• 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 (6,654 ratings)

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The Beautiful Mystery  By  cover art

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

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loved it

felt different being out of three pines but I enjoyed this story, got to know the people more.

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Just beautiful but heartbreaking

Between the words of Louise Penny and the magnificence of Ralph Coshams narration I am so sad at its end. I’m almost afraid to start the next in the series.

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Challenging

Sometimes it seems to move too slowly. I feel that wsy about Gregorian chanting as well. Sometimes it seemed magical.

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A leisurely stroll towards chaos

A wonderfully slow and engaging read that was delightful and unexpected. The payoff is worth the slow boil. I highly recommend it.

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A different twist but nice

I have to say I enjoyed this very much. It was nice to give the residents of Three Pines a rest. As always the reading is amazing. I feel I must purchase the next book immediately to find out what happens next.

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Another outstanding episode in the Gamache saga

The characters keep evolving, even as the intricacies of a murder investigation unwind in slow motion, behind the walls of a monastery and we're drawn into The Beautiful Mystery of sacred music. bravo.

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Enjoyed

I enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator was excellent as usual. I am looking forward in listening to the following book.

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uuggggggggh!

One of the best....But I better not have to wait 2 years before she writes another one!
(spoiler alert!!!!!!!!) I was not happy with the end......

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I love it!

I love this series! I am able to get to know the characters through the details portrayed in their thoughts and actions. Excellent story. Excellent writer. Excellent narrator.

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Heavy hearted

I’ve been listening to this series from book one and love them all thus far. This particular book brought about reactions in myself that I found surprising. Louise Penny could easily be a psychologist. Her insights into control and manipulation by institutions (in this case the Catholic Church) were so precise. I can’t wait for the next one.

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