A Fatal Grace

Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 2

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Winner of the 2007 Agatha Award for Best Novel!

From the Dagger award winning author Louise Penny comes the second Armand Gamache mystery set in the stunning countryside of Quebec.

Welcome to winter in Three Pines, a picturesque village in Quebec, where the villagers are preparing for a traditional country Christmas, and someone is preparing for murder.

No one liked CC de Poitiers. Not her quiet husband, not her spineless lover, not her pathetic daughter—and certainly none of the residents of Three Pines. CC de Poitiers managed to alienate everyone, right up until the moment of her death.

When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, of the Sûreté du Quebec, is called to investigate, he quickly realizes he's dealing with someone quite extraordinary. CC de Poitiers was electrocuted in the middle of a frozen lake, in front of the entire village, as she watched the annual curling tournament. And yet no one saw anything. Who could have been insane enough to try such a macabre method of murder—or brilliant enough to succeed?

With his trademark compassion and courage, Gamache digs beneath the idyllic surface of village life to find the dangerous secrets long buried there. For a Quebec winter is not only staggeringly beautiful but deadly, and the people of Three Pines know better than to reveal too much of themselves. But other dangers are becoming clear to Gamache. As a bitter wind blows into the village, something even more chilling is coming for Gamache himself.

©2006 Louise Penny (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc

Critic reviews

“The cozy mystery, which aims to charm as much as challenge, has a graceful practicioner of that artful dodge in Louise Penny.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Gamache, a smart and likable investigator--think Columbo with an accent, or perhaps a modern-day Poirot--systematically wades his way through the pool, coming upon a few surprises along the way....This is a fine mystery in the classic Agatha Christie style, and it is sure to leave mainstream fans wanting more.” —Booklist

“For all the perplexing mechanics of the murder, and the snowed-in village setting, this is not the usual "cosy" or even a traditional mystery. It's a finely written, intelligent and observant book. Imbued with a constant awareness of the astonishing cold, this perfect blend of police procedural and closed-room mystery finds its solution, as in the best of those traditions, in the slow unlayering of a sorrowful past.” —Houston Chronicle

Spellbinding story.

This is a great tale. I couldn't stop listening and enjoyed the book from beginning to end. I highly recommend this author.

Vivid and fascinating characters

Louise Penny continues to develop the characters of Gamache's police team even as she unfolds a new mystery. I'm now thinking the police are more important than the "background" story. Narrator is very good.

Good cozy mystery

the second installment in the Sgt. Panache was a slice of winter in the village of Three Pines. story was a little convoluted but characters were all well drawn. Great narration.

Audio book is excellent!

I read the first Three Pines novel and really enjoyed it. Due to travel plans, I decided to listen to the second and I'm so glad I did. The narrator is perfect for this series. I will most likely download the third and listen as well rather than reading the novel, although I love to read. Well done!

Always a favorite

The Gamache series is one of my all time favorites. You can't go wrong with any of them. They draw you in and never let you go.

another good read

building on the characters and a few new ones too. plus back stories on a few.

Another win for the Chief Inspector!

Loved listening to this second book in the series. Author Louise Penny and narrator Ralph Cosham really are the the perfect team here. As Penny introduces and builds her characters from book to book she stays true her character’s core values without being boring. Mr Cosham’s voice and narration is always a joy to listen to. I’m hooked! The story has just enough twists, turns and drama to hold my interest while slowing down to focus on the beautiful moments of everyday life. Be careful and pay attention during these times, there may be some hidden clues here!

2nd Inspector Gamache Novel - Intricate Plot, Beautifully Written

Louise Penny’s Quebecois detective returns to the village of Three Pines to solve a couple of murders. The plot is perhaps a little too convoluted, but the characters are well developed and engaging. Ralph Cosham is the perfect narrator.

Another wonderful Chief Inspector Gamache mystery!

Can't wait to start #3, and now I'm more certain than ever that I want to live in Three Pines. I hope every single story in this series is set in the lush, brilliant winter, so I can cuddle up with these books and smell the cool snow and the fires in the hearths of this idyllic little town.

Gamache, my love!

Can one fall in love with fictional characters? Given this time of unpredictability (the real possibility of end of American democracy and aspirational leadership) Chief Inspector Gamache is my hero. I just enjoy the protagonist’s thoughtfulness, the warmth in his marriage and attention to his relationships. Ms. Penny has truly created such an enjoyable escape, it’s difficult to describe. The lovely Three Pines, life lived in Quebec, psychology, mystery... it’s all so exquisite. I’m a fan. I think this one was even better than the first, if that’s possible in a sequel? Just lovely.