Second in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache cozy mystery series and revolving around Gamache and a small cast of villagers from Three Pines in Canada.And winner of the 2007 Agatha Award for Best Novel!My TakeAn excellent cozy, cottage mystery with Québecois Christmas traditions as Gamache, a Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot wrapped in one with his easy, laidback style, and the core cast of village characters from Still Life, 1, get jolted by yet another murderous mystery. Hmmm, what are the chances of a small village charging through murder yet again?It's the core group with additions — we do need new (to us) villagers to keep it interesting — and Gamache has a new rookie to whom he's teaching the trade of murder. Clara is freaking out about her art possibly being discovered — I suspect I'd love Clara's artwork! — while Agent Nichol is still as self-absorbed as ever. And the fire incident does not help her self-esteem at all. Although I'm thinking that Uncle Saul's legacy might have been laid to rest, please god.This was an interesting read for me as a writer/editor, especially in light of all my research into self-publishing as CC has her horrible book that no publishing house wants to touch, and yet she's convinced it's the next runaway bestseller of the century. How is it that people like her create such peaceful ideas which they don't understand?We do learn how Myrna arrived in Three Pines, how Jean Guy was pulled into Homicide, and shockingly, how insensitive Jean Guy is. I was very surprised. For as much as he idolizes Gamache, I should have thought he was as kind and considerate as his boss. We also learn more about the Arnot case that has put a stop to Gamache's career."I see nothing wrong with that … Gabri and I follow the way of Häagen Das. It's occasionally a rocky road."It's such a contrast between the happy warmth of friends at Christmas with the vicious attacks of an insecure woman who can't bear that others might be happy. Although, even the happy ones have their sad moments. Em's will make you cry. This one had me totally at a loss as Penny tossed in so many twists and turns that I ended up standing on my head, backwards. Mostly in shock at the betrayal at the end. Read it anyway, you'll be FINE, just as I was.The StoryIt's a delightful flurry of Christmas shopping and enchanting display windows interspersed with the cold realities of a miserable mother, a more miserable child, and death.All while Em holds her réveillon between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The execution is both brilliant and macabre. Murder in full view and no one saw anything.Meanwhile, Gamache has his own nightmare swirling in.The CharactersChief Inspector Armand Gamache of the kind eyes and calm face is stagnating at the Sûreté in Montreal due to a case in which he ignored his orders. Reine-Marie is his so very understanding wife and a librarian. Marc Brault is Gamache's opposite number over at the Montreal Metropolitan Police with whom he has a standing Boxing Day tradition. Jean Guy Beauvoir is Gamache's second-in-command with a love for fine clothes, and Isabelle Lacoste is part of his team. Superintendent Michel Brébeuf is Gamache's best friend and his supervisor.Robert Lemieux is the duty officer at the Cowansville police station in the Eastern Townships. Dr. Lambert is the ER doctor who became suspicious. Dr. Sharon Harris is the coroner. Agent Yvette Nichol is back! Reassigned to Gamache by his arch-enemy, Superintendent Francoeur. Ari Nikolev is Yvette's proud, yet deceitful father. Superintendent Arnot thought he was God and encouraged his men to play God.The Core Inhabitants of Three PinesClara is an artist who creates collages and has yet to find her market. Or vice versa. Her husband, Peter Morrow, is already famous, but works so slowly on his intensely magnified paintings that they'll never get rich. Fortunately, those money problems were taken care of in Still Life. Lucy was Jane's dog and now lives with the Morrows. Myrna Landers is a heavyset former psychologist who now runs the village bookstore. Ruth Zardo is the curmudgeonly poet, who had won a Governor General prize for her work. She's also the volunteer fire chief! Olivier Brulé and his partner, Gabri Dubeau, own a bed & breakfast in Three Pines; Olivier sells antiques as well while Gabri is the most delicious cook. And Philippe Croft is now waiting tables at the bistro. Émilie Longpré, Kaye Thompson (she ran Thompson Mills for decades), and Beatrice Mayer, a.k.a., Mother Bea, who runs a meditation center, have been the three musketeers for yonks. Gus and David are the family Em lost. Eleanor Allaire was a bright and shining child, and a friend of Em, Kaye, and Bea's.Minor Inhabitants of Three PinesHanna Parra is the local elected representative; Roar is her husband. Sarah runs a tasty Boulangerie while Monsieur Béliveau runs the general store.Saul Petrov is a photographer beginning that slide down into a boring middle age. CC de Poitiers is the very OCD author of Be Calm, and no, she does not practice what she preaches. In fact, she goes out of her way to be mean to everyone. Crie is CC's unloved, unwanted, abused daughter with the most incredible voice; Richard Lyon is CC's loser husband, what she's made him into. Raman Das is, supposedly, CC's guru. Denis Fortin is the owner of a famous art gallery, Galerie Fortin. Yolande Fontaine was Jane Neal's niece, and she's a real estate agent who had a house to get rid of. Georges Simenon has joined Em, Kaye, and Bea's curling team this year. Billy Williams sets up the bleachers and provides the generator for the game.Elle is a homeless woman who was strangled. Terry Moscher is the director of the Mission.The CoverThe cover is so peaceful with its view of the frozen chunks of snowy ice bobbing in Lac Brume. A gray lilac near the front, as you go back, the orange and yellow lights of the village reflect vertically in its waters.The title is inspired by the triple portrait Clara has created, The Three Graces, only the inspiration is from A Fatal Grace.
Many of my reading friends have read A Fatal Grace, the second in Louise Penny's Three Pines Mystery Series, later books becoming A Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Novel. Few have had much to say about it other than giving it 4-5 stars. This could be due to its publication date, perhaps a bit pre-GR or just that it's a good mystery and that's that. I could immediately see Penny's growth as a writer. I found it far better plotted and much more engaging than the first in the series. From what I'm hearing they just keep getting better which is wonderful news.As with the first, the story takes place in the fictional, small town of Three Pines, Quebec. Continuing characters return making it seem like a visit with people you are getting to know. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is seeking the killer of a CC dePoitiers, a woman detested by almost everyone in thecommunity. She is so disliked that not many truly mourn her passing but still the murderer must be found. C C has been offed in a most unusual way, electrocution at an outdoor curling match at Christmas time. This in itself is part of the fun of solving the mystery. I listened to A Fatal Grace. This had its pros and cons. Certainly the Blackstone Audio narration by Ralph Cosham is a plus. His pronunciation of the French and his accent made the whole experience much more enjoyable for me. A minus is that it was difficult to bookmark wonderful passages or phrasing to keep and share. This often necessitates acquiring the physical book and searching to find the specific words for quote. Consider this passage which takes place on Christmas Eve at St. Thomas Church described as filled with greenery and light and beautiful singing.'All is calm, the voice sang, rescuing the sinking congregation. Clara turned, trying to find the child. Many were also craning to see who was leading them. Even Gavri was forced to relinquish his place in the unexpected and not totally welcome presence of the divine. It was as though an angel, as Yeats would have it, became weary of the whimpering dead and chose this lively company.Clara suddenly had a perfect view.There at the back stood CC dePoitiers wearing a fluffy white sweater made of either cashmere or kittens Beside her was her husband, florid and mute. And beside him an enormous child was wearing a sleeveless sundress of the brightest pink. Her underarms bulged and flopped and the rolls of her waist made the skin tight dress look like a melting strawberry ice cream. It was grotesque.But her face was beautiful."I quote this passage as the singer is Cree, CC's daughter, a horribly awkward child who is often the recipient of her mother's venomous tongue and this time is no exception. To Cree's singing, CC states:"You're a stupid, stupid girl". Everyone was staring at you. You humiliated me" This illustrates beautifully CC's overall personality and why she is so disliked. Penny seems to have many central themes in her books, music, religion, faith, art, small town politics, secrets; all with a touch of humor and love. In addition there are the characters, both charming and unlikeable making for a good read. Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Novels might be considered cozies. I'm not certain. There's a bit more here than what I consider cozy but not enough that would leave out those that can't tolerate heavy violence. I guess they are somewhat Agatha Christie like with lots of suspects, red herrings and a murderer who is revealed by books end. There's a touch of the f word if that bothers you.A good argument for "not" is given by Beth Kanell, author of her own New England Mysteries Series and co-owner with her husband Dave, of Kingdom Books in Would You Say a Louise Penny Book Is a "Cozy" Mystery? I Say It's NOT! As for CC, she is so vile that even I found her despicable but I didn't kill her. Who did?
What do You think about A Fatal Grace (2007)?
I really enjoyed Dead Cold and am happy to report that the 5 stars I rated the series’ first book wasn’t a fluke. Book 2 is just as good. Dead Cold is a police procedural or who done it but it is so very much more. There are layers and layers to the story. There is the primary crime to be solved but there are numerous sub plots woven expertly into the story. Even if you figure something out before the end, it doesn’t matter. The pleasure for me is the journey, reading the words, getting to know the villagers and especially learning more about Inspector Gamache – the writing and descriptions are that good.For me, the character development played a huge role in my enjoyment of this book. There is truly an ensemble cast living in Three Rivers, a fictional small village community in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Living there are a number of visual artists, writers, retirees, and owners of retail stores and services like a bookstore owner who wanted to get away from the mad rush of the big city, a couple who own a bed and breakfast, with a restaurant and bar, where everyone gathers for happy hour. The characters are quirky, eccentric and very interesting. Typical of a small community, everybody knows everybody (at least they think they do) and everything. They look out for each other, hang around together and host numerous community gatherings. Because it is an arts community, there are lots of interesting discussions and references in the book to poetry, painting, philosophy, antiques etc. As indicated, it’s another layer – poetry within the story, philosophy within the story – all the characters share their personal interests with the reader.The weather is also a major character in this particular book. Dead Cold takes place in the dead of winter. “He walked over the arched stone bridge, enjoying the silence of the village. Snow did that. It laid down a simple, clean duvet that muffled all sound and kept everything beneath alive. Farmers and gardeners in Quebec wished for two things in winter: lots of snow and continuous cold. An early thaw was a disaster. It tricked the young and vulnerable into exposing themselves, only to be nipped in the root. A killing frost.” Even if you have never experienced snow before, Louise Penny will make you feel it.Inspector Gamache is the lead detective and what I would call a Renaissance man. He is incredibly well-read, loves poetry and quotes philosophers. He is also a spiritual man with a caring, giving soul, well-loved by those who work on his team and quickly accepted by the villagers in the community. He often quotes books and poetry and famous people, so you get quite a smattering of interesting topics covered within the primary story. Gamache, like his Quebecois wife, is very “French”. They are smart dressers, full of joie de vivre, influenced by their roots and partaking in typical French food – cheeses, croissants, pates etc. so reading the book is like taking a trip to Quebec. You get to experience the lifestyle without leaving home.Dead Cold is the name of the book outside the U.S. In the US edition, the same book was released as A Fatal Grace. I’d recommend you read the series in order. That way you’ll get to better know the ensemble cast and the principle character Inspector Gamache who is the true leading man in this detective series. Dead Cold / A Fatal Grace is a terrific mystery who done it with a great plot and wonderful characters. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
—Mj
The second in author Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series, A Fatal Grace , reacquaints the reader with the friendly villagers of Three Pines and members of the Quebec Surete. As before, a murder in Three Pines brings them together once again. While each book in the series is a stand-alone there are references to past events that link the books and serve as an understory that will be fleshed out and resolved in future volumes, including the machinations between and amongst members of the Surete, as well as the frequent references to "the Arnot case".Thus far this series offers pleasurable reading and enough clues, red herrings, twists and turns to satisfy both the avid cozy mystery fan and readers who love a good story.
—Lynn G.
Louise Penny is terrific. I'm a big fan of her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. A Fatal Grace, the 2nd of the series, takes a different path from the first book. More emotion, in depth character analysis, and what is perceived and what is really inside peoples minds. Different and beautiful. What wonderful prose. Listening to Ralph Cosham is such a pleasure. I'm only going with the audiobooks because of Cosham's voice and French Canadian accent.CC de Poitiers, the murder victim, has to be one of the most despicable characters written. She is hated by everyone. What makes this book so much fun is the opinions of the eccentric group of villages from Three Pines who return from the first book. Just delightful!I first read a more recent Gamache novel, How the Light Gets In. A GR friend (Susan) recommended I start from the beginning and read them all. How fortunate to get such good advice.Highly recommend.5 out of 5 stars.
—Paula
