The Madness of Crowds

A Novel

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Robert Bathurst

"...listeners will be able to sense the benevolent heart and soul of a careful investigator amidst choices that cause deadly consequences." (Booklist)

"Robert Bathurst's narration is calm, collected, and earnest, reflecting the blend of emotion and professionalism that Gamache embodies as an investigator. It's perfect for listeners seeking both captivating intrigue and insightful reflection." (BookPage)

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache returns to Three Pines in number one New York Times best seller Louise Penny's latest spellbinding novel.

You’re a coward.

Time and again, as the New Year approaches, that charge is leveled against Armand Gamache.

It starts innocently enough.

While the residents of the Québec village of Three Pines take advantage of the deep snow to ski and toboggan, to drink hot chocolate in the bistro and share meals together, the Chief Inspector finds his holiday with his family interrupted by a simple request.

He’s asked to provide security for what promises to be a non-event. A visiting Professor of Statistics will be giving a lecture at the nearby university.

While he is perplexed as to why the head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec would be assigned this task, it sounds easy enough. That is until Gamache starts looking into Professor Abigail Robinson and discovers an agenda so repulsive he begs the university to cancel the lecture.

They refuse, citing academic freedom, and accuse Gamache of censorship and intellectual cowardice. Before long, Professor Robinson’s views start seeping into conversations. Spreading and infecting. So that truth and fact, reality and delusion are so confused it’s near impossible to tell them apart.

Discussions become debates, debates become arguments, which turn into fights. As sides are declared, a madness takes hold.

Abigail Robinson promises that, if they follow her, ça va bien aller. All will be well. But not, Gamache and his team know, for everyone.

When a murder is committed it falls to Armand Gamache, his second-in-command Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and their team to investigate the crime as well as this extraordinary popular delusion.

And the madness of crowds.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books

©2021 Louise Penny (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

So Far I'm Loving This Book

I'm four hours into the book. I'm enjoying the subject matter and the performance. I've had no issues with the audio at all. No skips or other problems. Perhaps if there are audio problems deleting the book and downloading again will help

Timely, dark and complex and absolutely terrific!

I love Louise Penny’s books. The depth of her stories, characters, their humanity, feelings, insights and struggles cannot be matched. They speak to me on so many levels. The characters are so real and so human. The Madness of Crowds is, I think, one of her very best. It is an absorbing morality tale. I first bought the audiobook and then the hardcover so I could find my favorite sections and wallow in the joy of reading them.

Listened to it twice

This was Louise Penny’s best inspector Gamache and I’ve listened to or read them all. I first listened to this latest well written, thought provoking story to find out ‘who done it’. I then listened to the story again to really think about my feelings are about the subject of mercy killings. And, is it really possible,due to the pandemic, that we can let fear have power over our souls. For me the answer is yes to the fear and no to mercy killings.
This story shows our need to be vigilant against the hyped up media that can cause fear to rule our lives in the name of keeping us ‘safe’.

Another great mystery

As a fan and having read all of the Inspector Gamache books I was not disappointed. Can't wait for the next book.

Coming Home

Reading a Louise Penny book makes me feel like I’ve come home to good friends. This was wonderful to be back in 3 pines.