The Brutal Telling

Louise Penny — 2011

The fifth novel in the Chief Inspector Gamache series, from worldwide phenomenon and number one New York Times bestseller Louise Penny When Chief Inspector Gamache arrives in picturesque Three Pines, he steps into a village in chaos. A man has been found bludgeoned to death, and there is no sign of a weapon, a motive or even the dead man's name. As Gamache and his colleagues start to dig under the skin of this peaceful haven for clues, they uncover a trail of stolen treasure, mysterious codes and a shameful history that begins to shed light on the victim's identity - and points to a terrifying killer... 'The best Gamache so far' Globe and Mail 'Ingenious and unexpected' Guardian 'A cracking storyteller, who can create fascinating characters, a twisty plot and wonderful surprise endings' Ann Cleeves

Reviews

Sonia Grgas@sg911911

Feb 23, 2024

Really 4.5. Don’t ever let them tell you genre fiction isn’t literary, Penny’s writing is as literary as it comes. I am loving reading her books, they get better and better.

Kim Tyo-Dickerson@kimtyodickerson

Mar 1, 2022

The Chief Inspector Gamache series continues to awe in The Brutal Telling, the title taken from the world of Canadian artist Emily Carr whose life and work are woven into Gamache's investigation. The residents of Three Pines continue to reveal both the best and the darkest parts of themselves. Canada as a character continues to stretch into the wilderness, exploring the limits of geography, nation-building, community, and art. And secrets and lies continue to twist and torment their creators, including a very dear and very troubled Three Pines friend, until their shadows swallow every good thing built on those frightening houses of sand. Penny meticulously carves the cracks and fissures of worry and fear that lead to desperate acts, evasion, and ultimately murder, while revealing the torrents of greed that can so completely destroy hard-won peace and security. "Chaos is here, old son, and there's no stopping it. It's taken a long time, but it's finally here." Chaos courses through the pages of The Brutal Telling, and it's arrival and aftermath keep them flying by to the inevitable, painful end.