The Long Way Home

by Louise Penny

Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 CDs

Published: 2014

read by: Ralph Cosham

Genre: murder mystery

 

Ann has recently discovered Penny's Inspector Gamache. I hadn't read one in a while, so I got this. I quickly remembered what I like (detail, clues, etc.) and what I dislike (overdramatized, overwrought characters).

 

Since I was listening to an audiobook, I just have quick jotted notes.

• When listening to the audio, the shifts between scenes and characters in a chapter is disconcerting. I'm pretty sure on the page, you can see a gap. But the reader goes directly from Myrna and Clara to Gamache and Bouvoir . . . and it bugs me.
• The St. Lawrence River and a meteor impact you can see from space?! I had to Google it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlevoix_crater    Fascinating!
•  Asbestos . . . lots of interesting stuff here, but I was surprised at how clueless they were while learning about it.
• "fine line between privacy and secrecy" - yep. 
• The Tenth Muse . . . overdone and overwrought.
• Norman / No Man 
• Captain's vs. admiral's cabins on the ship . . . why did this bug me? Why did Myrna and Clara stay silent so long?
• symbolism . . . and lots of it.
• Duh! Massey! Killer chase . . . seriously. How did they not consider this? Asbestos-covered canvases and who's trying to kill whom? 

I think I need to read other authors. For some reason, Penny just bugs me. (Or maybe I'd like the print books better?) I think Miss Marple is my favorite detective.

The Beautiful Mystery

by Louise Penny
Scott County Library audiobook 11 CDs
read by Ralph Cosham
genre: murder mystery

This book was frustrating! Jean-Guy was *not* an enjoyable character in this tale. At one point I jotted, "Dude! Listen to Gamache!" The video, the painkillers, the regression, rising to Francour's bait . . . ugh!

"Honestly, they're worse than crackheads." This comment of Beauvoir's, early in the story, as a commentary on the monks' chanting, made me laugh. As the story went on, though, his attitude and psychology ruined the story.

I liked Frere Bernard! And some of the other monks, as well. Toward the end, my list of suspects went from the 23 possibilities to five names, to one of three. The killer was one of the three I expected. Although I love the Three Pines stories and characters, it was kind of nice to have a different setting and different characters.

I think I'll take a break before I get the next Inspector Gamache story, though. I like him tremendously, but I think there will be some Beauvoir / Francour drama recurring in the next book. Ugh.

A Trick of the Light

by Louise Penny
Scott County Library audiobook 9 CDs
read by Ralph Cosham
genre: murder mystery

This is another Inspector Gamache / Three Pines mystery. There are things I love about this series and things that bug me. I honestly liked the very first one I "read" the best of all so far! (Book 5 - Bury Your Dead).

This one had an interesting theme of marriage and couples (and separations). Enid and Jean-Guy are separated. Jean-Guy is in love with Annie (Gamache) and finds out that she and her husband David are going to separate. Armand and Rene-Marie. Peter and Clara Morrow. The husband and wife artist team who were snarky at Clara's show. Inspector Brunelle and her husband Jerome.


There's also the ongoing use of poetry throughout her books. Ruth's poems, but also ones that Gamache's dad recited to him and that he recited to his own children.

I laughed at someone being referred to as an "emotional vampire" even though I don't remember which character this was about. The dead woman, probably. Lilian.

I also laughed at Beauvoir lying about his identification as an art critic for Le Monde while at the vernissage with all the snooty art world people! Funny! (I intuited what a "vernissage" was from context clues, but had to look it up just now to learn how to spell it! Blogger says it's wrong . . . I'm pretty sure it's just French. )

Ugh! I did not like the references to Clara's painting of the Virgin Mary / Ruth as "an angry old woman, forgotten, bitter . . . " Scripture clearly indicates that Jesus asked John to take care of his mother. The "irreligious" aspect of her books bothers me, as does some of the overly dramatic writing and responses of characters we know (to the point where their thoughts or words seem out of character!) Yet I continue to read her books!

Serenity Prayer / AA / Courage to Change . . . Not sure why I made note of this. It was interesting, if a bit skewed in tone (to the negative, I thought).

I liked the conversation that Beauvoir and Gamache had in the car, but was surprised by the end of the book at how much more talking they still need to do to work through some issues! I guess I'll have to keep reading the series.

Chiaroscuro, schadenfreude . . . dude! This almost made me feel illiterate! Good thing I love words so much!

"Do people change?" This was a key question in the case and in this story. I didn't love how she handled the answer, but that's me reading my perspective into the story again!

Ugh again. Psychology. Jean Guy watching the video on mega-repeat. Thinking that Gamache "left him to die." Taking more painkillers than he should and lying about it. Time to order the next book in the series.

The Hangman

by Louise Penny
Scott County Library paperback 87 pages
genre: mystery, quick read

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. It's not really a novella . . . but a bit more like an "I can read" book for adults . . . Part of Canada's "Good Reads" series.

The story takes place between The Brutal Telling and Bury Your Dead without really mentioning them. A man is found hanged - suicide or murder? Of course it's murder! Gamache and Beauvoir sort things out quickly.

I'm glad I read it, and hope that this program gets more adults reading. Not a problem for me . . . I'll move on to the next book now!

The Brutal Telling

by Louise Penny
Hennepin County Library audiobook 11 discs
read by Ralph Cosham
genre: murder mystery

This one was medium-good . . . but I already knew parts of it because of having read the titles out of order. And at times, the mystery seemed overdramatized. I'm not sure if it's the reader's inflection or Penny's writing. Perhaps I need to take a break from the Inspector Gamache stories for a bit.

Hermit in cabin, storytelling, Olivier (38 years old) listening . . . army / chaos / fury / fear.

(Who buys horses not knowing how to take care of them?!?! Stupid.)

I learned a new word! "Abattoir" means slaughterhouse.

Patrick and Michelle are the real names of Old and The Wife. Mundens . . .

WOO not WOE . . . but I know where this will go two books further in the series. Shouldn't read these out of order!

Father and son theme - Vincent and Mark, Old and Charlie, Olivier's dad and Olivier, Gamache is like a dad to Beauvoir.

Spider web - not.

Story of boy and mountain, and villagers fleeing, the carvings . . .

OWSVI (on the boat carving) and MRKBVYDDO (people on shore). I wanted to figure this out! But I didn't, so I'm glad Gamache finally did.

Charlotte / The Brutal Telling - artist (and her father) Emily Carr.

Betrayal, treasure, lots of thematic repetition. I enjoyed it, but wish I'd read the books in sequence.

A Fatal Grace

by Louise Penny
Hennepin County Library audiobook 9 discs
read by Ralph Cosham
genre: murder mystery / detective
***Spoilers ahead!***

Ugh! I wish I'd read these books in order! This is book two, but the fourth one I've read. I'm getting good at IDing the killer early in the story . . . it's generally not one of the main characters that I've come to know and love (Peter and Clara, Ruth, etc.)

One problem with the audiobook is . . . not seeing the text. I *assumed* the murdered bag lady was "L" and not "Elle" . . . but they were assuming the other way around.

I loved the word play and letters - Bea (B), Eleanor / Elle (L), Emily (M), Kay (K), and of course a C for CC. Since I already knew that Henri would become Gamache's dog, as soon as he showed up with the three women, I knew they would be out of the picture by the end of the book.

Too many F-bombs in the book . . . I loved the conversation between Gamache and Nicole after the fire. I saw him identifying her situation with his own pain and experience in the Arnault case. But then, the horrible twist with her skewing the conversation and the meaning! Ugh! she has such low self-esteem!

I'm curious to watch the movie The Lion in Winter . . . Eleanor of Aquitaine (as played by Katherine Hepburn) sounds intriguing.

Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God." (Not Be Calm . . . again with the word play)

I cried at the part that described Ruth having to put her dog Sunny down.

I find myself wanting to travel to these places - some fiction, some fact. St. Remy, Williamsburg, Three Pines, Montreal . . .

Frankheur (sp?) - / Arnault case / Braeboeuf . . . I really, really, really should have read the books in order. For how much the Arnault case figures into Gamache's life and these stories, it precedes book one of this series!

CC DePoitier is *cruel* - I felt so bad for her daughter. Gabri and Ruth trading insults just made me laugh.

The chin hairs comment made me think of my mom and Louise! Why oh why didn't anyone speak up for Crie?

Henri / poopsicles - made me laugh.

Gamache told Rene Marie who killed CC . . . but we're left in suspense.

I wonder if there's a collected poetry book of all "Ruth's" poems? I should see. Hearing it makes me miss reading poetry.

Lettings people kill themselves vs. being brought to justice. Interesting how the parallels between the three graces and Arnault are drawn.

Lemon meringue pie / God / Scripture - I liked this story a lot more than the third one in the series!

The Cruelest Month

by Louise Penny
Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 CDs
read by
genre: mystery fiction

I'm glad this is the third one of her stories I've listened to . . . because had it been the first, I don't think I would have finished it, much less read others. My recommendation to readers who haven't read any Louise Penny "Gamache / Three Pines" books? READ THEM IN ORDER! (I've now read #4, #1, and #3 . . . I do *not* recommend this method.)

A seance on Good Friday . . . not an auspicious start. Mr. Beliveau, the grocer - I predicted the story would "hinge" on him . . . not so much. The Hadley House. Clara - both sensible and sensitive. (I still don't understand Peter's motivations, though we get a bit more of his back story.)

Odile and Giles? Hazel and Madeline? Sophie? Why is April the cruelest month? The weather? Easter? Sometimes I think I miss too much when I listen to the audiobook rather than actually reading the text. (Love the allusion to T.S. Eliot's poem The Cruelest Month . . . but now I have to look it up and re-read it!)

Ugh! Which woman died?! I hate when Penny does this . . . but yes, it builds suspense and makes me think about the characters and events. Brebeuf and the odd phone calls . . . I don't like where this is going.

Author drops clues and leaves the reader hanging! Seance . . . wouldn't have read this author's other books if I'd started with this one.

Gamache - back to the Hadley house. . . really? And why so much personification of the house? It's like another character in the book.

"The near enemy" . . . is one's self. Hmmm. Earlier, the near enemy was one's closest friend.

"Fairies at the end of the garden . . . Oliviet and Gabri - ha! Ruth makes me laugh.

Found this site: http://gamacheseries.com/ to help me spell character names!

Another note from my car: competition (between Hazel and Madeline as well as between Brebeuf and Gamache) is a big theme in this story. I still can't understand how two friends who have been through so much together could turn on one another!

Still Life

by Louise Penny
Hennepin County Library audiobook 8 discs
read by Ralph Cosham
genre: murder mystery

I really like this author's work! The narrator does a fantastic job and the characters are so interesting. I didn't guess the murderer in advance . . . but then, the author disguises motivations well. These notes are from scraps of paper in my car (written while driving . . . not a good idea, I know.)

Diogenes / lamp reference - I love this!

Book starts with Jane's murder, then goes back to Fair Day and the gathering of Jane's friends.

". . . Every parent of a teenage boy fears they're housing a stranger."

Matthew 10:36 referenced often, but only stated in full at the end. "A man's enemies will be the members of his own household."

Myrna talking about client who complains ad nauseam but wouldn't make changes she suggested. She realized he didn't *want* to change! Reminded me of my dad complaining - so frustrating until I realized it was his hobby.

Philippe - parents, behaviors, . . . unreal! (The final reveal on his reasons for becoming such a withdrawn and sullen teenager didn't fit well with my experience, but at least it was finally explained.)

Scene with Clara Morrow calling Solange with her baby - LOL!

The "reveal" in Jane's living room made me smile. Very interesting part of the book.

Clara finally standing up to Yolanda! Woohoo! About time, girl.

Deeper meanings! Yolanda and queen of hearts. Nicole and Ruth's mirror - "You're looking at the problem." Nicole NOT getting it. This author has some great ideas and relates them well. Inspector Gamache is a wonderful main character.

Bury Your Dead

by Louise Penny
Scott County Library audiobook 10 discs
read by Ralph Cosham
genre: detective fiction

I read about this author in the Costco Connection and decided to try one of her books. It made me think "Dad would have loved this!" many, many times.

Chief Inspector Gamache is the head of the Surete in Quebec. He is recovering from an investigation that almost took his life, and killed several of his officers. There are three story lines - what happened in the investigation that went wrong (with flashbacks of conversations with Agent Moran), the murder of Augustin Renault at the Literary and Historical Society, and Agent Beauvoir is looking back into the murder of the hermit in Three Pines.

My dad would have loved these because they are set in Quebec and highlight some of the Francophone / Anglophone tension. There are so many cultural details that would resonate for him. And he liked the old-fashioned detective mysteries. Inspector Gamache is a fantastic character - strong, but flawed and with questions. This story made me miss my dad! (not an easy feat, but time tends to dull some of the frustrations of the past)

Cosham did a wonderful job with the narration - distinguishing the many characters extremely well. Moran was particularly poignant.

Additional notes from my car (added 11.30.16 to the above from 11.27.16):
Champlain - I'm curious! Samuel Champlain - founder of Quebec - burial / body lost / HISTORY! (I am inspired to research this . . . )
Henri, the German Shepherd - love this dog!
Renault "bordered on madness" / "He was the Capitol of the state of madness!"
I also have notes marked 11.10.16 . . .
Missing my dad!?!
Crying a lot lately
midlife? premenopausal? work stress?
This was early on in listening to the book (also pre-Thanksgiving). The story was a welcome diversion during my commute!