Glass Houses

A Novel

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Robert Bathurst

Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

"...the events in Glass House challenge Gamache's conscience unlike any of the previous audiobooks, with Bathurst prying open the hero's heart and soul and laying it bare for listeners to experience at a visceral level." — Audiofile Magazine

AN AUGUST 2017 LibraryReads PICK!

When a mysterious figure appears in Three Pines one cold November day, Armand Gamache and the rest of the villagers are at first curious. Then wary. Through rain and sleet, the figure stands unmoving, staring ahead.

From the moment its shadow falls over the village, Gamache, now Chief Superintendent of the Sûreté du Québec, suspects the creature has deep roots and a dark purpose. Yet he does nothing. What can he do? Only watch and wait. And hope his mounting fears are not realized.

But when the figure vanishes overnight and a body is discovered, it falls to Gamache to discover if a debt has been paid or levied.

Months later, on a steamy July day as the trial for the accused begins in Montréal, Chief Superintendent Gamache continues to struggle with actions he set in motion that bitter November, from which there is no going back. More than the accused is on trial. Gamache’s own conscience is standing in judgment.

In Glass Houses, her latest utterly gripping audiobook, number-one New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny shatters the conventions of the crime novel to explore what Gandhi called the court of conscience. A court that supersedes all others.

©2017 Three Pines Creations, Inc. (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Wishful Thinking

Wish I believed that those in positions of responsibility in the police and government were always as self-analytical as Armand Gamache. His tendency to agonize at length over all possible human consequences of policy and procedure decisions is unearthly - and probably extremely unlikelyl.

So, once again, Gamache is just a tad too honorable and heroic to be true. The action, however, moves this book along quickly, and there's plenty of suspense and uncertainty. The wonderful people of Louise Penny's Three Pines are around, too, and that is always welcome in this series.

A welcoming bistro, drug cartels, a dog that might actually be a pig, deadly chases through the woods, and a crazed poet with a duck - who could resist? Anyone who is a fan of earlier books should enjoy this return to Three Pines.

Clever, thoughtful and a pleasure to read

Very happy to read Glass Houses, the latest treat in the Three Pines series of detective novels featuring Armand Gamache, his family and friends, his team at the Montreal Securite and the villagers of Three Pines. I cannot recommend these books highly enough, but do not expect fast action adventure style crime. They are clever, thoughtful, meticulously planned and the prose is a pleasure to read.

The crimes addressed in these books vary between those that result from personal situations, but others recognisable as directly associated with the harsh effect of breakdowns in society or political actions in our modern world.

Glass Houses deals with the unavoidable fact that police forces worldwide are losing the battle against organised crime. They face a never ending war against criminals with vast resources of power and wealth behind them, and informants and spies at every level of society. I found this book hard to put aside, because it is very tense and I was concerned for many of the characters, but it has proved one of the very best in the series.

As the books progress the characters grow a little older, go through various life experiences, good, bad, funny or sad and we are drawn in effortlessly to share them and to care about them. Not caring in a sentimental way, these characters are realistic, down to earth and straight talking. They are endearing because we can find parts of ourselves in most of them, not just the best, but maybe among the scared, lonely, angry, sweary or grouchy bits.

In each book Louise Penny introduces new intriguing facts about some unusual aspect such as about Canadian life, international tradition, or a particular trade to add to the general enjoyment and this book is no exception, but I will not spoiler.

The narrator, Robert Bathurst is excellent. His reading is clear, conveying the essence of each character well, he adds to the pleasure of this book.

Avery interesting penny novel

Well directed narrative from "front to back". Penny plays at a trial to tell the story though extended flash backs, which I found intriguing .the story is quite interesting but the characters steal the show as always. Entering the world of three pines is enjoyable and in this telling,exciting. Performance is excellent, book is suspenseful,characters are more than real, live a little and listen to the book. You won't be disappointed. Mike Dunn

This wasn't one of my favorites

I have liked the Gamache series by Louise Penny, but I felt this one was a little back and forth, which confused me a little, but I still liked it.

Guessing until the very end

i have thoroughly enjoyed the inspector gamache series. the writing is excellent. i do feel that something has been lost with the english narrator. i understand with the passing of the previous narrator there had to be a change but i think a french speaking narrator would have been a better choice. something is lost with jean-guy sounding more english than french

Another o e

I have become addicted to Louise Penny's characters and plots. When I get to the end of the series, it will be a sad day

This was a good continuation of the previous story

It seemed with all the weight of the last books drama it couldn't be just finished... if you do think about what happens to the characters who are banished. I like how this story played with a bit off the idea in a karmic way of- releasing the children from the sins of the father, kind of thing, to
increase ones own release from feelings of loss and guilt. Stopping the circular destruction of fate through the ages- sort of idea.
I also liked how the author always plays with the idea that the mistakes, or maybe admitting to them, make everyone stronger. The wrong side of that would be the idea we all think we can control a situation but evil always controls itself no matter how strong you think you are. The poetry in her books is always well placed, funny and or cryptic in a very interesting way. Overall another good one.

While somewhat different, I feel this is her best

GlassHouses kept me interested from the very beginning. Louise Penny did an excellent job of keeping the end a surprise.

Beautiful Form

Some groused about the structure and form. Don't let that worry you; this is just as compelling, just as touching, and just as thoughtful as previous books. I found the form graceful and wonderfully done. It fit this story perfectly.

Excellent

An exceptional addition to the Gamache series! I love this series; the complex characters, the detailed plots, and Three Pines! The narration by Robert Bathurst is excellent. The entire series is a must listen/read!