Book Review: Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny

Bury Your Dead

by Louise Penny (Penny)

 

I started reading the Louise Penney novels about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache last year at the recommendation of fellow co-worker Scott C., who knows that I enjoy both mysteries and books in a series. Although I loved the setting for the series [fictional town Three Pines in Canada] I found the characters unappealing and the writing downright irritating. I was told to keep reading, that the series improves after the first four books. I have to admit that by book five, I was hooked. Book six, Bury Your Dead, is one of the best mysteries I have read. The author keeps you guessing as to the identity of the murderers until the very end. It is important to read book five (The Brutal Telling) before reading this title as they are tied together by murder plots. What I loved most about Bury Your Dead, is the historical aspect of this book, delving into the settling of Quebec and the war over control of Canada by the French and English armies. One of the techniques used by the author to move the story along is the use of flashbacks by the main character, letting us see a catastrophe that happened in between these two stories, albeit a small chunk at a time. The entire story is not revealed until the very end. Having these glimpses of the Chief Inspector’s mind and his feelings as he comes to grips with what happened is a powerful method to tell this story of betrayal and healing. I highly recommend this book.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny, and the Shetland series by Ann Cleeve, particularly Red Bones.)

 

( official Louise Penny web site )

 

Recommended by Kim J.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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