Mass Market Paperback. St. Martin's Press 2007-05-01.
ISBN: 0312948557 / 0-312-94855-7
EAN: 9780312948559
Publisher description
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montréal and yet a world away. Jane Neal, a long-time resident of Three Pines, 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 this holiday season…and is soon certain that Jane died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter. …
With this award-winning first novel, Louise Penny introduces an engaging hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces—and this series—with power, ingenuity, and charm.
Enjoyable read - keeps you guessing (Rating 5 of 5)
» C. Bayne
Still Life is a lot of fun. The characters are quirky but real, the mystery is suitably complicated and mysterious. I love the way the author flows from one character to another, getting inside their heads and making the reader care for them. I get a kick out of the occasional French - just enough for my high school French class to kick in and understand - not enough for me to need a dictionary. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series
Witty and Wise, a Rare Pleasure (Rating 5 of 5)
» Rothenberg
Kudos to Louise Penny! The Three Pines Mysteries are charming and witty. Penny's villagers have strengths and failings, insight as well as innocence, and when "good" characters keep secrets it makes sense in context. Naughty characters have family backgrounds and reasons (however misguided, sometimes surprising) for their behavior.
The lead investigator's approach can seem almost magical to his cohorts, but he explains it is based on observation, patience, humility, and communication skills, especially listening to the people of a community-- he is gifted but not in an unrelatable way, and he is always willing to teach his methods to younger colleagues.
The plots do not hinge on one or two characters' refusing to tell what they know because they don't trust the police (a pet peeve of mine). Cultural tension between Anglos and the Québécois is nicely sketched in characters' observations of one another and in the misunderstandings between them.
Nothing is overplayed or hammered on, and Penny's dry humor is a welcome antidote to plethora of cutesy, wisecracking mysteries that fill my local bookstore's shelves. Penny's are the sort of mystery novels I long for and so rarely find. Thanks Ms. Penny!
Really enjoyed it (Rating 4 of 5)
» Anne Terry
Quiet, well-written mystery set in modern day Quebec. I really like the lead character. The author does a good job of getting inside the heads of ordinary people, and making each a distinct character. There are rich details of plot and place without spelling eveything out and being wordy. Even though it discusses acts of violence, it harkens back to Agatha Christie rather than a more explict "Kill Bill" approach. This was a good first book, and I am looking forward to the others in the series
Wonderfully-written mystery (Rating 5 of 5)
» Karen Potts
This book has it all--a wonderful setting (Three Pines, a Canadian village south of Montreal) fascinating characters (several artists and others who are close friends) and a well-paced plot.
Friends of Jane Neal, a retired schoolteacher, are shocked at her sudden death. Preliminary investigation seems to point to a hunting accident but with Armand Garmache, a homicide investigator, on the scene it is soon discovered that Miss Neal was murdered. Garmache uncovers old secrets between some of the characters which seem to cast suspicion on several of Jane's friends. Hidden beneath the conviviality of longtime friendship is one who hated Jane with enough passion to kill her.
This is a wonderful, well-written mystery which encourages me to read Louise Penney's other novels
Cozy read (Rating 4 of 5)
» E M Hall
Still Life is the first book I've read by Louise Penny and she did not disappoint. If you like a cozy mystery with lots of small town activity and characters that intrigue but don't threaten you, this is the book for you.
Jane Neal is found dead, whether by accident or intent it is up to our Inspector Gamache to find out and along the way he also has to ensure his own team members are behaving appropriately. Descriptions of life in the little town and the differenct characters added color and interest to this well written mystery. I especially loved the gay couple who owned the Bistro - very nicely done and I could almost see them having a whole book centered on them in the future.
A comfortable read indeed
(Rating 5 of 5)
(Rating 4 of 5)
