MYSTERY
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First edition of Charlotte's Web
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Bohuslav Martinu, Czech composer
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"Scheherazade Went on with Her Story". Illustration from "Arabian
Nights" by Virginia Frances Sterrett, 1928
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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Merrimon Book Reviews
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The Brutal Telling
by Louise Penny
Beautifully written!
When
a body is found in the bistro and antique store of Three Pines, Quebec,
Inspector Gamache has his task cut out for him. First he must
discover the identity of the murdered man, a task which proves to be
none to easy. The case becomes more and more complex as the town
residents all have something to hide. Inspector Gamache starts on
a trail that will lead him to examine codes, art and history and above
all the inner narratives of the human mind and the dark depths of the
human heart.
Louise Penny's THE BRUTAL TELLING
is mystery for readers looking for more in their mysteries than just a
clever puzzle. The writing itself is absolutely beautiful.
Art of all kinds graces the pages of the mystery from paintings to the
craftsmanship of antiques to the art of the narrative form.
Indeed, Louise Penny interweaves storytelling itself with the hunt for
the victim's identity and the murderer. Olivier the bistro owner
tells a haunting mythological fairy tale of chaos and evil descending
upon a village to the Hermit. The tale itself has thematic
resonances to the village of Three Pines and the murder case as the
villagers themselves realize the murderer is likely one of them.
Juxtaposed next to Inspector Gamache's hunt for the crime details,
Olivier's story reinforces Gamache's ability to look within the human
heart for the deeper undercurrents, the inner narratives people hold
within them. THE BRUTAL TELLING
is simply stunning. Louise Penny does an excellent job at
creating an atmosphere that draws the reader into the world of Three
Pines as well as the psychological landscape, not through dry medical
language but rather by creating a world layered with many
elements. Even if one guesses the identity of the murderer before
the end, the actual identity seems less the point than the motive and
all the twists and turns that lead to the unraveling of the darkness
and psychology that lead to the crime. The diverse range of clues
from the mythological to obscure codes to village history all take the
reader down an intriguing path that celebrates both art and history ---
and the darkness that lingers within the heart.
Fifth in the Inspector Gamache/Three Pines
mysteries, THE BRUTAL
TELLING works as a stand alone for readers new to Inspector
Gamache
mysteries, but once discovered, this Inspector Gamache mystery with
leave readers craving to re-experience the author's writing and
Inspector Gamache's unique style of investigation in earlier and future
releases. For those who enjoy both literary fiction and
mysteries, THE BRUTAL TELLING
is truly superb!
Publisher: Minotaur Books (September 22, 2009)
A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
Other Inspector Gamache/Three Pines Novels: Still Life, A Fatal
Grace, The Cruelest Month, A Rule Against Murder
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
Review Courtesy of Amazon Vine
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