Louise Penny is an author whose books I eagerly read. Wanting some escape, I recently picked up this one from my backlist. A newer book, The Gray Wolf, has been released.
Once I starting reading, I could not stop. Every spare minute had me wanting to read this tense and intense story. I found myself fearing for some of my favorite characters and hoping that Penny would let them live.
Three Pines, Penny’s fictional village, has been a place of refuge to its residents. However, series stalwarts, Gamache and Beauvoir among others are stressed by the appearance of siblings Fiona and Sam. The two have a disturbing history. While the Gamaches have tried to help Fiona, Sam has been left to flounder. How will their presence affect others, especially perhaps the niece of another series regular, Myrna? Readers also meet a minister who is new to Three Pines; it will take an astute reader to figure out more about him.
The events of the book reference an earlier one entitled The Nature of the Beast. It is not necessary to have read this prior to A World of Curiosities but those who have will feel the full shock of this book’s events.
Note that the title of the book references a painting that exists. It is an integral part of the plot.
Readers learn more about Gamache’s back story including his relationship with the complicated, surly Amelia Choquet. Devoted readers, I think, always enjoy these insights which include flashbacks to when Gamache and Beauvoir first met.
I will note that the ending was frenetic and a bit over the top. That said, Penny’s fans will not want to miss this excellent entry in the series.
Outstanding Praise for A World of Curiosities
ONE OF WASHINGTON POST’S BEST MYSTERIES AND THRILLERS OF 2022
ONE OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE’S BEST FALL BOOKS
ONE OF AARP’S BEST FALL BOOKS
ONE OF CRIMEREADS’ MOST ANTICIPATED FALL BOOKS
ONE OF BARNES & NOBLE’S BEST BOOKS OF 2022
ONE OF BUSTLE’S MOST ANTICIPATED NOVEMBER 2022 BOOKS
“Simply outstanding… Penny’s gift for intelligent and transcendent storytelling delivers light, bringing themes of forgiveness and redemption to society’s darker moments.” —Christian Science Monitor
“Penny delves into the nature of evil, sensitively exploring the impact of the dreadful events she describes while bringing a warmth and humanity to her disparate cast of characters that, unusually for a crime novel, leaves you feeling better about the world once you’ve finished.”–The Guardian
“Another superb achievement… Penny weaves together all these narratives–the
series of modern-day killings, the decade-old bludgeoning murder and the haunting artwork that has remained shrouded in mystery across the centuries–with a master’s deft hand.” —BookPage (starred review)
“For Penny, the novel is a narrative tour de force, drawing brilliantly on some dark moments in Québec history and leading Gamache and the residents of Three Pines to a hard-won, thoroughly unsentimental recognition that forgiveness is our most powerful magic.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Virtuoso… blends nuanced characterization with nail-biting suspense…This tale of forgiveness and redemption will resonate with many.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Penny’s 18th Gamache novel is intense as the detective digs deep into his own fears. The darkness in this intricately plotted story forces readers to search for contrasting moments of hope.” —Library Journal (starred review, and Pick of the Month)
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 