too” was especially harsh. But of course we learn why later on.
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I finished the book a few days ago. I was hoping I could shake the feeling of disappointment that started to rise about 50 pages into the book, but in the end, I am left with one big question:
Is “our” Armand Gamache okay? No, I don’t mean his obvious injury at the end of the book. I mean: right from the beginning. Who is this angry, frazzled man, this short-tempered investigator who cannot seem to listen to a distraught young man without playing in his head three different ways in which this man could be deceiving him? Who is this person who refuses to deal with his past pain when, all these years, he has modeled for us how seeing a therapist after experiencing trauma is an absolute necessity?
One clue came from Jean Guy (love the sober, grown up, husband and father version of him): emotions cause perceptions which shape thoughts which lead to actions (wish I could find the quote). Gamache is so blinded by his hatred for J.C. (however justified) that he makes mistakes that he would not normally make.
Is there a warning sign that he is unwell, cognitively? Or is it a hint that the accumulations of emotional trauma, physical injuries and experiences of betrayal have caused him to feed his inner black wolf a little bit too much? is he still able to trust anyone outside his family and inner circle? Are his judgements still sound?
I think these concerns are the main reason for my disappointment. Even the writing in the first 100 pages or so of the book seemed different: choppy, a bit disjointed. I wonder if that is what made me feel disappointed. Or maybe anxious? Is Armand slipping away?-
You raise many interesting points, Angie, and I understand your concerns. Personally, I think that Armand is as all right as ever, in that he has always had to consider all sides of the coin in any given situation; when he has had powerful enemies in the past, he has tried to think several steps ahead, and cover all the bases, and play things close to the vest (oy, that’s a lot of cliches, isn’t it? Sorry about that, but it’s what’s coming to mind! I need more coffee…) He knows that he has to mistrust —“don’t believe everything you think”— in order to survive and keep people safe. He had to trust his instincts during that meeting with Charles; it was the right, prudent thing to do as a cop, to not blindly trust, and to question what was really happening. And yet, he still followed his gut instinct about him in the end; classic Armand. He also trusted Shona with the knowledge of his secret files; it was a considered risk, but he again trusts his logic and his instincts. And, unfortunately, he very humanly made a choice to trust his friend Lavigne; again, classic Armand, to want to see the best in people, which is sometimes his blind spot, despite his training to do the opposite. So I think he was behaving normally, for him. The career he has chosen forces him to see the world through a different lens at times. In some people, it would break them, but I don’t think he’s there yet, though it may indeed be wearing on him.
As for his anger and rage towards Jean Caron— the only times in the past where he really didn’t seem to have his emotional act together have been where his family is concerned, and particularly, his “two” sons. He nearly lost his cool and gave in to his black wolf when Jean-Guy was under Francoeur’s influence; and because he loves Daniel so much, he can’t always remain cool and objective in his dealings with or about him. Yet he has always wanted to protect him, and in the situation involving Caron, he failed to do so, and no doubt feels tremendous guilt and rage about that. I think he was perfectly justified to shout at her on the phone; what I admire is the restraint he showed by not immediately pouncing on the phone the first time he saw her caller ID, and letting her have it then! Though even he has his breaking point, his threshold for self-control remains much higher than mine. Should he have talked to her when she called? In retrospect, yes; but was it humanly possible to make that choice at that point in time? It wouldn’t be for me. No, Armand doesn’t always get things right, but his batting average over all still remains high, thank goodness. It’s been said that he still uses therapy to help him cope with things, and after the events of this book, I expect he’ll be making even more appointments, but I do trust that, even if he is at present more vulnerable than usual, he will find his way to peace and balance. He is a strong person, with a strong network of support in his life. He may need to lean on them even more than usual, but I think, I hope, he’ll be OK. -
Did you mean this quote Angie? “In many ways, in every way that mattered, feelings were more real, more powerful than thoughts. They were the engine of perception, which drove thought, which became words and prompted action.” I noted it down because I liked it. I also had a niggling feeling about Gamache. He seemed more vulnerable and he made some big mistakes that seemed to arise from his emotions. Not only did he let his anger at Caron cloud his judgement but he also missed vital clues with Charles because he was caught up in his own memories. Are these lapses because of age? Because of all his past trauma? I think LP did make us question what’s going on purposefully to put us even more on edge of our seats and in doubt. It’s interesting that you bring up Jean-Guy because I thought he is taking care of Gamache a fair bit more in small ways and big. Even though Gamache may be at a low point where we leave off, I hope (and believe) he’ll get back up on his feet but I think he’ll need all the help he can get from his friends and family.
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Angie and Maureen,
I also felt that Armand was not quite 100% as he is in the other books and I have to think about Maureen’s comment about Jean-Guy being more protective and supportive of him. Although I have to say he always had that tendency. Here is what scares me as I think about what you both have written. LP has always said that Gamache is based on her husband and we know she cared for him, and almost stopped writing, due to his decline and slide into dementia. I am not saying that is what is happening with our Armand………. Well I sure hope it is not what we are seeing hints of. It does seem that he lost his focus a few times and the stakes in this book are not any higher that the pending dam collapse in a previous book so it should not be that.
What do you think?
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Nancy, I did have an initial worry about Gamache and his memory. But I don’t think that’s what we’re seeing hints of. He’s not forgetting things. If anything he’s remembering too much past trauma. He is still having flashbacks to the warehouse and then he has the terrible memories of Caron and Daniel. I’m guessing his lack of focus could be because the cumulative stress of the job may be beginning to take an increasing toll on him. Does that make sense? He’s also aging, now in his 60s, so it’s perhaps harder for him to bounce back? I recall that it took him a long time to recover from his injuries and the trauma from How the light gets in. He slowly got better through The Long Way Home and The Nature of the Beast buy it took a long time before he felt well enough to go back to work. I also think he’s increasingly doubting his judgement. But again, that’s reasonable considering how often he has trusted his work colleagues only to have them betray him. He’s rooted out so many black wolves in the Surete that I am sure it has made him increasingly skeptical of people. Curious to hear more of what you think.
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I think I have a more up beat take on the story and Armand and Jean-Guy. I think investigations, both in real life and in fiction, go down quite few rabbit holes and get sidetracked by false starts and hunches that prove incorrect even though the logic at the time was unassailable for the investigators. Armand has certainly been wrong, even wildly so, before. I saw what I considered a maturing of their relationship with one another in Armand and Jean-Guy. I cannot recall the context of the quote about the power of feelings bit that is very accurate in my experience. I found Jean-Guy more comfortable in his own skin, more accepting of himself and others. And Armand was willing to yield a bit more to others’ care of him. In the end, it is Armand who recognizes that they have missed someone, another malign actor and another potential deadly plot. He is the one who realizes the significance of the second notebook and summons Jean-Guy and Isabelle to his home at 4:15 a.m. I seriously want to read “The Black Wolf” starting tomorrow but I expect to see Armand reasonably fit and in charge.
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I think you are spot on, Jane. Gamache is not perfect, he is human and he is capable of making mistakes, of letting his emotions sometimes get the better of him, of falling and needing help from others. We see him more accepting of that help which maybe makes him seem more vulnerable. Because Louise is so skilled, we feel his anxiety from the very start and then even more so by the very end. For me, this was very cleverly written and we are all anxious to see what happens in The Black Wolf because of the feelings she has created in us. But if we were not hopeful for our hero to succeed, the anticipation would not be as great. I agree with Jane that it was Gamache who was able to identify another threat and so he and his mind are as sharp as ever. Sharper than everyone else involved who couldn’t recognize the importance of the second notebook and understand that the job was not yet finished. The next 10 months might feel even longer than the last two years!
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I agree, Jane and Mei Lan— I’m opting for optimism here. I hope/believe that Armand is still as sharp as ever. I felt he was acting normally throughout the book; he was stressed, as the stakes were so high and he had personal feelings to wrestle with, yet he dealt with everything as best as he could; in a human, nonperfect way, yet better than most could manage. And now, he may face more physical and/or mental challenges along the way, but I am hoping for a full, or reasonably full, recovery from his present situation. It did cross my mind that LP may have used her own personal experiences to let us in on what it might be like for a remarkably intelligent person to be suffering from an assault on their faculties; I was particularly struck by her descriptions of what it was like for Armand to try to be part of conversations that he could no longer hear or fully understand; to frighten his grandchildren by the loudness of his voice, his becoming nonfamiliar to them; and the way the adults responded to him— including him at first, but then drifting off into natural conversations that often inadvertently excluded him. I know this to be real; I saw it with my parents, and many patients in my career, and I’m sure that LP saw many instances like that in her own experiences. I saw it as a way for her to share what the “real” Armand might have endured. But what gives me hope is that LP once said (and this is totally paraphrased at the moment, but I’m pretty sure she said it on her book tour when I saw her in Lancaster) that as long as she keeps writing her Three Pines books, she can keep her husband alive, immortalized. And if that’s the case, I would hope that Armand overcomes all obstacles and remains on top of his game, as I’m sure she would have wished for her husband. He may not have quite the stamina or strength at times (and who among us does, as we age?) and need to rely more on JG, but JG is more than up to the task these days, and Isabelle and Reine-Marie, Annie, and perhaps Daniel more and more, and all the Three Pines friends are all there to support him. If anyone can heal and stay capable, I think it will be Armand. It would break my heart if it were otherwise.
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My feelings lean towards the same perspectives that Jane, Susan, Mei Lan, Maureen and others have expressed, although I completely understand Nancy’s point of view and agree that there is potential for a hard fall for Gamache. But in my opinion, I don’t see that happening based on the LP interviews I’ve read. Similar to Susan’s points, I believe she’s said that she will write about Three Pines until she can no longer do so, and I don’t think she’s at that point in her career. Also from the point of her career, I suspect it might damage her readership if Gamache was not the lead. I’m with you, Nancy, in that it’s heartbreaking to see him at a low and I’m worried for him, but it would be absolutely devastating in every way to everyone if he did not heal and take charge in TBW and beyond. I’m very hopeful that the low we see now will just make the high that is coming feel more satisfying and comforting, and that that was LP’s plan all along.
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Thanks everyone for your take about Armand being stressed, right on, or maybe in a cognitive decline. I appreciate each of your insights and well written posts. I have said before that I was a bit overwhelmed after finishing this book and that my be influencing my worries. My plan is to reread it after the holidays and I will let you know if my “gut” feels better.
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