Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
Written by Louise Penny
Narrated by Ralph Cosham
4/5
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About this audiobook
In Still Life, bestselling author Louise Penny introduces Monsieur L'Inspecteur Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec, a modern Poirot who anchors this beloved traditional mystery series
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.
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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Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Cruelest Month: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Fatal Grace: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Brutal Telling: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bury Your Dead: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Trick of the Light: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Long Way Home: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Beautiful Mystery: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Nature of the Beast: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Great Reckoning: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Glass Houses: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Better Man: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5All the Devils Are Here: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Kingdom of the Blind: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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Reviews for Still Life
2,658 ratings244 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a fabulous writer. So many layers! And not to figure it out till the last two chapters, and then how will it happen - sooo good
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Glad I finally started this series! Enjoyed it and looking forward to the next books.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I really enjoyed this book. It is a thoughtful and intelligent mystery/detective story, the first in the Inspector Gamache series set in a small town in Quebec. It is also very well written. My only complaint is about the narrator’s monotonous performance and the fact that there is no pause between chapters. I found myself having to go back in order to catch the thread of the story, when it jumps from one scene to another. The way it is edited or narrated has everything connected.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Thanks to Amy for pointing me to Louise Penny and Still Life. What a delightful read! I see Roni just finished the 4th in the series so, obviously, I'm behind the times. I guess slow is OK as long as you get there eventually. Still Life is the first in a series of detective novels that take place in Quebec. I loved the characters which are real humans with strengths and weaknesses and I also liked that she includes reference to the challenges the "francophones" and "English" have in eastern Canada. I don't think even good crime solvers (which I'm not) would figure it all out before the end so it stays interesting for everyone right up to the end.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Twist at the end / love the audio voice -good
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I have a hard time keeping track of the characters but I loved ? the setting, dialogue and story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This if the first book I’ve reviewed on Scribd, and that’s because the charming story and talented narration were both so perfect for what I was looking for. I hope you give it a shot!
If you want a cozy mystery set in the late fall, with a bit of Québécois history sprinkled in (as well as some French), you will absolutely fall in love with the people and tiny details of their lives in the quiet village of Three Pines. There are brief but plentiful descriptions of architecture, food, hot drinks and cocktails, gatherings at cafes and bars, the musings of dogs, books, poetry, and art-making that are often paired with the habits, thoughts, and dreams of the characters. Listening to Still Life was seriously like a warm cup of tea in front of a fire and had me constantly smiling or laughing out loud! The witty banter between the tight-knit group of friends was actually pretty dark, dirty, and hilarious (as in real life), and the storytelling really flowed and kept me wanting more. That said, Still Life sticks with the cozy mystery vibe by glossing over any real sex scenes or graphic violence, though the author was not afraid to reference them from time to time, which only added to the vibrancy of the characters.
Louise Penny’s insight into human nature was also really thoughtful and fun. On top of that, there are a lot of different kinds of people and perspectives on their lived realities. The author is sensitive to issues about racism, homophobia, and police violence, even if the book really isn’t about any of that at all.
Still Life was such an easy listen, expertly written, and there was a totally unexpected twist at the end - she really set me up to think I knew who the killer was and it annoyed me that it was so easy to figure out haha! Little did I know, sometimes the devil is in the details… - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A really well-done mystery that develops like an ordinary novel, rather than a formulaic series entry (or, in this case, series starter). The characters are fully fleshed out, not quirky or gimmicky. Penny has an uncanny ability to expose those nasty hidden feelings we all have (perhaps I should speak only for myself), and yet keep the personalities engaging. Set in a rather wistfully imagined small Canadian community, this book offers a main plot line with an underlying subplot. A very pleasant but not cloying village mystery.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Well written and engaging. Great book to listen as you walk or ride the train
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I loved all the characters AND the plot. Also, I've already saved another Louise Penny's book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A fine, fun and witty mystery that is also a character study of a small Quebec village and the police investigators sent to solve the crime. Highly recommend for mystery lovers and the first in the Three Pines series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was my first read by Louise Penny. I had always been meaning to try this series and it did not disappoint. It's important to be able to connect to the main character in a series and luckily I found Gamache to be a likeable, intelligent character. I didn't like all of the supporting characters but since I won't be seeing them again, I guess that's okay.There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end which I like. I hate obvious mysteries.I also don't think this series needs to go in any particular order. I definitely plan to read another.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
This is the first Louise Penny I’ve read. The series was recommended by my 7th Grade English Teacher....which is a challenge I will take. Not many 65 year olds get to have recommendations made by their Junior High instructor.
This is her debut novel. The characters are interesting, and some of them lovable. Since there are 18 books in the series it is impossible to tell which characters are worth investing emotional energy in. Chief Inspector Gamache is lovable and I'm anxious to follow him. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I couldn't remember when or why I bought this book on Audible, so I didn't know what to expect when I started listening to it, but I was pleasantly surprised by the richly drawn portrait of life in the small Canadian town of Three Pines -- and the mysteries surrounding two older women's deaths.
I enjoyed all of the characters, including the two gay men who run the B&B, who were portrayed in a somewhat flamboyant but ultimately respectful manner. The part where we learn "who dunnit" was the least believable or enjoyable to me, as the guilty character went too far outside the boundaries of his previous characterization to be believable.
But I loved the exchanges between Inspector Gamache and the clueless newbie on the team as well as the parts from her POV, as it was so painfully clear that she had no business doing police work (despite her occasional good insight). My favorite part was when she saw the note on a potential suspect's mirror that read "you're looking at the problem," and instead of stopping to apply that bit of wisdom to herself, she turned around to investigate the part of the room reflected in the mirror, thinking that perhaps it would hold a clue to the mystery. A bit over the top, perhaps, but we've all known people who are almost as painfully un-self-aware as she is. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Love everything about Louise Penny! If only Gamache was real ❤️
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I like the interaction of the characters and the description of their personalities. I like that there are several books to follow, just finished the first one, looking forward to the second.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A fun murder mystery with a sprinkling of psychology... a cozy setting in a small Quebec village... a community struggling to live together, help each other, and maintain relationships... and a wonderful B&B with a fireplace that I want to visit! Louise Penny has really turned on the charm! Did I figure out who-dunnit? Yup. Halfway through the book. But I was wrong. Drat!Well, I'm certainly going to try again with the next in the series. And I'll keep trying till I get it right! (Just my excuse to read more of these delightful books.) I appreciate the lack of graphic violence, blood and gore. This book proves it is not necessary for a good story. There were despicable characters and a tense, creepy scene at the end. Even idyllic settings need the elements of mystery and fear to keep those pages flying to reach the climax. Whew! Good stuff.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Slow paced, slightly confusing. Very few clues are given so you are reading about the relationships but not able to participate in finding the murderer. I would consider it a cozy mystery if there were a female sleuth to balance the police inspector
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Engaging first novel featuring French Canadian inspector Armand Gamache, a thoughtful and team-oriented police detective with a happy marriage, no substance abuse problems, and not much angst. The solution to the mystery seemed obvious from early on (though I had the personality and therefore the motive of the culprit all wrong), but the book's central pleasure is the interaction of the characters - how they piece together the truth, rather than specifically what the truth turns out to be.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Well-written and thoughtful book. Love style of author. Surprise til end! First in series of Inspector Gamache mysteries, set in Quebec and I am now hooked.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Like a modern clever fairy tale with symbolism and humanism intertwined
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Still Life by Louise Penny; (4*)This novel is a mystery that falls into the category of a 'cozy'; a crime novel without reliance on sex or violence which typically takes place in a small community or village. I enjoyed it a great deal.It is the first of Penny’s Inspector Gamache novels which are set in the small village of Three Pines in Quebec. A beloved spinster has been killed while walking in the woods early one morning. Was she killed by accident, by hunters from out of town who often frequent the woods? Or was she killed by foul play, by someone who just wants it to look like an accident?The novel is filled with a cast of wonderful small town characters and the police officers are both intelligent and kind. I found all of the interactions between the people of the community so interesting and also their interactions with the police officers investigating the crime.I look forward to the next book of this series. I think Penny's village characters will grow and become even better over time as the reader becomes more familiar with names and characteristics. (love the gay couple who own & run the B & B and little restaurant)I wish I had not waited so long to begin this series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was 3.5 starts rounded up for me. Cozy mystery seems like an oxymoron to me, but the setting of this story is super cozy. We read this for book club and it seemed like those who listened to the audio version didn't seem to enjoy it as much.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/52.5 rounded down.
I had heard good things about this book so when the audio version came available at the library, I nabbed it. Unfortunately, my experience wasn't nearly as positive as many reviews had promised.
Before going into why it didn't work for me, I want to say that I enjoyed the narration. Lots of French in this book so I appreciated being able to hear proper pronunciations and a nice accent. I also found myself connecting with some of the characters and chuckling here and there or feeling some empathy for them. The mystery, itself, was sort of fun to follow. Even though I pegged the killer very early on, I didn't have much evidence. But to be fair, there wasn't much evidence to go on for that person.
Now for the things that made me groan and, at one point, move the book to my "quit but will go back" shelf. I dropped it for a couple of days but, in the end, wanted to find out why Jane had been killed.
First off, the jumping POVs drove me crazy. Some authors can make it work - I've heard JK Rowling is a head hopper with the Harry Potter series. (No, I've not read them - YET!) I don't remember it being an issue in her Robert Galbraith books or with Casual Vacancy though. Anyway, the head hopping is what ultimately made me put the book away. It still bothered me when I decided to keep going but I did my best to ignore it.
Another thing that bothered me was that some of the clues - particularly toward the end when it seemed pretty obvious how to identify the killer - were completely missed by the detectives. I understand that the reader gets more info than any individual character but it was right there.
So, I'm glad I finished the book but unless the POV switching was eliminated in later books in the series, I don't see myself reading another. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Finally reading great this series from the start. I'd forgotten that a movie was made out of it and I'd seen it, the story was so familiar but knew I hadn't read it. It pleasantly reminded me of the PBS series "Midsomers Murders". That was my only disappointment in the book, that I'd seen it already. I loved the characters, the setting and the way she pulled it together. While reading the book I happened to hear Penny and one of her real life characters being interviewed about her latest book about the Canadian Femicide. They both seemed like people I'd like to get to know.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A character driven police procedural set in Quebec, and that is the charm, the characters and location. I don’t read that many crime stories but this put me in mind of the equally excellent Commissario Guido Brunetti series by Donna Leon, set in and around Venice.Some of the characterisation was too black and white for my taste (Nichol), but most were engaging and interesting. The plot was good, with a couple of obvious red herrings, but then (for me) a difficult choice of murderer.I’ll be reading the next.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Several friend whose literary opinion I value have been telling me that I must read Louise Penny. Of all the mystery writers that I have yet to read, I've been noticing Penny's name on more and more lists and review outlets. After unsuccessfully hunting for a used copy of Still Life at bookstores in three states (seriously), I finally bought a new copy at Prairie Lights in Iowa City. One friend warned me that Still Life might take some patience getting into and I'm glad she told me that for it did. Actually, while I liked the characters, setting, and plot, the pacing was a challenge for me. The mysteries that I read tend to lean more toward the thriller end of the spectrum (I realize some consider thrillers to be a separate genre) and Still Life is more of a traditional mystery at the cozy end of the genre. Still, I liked it enough to keep reading and will look forward to reading more in the series. I especially enjoyed Penny's psychological insights into human nature and I'm told the series grows richer with each book. Oh, and the last paragraph of her acknowledgments is the most touching I've ever read. There's now a place in my heart for Louise Penny based on that alone.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is one of the rare cases when you start reading a book with immensely high hopes - and everything you were told or have expected is true! I usually am a bit wary when I read a novel that was praised by everyone, but in this case, there was no need to be. I was not disappointed at all!The case was intriguing right from the beginning: A local teacher - an utterly kind person and beloved by everyone in the village - is killed in the woods, and the weapon was a hunting bow. Who could have done such a gruesome thing to an elderly lady? Soon we meet not only Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, but also a circle of lively villagers. And yes, of course there are secrets to discover, things from the past that seem long buried, friendships and enemies. But what makes this more noteworthy than your usual mystery is the unique atmosphere. After I had finished I felt as if I had really been there, and I had a very strong book hangover, just wanting to return to Three Pines to hang out with the characters. How lucky that there are many more books in this series to discover!The only reason I'm taking off half a star is the depiction, or rather lack of depiction, of Agent Nichol. Whenever she appears it seems like she is a main character, but then she has not enough chapters to really develop, which means that her character is left in the dark. This does not seem fair and I hope that she will either get another chance in the next installment or will be left out completely, as like this, it is neither one thing nor the other.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I’ve read two of the Inspector Gamache series books and enjoyed them both. I promised myself this would be a series I would go back to the beginning and read them in order. I picked up the first book, Still Life, several years ago, thinking I would get around to listening to it sooner than I would to reading it. That did happen; unfortunately, I was so unhappy with the narrator that it ruined my experience. I still believe Louise Penny’s series is so damn charming as to be good for one’s soul, but the narrator was awful. He made no effort to differentiate between male characters, and I was slightly offended by his female characterizations. While I still plan to get around to the rest of the series, it will not be via audiobook. Ms. Penny deserves better than that.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Still Life: Chief Inspector Gamache is a story that has many characters who are difficult to follow. It takes place in a small village that is not even on a map. There is a murder. It is Chief Inspector Gamache's job to figure out who did it. Unfortunately, as stated above, it is difficult to follow the characters. The book just comes to an end. Consequently, only three stars were awarded to this book.