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Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
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Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Read the series that inspired Three Pines on Prime Video.

In Still Life, bestselling author Louise Penny introduces Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec.

Winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.


Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it's a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter.

Still Life introduces not only an engaging series hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces---and this series---with integrity and quiet courage, but also a winning and talented new writer of traditional mysteries in the person of Louise Penny.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 30, 2008
ISBN9781429967235
Author

Louise Penny

LOUISE PENNY is the author of the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Globe and Mail bestselling series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels, and coauthor with Hillary Rodham Clinton of the #1 New York Times bestselling thriller State of Terror. She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (nine times), and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. In 2017, she received the Order of Canada for her contributions to Canadian culture. Louise lives in a small village south of Montréal.

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Reviews for Still Life

Rating: 4.066202090592334 out of 5 stars
4/5

287 ratings214 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Quick read. Didn't connect with the story too deeply, but I would like to visit this cute village.

    Quotes:
    Just a sliver, when does a sliver become a hunk? When you're a hunk size does not matter!

    She felt if she could just get a good look at a person's bookcase and their grocery cart she pretty much know who they were.

    Looking around he realized he liked this place and these people. Too bad one of them was a murderer.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    [Cross-posted to Knite Writes]This is what you would call a “cozy” mystery story. It isn’t fast paced. It isn’t thrilling. It isn’t suspenseful. Penny takes her time building up the lives of her many characters, giving you insight into their histories and personalities, showing their complex interactions with each other. There’s a lot of stuff going on in this story, though that isn’t immediately apparent. If you like really quick, lightning-fast crime thrillers with a bunch of shootouts and high-stakes action…this is not the book for you.Near the beginning of the book, I was honestly pretty bored. I felt like it was taking forever to get anything of substance out of the plot. However, I do appreciate the time Penny took to flesh out all of her characters. One common problem with the crime/mystery/thriller genre is that the case-of-the-week format sometimes leads to an abundance of flat characters. If you’re a big fan of good characterization, you should know this book has a lot of it. Tons of it. Occasionally a bit too much. But what’s important is that Penny doesn’t skimp on the characterization in favor of meaningless action. Every character is important in their own way and is gradually built up to be such.Like I said, the plot wasn’t that exciting, but I was interested to see how all the elements came together at the end. It all fit pretty nicely, and that’s hard to do when you’re working with so many different characters. So, the plot was good, yeah…there just wasn’t a whole lot of adrenaline pumping.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have read this entire series and LOVED it. For some reason though, I had missed this book, the first in the series and I wasn't all that eager to read this one, having been told by many that the first in the series wasn't nearly as good or as strong as the later books. But, after finishing this book, I have to disagree. What makes Louise Penny and this series stand out isn't the typical aspects of a police procedural -- find the clues and solve the crime. This series is filled with complicated characters and the line between good and evil is pretty blurred. And she has created Three Pines, this charming quaint village with characters that you grow to love throughout this series. But all these characters are quirky and flawed and what is amazing, is their odd behaviors are there from this very first installment. So if you are looking for a good strong solid mystery series that is character based, this is it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Well written mystery that takes place in Quebec. The characters were interesting and I look forward to reading more of this series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Might be an interesting series, however this first book in the series had so many characters that it sometimes was very confusing!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In the small Canadian town of Three Pines Jane, a popular local artist, is found dead in the woods. Is it a hunting accident or murder? This book introduces Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, the quiet astute detective who watches the local towns folk to try to solve the case. Very charming, I’ll continue the series.“She felt if she could just get a good look at a person’s bookcase and what’s their in their grocery cart, she’d pretty much know who they are.”
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Slow moving, but well written.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Synopsis: An elderly woman is found shot with an arrow. At first people believed that it was a hunting accident, but as Inspector Gamache investigates, he finds that it was murder. Review: This was a nice introduction to Louise Penny and the town of Three Pines.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    In general, I am not a big fan of a mystery genre. However, after insistent nudging from my mom I finally read this book.

    Surprisingly, it was a very pleasant and engaging read. I could hardly tear myself from it. Beautifully set in an old Quebec village (with the whole Quebecois English-French conflict for drama), cutesy patootsie with some art world drama mixed in. You can picture this story wrapped with a red ribbon and placed under a Christmas tree. However, some of the characters were too shallowly depicted and made to fit a stereotype too precisely for my liking (ex. Nichol, Yolande - incarnations of self absobed pride and ostentation respectibly). A bit too "black and white". A fairy tale (if that can be applied to a murder mystery novel).

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Went back to the beginning with this one. Enjoyed it a lot, but after starting with two more recent books in the series, you can tell it's her first. Maybe a bit too much with the literary references, seemed like every chapter someone was quoting literature, which is, well, unlikely. Also, Ms. Penny has guts, that's for sure: one of her characters is supposed to be a world famous award winning poet, and Penny actually writes the poetry and has characters recite it...I know nothing about poetry, but I assume there is pressure on her to make sure it's at least good!!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Too introspective & broody for me.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great first novel.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I must confess that I don't normally enjoy books that fall into the mystery genre. I've found that they are often too easy to figure out and the writing isn't always the best. While I figured out the whodunnit? for Still Life, the writing was intriguing and entertaining enough that I didn't mind. I wanted to keep reading it anyway due to the interesting characters and the quaint town in which they lived. I think what I enjoyed most was Agent Nichol's complete obliviousness to who she really was. There were several moments involving her that made me chuckle. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Gamache is a gentle but determined police official. Enjoyed the way he participated with the social life in Three Pines.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Love her writing style -- terrific characters and dialogue! Highly recommend this one, and I'll be on the lookout for her other books, as well.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is the first in a series of novels about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Quebec Surete. This case is the murder of an elderly female artist by an archer in the rural village of Three Pines. Her body is discovered in the woods but the arrow that killed her went right through her body and is missing. There is an archery club in the village which means there are a number of people capable of doing the murder. The reader will learn quite a bit of information about this sport because the Inspector must learn what it takes to fire an arrow hard enough to kill a human.There are some strange characters in the village which makes for some humourous moments for Gamache and his colleague, Inspector Beauvoir. There is also a woman, Agent Yvette Nichol, who assigned to the Inspector for training on her first case as a detective. She tries Gamache's patience several times by not listening and not following orders.There are many suspects and Gamache works through them to find the person who murdered Jane Neal because of something the killer saw or feared someone else might see in the her painting of the Fair Day Parade.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Excellent cozy procedural set in French Quebec. I loved both the smart and endearing Inspector Gamache and the charming and flawed Three Pines village. A little grittier than most cozies and a little cozier than most procedurals. Literate but not pretentious. I'm looking forward to reading the whole series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really liked this book, the first in a series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. This particular book is set in a small town south of Montreal (Canada) where an old woman, beloved by many in the town, was killed by a hunting arrow through the heart. Penny seems to have a special skill for creating original and vividly-depicted characters. I loved Gamache, especially that he didn't embody the cliche of the brooding, divorced alcoholic who rebelled against authority. No, Gamache is happily married and is a kind soul who values teamwork. I really disliked the character of Yvette Nichol, the egotistical new agent Gamache tries to take under his wing. She refused to learn and didn't listen to simple instructions and was generally nasty to everyone. I wonder if the character is in future books? I'll definitely be picking up the next in this series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    An enjoyable debut mystery, this is a contemporary story that reminded me very much of the classics. With a terrific setting of a small Quebec village and an assortment of interesting characters, there's a lot to like here. I wasn't sold on some of the actions and motivations of both the victim and the murderer, and one of the chief inspector's subordinates was over-the-top annoying and unlikable, but none of it detracted too much from a solid outing. If you're looking for a cozy new series, this one is worth a look.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A lovely, atmospheric and cosy mystery...easy to read, a real treat!
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I wanted to love this series, I really did. It is so beloved by so many people who have such great taste in books. However, after not one but two tries several years apart I still could not understand why people like Three Pines and Inspector Gamache so much. The writing was so slow, which I understand IS an issue with this particular book, and is why I tried a second time to "power on" in the hopes of getting to something better. I did not get to that place, and unfortunately ended up putting this book down a second time and crossing this series off my TBR list for good :-(
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It actually kept me guessing! Quick, enjoyable read with fun, quirky characters and a twist I didn't see coming.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved this cozy little murder mystery in this cozy little town, Three Pines, Quebec. Loved the quirky residents, some of which had been there from 3 to 80+ years. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec with his team, arrive to solve the murder of 80 year old spinster Jane Neal a well loved and respected leader, teacher, mentor. Along the way quite a few secrets are brought to light. But the love of this small community never waivers in its support of one another. 4.2 stars
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Both my sister and a good friend recommended that I read the mysteries of Louise Penny; so I decided to start with her first Chief Inspector Gamache novel. I was not disappointed.The mystery is set in a small town in rural Canada. The narrative introduces Armand Gamache of the Sorete du Quebec. The mystery proper begins with the discovery of the body of Jane Neal, a middle-aged artist, near a woodland trail used by deer hunters outside the village of Three Pines. Upon first investigation it appears she was the victim of a hunting accident. Soon Gamache, an appealingly competent senior homicide investigator, is summoned. He is able to determine that this was not an accident but the woman was most likely murdered. The narrative continues as clues are slowly uncovered while the residents of Three Pines are introduced. Some of them come under suspicion while the suspense builds with each piece of new evidence. I enjoyed the author's development of a variation on the theme of the clue hidden in plain sight. She also introduces the bilingual, bi-cultural aspect of Quebecois life as well as arcane aspects of archery and art to deepen her narrative. Most of all there are memorable characters whose relationships make the mystery more compelling as they and their interrelationships are gradually revealed.This is a mystery filled with intriguing insights that develops a good foundation for further exploits of Armand Gamache. I would recommend this author's first novel, which was the runner-up for the CWA's Debut Dagger Award in 2004, to all readers who enjoy a good mystery.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Loved, loved, loved this book. So different and so engaging. Well-written. I want to read all of her books.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    For my last day off of the holiday season, I did next to nothing except sit in a chair with a dog on my lap, reading this excellent series debut mystery novel. For those of you who haven't already discovered Three Pines, Quebec, and the talents of Chief Inspector Gamache, may I recommend that you give this book a try. It's a traditional whodunit, dun very well indeed. A retired schoolteacher, the beloved Jane Neal, is found dead of a wound from a hunting arrow in the woods near the village. Could it have been an accident? Why was she out walking without her dog? The entire community comes under scrutiny, and naturally, many secrets are revealed, including why Miss Neal, in all these years, had never invited a single person into any room of her home except the kitchen. Just enough red herrings, and no ultimately dishonest false clues of the sort that make a reader cranky. Surprising bits of humor, and delightfully witty banter among some of the friends in the "cast".Review written January 2011
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I like Inspector Gamache and the mystery definitely kept me guessing - I loved the clue that gave it all away. One of the interesting aspects of the story was how narrative can be so far from the truth - everyone thought they "knew" someone because of a persistent narrative, despite the actual experiences that people had with that person.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I started reading Louise Penny books by accident. I really like this particular series. One thing that is especially good is that she keeps the same characters in the little town of Three Pines, so you really get to know them and care about them or hate them. The books are best read in order but can be stand alone.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Woman is killed with arrow in small Canadian town. Interesting plot and characters with Chief Inspector Gamache on the trail of the killer.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Louis Penny has won awards for her writing and the reason is apparent in this first novel. Although this was a Goodreads giveaway that I won recently, the book was published in 2005. I'm delighted with the introduction to this author, so it's never too late to find one after the book is published, even decades later in my experience. Now I want to read all the other books Penny has written.

    The story is well designed, thoughtful, multilayered, and kept my keen interest throughout. It's a wonderful book! Read it. During the time I read the book, I had a health crisis and then house guests, so reading time was a challenge. Normally I would have drilled through this book faster. I enjoy books that urge me to find out what's next and this one does that well. Loved the wonderful array of characters! The author has a gift for characters and plot. The setting is a tiny, charming town in Canada. The end was unexpected, and several unexpected happenstances occur along the way. This is a page-turner, for those who like that term.

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Still Life - Louise Penny

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