How the Light Gets In

A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, Book 9

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 15 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

How the Light Gets In is the ninth Chief Inspector Gamache Novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny.

"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." —Leonard Cohen

Christmas is approaching, and in Québec it's a time of dazzling snowfalls, bright lights, and gatherings with friends in front of blazing hearths. But shadows are falling on the usually festive season for Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department, his old friend and lieutenant Jean-Guy Beauvoir hasn't spoken to him in months, and hostile forces are lining up against him. When Gamache receives a message from Myrna Landers that a longtime friend has failed to arrive for Christmas in the village of Three Pines, he welcomes the chance to get away from the city. Mystified by Myrna's reluctance to reveal her friend's name, Gamache soon discovers the missing woman was once one of the most famous people not just in North America, but in the world, and now goes unrecognized by virtually everyone except the mad, brilliant poet Ruth Zardo.

As events come to a head, Gamache is drawn ever deeper into the world of Three Pines. Increasingly, he is not only investigating the disappearance of Myrna's friend but also seeking a safe place for himself and his still-loyal colleagues. Is there peace to be found even in Three Pines, and at what cost to Gamache and the people he holds dear?

One of Publishers Weekly's Best Mystery/Thriller Books of 2013
One of The Washington Post's Top 10 Books of the Year
An NPR Best Book of 2013

©2013 Three Pines Creations, Inc. (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

the light shines through with brilliance

one of the best and we've read all of the previous ones. This is a thriller from beginning to end

You won't want to turn it off!

One of the more suspense-filled of the Gamache series, this one will keep you second guessing your theories the whole way through. As always, you get a mystery unique to this book (a couple of them, actually) but you'll also get deeper into the tangled web of the Sûreté du Québec.

Good luck stepping away from this one!

Superb writing by Louise Penny!

What did you love best about How the Light Gets In?

How the Light Get's In is packed full of story lines and relationships that grab you and won't let go.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Always, Inspector Gamache has to be my favorite. An honorable, thoughtful, loving man is a rare breed and he is all three.

What about Ralph Cosham’s performance did you like?

Ralph Cosham was masterful at presenting each character with a unique voice and attitude. What he does is magical. I was thoroughly amazed to learn later that he does not pre-read before a performance. I believe this added to the feeling of urgency to keep going to learn the final outcome.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found myself totally involved with this book. I could feel the warmth of the story as well as an anxiety to see the end result presented. At times I laughed out loud and at times I would pause just to let all the tumultuous feelings sort themselves out.

Any additional comments?

Many people put ideas on paper. I have read constantly since childhood. It is rare to find an author who is a true 'writer' in every sense of the word. As always I look forward to what is next for Inspector Gamache and Louise Penny.

jill

There are strange things done in the Midnight Sun by The Men Who oil for gold. The Arctic Trails have their secret tales that would make your blood run cold the Northern Lights have seen queer sights but the queerest they ever did see was the night on the march of Lake lebarge I cremated Sam McGee

You'll be happy you read this one

Some reviews that were upset about going too far into the conspiracy had me worried. I'd read many mysteries and similar genre where the main character gets raked over the coals in constant convoluted conspiracies and tortuous situations and that's just not why I love the Louise Penny Books. I love the characters and thoughtful writing about people and their motivations. Above that, I love a good satisfying mystery.
This has all of that, Penny's wonderful characters continue to grow and develop into even richer form, and the plot is thick with suspense as two mysteries are intertwined. Yes, one mystery involves the conspiracy, but man is it a satisfying mystery. Louise Penny doesn't endlessly torture her protagonist like many authors of best sellers. There's none of that filler suspense. This is definitely one of Louise Penny's better books in the series (not that any are bad, just some aren't as strong and falter a bit). Definitely worth a listen, especially with the excellent narration.

One of the best yet!

I'm reading the series in order (recommended) and this is the best yet. Looking forward to jumping into the next and seeing what adventures await the characters.

It all comes together in this one

This may be my favorite Gamache book yet, maybe because the secondary mystery thread that has been weaved since the beginning finally unravels to a satisfying conclusion. Also the characters are like old friends now, and in this one we see how Gamache and Beauvoir are really a part of the three pines community.

Excellent as Usual

I have not read (listened to) all of the Inspector Gamache books, but it doesn't seem to matter too much to read them out of order.

Brilliant!

These characters are living breathing people who show us how to live, how to cope, how to grow, and change. Thank you, Louise Penny

PS I will now immediately start your next book.

My favorite so far

I loved this book. If this was the last of the Gamache books, I would have been satisfied. It had adventure, intrigue, love, suspense, evil, beauty and redemption.