Another brilliant Chief Inspector Gamache story from Louise Penny. A series of annoying phone calls and mysterious minor incidents puzzle the eminent detective and reignite his animosity for an old adversary. As usual, the author builds the suspense while reminding us of the decency and integrity of Gamache. Penny has the unique ability to create an environment of mounting fear interspersed with a story of the love shared by the Gamache family. And of course there is once again a full cast of the wonderful residents of Three Pines. A really enjoyable read.

My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this publication which I requested because I'd noticed this author for some time and from descriptions of her books it seemed as if she might write my sort of detecftive story. The novel has a gentle idylic opening with a slow literary pace that I wasn't expecting. But unfortunately I soon found that I xcouldn't believe in the characters or their situations. No senior police officer would have or be allowed to have his son-in-law as his deputy He also shares every move in the case with his wife. Would this have happened in real life?

This can be read as a stand alone novel, but it is in fact well into the series and there is obviously considerable back story which is often alluded to and is briefly and unsatisfactorily explained. I admit this is my fault for not reading the books from the beginning. The idylic rural hamlet where the main character, the chief of homicide, lives with his wife, sounds too good to be true. Could this exist, even function in real life? It's big enough to have a library and a cafe, but not big enough to be shown on a map. Perhaps I just don't understand life in rural areas of Canada, but they do seem to be in driving distance of Montreal. Such a paradise would surely have been exploited by more city folk. But the sketch map of the settlement was appreciated. There are too few of these helpful drawings in novels.The action is often disjointed. At one point the three senior officers are confering in the settlements small church at night. Then next a new chapter starts inthe middle of a potentially fatal weather storm ina small aircraft, which of course the police officers survive. There is an attempt to bridge the narrative gap, but to me this is unsatisfactory.

I'm afraid that I didn't finish the book. I hate to critisise an author's hard work but I was getting bogged down in an increasingly unrealistic tale and having to force myself to read it. I'm sorry but it just wasn't for me. Probably my fault. So many do enjoy these novels.

A superb thriller from Louise Penny. I've not read her books before and really enjoyed this book. Full of twists and turns, good characterisation and I loved the depths of the characters especially Chief Inspector Gamache and his team. Well plotted story that will have you hooked from start to finish. Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for this review ARC

It's been great to read the latest Inspector Gamache book, I've missed him! But well worth the wait; what a story and OMG, what an ending!! No spoiler alerts as it just had me looking further in the book to see if I had missed anything.

Lovely to return to all of the characters in Three Pines, although I did find it a formidable plot, but a relatable subject of environmental terrorism - what an awful thing to contemplate, but Louise made this plausible and of course frightening!

How long do we have to wait for number 20? Not too long I hope.

I love Gamache ..head of surete in his village in France .. he's thoughtful, probing and has finely tuned moral sense yet he's unscrupulous in finding eays to discover murderers and crooks. In this case it's very delicate: there might be a 'mole' in police hierarchy. His informant is killed before his eyes; was he reliable anyway? It's a crafty case since he has to watch what he says yet comply with police structures. I'd say the opening section is slow in establishing his usual paths to the truth with family + work colleagues. The characters of three pines who we know from previous volumes in this series are introduced.. but it's pretty adept and lightly done. I have to say I love this series; but this can stand alone!!

I love this series, it just keeps getting better and better. Every time we return to the familiar faces of Three Pines while also following Gamache and Beauvoir around Quebec, all vividly brought to life throughout. This time we’re brought along as a plot to poison Quebec’s drinking water connects Gamache with old foes and friends. This book is adventure and heroism wrapped in a warm hug. Thank to you Netgalley for the advance reader copy, can’t wait for the next one.

A complex and complicated mystery. I enjoyed the plot and the investigation although some of the similarities in the French names was a little confusing at times.
This is a book that is well into the series and so the characters are firmly established with strong back stories but although references are made to past events these are explained within the book where necessary.
This was by no means a predictable book and there was a lot to take on board with various surprises along the way, right up to the very end.

With a kaleidoscope of interesting and intriguing characters, a gentle and subtle style, Louise Penny draws the reader into complex and all-too-possible terrorist activity. With frightening dexterity the author takes the reader through the complexities of issues of confrontation in the world: Machiavellian politics, greed, power, loyalty and treachery, with reassuring family values underpinning the threatened devastation. Using the Indian story of two wolves, one grey (good) and one black (evil), as an analogy, Armand Gamache is challenged and desperate to establish who is the black wolf. His search takes him to the Vatican and into closed orders as well as the corridors of power.
I haven’t read other books by this author and although it is a series, this novel stands alone, with tantalising references to other cases – and an equally titillating denouement.

Another fine episode in the life of Armand Gamache .

He is relaxing at home in Three Pines when he gets recurring phone calls, which he chooses not to answer. He has the sense he needs to avoid what they might tell him.

Then there is an alarm call on his city flat, which he ignores. This is the start of a series of seemingly insignificant clues which lead to something far more threatening. Armand must act.

Satisfying read as always with the Three Pines series. This is number 19 and recommended. I read an ARC from NetGalley.

I am torn. Part of me was so happy to be returning to the magic of those deep brown eyes and the faultless, powerful deductive skills of Gamache’s brilliant mind. And even though I missed more of the story revolving around the secretive landscape and wonderfully drawn inhabitants of Three Pines, I mostly enjoyed the drama of the intense storyline and race to foil the plot to poison Montreal’s water system (revealed very early on so no spoiler). The other part of me really struggled with the large cast of protagonists and their multiple names, the intricacy and confusion of the plot, and the shifting pov’s. Sadly I feel this was not close to being one of my favourite Three Pines stories.

Gamache lives in the suburbs of Montreal with his wife Reine-Marie. They are enjoying a quiet relaxing morning at home when Gamache receives a telephone call. He leaves the call unanswered at first, but the persistence of the caller finally wears him down and Gamache answers. As the reader, we don't know at first who this caller is, but I was intrigued to know why there was such a reluctance from Gamache to answer.

Gamache and his wife then receive a call from the alarm company that the alarm was triggered in their apartment in the city. It doesn't appear there was a break-in or anything stolen, but a surprise package that turns up at Gamache's work, and an invite to a mysterious meeting, sets in place a chain of events that I could not have foreseen unfolding.

There are a lot of characters in this book, and because of that, you really need to pay close attention when reading to make sure you understand how each character fits in. This was not an easy read in that respect, as the story is quite long and complicated. It is a very interesting plot however, and made me think twice about pouring a glass of water from the tap!

I didn't realise before I started reading this book that it is actually part of a series. When I looked later it transpires it is actually book 19 in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. There are quite a few references to story plots that must have happened in the previous books that are not really expanded upon in this book, which obviously would make a lot more sense if you had read the previous books in the series. This left a few holes for me in the overall picture of the main characters so I would recommend if you haven't read the earlier books, perhaps read some of them first before jumping into this book. It's only to be expected that number 19 in a series, the characters are already quite developed from earlier books.

The story is left on a bit of a cliff hanger which I presume will flow nicely into the next book in the series and as such, I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a new series to get their teeth stuck into.

The beginning of this book grabs you immediately. Why has this happened? What does Charles mean? What is the danger? From there, you go on a rollercoaster across countries to uncover a deadly conspiracy. The plot is either incredibly clever or very over-complicated. Either way, it’s worth the ride. The ending leaves you keen for the next instalment, Highly recommended, Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

Louise Penny brings us back to our favourite Gamache and three pines. This time with a suspected domestic terrorism plot.
She sure knows her detectives. And I love that each time you get the team we love, but also a fresh new spin.
I assume her characters in these books are so known to her now they are almost real! They are certainly to me. I adore returning to this set of characters. Each year I actually fear Louise will put the series to an end. I do not want that day please, Louise .
Another brilliant addition to the series.

Armand and co stumble across a plot to poison the city's water supply. In an effort to find out who is behind it, the journey takes them to Rome, Washington and Grenoble amongst other places. People previously encountered come under suspicion as does a known enemy high in the political echelons.. It's down to the team to work out who is friend and who is foe when they don't know who to trust .
An interesting read which discusses what could happen in the scenario of this type of domestic terrorism and who would be the winners and losers...This had me gripped.

This is the 19th Armand Gamache novel - it did not disappoint!

A series of strange events lead him alongside his son-in-law, Jean-Guy Beauvoir and Inspector Isabelle Lacoste to suspect a plot to poison the water supply of Montreal. He is unsure who is involved and who to trust and so begins a series of frantic visits across the province to find out who is behind the plot and attempt to stop it.

As usual tightly plotted and involving so many old friends from previous books and a cliffhanger of an ending!

Struggled to finish this. The French names were a challenge (my failing, not the book's), and the plot was oddly contrived. I kept going, only to give a fair review.

Thank you for this ARC. I really enjoyed this book. Armand Gamache and his team from Quebec have a case to solve which goes as they investigate to the very top of the political spectrum! I haven’t read any other books in the series but I will now. Excellent read.

Penny sets out at the centre of the book a tense and terrifying scenario of a crime that combines the lust for power with the use of terrorism in the form of a threat targeting Québec’s water supply. It is truly horrifying to consider the terrible consequences such a crime would have. This gripping narrative alongside the investigation into the murder of a man who, under some rather peculiar circumstances, Gamache had just met with, the other investigative threads that the wider team are working on and the ongoing character storylines simply reel you in and immerse you in a beautifully complex, compelling and engaging story.

As always the Gamache/Three Pines series gives the reader plenty of information into what Gamache and his team are doing, how the investigations are being conducted and what is happening with each of the three main characters in this story – Gamache, Beauvoir and Isabelle – and does this clearly and succinctly. There is a wonderful sense of place to all of the Canadian, Italian and French scenes with Lacoste spending much of her time in Europe tracking down witnesses. There is a real sense of urgency and fear in what becomes a race against time whilst the three of them are having to overcome difficulties which, especially when besides each other they have no idea who can and cannot be trusted, feel almost insurmountable.

In amongst the investigations the community of Three Pines, the wonderful characters that readers have come to know and love are integral to that part of the book which alludes to the overarching themes of love, family, honesty, of good and evil bringing a much needed sense of comfort to both the characters and the reader as each realise the enormity of what is happening and the consequences should Gamache, Beauvoir and Lacoste fail.

The Grey Wolf draws to a close with the investigation providing dramatic scenes of mayhem and death. Other investigators and the prosecutors are left to arrest and charge those responsible for and involved in the political machinations, the diabolical plans and the murders. So Armand, Jean Guy and Isabelle are left to recover both physically and emotionally. However, even with the conclusion to the investigation in The Grey Wolf and much to Gamache, Beauvoir and Lacoste’s dismay the ending is a real cliffhanger. Whether that means the next book will continue on with this storyline or it waits to resurface in a later book we will have to wait and see!

Louise Penny has the ability to draw you into the world of Three Pines and Armand Gamache with her lyrical style which, for those who have read the previous books, captivates you almost before you begin to read. The Grey Wolf is no exception to this. Indeed, the anticipation is as alluring as the reading experience becomes.

Louise Penny, unusually, took two years to write The Grey Wolf and the resulting book has made the wait well worthwhile. I truly enjoyed The Grey Wolf and I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book.


Thanks
Huge thanks to the publishers Hodder & Stoughton, for providing an ebook of The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny via NetGalley.

I loved this book.
Why did I love it when I don't normally like this genre of book?
I love the way that the author doesn't tell the reader the story of what is happening, but tells the thoughts of the protagonists.
We share their lives for that period that the book lives in our mind, we learn to speak French and all of the other languages that the author uses.
Armand appears to be almost incompetent, but he muddles through in the end. Isn't life so like that!
Dealing with a frightening threat, and having no idea how to prevent it, Armand just muddles along the best that he can and hopes that somehow everything will come right in the end.
My thanks to the author for the hours of enjoyment that the book has brought me, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Exciting and engaging thriller in which things get really hairy.

Armand Gamache, from the Sureté in Quebec, gets heavily involved in a very complicated plot which results in a hefty body count (I lost count!). The story has a lot of different characters, mostly untrustworthy, and no area of society escapes, whether it be the homeless, politicians, fellow police officers - you get the idea. It's pretty contrived and very up-to-date. It also brings Gamache's home life to the fore. An enjoyable story and certainly will delight fans of Louise Penny's work. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.