The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Gamache Series #8) by Louise Penny

4 (4)
$19.00

Product Details

Web ID: 4131623

The brilliant novel in the New York Times bestselling series by Louise Penny, one of the most acclaimed crime writers of our time.No outsiders are ever admitted to the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, hidden deep in the wilderness of Quebec, where two dozen cloistered monks live in peace and prayer. They grow vegetables, they tend chickens, they make chocolate. And they sing. Ironically, for a community that has taken a vow of silence, the monks have become world-famous for their glorious voices, raised in ancient chants whose effect on both singer and listener is so profound it is known as "the beautiful mystery."But when the renowned choir director is murdered, the lock on the monastery's massive wooden door is drawn back to admit Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the Sûreté du Québec. There they discover disquiet beneath the silence, discord in the apparent harmony. One of the brothers, in this life of prayer and contemplation, has been contemplating murder. As the peace of the monastery crumbles, Gamache is forced to confront some of his own demons, as well as those roaming the remote corridors. Before finding the killer, before restoring peace, the Chief must first consider the divine, the human, and the cracks in between.

  • Product Features

    • Author - Louise Penny
    • Publisher - St. Martin's Publishing Group
    • Publication Date - 07-02-2013
    • Page Count - 400
    • Hardcover
    • Adult
    • Mystery and Thriller
    • Product Dimension - 5.68 H x 8.08 W x 1.02 D
    • ISBN-13 - 9781250031129
  • Shipping & Returns

    • California and Minnesota customers call 1-800-289-6229 for Free Shipping information.
    • For complete details, see our Shipping and Returns policies.
    • Please call customer service for returns.

Ratings & Reviews

4/5

4 star ratings & reviews

Write a Review
3
0
0
0
1
3 years ago
from Syracuse, NY

The Title is Perfect as it's a Beautiful Mystery

Book six in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series and I am so hooked on these books. I’ve already got a stack of the ones which follow. This one was indeed incredible. I am astounded by Louise Penny’s writing and find it literary, incredibly meaningful, and thought provoking. And she writes amazing mysteries! What can happen in a monk’s monastery? To find out, you must read this beautiful mystery!

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

4 years ago

Unusual setting

I enjoy each book in this series and its wonderful characters. This book takes place at a monastery in the woods, far from civilization. A monk has been found dead, murdered, in a secluded garden inside a locked monastery. These monks are famous for their beautiful voices when they sing Gregorian chants. This is the only time that they use their voices, at all other times they are silent. Armand Gamache is sent to investigate with his second in command Jean-Guy Beauvoir. Gamache is a character of such depth. The kindness and understanding that he shows to the monks while still investigating the murder is an admirable quality to this character. I did not see the ending coming.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

4 years ago
from Florida

Nuanced Characters, Unusual Setting

The Beautiful Mystery, by Louise Penny, is in sharp contrast to most of the books in this series in that this eighth entry is set in a remote monastery where one of the monks has been murdered. Unlike the quirky and gregarious inhabitants of Three Pines, where many of the books have been set, the monks have taken a vow of silence, except for their devotion to Gregorian chants. Inspector Gamache and his trusted second, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, are called in to investigate and find the culprit. Louise Penny is a remarkable writer. Slowly, but with certainty, she removes the outer layers of intentional anonymity to reveal the monks’ individuality and the fissures that led to the death of one of their leaders. At the same time, we learn more about Gamache’s and Beauvoir’s recovery from a tragic event and their evolving relationship. Penny’s writing flows impeccably, drawing the reader into the plot, the characters, and the context of the mystery. With one caveat, this series has my very highest recommendation. I urge you, however, to read the series in the order it was written. So much of what makes these books great is the development of the characters over time. Although I am sure that each book is good as a stand-alone, I would hate any reader to shortchange themselves and miss the power of the series.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

4 years ago
from New Orleans, LA

Ridiculous - No Mystery!

This is one of the worst books I've ever picked up. I put in the trash instead of donating it to the library! The mystery is a minor part of the story. The characters are unrealistically antagonistic to one another, and the antagonism has no purpose toward advancing the story. The setting is interesting as is the back story of the setting. The climax and its (sort of ) resolution have absolutely nothing do do with the mystery. Cut out all of the absurd, pointless character antagonism and you've got a nice little story of 1/3rd the size. Don't waste your time with this book!

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com