The Cruelest Month

A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, Book 3

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Welcome to Three Pines, where the cruelest month is about to deliver on its threat. It's spring in the tiny, forgotten village; buds are on the trees, and the first flowers are struggling through the newly thawed earth. But not everything is meant to return to life....

When some villagers decide to celebrate Easter with a séance at the Old Hadley House, they are hoping to rid the town of its evil - until one of their party dies of fright. Was this a natural death, or was the victim somehow helped along?

Brilliant, compassionate Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec is called to investigate in a case that will force him to face his own ghosts as well as those of a seemingly idyllic town where relationships are far more dangerous than they seem.

©2007 Louise Penny (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Many mystery buffs have credited Louise Penny with the revival of the type of traditional murder mystery made famous by Agatha Christie.... The book's title is a metaphor not only for the month of April but also for Gamache's personal and professional challenges - making this the series standout so far." (Sarah Weinman)

Gentle, Thoughtful, Thorough Inspector Gamache

The Cruelest Month, the third in the series, was just as satisfying as the first two . . . maybe more so . . . as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache faces down evil in the old Hadley House in Three Pines, Quebec . . . familiar friends and townsfolk from Three Pines return, artists Peter and Clara, poet Ruth, and former psychologist turned bookstore owner, Myrna . . . as Gamache and his team work to solve the murder, it becomes more and more evident that he has a Judas on his own team . . . waiting to betray him . . . as the case comes closer and closer to resolution, Gamache deals with ever increasing personal attacks, (which go back to a former case, where he exposed the corruption of a fellow department officer) . . . keeping a cool head and vigilant, determination to listen, and seek truth . . . he manages to maneuver his way through the quagmire . . .references to Matthew 10:36 and other subtle biblical quotes . . . meeting God at the door . . . are peppered through Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache books . . . so are things like new age beliefs, seances, and other fleeting trends . . . you are left to suss out what is steadfast . . . what is true . . . what is good . . . I like that . . .

Awesome, again!

Wonderful! I could feel everything! it's like a magnificent ride :) Can't wait for the next one

My favorite Louise Penny thus far

I have been listening to the books in chronological order so this is my third. This book had a depth of plot that really kept me engaged throughout. The different plot lines were so complex that I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I had not read the first two books prior to this one, but my mother read this one first and enjoyed it just as much.

A bit slow at the beginning, but....

It became fascinating and riveting and stayed so to the very end. Inspector Gamache is one of my favorite protagonists.

Brilliant!

Louise Penny is one of my favorite authors and Ralph Cosham is the perfect narrator for her. He brings Chief Inspector Gramache

Gripping and genuine

True to Louise Penny, and her gripping entertaining style and storylines. I fully enjoyed this read.

Now addicted to the series

Louise is masterful in her use of language, the creation of her characters and telling a great story. This magical setting of Three Pines is as special as those that live there. How deftly the great detective solves the crime while interacting with and moving among such interesting townspeople. I've grown so fond of the place, the food, the people & the stories that when I finish a book I can hardly wait to begin the next one. Perfect narration too. Thank you Louise & Ralph. I'm very grateful to you both!

If you didn't love Ruth yet...

The first two books in the series give a great set up and are fantastic on their own, but in my opinion this is where the books really start to get interesting. Warning: if you weren't "hooked" with books 1 & 2, I would consider this book to be the point of no return. All of your credits and free time now belong to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache.

As always, Louise Penny delivers a wonderful cast of characters (both old and new, likable and not so much), witty dialogue, and obviously, a great who-done-it. Do not skip this series! If you haven't read the first two, start now!

Another excellent novel

The third installment of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels is much more complex than the previous one. We're introduced to some new characters and Monsieur Beliveau is a character who is slightly more revealed. Unfortunately, I don't feel like he is developed - we don't really get to know him, only about him - even though he is somewhat integral to the plot.
We do find out more about the Arnot case and are treated to the expansion of Gamache's insight into it, as well as how Agents Lemieux and Nichol play a part.
With this novel, although I was pretty convinced I had figured it out, I was pleasantly surprised by the ending; it fulfilled the agreement of being obvious when it was explained, but clearly lead me down the wrong path.
I enjoyed this novel as much as the previous two (and #5) and look forward to catching up with #4 shortly.

Great narration!

The narrator is excellent! As with the previous books in the series, the characters are interesting and the writing is descriptive. The language is noticeably coarser than in the first books. I've listened to the first six books, and the stories and characters get stronger as the series goes on.