How the Light Gets In

A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

How the Light Gets In is the ninth Chief Inspector Gamache Novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny.

"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." —Leonard Cohen

Christmas is approaching, and in Québec it's a time of dazzling snowfalls, bright lights, and gatherings with friends in front of blazing hearths. But shadows are falling on the usually festive season for Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department, his old friend and lieutenant Jean-Guy Beauvoir hasn't spoken to him in months, and hostile forces are lining up against him. When Gamache receives a message from Myrna Landers that a longtime friend has failed to arrive for Christmas in the village of Three Pines, he welcomes the chance to get away from the city. Mystified by Myrna's reluctance to reveal her friend's name, Gamache soon discovers the missing woman was once one of the most famous people not just in North America, but in the world, and now goes unrecognized by virtually everyone except the mad, brilliant poet Ruth Zardo.

As events come to a head, Gamache is drawn ever deeper into the world of Three Pines. Increasingly, he is not only investigating the disappearance of Myrna's friend but also seeking a safe place for himself and his still-loyal colleagues. Is there peace to be found even in Three Pines, and at what cost to Gamache and the people he holds dear?

One of Publishers Weekly's Best Mystery/Thriller Books of 2013
One of The Washington Post's Top 10 Books of the Year
An NPR Best Book of 2013

Critic reviews

“Louise Penny's Three Pines mysteries are eminently satisfying due to their imaginative variety. The stories include scenes of Montreal sophistication and gritty crime contrasted with the idyllic setting of Three Pines. There's also literary appeal, quirky humor, and – let's not forget – murder.” —AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award Winner

“Penny writes engagingly whether you're reading her books or listening to them. An argument for the latter is that her characters – not the least being Gamache, the gentle, brilliant, introspective and beleaguered head of the Surete division – are enriched beyond description through the distinctive voice of reader Ralph Cosham” —The Star-Ledger

“Narrator Ralph Cosham moves seamlessly from character to character, adding depth to each; his narration, coupled with a suspenseful writing style, make for edge-of-your-seat listening. Highly recommended for series devotees or fans of literary mysteries.” —Library Journal, starred review

“An engrossing, well produced audio. The avuncular voice of narrator Ralph Cosham fully expresses the mood of wistful regret that permeates this ninth (and perhaps last) chronicle of Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec.” —Publishers Weekly

“Ralph Cosham narrates again, his voice now truly Gamache's and his pace perfectly matched to Penny's graceful prose.” —BookPage

“Cosham's masterful narration places listeners with Gamache in this emotion packed series entry.” —Booklist

Finally a happy conclusion.

Would you listen to How the Light Gets In again? Why?

I am actually going to listen to the past ones over again. Number eight left me devastated, so much so that I returned it. This one is gratifying.

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

Of course

What about Ralph Cosham’s performance did you like?

He is a wonderful reader

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

I did listen in one day. I am a dressmaker and listened to it whilst completing a project.

Any additional comments?

Listen to the other ones or you will be lost.

Wonderful series.

What did you like best about this story?

The writing is wonderful and the story offers an interesting glimpse into the corruption of power and the power of compassion.

Any additional comments?

This book is excellent, however, I think it is made richer by reading the previous books in the Three Pines series. This would give the listener a deeper understanding into the nuances and hearts of these wonderful characters. Louise Penny's books are a reading and listening pleasure!

The best yet!

Thank you, Louise Penny, for writing the most riveting, moving, suspenseful, and beautiful book of the series, and thank you for ALL the books in this series. Thank you, Ralph Cosham, for bringing these characters to life in my head with such skill and care. How I love them all! There are moments when I held my breath in fear and moments when I laughed out loud. Thank you both for creating a world and a group of people whom I feel honored to know and to have spent so much time with. It was time well-spent. But now the book is over - what'll I do now? Guess I'll just have to start the series over again! For those just discovering the series -- read them in order, PLEASE! You'll enjoy them so much more as you get to know the characters and hear the plot lines develop from book to book. I envy people just discovering Three Pines for the first time -- lucky you to have stumbled into this magical little village. Enjoy!

Best Gamache book yet!

This is one of the best Gamache novels. The story keeps you guessing and entertained throughout. In this Gamache novel, the murder story takes a back seat to the overall background story of the series. You have to read these in order if you want to get the full affect and understanding of the development of the characters. Ralph's Cosham is amazing and I am not sure how I'm going to handle some of the later novels after a new narrator had to be chosen. On to the next one!

Best of the series

If you could sum up How the Light Gets In in three words, what would they be?

Best Gamache yet!

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

Constantly! Louise Penny writes so that many possibilities exist for the situations in which the characters find themselves. The suspense builds throughout the book.

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

Over the course of the series, he has become Gamache to me. Louise Penny's words create the amazing pictures of the characters and Three Pines (also a character) but Gosham brings them to life.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

All is not what it appears.

Any additional comments?

This is one of the best books I have read all year. I cannot recommend it enough. But don't start out reading this book. Start with STILL LIFE and experience the entire series. Louise Penny is brilliant!