The Long Way Home

Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 10

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Happily retired in the village of Three Pines, Armand Gamache, former Chief Inspector of Homicide with the Sûreté du Québec, has found a peace he'd only imagined possible. On warm summer mornings he sits on a bench holding a small book, The Balm in Gilead, in his large hands. "There is a balm in Gilead," his neighbor Clara Morrow reads from the dust jacket, "to make the wounded whole."

While Gamache doesn't talk about his wounds and his balm, Clara tells him about hers. Peter, her artist husband, has failed to come home. Failed to show up as promised on the first anniversary of their separation. She wants Gamache's help to find him. Having finally found sanctuary, Gamache feels a near revulsion at the thought of leaving Three Pines. "There’s power enough in Heaven," he finishes the quote as he contemplates the quiet village, "to cure a sin-sick soul." And then he gets up. And joins her.

Together with his former second-in-command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and Myrna Landers, they journey deeper and deeper into Québec. And deeper and deeper into the soul of Peter Morrow. A man so desperate to recapture his fame as an artist, he would sell that soul. And may have. The journey takes them further and further from Three Pines, to the very mouth of the great St. Lawrence river. To an area so desolate, so damned, the first mariners called it The land God gave to Cain. And there they discover the terrible damage done by a sin-sick soul.

©2014 Three Pines Creations, Inc. (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

A little hard to follow at times, but

I found it a tad herd to follow at times but that was just me. Louise you are so very, very good. Your words are poetry, my goodness. Ralph, I know you’re no longer with us but you were so, so wonderful. Just the best! We all miss you. Thank you Ralph.

Finale! Really?

This is the final book in the Inspector Gamache series and I have to say, the weakest.
The series, overall, is the best mystery series -written this century-That I've read.
The individual installments are each a fully realized mystery in itself, as well as being an installment in the ongoing underlying mystery that hangs over Gamache like a storm cloud. The first few books were so heavy with this subtle sense of impending doom, it actually made me edgy while I was reading them!
These books are very dear, very special, because the characters are presented as human, flawed, hopeful, bitter or kind...and there's this very rich atmosphere one become immersed in while reading...The main character is unlike any other super homicide detective ever. He adores his wife and daughter, he looks like an English professor, he reads poetry...he is loving and wise. He has built an elite homicide squad out of a hand picked bunch of black sheep. Officers who had been ignored, ridiculed and marginalized for being "different", Until Gamache found them. Now they're the best detectives in the Surete. He has their undying loyalty. But somebody out there wants him gone, and they seem bent on destroying his precious squad too...
This is the only installment I can't give 5 stars to. Maybe the author got tired of the storyline??? Was she pressured to produce quickly?
I can't understand how after all those fantastic books, THIS is our finale.

Could it best the best one yet?!?!

Where does The Long Way Home rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the most enjoyable mystery series I've listened to! Inspector Gamache and the villagers of Three Pines are funny, quirky, smart, and so lovable!

Nice departure from the last books in the series

I was curious about how the series was going to adjust with Gamache in retirement. I liked the storyline.

A little slow and long, but quality excellent.

Did struggle a bit to finish, compared to other in the series. Recommend Author, still.

My favorite. So far.

I have been reading this series in order. This book takes the reader deep into the minds of artists and the art scene. Not being an artist, I can’t say if this rings true or not but i will look at a work of art differently as a result. The characters, descriptions of food, and subplots continue to be strong and she nailed PTSD. Although bizarre and not really plausible, the plot has some interesting twists and turns that keeps the reader thoroughly engaged.

You must listen 2 this

Loved it!! GREAT story.. Ralph will always be Inspector Gamache to me. Thanks Louise

An Unusual Mystery

Once again, Ralph Cosham in his genius way of reading does his magic (...and 'it works'!) and, through his voice, the story comes alive. We dive into the world of the arts and witness the search for missing Peter, Clara's husband, as well as, maybe, a missing Muse, and all along there lurks, behind the canvas, the hidden presence of another murder. It's like you go for a hike through an ever changing landscape where, in the end, you walk around another bend in the road - and there, a completely unexpected sight openes up... turning upside down the whole world. Still, we find peace once more under those familiar 'three pines'. Thank you, Ralph Cosham, and thank you, Louise Penny, for the sights we discover on this marvellous journey!

I loved it!

I loved this book! I can't wait to listen to the next one! Louise Penny is a master.

makers will love this!

I love all the Gamache books, they are clever, witty and aperhaps because I am an artist I love the storylines with Clara and Ruth the most, because the author clearly knows about the process of art making, which makes the books so real for me.