I discovered Louise Penny and her wonderful Inspector Gamache earlier this year and was enchanted by her insightful and soulful writing. In reading The Beautiful Mystery I was enchanted all over again. This is certainly a series to read and savor.

Inspector Gamache and his colleague Jean-Guy Beauvoir are suddenly called away to  the wilds of Quebec to the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups to investigate the murder of the monks’ choir director.  Although the monastery is cloistered and the monks take a vow of silence, they sing each time they gather together in the chapel for the Divine Office. It was this singing, also known as the beautiful mystery in monastic circles, that had made them famous after years of seclusion and anonymity, for just a few years earlier they had released a recording of their singing and it had become an overnight sensation.

Now the monks face into the fact that one of their own was murdered and allow into their seclusion, two police officers who must find the killer among them.  Although it should be a relatively simple case, Gamache soon realizes that underneath the surface placidity of the monastery is a well of  unresolved conflict between two factions, one that supported the choir director and wanted to continue to make and release recordings so that they could support themselves and another that supported the prior who was concerned that the selling their music was costing their souls. As the investigation continues, Gamache must also fend off two unexpected visitors, who not only complicate the investigation, but try to distract him from finding the truth.

Penny is a consummate writer whose deft plotting and skillful character development are so seamless you are able to just sit back and enjoy the unfolding narrative which is probably why she awarded the 2012 Agatha Award among others for this book. The tension and suspense rises with each revelation but unlike many detective series, Penny invites the reader into solving the crime by revealing Gamache’s own analysis as the investigation unfolds. What is however the most notable about these books is Penny’s ability to portray the soulful intellect that is so core Gamache’s character in spite of the violent nature of his profession or maybe because of it.

Brenda’s Rating: ****(4 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Marian, Sharon and Keith

Book study worthy? Sure!

Read in ebook format