Still Life (Chief Inspector Gamache Series) by Louise Penny

Paperback:  As the early morning mist clears on Thanksgiving Sunday, the homes of Three Pines come to life - all except one.

To locals, the village is a safe haven.  So they are bewildered when a well-loved member of the community is found lying dead in the maple woods.  Surely it was an accident - a hunter's arrow gone astray.

Who could want Jane Neal dead?

In a long and distinguished career with the Sûreté du Quebec, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache has learned to look for snakes in Eden.  Gamache knows something dark is lurking behind the white picket fences, and if he watches closely enough, Three Pines will begin to give up its secrets.

Still Life introduces not only an engaging series hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces with integrity and quiet courage, but also a winning and talented writer of traditional mysteries in the person of Louise Penny.

Still Life (2005) is the first instalment in the worldwide phenomenon Chief Inspector Gamache series and the winner of the CWA John Creasey Dagger, New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.

About the author:  Louise Penny is the author of the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels.  She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (six times), and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel.  In 2017, she received the Order of Canada for her contributions to Canadian culture. Louise lives in a small village south of Montréal.

Rating:  5/5