Search - Still Life (Three Pines, Bk 1)

This book is like a modern version of Agatha Christie: a charming village, interesting characters, and murder. This is Penny's first book and I found that she found her rhythm about half way through. The book started snapping along and her sense of humour emerged. Highly recommend and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Set in a charming English-speaking village in Quebec. Characters are well drawn. Most are likeable. Of course, some are not. -- And they are well developed in their not-likeable-ness. In the next books in the series we learn that some characters are not who/what they seem. This book won award(s). I bought it because one of my favorite booksellers recommended it, and I liked the author. Mood and setting are lovely. This book was good enough that I read the next in the series. (Warning: for the 2nd book, and for the upcoming [Fall 2008] 4th book, U.S. title is different from Canadian title.) I liked the 2nd and 3rd books more than the first.
Good cozy with rich atmosphere, well-developed characters.

This is the first in a series and a great kick off to the series. Set in Canada, small village outside of Quebec, it has a variety of characters and the police officers are thoughtful and individualistic. There are a number of insightful conversations that occur between characters that raise this mystery above the routine "cozy".

Guess I won't be a part of the legion of fans who adore this well received series. I've had a number of Ms. Penny's books in my TBR pile for years, but decided to finally move them to the front based on the glowing reviews. Well, her charm is lost on me. By the time I was about one third into the book, I give up on it before it induced a coma. I was bored and less than compelled to keep reading. I believe this series is labeled a "cozy". If so, they're definitely not for me. I doubt that I'll continue with the series.

Fairly enjoyable-lots of interesting characters, fairly good story line. This is the first of Louise Penny's books I have read-I have A Fatal Grace waiting in the wings to be read. A good book to read on a chilly fall evening.

I was pulled into this book from the first two sentences:

Miss Jane Neal met her maker in the early morning mist of Thanksgiving Sunday. It was pretty much a surprise all round.

Isn’t that a great way to start out a murder mystery?

Even though Jane is obviously dead from the very first sentence, I felt that I knew her by the end of the novel, simply from the descriptions of her by other characters as the investigation of her murder takes place. And in the meantime, we’re introduced to the cast of characters that will become more central to the Armand Gamache series as it continues.

To read the rest of my review, please visit:
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