Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 3
First Line: In the early nineteenth century the Catholic Church realized it had a problem.
The problem, according to church officials, was that the Gregorian chants used in services throughout each day had strayed so far from the originals that they were considered corrupt. As often happens, one problem led to another. Gregorian chants are ancient; they predate written music. The only thing church officials could think to do was to search for the oldest known surviving written record of the chants. But that was a problem for another century.
In this century, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his second-in-command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, have been called to the remote monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, where one of the monks has been murdered. Hidden deep in the wilderness of Quebec, two dozen monks who have taken a vow of silence grow vegetables, raise chickens, make chocolate... and sing. Ironically their voices--recorded singing those ancient Gregorian chants-- have brought them fame throughout the world. Until the prior of Saint Gilbert was found murdered, no one has been allowed into the monastery-- no one until Gamache and Beauvoir, and they will not leave until the killer is unmasked. It is a perfect locked room mystery that will have profound effects upon them all.
It is almost meaningless to add my own superlatives to all the rest which have been bestowed upon such a deserving series. Although momentarily unhappy that Gamache would not be returning to the village of Three Pines (since I have several friends amongst those characters), as soon as Gamache and Beauvoir began walking through the monastery, I forgot every single scrap of my disappointment. The two policemen's differing reactions to the religious services throughout the day, the way they search the rooms of the ancient building, the way they interview each monk, and the way they each react to two other visitors from the outside, blend into the inexorable-- and heartbreaking-- end.
Reading a book by Louise Penny is a time of transcendence for me. The lyricism of her writing makes me look at the world differently whenever I raise my eyes from the page. Although the plots in her books are never anything less than first-rate, these novels are about so much more than finding a killer. They're about how we perceive the world; they're about how we perceive ourselves and those around us. They are about our humanity.
I've seen some readers complain, saying they don't like Louise Penny's books because Armand Gamache is "too good to be true." Throughout the series, characters find Gamache striking because of his sense of calm, and many of them realize that this calm is due to having been at war. That's the feeling that I've always gotten from Gamache. That his calm is very hard won-- and we see that calm shatter in this book.
Most of us have also been at war in one way or another in our lives. What some of us like to see is someone who's made it through to the other side, either in a sense of feeling like kindred spirits, or in a sense of knowing that "if he did it, I can do it, too." The Beautiful Mystery shows us that even Gamache must continue to strive for that inner calm; that he is every bit as human as the man whom he loves like a son-- Jean-Guy Beauvoir.
Each book stands on its own merits. A person doesn't have to read all the books in the series to have them make sense. But, oh what a person misses when he doesn't read each book! This series is a garden. Seeds are sown in one book that may not come to fruition until two or three books later, and this Candide-like tending of her literary garden is one of the things that makes Louise Penny's books so special.
This wonderful eighth addition to Penny's garden ends on a strong note of foreboding and makes me both eager and hesitant for book nine. On the last page, the abbot of Saint Gilbert tells Gamache of how the monastery got its name. The last line of the story, "The one I feed," will resonate with me for a long, long time.
The problem, according to church officials, was that the Gregorian chants used in services throughout each day had strayed so far from the originals that they were considered corrupt. As often happens, one problem led to another. Gregorian chants are ancient; they predate written music. The only thing church officials could think to do was to search for the oldest known surviving written record of the chants. But that was a problem for another century.
In this century, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his second-in-command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, have been called to the remote monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, where one of the monks has been murdered. Hidden deep in the wilderness of Quebec, two dozen monks who have taken a vow of silence grow vegetables, raise chickens, make chocolate... and sing. Ironically their voices--recorded singing those ancient Gregorian chants-- have brought them fame throughout the world. Until the prior of Saint Gilbert was found murdered, no one has been allowed into the monastery-- no one until Gamache and Beauvoir, and they will not leave until the killer is unmasked. It is a perfect locked room mystery that will have profound effects upon them all.
It is almost meaningless to add my own superlatives to all the rest which have been bestowed upon such a deserving series. Although momentarily unhappy that Gamache would not be returning to the village of Three Pines (since I have several friends amongst those characters), as soon as Gamache and Beauvoir began walking through the monastery, I forgot every single scrap of my disappointment. The two policemen's differing reactions to the religious services throughout the day, the way they search the rooms of the ancient building, the way they interview each monk, and the way they each react to two other visitors from the outside, blend into the inexorable-- and heartbreaking-- end.
Reading a book by Louise Penny is a time of transcendence for me. The lyricism of her writing makes me look at the world differently whenever I raise my eyes from the page. Although the plots in her books are never anything less than first-rate, these novels are about so much more than finding a killer. They're about how we perceive the world; they're about how we perceive ourselves and those around us. They are about our humanity.
I've seen some readers complain, saying they don't like Louise Penny's books because Armand Gamache is "too good to be true." Throughout the series, characters find Gamache striking because of his sense of calm, and many of them realize that this calm is due to having been at war. That's the feeling that I've always gotten from Gamache. That his calm is very hard won-- and we see that calm shatter in this book.
Most of us have also been at war in one way or another in our lives. What some of us like to see is someone who's made it through to the other side, either in a sense of feeling like kindred spirits, or in a sense of knowing that "if he did it, I can do it, too." The Beautiful Mystery shows us that even Gamache must continue to strive for that inner calm; that he is every bit as human as the man whom he loves like a son-- Jean-Guy Beauvoir.
Each book stands on its own merits. A person doesn't have to read all the books in the series to have them make sense. But, oh what a person misses when he doesn't read each book! This series is a garden. Seeds are sown in one book that may not come to fruition until two or three books later, and this Candide-like tending of her literary garden is one of the things that makes Louise Penny's books so special.
This wonderful eighth addition to Penny's garden ends on a strong note of foreboding and makes me both eager and hesitant for book nine. On the last page, the abbot of Saint Gilbert tells Gamache of how the monastery got its name. The last line of the story, "The one I feed," will resonate with me for a long, long time.
Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk 8) on + 1223 more book reviews
Another compelling read in the Gamache series by Penny. This one is quite different from most of the series so far in that it takes place entirely in a remote abbey where a murder has taken place rather than in the comfortable setting of Three Pines village. Chief Inspector Gamache and his right-hand-man, Inspector Jean-Guy Beauvoir, are called to investigate the murder inside the walls of the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loupes. The monastery is home to the Gilbertine order, thought to be long extinct by the Catholic Church. One of the monks, Frère Mathieu, the monastery's choirmaster and prior, has been bashed over the head...but why would another monk commit such an act? The order is devoted entirely to Gregorian chants and its abbot, Dom Philippe, has recruited its members from among the ranks of other orders for their piety, but mainly for their musical abilities. In fact, a recording of their chants has been made and circulated to the world making the monastery open to possible outside scrutiny. But this could also result in more money for the abbey which is sorely needed. The recording has sharply polarized the community between the prior's men, who want to exploit their unexpected success by making another recording and speaking more widely of their vocation, and the abbot's men, who greet the prospect of a more open and worldly community with horror. And to top off Gamache's problems, Sûreté Chief Superintendent Sylvain Françoeur, arrives unexpectedly on the scene to supposedly take charge of the investigation...but what are his real motives? He is definitely an enemy of Gamache and he sows some very serious doubts in the mind of Beauvoir about the motivations of Gamache towards him. Beauvoir is in love with Gamache's daughter, Annie, but will this last?
As I said, this novel was quite outside the norms of most of Penny's other works. I did enjoy it but I missed the interplay between the characters inhabiting Three Pines. I did lean a few things from this novel including how Gregorian Chants started and the origins of musical notation. Chants originally used "neumes" to indicate when monastic voices should be raised and hushed. These neumes eventually evolved into the musical notation used today.
I'll definitely be looking forward to reading the next book in this series especially since this one left a lot of things up in the air...especially the relationship between Gamache and Beauvoir.
As I said, this novel was quite outside the norms of most of Penny's other works. I did enjoy it but I missed the interplay between the characters inhabiting Three Pines. I did lean a few things from this novel including how Gregorian Chants started and the origins of musical notation. Chants originally used "neumes" to indicate when monastic voices should be raised and hushed. These neumes eventually evolved into the musical notation used today.
I'll definitely be looking forward to reading the next book in this series especially since this one left a lot of things up in the air...especially the relationship between Gamache and Beauvoir.
Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) -
As usual, the writing is the best thing about these books. Although this is a self-contained mystery, having read the previous books in order helps prevent some "huh?" moments. I thought it was a little too long, and I learned a little more about Gregorian chants than I need to know going forward in life. Plus, I was disappointed by the abrupt, pseudo-cliff-hanging ending.
Debi J. (mztrees) -
This was my first Louise Penny book, but it won't be my last. Beautiful writing. I enjoyed the characters and also the story about the Gregorian Chants. My husband is a great fan of this music and I just gave the book to him for reading.
I usually read darker mysteries, but this one is something special. This is the 8th Gamache mystery and I have gone back and ordered the first one and plan to read them all. It was hard for me to get into this, but once I did I could not put it down.
Very excellent book.
I usually read darker mysteries, but this one is something special. This is the 8th Gamache mystery and I have gone back and ordered the first one and plan to read them all. It was hard for me to get into this, but once I did I could not put it down.
Very excellent book.
Janet E. (jee) reviewed The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk 8) on + 89 more book reviews
Love this series but could not finish this one. Perhaps it was because I find Georgian chants and/or religion boring.
I did enjoy, this is a lovely book written by an author we love.
Sandra Z. (ztogar) reviewed The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk 8) on + 195 more book reviews
the best, so far, in the series..can't wait to start the next book..this was well
written..i never guessed the killer..great book
written..i never guessed the killer..great book
Mary Ann M. (grammy) reviewed The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk 8) on + 55 more book reviews
I found this book to be much more introspective and edgy than the other books in the series. It kept my attention and as I got to the end, I couldn't put it down. I think that I would love to have a friend like Armand Gamache.
Karen S. (MKSbooklady) reviewed The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk 8) on + 989 more book reviews
Not the usual Three Pines mystery-but a mystery none the less. More of the personal relationship between Gamache and Beauvoir, answering some questions, and posing others.-takes place in a remote monastery, so there are none of the usual characters..
