Sample
  • The Beautiful Mystery

  • A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
  • By: Louise Penny
  • Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
  • Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (6,721 ratings)

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The Beautiful Mystery

By: Louise Penny
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
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Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Mystery, 2013

The brilliant new novel in the New York Times best-selling series by Louise Penny, one of the most acclaimed crime writers of our time

No outsiders are ever admitted to the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, hidden deep in the wilderness of Quebec, where two dozen cloistered monks live in peace and prayer. They grow vegetables, they tend chickens, they make chocolate. And they sing. Ironically, for a community that has taken a vow of silence, the monks have become world-famous for their glorious voices, raised in ancient chants whose effect on both singer and listener is so profound it is known as “the beautiful mystery.”

But when the renowned choir director is murdered, the lock on the monastery’s massive wooden door is drawn back to admit Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the Sûreté du Québec. There they discover disquiet beneath the silence, discord in the apparent harmony. One of the brothers, in this life of prayer and contemplation, has been contemplating murder. As the peace of the monastery crumbles, Gamache is forced to confront some of his own demons, as well as those roaming the remote corridors. Before finding the killer, before restoring peace, the Chief must first consider the divine, the human, and the cracks in between.

©2012 Three Pines Creations, Inc. (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Featured Article: Best Mystery Series—Listens That'll Take You Right to the Crime Scene


While a standalone mystery is great when you're in the mood for a one-and-done, sometimes you want to feed your craving with an entire mystery series—knowing there's a world and characters you can keep coming back to for the satisfaction of solving crimes. With audiobooks, you get the added bonus of sinking deeper into the setting, clues, and suspects as the story is performed for you, so you'll feel like you're alongside detectives, ready to bust a case.

What listeners say about The Beautiful Mystery

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,799
  • 4 Stars
    1,364
  • 3 Stars
    397
  • 2 Stars
    89
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  • 5 out of 5 stars
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    5,061
  • 4 Stars
    759
  • 3 Stars
    163
  • 2 Stars
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    34
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,180
  • 4 Stars
    1,228
  • 3 Stars
    446
  • 2 Stars
    116
  • 1 Stars
    57

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Chief inspector ❤️

I love all of the Three Pines books - I love the characters - I love love the reader ❤️❤️

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Gamache truly surprised me.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Only to certain friends. I didn't enjoy this novel as much as previous Gamache stories. The plot line associated with Gamache's personal battle with the Surete de Quebec overtook the mystery for me.

What other book might you compare The Beautiful Mystery to and why?

The only novel I can compare this to is When We Were Orphans because it focuses on the characters' personal challenges as much as the detective story. Where other Gamache novels have the feeling of and Agatha Christie novel, this one does not.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene that captured me most was when Gamache learned the truth behind the monks success. There was a sincerity the story of the recording and distribution of the monks' chants.

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

I actually struggled to have any reaction to the book. It did not grab me as much as previous novels. I did get angry at Gamache as the novel progressed - didn't like the way he handled Francoeur. Penny did do an excellent job of creating the perfect reason for Beauvoir to begin to pull away from Gamache.

Any additional comments?

It's a good book, just not my favorite. I'm not returning it, but it will not be one that I listen to again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love These Books

Would you consider the audio edition of The Beautiful Mystery to be better than the print version?

NO

Have you listened to any of Ralph Cosham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He is magnificent as narrator. I will miss him in the upcoming Penny books. I suggest Ms. Penny try to get Jonathan Pryce to narrate her books going forward. The new guy is horrible with his depiction of characters.

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

I cried

Any additional comments?

Lovely story and heart breaking ending.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

You can feel the peace of the Abbey

What made the experience of listening to The Beautiful Mystery the most enjoyable?

The readers voice tone was perfect for this story.

What did you like best about this story?

Although it was a murder mystery there was no explicit violence.

What does Ralph Cosham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Th correct pronunciation of Quebec and Montreal!

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

No, just thoroughly enjoyed with a restful pace and tone.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another winner

I've read the entire series (so far) but this is the first audible version I've experienced. I loved it! The performance was nuanced, hearing a bit of the music was informative, and the tension of the various subplots keeps the story moving.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Better read than listened to

The Chief and Jean-Guy go to an isolated monastery to solve a murder. The 24 (well, now 23) monks are devoted to Gregorian Chant and the story is full of how divinely beautiful their music is. However, the narrator has the opposite of a divine voice: he drones, and drones, and drones. Some attempt at accent, no attempt at conveying the story with nuanced reading. So read the book and hear it in your imagination.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Emotional, and ended sad

Missed the 3 pines group...anger at the Superintendent, wanted him arrested, punished. Jean-Guy made a Surprise choice.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Beautiful Mystery

Great story. Can’t wait to read the sequel concerning the characters I now care about.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another wonderful story

Sad yet so beautiful. The series continues with more and more depth, it would seem.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Twists and Turns galore

What did you love best about The Beautiful Mystery?

I found Mr. Cosham's voice almost hypnotic. I loved the look into the life of cloistered monks and the development of each of the monks' characters and backgrounds. I loved the way the story twisted and turned, constantly leading you to another conclusion about who might have "dun it". I also loved the way the two inspectors' characters and their own conflicts were woven into the story, but very skillfully. Finally, I loved learning about the roots of written music. No more said so as not to ruin the story.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, I must say the plot kept me on the edge of my seat... as the author kept the reader guessing re: the culprit, and also gave the reader tons of interesting information as the book progressed. There was a lot of verbal imagery in this book that I really enjoyed.

What about Ralph Cosham’s performance did you like?

Everything. That sums it up. His voice bounces softly from word to word and is full of so much feeling.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and to the best of my ability, I kept reading almost continuously, listening on my iPhone after coming in from the car, where I did the bulk of my reading via bluetooth on my car radio's speaker.

Any additional comments?

Read this fabulous mystery. It really is beautiful.

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3 people found this helpful