jjares reviewed on 5/14/2020 + 3264 more book reviews

One of the things I love about reading is the ability to go to another country, region, culture, and become immersed in the scene and situation. Thus, I was charmed to meet Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators. They are investigating a strange and suspicious death in Three Pines, a small, French-Canadian locale, just north of the US border.

I would call this a cozy mystery and Armand Gamache spends a great deal of his time inside his head. He's a very interesting man and we learn much from his ruminations and interactions with others. The generous sprinkling of clues and food choices makes for an interesting read. I felt that I had a birdseye view of another culture.

I've read elsewhere that these books should be read in order. It is interesting to see the tension between the francophone and anglophone Québécois. This book provides a tangible understanding of the tension that I'd heard was rampant in the French part of Canada. I found this tension, plus the fine writing were sufficient to get me to read the next book in this series. Note the awards this book earned.

Awards
AnthonyAwards Best First Novel
Barry Awards Best First Novel
Dilys Awards Best Book

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