2018 School Spending Survey Report
The Nature of the Beast
Minotaur: St. Martin's. Aug. 2015. 384p. ISBN 9781250022080. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250022097. M
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Penny's 11th series entry (after The Long Way Home) has Armand Gamache slowly adjusting to retirement in the small, idyllic, Quebec village of Three Pines. When a local boy is found dead in a ditch, Gamache, feeling guilty about ignoring the young man's tall tales, becomes involved. Soon the familiar cast of characters, including Clara, Gabri, Inspector Beauvoir, Ruth, her duck and the serene Reine-Marie, are all involved in the investigation of the murder and the unthinkable object that precipitated the terrible act. A thread that subtly runs through the book is the disquiet Gamache feels as he tries to find his purpose now that he is no longer the chief inspector of the Sûreté.
VERDICT A strong sense of place, a multilayered plot, and well-crafted (and for Penny's fans, familiar) characters combine for a thoughtful, intriguing tale. More than a simple mystery, Penny's novel peels away the emotional and psychological layers of the inhabitants of Three Pines. Although this book may stand alone, reading the previous titles will give readers context to truly understand and enjoy this latest in the series.
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