A Trick of the Light: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel

I've listened to well over 200 audiobooks and I like a good detective story. Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache ranks for me far above the jaded, violent, tormented creations in modern detective fiction that seem so much to be the current fashion.
The Inspector Gamache stories have evolved to be about more then just "the case". The lives of the villagers in 3 Pines have become as much part of any new installment of the series then the hunt for the murderer, especially in this installment. That gives the books an additional dimension, no silly filler stuff, no gratuitous violence or almost laughable sexual encounters to keep the readers interested between the different steps of the investigation, but sweet, sad, intelligent, stupid, infuriating, and because of all that interesting characters, exist in the space "between" and around the actual case story.
Ralph Cosham has become, at least in my ears, very much the voice of Gamache. In a way he has become as much the voice of the stories then George Guidall simply is Walt Longmire in the Craig Johnson series (another series that, while it is a very different environment, I believe you will like if you like Inspector Gamache) .

As I knitted a shawl and listened, the characters wove themselves into the fabric. I will always look at my shawl and think of the interesting place this book took me.

An intelligent and thoughtful mystery, it was captivating. Thank you Ms. Penny for again for providing such a wonderful story.

Although Mr. Cosham does a great job of narration, I did get lost a few times in the scene transitions. The sentences ran together, and it took me a few seconds to realize the scene and characters were completely different from the previous sentence. Adding a few seconds break between these transitions would have helped. This is only a minor stumble to an otherwise fabulous narration.

A comfortable place, good friends, good food, a great book (being read to while knitting), a hot milky drink, a little perfectly pronounced French thrown in. Ah, Bliss... Ms Penny and Mr Cosham just keep raising the bar. Very difficult to stop and go to bed. I loved this book! (but A Case Against Murder is still the favorite of the series). Sit back and enjoy the experience.

Ms Penny and Mr Cosham make a fine match. She writes a wonderful story and he is a great story teller. As with all Ms Pennys novels of Three Pines, I will listen to this one many time.

It's like stopping in at Olivier and Gabri's bistro on a chill winter evening for something warm and delicious. These characters are by now my old friends, and yet the books have too much depth, are too intelligently written to be considered a Cosy. Each book reveals more layers to the people of Three Pines, as well as Inspector Gamache, Jean-guy and the rest. And I don't think I would ever be able to read Louise Penny's books as long as I can listen to the wonderful Ralph Cosham narrate, since he IS Inspector Gamache!

Louise Penny has developed a series and a set of characters that keep on becoming deeper, more interesting, more compelling. And Ralph Cosham does a masterful job of conveying these characters and their foibles. I've listened to or read each book in the Inspector Gamache series, and have enjoyed each one more than the one before. The Quebec setting, the plot lines, and again, the characters, are all so real, and their dramas are all intriguing. Love this series, this author and this reader!!!!

As indicated in a previous review, I "discovered" Louise Penny by happenstance - and have been hooked ever since. The characters are well defined, plots are always interesting but it is her masterful prose that makes her novels vibrate. I listen and re-listen to chapters, not wanting the listening experience to end.
Ralph Cosham's narration is "spot on". I can't imagine listening to any Louise Penny work without him. Dynamite combination.
Looking forward to the next book.

Louise Penny's Inspecteur Gamache stories are wonderful in their civility, humor, and consistency. The stories are always riveting and the characters have become good friends. She writes well and with a heart. The strength of her books are more in the conflicts between people than in graphic and violent scenes so often found in other mystery series. Just like kids who would give anything to go to Hogwart, I would give anything to live in Three Pines. A Trick of the LIght is as good as her previous novels and, as always, it will be difficult to put the earbuds down.

Just when you thought the series could not get better, it does! Start with Still Life and continue through this book.

Oh no, no, no, Louise Penny. Before all you Louise Penny fans kill me, let me say I have loved this series since it first came out and preordered a hardbound copy back in May. Bought the audio book the day it was made available. Louise is exceptional in her ability to bring the reader into the scene. You can taste the food, see the location, and smell the environment. She still has that ability in this novel and I was transported to Three Pines once again. BUT where is she going with her characters? I am so unhappy with the direction she is taking the main characters that I'm not sure I have a desire to buy or listen to her next book. Felt like we were ending up a soap opera . . . will little Billy kick his drug habit or sabotage his mentor in the process, will Jane take Dick back, did Spot come home - is that spot there? I think she was trying to create a cliff-hanging ending that would draw us back; but, to me, all she did was trivialize her characters.

As always, Ralph Cosham did an outstanding job of narration!