The latest crime thriller featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Detective Inspector Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the Sûreté du Québec is confronting, emotional and chilling. It also requires us to overcome our disappointment as Gamache makes so many errors of judgement.
The latest gossip in Three Pines, a village situated just north of the Canadian/US border, is the receipt of a letter written by a stonemason describing his reluctance when asked to brick up an attic room in the village. The villagers are keen to find the room.
This they do. There are repercussions. They are severe.
Before the search for the bricked-up room is started, we hear about the murder many years ago when the Chief Inspector first met Beauvoir. Gamache wanted an agent who had local knowledge to help with the investigation. To the surprise of many in the police force, Gamache chose Beauvoir.
We also learn the details of the massacre at the Ecole Polytechnique. Fourteen students were murdered and 13 others were injured before the gunman killed himself. He sent all the males out of the building and shot only female students.
When the attic room is found, the pace picks up, the families of both detectives are threatened and the body count rises. Our journey is fast, furious and fascinating. The Chief Inspector should’ve excused himself from the investigation. He does not. He becomes emotionally involved, and he makes serious mistakes.
A World of Curiosities is an evocative tale of naivety. betrayal, and revenge that’s completely implausible, but an exciting romp.
Reviewed by Clive Hodges
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Louise Penny lives outside a small village south of Montreal, quite close to the American border. She and her husband, Michael, have long had dogs, all golden retrievers. Bonnie, Maggie, Seamus, Trudy and now Bishop. Some came as puppies, some were adopted as adults. All beloved.
Michael and Louise were together for over 22 years and married for 20. He was the inspiration for Armand Gamache. Kindly, thoughtful, generous, a man of courage and integrity, who both loved and accepted love.
Michael developed dementia, and died peacefully at home in September 2016, surrounded by the love he’d put into the world for his 83 years.
So now it’s Bishop and Louise. But they’re far from alone. They have the village, and all their friends including her Assistant, Lise, and the indomitable, happy spirit of Michael. And, of course, the company of Armand, Clara, Ruth, Gabri and Olivier et al.
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