Dead Cold

From Publishers Weekly When sadistic socialite CC de Poitiers is fatally electrocuted at a Christmas curling competition in the tiny Qu?becois village of Three Pines, only the arcane method of the murder is a surprise in Penny's artful but overwritten sophomore effort (after her highly praised 2006 debut, Still Life ). CC had cobbled together a spiritual guidance business based on eliminating emotion, but the feelings she inspired in others were anything but serene. Everyone around the cartoonish victim—from a daughter cowed by lifelong abuse to the local spiritual teacher whose business she threatens to ruin—has a motive, and the crime also links to a vagrant's recent murder as well as to the pasts of several beloved village residents. The calm but quirky Chief Insp. Armand Gamache, who arrives in Three Pines from Montreal to head the investigation, is appealing as the series' focus. Though Penny gorgeously evokes the smalltown Christmas mood, the novel is oddly steeped in holiday atmosphere for a May release, and the plot's dependence on lengthy backstory slows the momentum. (May) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Quebec Surete Inspector Armand Gamache, who made his debut in Still Life (2006), returns in this enjoyable follow-up. An almost universally disliked, even hated, woman is murdered. Naturally, the pool of potential murderers is deep, ranging from the victim's lover to her friends (well, acquaintances) to various others in the small Canadian community of Three Pines. Gamache, a smart and likable investigator--think Columbo with an accent, or perhaps a modern-day Poirot--systematically wades his way through the pool, coming upon a few surprises along the way. Penny is a careful writer, taking time to establish character and scene, playing around with a large cast, distracting us so we won't see the final twists coming until they're upon us. This is a fine mystery in the classic Agatha Christie style, and it is sure to leave mainstream fans wanting more. David Pitt Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "Welcome to winter in Three Pines, a picturesque village in Quebec, where the villagers are preparing for a traditional country Christmas, and someone is preparing for murder. No one liked CC de Poitiers. Not her quiet husband, not her spineless lover, not her pathetic daughter -- and certainly none of the residents of Three Pines. CC de Poitiers managed to alienate everyone, right up until the moment of her death. When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, of the Sûreté du Quebec, is called to investigate, he quickly realizes he's dealing with someone quite extraordinary. CC de Poitiers was electrocuted in the middle of a frozen lake, in front of the entire village, as she watched the annual curling tournament. And yet no one saw anything. Who could have been insane enough to try such a macabre method of murder -- or brilliant enough to succeed? With his trademark compassion and courage, Gamache digs beneath the idyllic surface of village life to find the dangerous secrets long buried there. For a Quebec winter is not only staggeringly beautiful but deadly, and the people of Three Pines know better than to reveal too much of themselves. But other dangers are becoming clear to Gamache. As a bitter wind blows into the village, something even more chilling is coming for Gamache himself"--Front flap

welcome Back To Three Pines Where The Villagers Are Preparing For A Traditional Country Christmas…and Murder.

When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Is Called To Investigate A Woman’s Death, It Doesn’t Take Long For Him To Realize That No Love Was Lost On Miss De Poitiers. But Even If Everyone Hated Her—her Husband, Lover, And Daughter Among Them—how Is It That no One saw Her Get Electrocuted In The Middle Of A Frozen Lake In The Center Of Town?

a Fatal Grace

gamache Digs Beneath The Surface Of Three Pines To Find Where The real secrets Are Buried. But Other Troubles Lie Ahead For The Detective. It Seems He Has Some Enemies Of His Own…and With The Coming Of The Bitter Winter Winds, Something Far More Chilling Is In Store.

“this Is A Fine Mystery In The Classic Agatha Christie Style And It Is Sure To Leave Fans Wanting More.”—booklist

“the Cozy Mystery Has A Graceful Practitioner…in Louise Penny.” —the New York Times

the New York Times - Marilyn Stasio

the Cozy Mystery, Which Aims To Charm As Much As Challenge, Has A Graceful Practitioner Of That Artful Dodge In Louise Penny.

Winner of the 2007 Agatha Award for Best Novel!When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called to investigate a woman’s death, it doesn’t take long for him to realize that no love was lost on Miss de Poitiers. But even if everyone hated her—her husband, lover, and daughter among them—how is it that no one saw her get electrocuted in the middle of a frozen lake in the center of town? Gamache digs beneath the surface of Three Pines to find where the real secrets are buried. But other troubles lie ahead for the detective. It seems he has some enemies of his own...and with the coming of the bitter winter winds, something far more chilling is in store. Quebec detective Armand Gamache realizes he is dealing with an extraordinarily clever killer when he arrives in thepicturesque village of Three Pines to investigate the murderof the widely disliked CC de Poitiers, and learns the woman was electrocuted in front of the entire village while standing on a frozen lake to watch a curling competition A woman whom neither husband, lover, or daughter loved is electrocuted in the middle of a frozen lake in the center of town, yet no one saw the crime committed. As Chief Inspector Gamache digs beneath the surface of Three Pines for clues, he encounters some enemies of his own