A Better Man (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk 15)
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
A BETTER MAN is the fifteenth book in the Gamache series and follows KINGDOM OF THE BLIND which I read a few months ago. I found out that Penny will publish the nineteenth book, THE GREY WOLF, in October so I thought I better try to catch up a little on one of my favorite series. I have read all the previous books in order (which I would recommend doing given that previous events are discussed in the books) and I now only have a few left to read.
In this one, Gamache returns to the Sûreté du Quebec as the head of the homicide department after his demotion relating to events in the previous novels. However, his protege, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, is currently serving in that position until his pending departure from the Sûreté to take a job in Paris. So technically Gamache is reporting to his once subordinate. On his first day back on the job, he is bombarded by a doctored video on social media which portends to show Gamache wantonly killing black children. Then there is major spring flooding across Quebec which may wipe out the small town of Three Pines where Gamache is now living. And Gamache is approached by a subordinate who is trying to help a friend find her missing daughter. Meanwhile in Three Pines, Clara, the local artist is being attacked on social media for her latest offerings of a series of miniature artwork that people and critics feel are inferior work for her. The missing daughter turns out to be married to an abusive husband who may have murdered her along with her unborn child. Gamache feels empathy for the father as he can relate to how it must feel to be in his position. So what happened to the missing wife and daughter? Did her abusive husband kill her or did something else happen?
This was another very good entry in the Gamache series by Penny. I especially enjoy when the narrative takes place in the quaint village of Three Pines with the interplay among the eccentric characters living there. This one uses the Three Pines locale extensively so I was pleased. Penny also threw in several twists to the story and I was surprised by what happened to the missing woman. I'll be looking forward to continuing with the series but may hold off on reading the final books so I'll continue to have them to look forward to.
In this one, Gamache returns to the Sûreté du Quebec as the head of the homicide department after his demotion relating to events in the previous novels. However, his protege, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, is currently serving in that position until his pending departure from the Sûreté to take a job in Paris. So technically Gamache is reporting to his once subordinate. On his first day back on the job, he is bombarded by a doctored video on social media which portends to show Gamache wantonly killing black children. Then there is major spring flooding across Quebec which may wipe out the small town of Three Pines where Gamache is now living. And Gamache is approached by a subordinate who is trying to help a friend find her missing daughter. Meanwhile in Three Pines, Clara, the local artist is being attacked on social media for her latest offerings of a series of miniature artwork that people and critics feel are inferior work for her. The missing daughter turns out to be married to an abusive husband who may have murdered her along with her unborn child. Gamache feels empathy for the father as he can relate to how it must feel to be in his position. So what happened to the missing wife and daughter? Did her abusive husband kill her or did something else happen?
This was another very good entry in the Gamache series by Penny. I especially enjoy when the narrative takes place in the quaint village of Three Pines with the interplay among the eccentric characters living there. This one uses the Three Pines locale extensively so I was pleased. Penny also threw in several twists to the story and I was surprised by what happened to the missing woman. I'll be looking forward to continuing with the series but may hold off on reading the final books so I'll continue to have them to look forward to.
