Christine Rose

I wish I’d read the reviews. I have always eagerly awaited the next book in this series but the last few times I’ve also lived in hope that Louise Penny had toned back the convoluted ‘close friend inexplicably becomes enemy/government tries to kill all of Canada/Gamache against the world’ theme in favour of a return to simpler murders, based around Three Pines and its characters. No such luck. This book was tedious and slightly nonsensical almost from the start and I read it because I felt obliged to finish it, not because I enjoyed it. It’s always sad to come to the realisation that you may have reached the end of the road with a loved author but Gamache is at risk of becoming insufferable. I’ll read the next one but if Ms Penny hasn’t rediscovered what made these books and characters awesome, I’m out. I’ll cry a little. But then, ducks often do.