Still Life

Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 1

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it’s a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter. Still Life introduces not only an engaging series hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces - and this series - with integrity and quiet courage, but also a winning and talented new writer of traditional mysteries in the person of Louise Penny.

©2005 Louise Penny (P)2006 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Good book

I enjoyed this book. I would give it four stars but didn't appreciate the use of the F bomb. Some people may say it makes it "real" but it's not my reality or that of many people. The point can still be made just fine without it.

Old love, new tradition

This year I have established a new tradition for myself: Having finally collected them all in audio form, I have baked, shopped online, wrapped and decorated while listening to the Three Pines novels by Louise Penny. I have always treasured these books- even after the untimely death of beloved narrator Ralph Cosham. I collect them, I re-read them, I gift them. There is nothing better than a Chief Inspector Gamache novel for calming the craziness of holiday preparation and allowing in the spirit of cooperation and love.

Preposterous and boring

The setting is oh so scenic and unutterably special. The story unfolds ponderously. Every utterance of the Inspector is heavy and profound. Few of the characters seem alive. Some of them are downright unpleasant. Acknowledging within the story that they are unpleasant does not make them interesting. Everyone else in the world seems to love this series, so I would not discourage anyone from giving it a try.

Couldn’t stop listening

This is my first foray into mystery novels and this one is narrated to perfection with characters that surprise and endear themselves to the reader.

A higher level of character

Reading this series is so refreshing, from the intelligent writing style, the insertion of poetry and literature, the luminous descriptions of place and person, the loving detail of food and drink. The best of all is the higher level of character. They all struggle with the usual human weaknesses, but these don't define the person. Each of the major players strive for kindness, forgiveness, selflessness. I find it interesting that the peoples of the book who rail at Gamache for being arrogant are the very ones who let their baser emotions rule them. In real life, refusing to play the usual psychological games, giving and taking like the rest of the emotional and psychic vampires, does get one labeled as prideful or stuck up. Anyone at a lower level resents those persons behaving at a higher level. That isn't to say Gamache doesn't have his battles, he is very real. He just aspires to be better than his best. Bravo to Louise Penny for crafting characters who wish to rise above the morass of the worst humanity can be. It's what makes Three Pines so compelling. -Audible 20 Review Sweepstakes Entry

Deeply satisfying, moving still life.

Listening to the narrator, I found this story better than I had remembered. The cadence of his voice and the rhythm of the written word painted the most beautiful, idyllic place...as if coming home.
Louise Penny is a wonderful writer, with a murder so well hidden it held us all in suspense until the end. A craft, a skill, an art, like a painting with many layers, something you can look at many times and still there is something more.

Perfect read

I discovered this series a couple of years ago and my life has never been the same. She is now my favorite author.
Louise Penny has brought to life the village of Three Pines and its inhabitants in a way that makes me year to be a part of their lives. The character development is astounding as the series progresses and I feel as though they are real people in a place I would love to live.

rich narrative, slowww plot

There's a lot to like here: unique main characters and a good mystery. The narrator does a fine job with the French terms. Unfortunately, it's not fast paced enough for my taste and lacks nuance in the characterization of side characters. Stereotypes tend to scream out...

Inspector Gamanche is an incredibly ethical, thoughtful, and compassionate investigator, practically a saint. This makes for a pretty boring read and is pretty hard to square with the reality of his line of work. Personally, I prefer my detectives hard boiled or scarred by their line of work to the point where they intimately understand the evil that lurks within and can laugh at it or look at it square in the eye (I.e. Longmire or Agatha Raisin). Gamanche has to intimately meet all the characters and ask them who they think the murder is and fumble around a lot in a heartwarming and gentle way. Additionally there is a super boring side plot about a lady cop who won't play nice with his team because she is ridiculously ambitious which is not a fun narrative to dwell on the way this book does. it's a ridiculously hyperbolic character that is trite in this day and age. Most annoyingly it never leads to anything. Maybe it will in the next book? I have enough curiosity to keep reading. Bit of a pet issue for me that really took me out of the book.

Loved it!

Great book, first time reading this author, will be reading more! Keeps you interested and wondering "who done it"!

Lovely writing

Which character – as performed by Ralph Cosham – was your favorite?

Love, Love, Love the narrator.

Any additional comments?

Great setting. Well -drawn characters. Nice little mystery. But in my opinion, this would have been a better - more believable story - without the snakes.