The Long Way Home by Louise Penny

Here I am again, recommending another intelligent and well-written mystery series.  This time by a Canadian writer.   These (as with Deborah Crombie) shall and should be read in sequence (Still Life is the first).

Louise Penny is a former CBC journalist and her well-honed story telling craft makes each of her novels a gem.  The series largely focuses in and around the picturesque Canadian village of Three Pines, filled with idiosyncratic inhabitants — but these are no typical “cozy” mysteries.  The characters have  depth, humor and pathos and the plots are often intricately complex and psychological.  I eagerly await each and every one of her novels.  So I blissfully delved into The Long Way Home, the 10th in her series.

The Long Way Home finds Chief Inspector Gamache now retired in Three Pines hoping to relax and recover from the horrors he experienced (yes you must read the earlier novels to truly understand the context).  He and his wife, Reine-Marie, are enjoying village life – breakfasts at the bistro, browsing at the bookstore, dinners with friends – when one of their friends, Clara, asks Gamache to help locate her estranged and now missing husband.  Clara and Gamache are joined by Reine-Marie, Myrna, the bookstore owner, his ex-Sargent De Beauvior, and the ever-cranky poet Ruth.

This unlikely crew of investigators find themselves in the Canadian region of  Charlevoix, a place of harsh beauty along the St. Lawrence river, which has attracted artists for centuries.  The mystery orbits around paintings of the beautiful landscape and Canadian artists.  You can see some of the artwork here.   This novel is fairly steeped in art – even the cover of the book feels and looks like a canvas. Part of the mystery also refers to a place in Scotland dubiously named “The Garden of Cosmic Speculation”, it really does exist and looks fascinating – check it out here.  As always, with Ms. Penny’s novels, I find myself making a list of things to Google.

Back to the story —  this is a markedly more philosophical and somber novel which deliberately mirrors Gamache’s introspection since his retirement from the force. Much of the book is psychologically driven and I grew tired of Clara’s tormented artist self pity. The artistic process and angst is discussed ad nauseum and is used as motive where it really doesn’t make sense.  There is some repetition and reiteration  — OK-OK we get the Balm of Gilead reference already! Basically, I longed for the plot to step more lively, if you please.

There were moments of the old charm and humor (nearly not enough for this reader):

“Ergo, he painted them on his return to Canada,” said Clara.

“Ergo?” asked Myrna.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never wanted to use it,” said Clara.

“Not now that I hear how it really sounds.”

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this book and it retains Ms. Penny’s gorgeous writing.  I was happy to revisit the Three Pines, its characters (including one foul-mouthed duck), glimpse into Gamache’s new life (he reads each morning on a bench overlooking the village) and share in the non-stop cozy tea breaks and good meals – does that Bistro ever close?

The Long Way Home is still an excellent read, just not on par with Ms. Penny’s previous novels. I remain a steadfast  fan and will eagerly await Ms. Penny’s next installment in this smart, original series.

One big rant: Come on Ms. Penny you’re better than this book’s melodramatic ending!

(I am hoping Ms. Penny doesn’t fall into a series black hole ala Elizabeth George —  whose mysteries, in my opinion, lost their way after she killed off Helen.)

To Dwell in Darkness by Deborah Crombie

I have followed this series from the first installment, A Share of Death in 1995, and have eagerly awaited each new installment in Ms. Crombie’s intelligent, well-crafted British mystery series.

Now if you are unfamiliar with Deborah Crombie  – you will enjoy this latest mystery in her series, but I urge you to go right now to your library and check out a Share of Death. Then read each of her series in order… I’ll wait right here until you do so.

OK now you’re with me on the series and her latest, To Dwell in Darkness, does not disappoint.

From the Back Cover:

Recently transferred to the London borough of Camden from Scotland Yard headquarters, detective superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his new murder investigation team are called to a deadly bombing at historic St. Pancras International Station. By fortunate coincidence, detective sergeant Melody Talbot, Gemma’s trusted colleague, witnesses the explosion. The victim was taking part in an organized protest, yet the other group members swear the young man only meant to set off a smoke bomb. As Kincaid begins to gather the facts, he finds that every piece of the puzzle yields an unexpected pattern, including the disappearance of a mysterious bystander.

The bombing isn’t the only mystery troubling Kincaid. He’s still questioning the reasons behind his transfer, and when his former boss continues to avoid him, those suspicions deepen.

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Ms. Crombie does her research and always chooses a lesser-known London area site to center her mysteries – in this case, St. Pancras train station.  As a special treat, the hard copy books include hand-illustrated maps of said location.  Here’s a sample – click to view larger.

St. Pancras is the setting for a very current and news-worthy event – a public bombing…and the perpetrators aren’t who they seem.  Duncan Kincaid has been demoted from his high-powered post with Scotland Yard and transferred to Holburn.  D.I. Gemma Jones is investigating the kidnapping, rape and murder of a 12 year old girl.   Melody Talbot plays a key role in this case, while jugging  a new relationship,  and there are kittens!

Sounds like a mess, but as in all Ms. Crombie’s novels the pacing is superb, while she builds tension yet gives us breaks with glimpses into the loving family of Duncan and Gemma.  Their relationship continues to delight and I just adore the descriptions of their home life  – so chaotic (did I mention a litter of abandoned  kittens?) yet warm.

 

In the previous installment (Sound of Broken Glass) we were left hanging on why Duncan was demoted and transferred  —  this installment does not resolve that or even shed any light on that question.  That’s twice now, where I’ve turned the last page/last chapter only to face the “about the author” blurb…totally surprised there wasn’t more .

I fear Ms. Crombie may be using the television series trick – stringing us along to her next new book — but that’s alright with me. I’ll go anywhere she wants to take me.

 

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

There’s been a great deal of buzz regarding this novel, so I approached  it with a little chip on my shoulder.  I read Gone Girl with every intention of not falling for the “best seller” hype. But, all I can say is WOW.   Ms. Flynn is indeed masterful.  I finished the book saying “how did she do that?”.

Within a few pages, I was engrossed in the twists and turns of the plot – even gasping aloud at some points and eagerly turning the pages to find out what is happening here?  Nick and Amy are totally unlikeable – their marriage is disturbing and dysfunctional.  The author surrounds them with money issues, in-law problems and mutual nastiness —   and yet I found myself holding my breath in terror for them – thinking, “how did things get this bad?”

The second half of the book turned me on my ear –  no spoilers here, just be warned huge surprises await.  And, if you’re like me, you’ll binge-read this novel to its sick and evil conclusion.

Warning, the novel contains foul language and some sordid sex  – accenting the twisted and  creepy atmosphere.  Now I want to read her other books;  Sharp Objects and Dark Places.  And I want to re-read Gone Girl – just to relish in Ms. Flynn’s  crafting and structure of this novel.

Review copy provided by Crown Publishing.

A Rather Lovely Inheritance, by C. A. Belmond

Grab this book, cozy up under an afghan and brew a pot of tea.   Just what I wanted,  in front of the fire with holiday music on the radio.   This is the first in a series and although predictable,  it is, nonetheless, well written and simply delightful.

Penny Nichols (great name ha!) comes into an inheritance from a distant aunt – an antique car and a huge flat in London  — but that’s just the beginning.   There’s a fun romp across England, France, and Italy (all my favorite places). It has an amusing cast of family members, co-workers, and friends.  There’s a little mystery, a little romance, a little danger and some mad capers on the coast of France.  There are two more installments that I plan to read.

Probably falls into the genre of  “chick-lit” but with a redeeming Anglophile/European slant.