Still Life

Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 1

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Who done it...

Well written and hugely captivating. Each character is so well developed. I will be looking for more of this author. The narration was excellent, hard to put dow!

A Whodunnit in the best sense of the word!

Suspenseful to the very end, when it finally all comes together. Highly enjoyable... I wish I had the time to listen to it in one sitting. This is one I’ll probably revisit again and again!

Want to read them all now

Well, that story, plot and building of characters was so well don’t I can’t wait to read the rest!

I’ve been looking for an author to read and I’m really going to enjoy this!

Thank you!!

Still Life

First story I have listened to by this author. I had not figured out who the murderer was before it was revealed at the end.

Almost perfect...

I truly enjoyed this novel. The narration is excellent and the characters are complex and interesting. I didn't figure out "who dunnit", which is always a plus in a mystery. The only part of the book I thought was off-putting was the character of Nicole, who doesn't seem to belong in this story. Yes, she takes an action that helps lead to the killer, but Gamache treats her with a level of disrespect that seems not to jive with his treatment of the potential killers. It's almost as though he picks on her. Out of character for him, it seemed to me, and distracting from the plotline. Otherwise, an excellent listen.

fantastic!

Fantastic narration and well written and witty story. The characters and their bantering and quipping is wonderful!

captivating mystery

Slow to start bur then couldn't stop! A real who dunnit. looks od twists

People Skills

First time with this author. I Especially like all of the interpersonal analysis of behavior.

Not my bag I guess but had high hopes

I had been wanting to read a Louise Penny book and received this as a gift. I just found myself cringing multiple times, but wanting to gibe it a fair shot... I would be going along with a description or thought that the author wanted to impart, and then just dropping out when some aspect of it fell short. Usually this was due to heavy-handedness, in dialogue or implausible actions by characters or plot twists. But basically just a lack of subtlety. Frankly I think its what happens with most of these authors that publish a book a year or so (more maybe?), I don’t believe many people can achieve solid literature at that sort of pace, though there have been a few. Some positive things: Nice settings and Inspector Gamache is very likable. Was good to fall asleep to!

What a gem!

I have almost 300 audiobooks in my library and most are average. Every once in awhile I'll come across a perfect little gen of a book, this was one of them. The story and characters we're well written, entertaining and often funny. The mystery was enjoyable. The reader did an outstanding job!