This is the latest in Louise Penny's in her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, although here there is less presence of the idyllic Three Pines small community, with the likes of poet Ruth and the others, supporting each other, all characters we have become familiar with. Armand is worried and puzzled by 2 odd mob style executions of a postal clerk and teacher, they seem to have no connection with each other, make no sense, why would these ordinary people be targeted? Armand gets a call he is most reluctant to answer, it rings, rings irritatingly it ringss and rings, he does not pick up. He learns the alarm has gone off at his home, apparently an error, but he later receives his coat that had been taken, and gets an invitation to a meeting in a cafe.

Mired in a desperate conspiracy case of poisoning, revolving around water, few things are more powerful, symbolic, more powerful than water security. it is to leave Gamache uncertain and questioning as he struggles to work out what is going on, who he can trust in the police force and amongst his friends. He is left relying primarily on his son-in-law, Jean-Guy, and Isabelle Lacoste, their families coming to the village for safety. However, thousands of other lives are at stake, and any warnings could lead to the plot date being hastened, its a horrifying burden to bear. In a urgent narrative, Gamache is on a mission that is to test him to his limits, entailing trips to a obscure monastary, Rome, France and other locations. There are murders, an undrinkable Last Word cocktail, monks, meddlesome priests, betrayal, a well kept secretive recipe for a liquer. amd could enemies possibly be friends?

Penny picks up on some of the key issues facing our contemporary world, climate change, politics, power, climate change, and the priceless resource of water, and weaves a frightening nightmare of possibilities. A battle in the world. with a grey wolf, wise, compassionate, brave and forgiving, versus the snarling black wolf, unforgiving,intent on vengeance, and the dangerous presence of more stupidity than malice amongst us. This is a dark, bleak, and intense read that focuses on pressing global issues, providing a social and political commentary, where the answers lie the strength of community, belonging, acceptance of each other, love, friendship, and endeavouring to do better and progress. A great read that I recommend. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

4.75 stars. I do love the Inspector Gamache series, and was overjoyed to get approved for an ARC copy of this 2 months before it is released on 31 October. This book sees our favourite characters return (albeit slightly lighter on the Three Pines residents) and Gamache turns to friends and enemies alike in order to help investigate a possible terrorist threat that risks the safety of Montreal’s water supply which could kill thousands of people. It’s hard to know who to trust when people surprise him and you almost question everyone’s motives, no matter how long the shared history. A tense ending that ends on a bit of a “what next?”. I hope Penny doesn’t leave us waiting too long to find out…!

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

Louise Penny’s, Grey Wolf is a thrilling read that’s hard to put down. The main characters we all love are back in yet another suspenseful and engaging story. Penny’s ability to create intricate plot twists and vivid settings shine through with a captivating mystery you hope could never be true. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her work, Grey Wolf offers a satisfying and enjoyable read full of mystery and excitement in every chapter without leaving out the occasional rustic charm of our favorite fictional town.

What an absolute joy to be back in Three Pines in the company of Armand Gamache, Reine-Marie and the various cast of characters both from the village and from the Surete Quebec, where Gamache is a Chief Inspector. The story is terrifying in that it is so plausible and could actually happen in any city in the world - an act of terrorism so great that the whole fabric of society would collapse in an instant. Gamache and his team have to solve the conundrum before the attack happens and not alert the terrorists to the fact that they (the police) are onto them. Every character, every setting, every twist and turn of the story is beautifully managed and the reader will want to visit Three Pines, sit with coffee and a croissant in the Bistro, and chat to Gamache and is friends and colleagues. This book is number 20 in the series, but I hope Louise Penny has plenty more of Armand Gamache to give to her admiring and loyal readers.

Beyond brilliant!

A complex, multi layered story which takes you on a journey, yes there are some references to previous books but it doesn't make it hard to read, in fact, just whets the appetite to read them!

Armand receives a phone call one morning while he is in his home in the idyllic village of Three Pines, the ramifications of the call will be hard to bear if Armand doesn't find a missing priest who may have the answers......

Scary thing is you can imagine all of this actually happening in real life.

Cannot wait until the next book is out. Highly recommended

The Grey Wolf is book 19 in the Chief Inspector Gamache series. This is my first read of the series and I found the complex plot and numerous characters required concentration. I would have enjoyed it more if I had read some of the earlier books in which the characters are introduced. It's a well-written novel with believable characters. The action in this instalment moves from Quebec to the Vatican and rural France. No doubt fans of the series will enjoy this latest adventure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn by the description of this novel with the series being new to me.

It is a complex, multi level novel, much more than a simple thriller. The characterisation is beautifully detailed along with relationships both professional and personal.

It can be read ( as I did) as a standalone novel although references are there to previous 'cases'. I am now eager to read the previous eighteen novels, it is a wonderful feeling when a previously undiscovered series is unearthed. That said I am also impatient to discover more about the Black Wolf!

I have to confess to also falling for Miss M in the acknowledgement section 🐶

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC which is due for release at the end of October 2024.

The Chief Inspector Gamache novels are consistently an enjoyable read, with crime and mystery balanced against a loving family and community setting.

This one leans more to adventure and thriller than mystery with far flung travel to places lile the Vatican and the French Alps and a tense tight race against potential disaster. The stretch of style was welcome, though it left some longing for more time in Three Pines.

Tremendous..
A return to Three Pines, and a series of bizarre and unsettling events, in the latest outing for Chief Inspector Gamache. As any sense of peace and tranquility, in an otherwise sultry August, is wholly shattered for Gamache, he soon discovers that things will compounded as further odd events arise. When these culminate in a murder, Gamache quickly realises that the murder itself is most likely far from the end of the matter. But, what could be worse? Another gripping and beautifully drawn instalment to this long running series with a perfectly crafted, warm and credible cast, a well imagined sense of place and with the author’s ever empathetic pen wholly evident. Tremendous.

The latest in the series of crime novels featuring chief inspector Gamache, the multi faceted protagonist who struggles on a daily basis to meet the demands of an intense and dangerous career apprehending villains intent on evil. Balancing corruption of the highest level with his idyllic life in Three Pines shared with a much loved wife and family : The ability to solve the latest conundrum is compounded by political pressures and immoral interference and wrongdoing by his superiors.. A serious of puzzling events with neither rhyme or reason, motive or logic suddenly take on a much darker perspective suggesting the possibility of a serious threat capable of destabilising world events. Aware that time is of the essence, and with the loyalty and support of a very small number of trustworthy colleagues, he struggles to balance inability to discover the modus operandi of the perpetrators against the potential catastrophe for everyone and everything he holds precious unless he can clarify the danger and terminate the threat. With minimal loss of life. A nail biting conclusion dragging the storyline to the edge of annihilation is further compounded and complicated by an unexpected development that leaves the reader screaming for more. Good three dimensional character development played out within a complex storyline requiring concentration and commitment from the reader. Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for this entertaining , engaging and thought provoking 5* crime thriller.

This is the work of a creative genius who effortlessly is able to combine crime,history,philosophy and a deep sense of community in one deceptively simple novel.I love how multi-layered these books are.For the 20th time readers are returned to the little hidden village of Three Pines in Quebec where Armand Gamache,Head of homicide for the whole region lives. For loyal fans ( including myself) there is a long awaited reunion with the now familiar villagers and I smiled at the subtle references to her earlier books,although it can easily be read as a standalone story,.The crime at the centre of the plot is devastating, made all the more so by how plausible it could be. The ending left me reeling and feeling that I really needed to go to the bistro to recover! I would give this 10 stars if I could- A tremendous read,thank you!

With many thanks to Hodder and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

<b>4.5</b> Folks familiar with the Gamache story so far will know that sometimes the books are bigger than a murder to solve. This is one of those stories. Yes, there’s a murder but it’s far, far, bigger this time. Our story takes us across Québec, to the Vatican, and even to rural France with little time being spent in Three Pines itself. The plot is ambitious, complex, and brings in some familiar faces and threads from previous books while introducing new ones (including a timely climate breakdown theme). In ways, it reminded me of a previous Gamache adventure, How the Light Gets In, and, more recently, Louise Penny's collaboration with Hillary Clinton, State of Terror. Louise’s writing is on top form with a slow burn start and a heart-racing ending.

Personally, I didn’t feel like our beloved Armand was on top form in this instalment, and in some of the action scenes, he’s channelling some major Nathan Drake vibes (IYKYK). As the series goes on, it requires more suspension of disbelief but Louise Penny acknowledges this point subtly and beautifully in the book.

I enjoyed the time I spent with this book and felt the usual emptiness when I finished! I’m sure that fellow Three Pines enthusiasts will enjoy the latest instalment too. While this book could work as a standalone, I would recommend readers start a bit earlier as folks new to Three Pines would be missing some vital context and wonderful characters and story arcs if they jump in here. Geez, after 19 stories, even I could do with re-reading the series to refresh my memory on some of the nuance!

The cover art for this book is truly <I>magnifique</I>.

I can’t wait to receive my Canadian edition of the book and read it again with you all upon release! As long as Louise Penny keeps writing books, I’ll be reading and championing them!

Hodder & Stoughton, you made my week with this ARC - thank you so, so much!

A superb addition to the series. There is corruption, threats to the community, characters and places are revisited (so, whilst not essential as each book is complete in itself, it is better to read the books in order). Gamache, Beauvoir and Lacoste investigate a crime brought to them by a biologist who has broken into Gamache's apartment, and the story develops from there. Who does one trust? And the title is explained.

I thoroughly recommend this to anyone enjoying a good, well-written novel.

With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.

Excellent! Another beautifully written and plotted book by Louise Penny. I shall be enthusiastically encouraging all to read this book.