How the Light Gets In

A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, Book 9

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 15 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

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

©2013 Three Pines Creations, Inc. (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

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

Good but not great

It got a little convoluted and contrived at the end. The wedding scene at the very end was a just too saccharine compared with the darker storyline.

Best So Far

Listening my way through the series. How The Light Gets In could be a screenplay as it is written! Just amazing in every way! My favorite so far!

Terrific

So enjoy the entwined storytelling! Cannot wait to read (listen) to the next in the series.

WOW!

As the arc was concluding I was on the edge of my seat, fully confident that the Inspector would prevail. I was NOT prepared for the magnificent long game he had been playing. Bravo.

Connectivity to the previous books in the series and yet, stands alone in excellent entertainment.

The characters are fully developed and yet they aren’t…love it! Start the series! So good…each book holds me.

Three Pines is magic

The continuing story of this band of villagers will always capture my attention. It's nice to have closure of an arc that has spanned all the books to this point. Can't wait to see where we go from here.

Penny is Perfect!

This book was downloaded to my Kindle the same day it was available. I couldn't wait and am always sorry when they end. The setting is charming, the characters are realistic, story enthralling and Ralph Cosham is fantastic. I must add my agreement to other readers, listen to the series in order. This series is a gift you can give to yourself. I loved it!

Look... Here's the deal

Louise Penny may well be the best writer of modern detective novels... Ever. I have read all of her work... Incredible.

Don't hesitate for a second to jump in with number one and work your way up.

I am not thrilled with the reader, but the quality of the writing overcomes all... Even him.

Couldn’t stop listening!

I love the Inspector Gamache series, and there hasn’t been a single book that I didn’t find 100% worth the read. But this one—this one tugged at my heart the whole way through, and I couldn’t stand not knowing what would happen! It was beautifully written. It had me crying and literally standing up and cheering in my living room at 3am while my whole family was sleeping. I can’t think of a better review than that!

Best of the series!

I love this series, but this book was my favorite by far. Couldn’t turn it off!