Still Life

I wanted to get more into mysteries, and this was a good start. This is the first book in the series, and I wanted to read it mostly because the story location is a small fictional town in the Eastern Townships region in Quebec. The detective, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, is a lovable character: he is kind and smart, but also firm when needed. I wasn???t sure who the murderer was until it was revealed. This book is very sensible as well, and we get to know what the characters are thinking and feeling, making them believable. I just wanted to hang out in the local B&B (brunch and breakfast) with them someday!??

Honestly I'd rate this book higher if it weren't for the weird side plot with the junior detective. She seems to be on the spectrum, but she's played as this weird, angry “kids these days only care about themselves” character that seems to have no purpose and amounts to nothing other than weird, hateful scorn. I'm probably missing some subtext but it felt very out of place.

I am so diggin books by Canadian author's lately, especially if they take place in Canada also. This book hooked me from page one, loved the characters, loved the setting (I want to pack my bags and move to Three Pines right now!! lol) and loved all the little Canadian references. I am actually pretty good at figuring out “who done it's” but this one had be stumped until the very end! My only small complaint was the Yvette Nichol character, this character seemed really under developed and really didn't add anything to the story, in fact if she had been erased from the narrative all together I don't think it would have any affected the storyline whatsoever. Since this is book one of a series, perhaps the author has other plans for the character in later books? If you love a good mystery this gets a big thumbs up from me!

I can see the appeal: there probably aren't that many gentle murder mysteries. I liked the pacing, thoughtfulness, and compassion. I liked the depictions of scenery and culture. The characters themselves were onedimensional, but that's ok for a first work. And the plot contortions, ditto. Penny shows promise and I will probably read more of her work.