Who Would Like This Book:
If you love atmospheric mysteries with a literary touch, this book is a standout. Louise Penny crafts a locked-room whodunit in a secluded monastery, weaving in themes of music, faith, and human frailty. Fans of character-driven stories will especially enjoy the depth of Inspector Gamache and the beautifully detailed setting. Plus, if you’re intrigued by Gregorian chants or want a mystery that delves below the surface, you’ll find this one both haunting and thought-provoking.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Readers looking for a fast-paced thriller or action-heavy mystery might find the contemplative pace and detailed exploration of monastic life slow or, at times, repetitive. Fans of the usual Three Pines cast may miss that familiar setting and ensemble, since this book focuses almost entirely on Gamache, Beauvoir, and the monks. Some found the cliffhanger ending frustrating, and those sensitive to factual inaccuracies about monastic traditions or musicology might be distracted by liberties taken for the story.
About:
Inspector Gamache and Beauvoir investigate the murder of a monk in a secluded Quebec monastery known for its Gregorian chants. The book delves into themes of secrets, obedience, friendship, and relationships, with parallel storylines of police ranks' loyalty and musical ministry disagreements within the monastery. Louise Penny excels in describing music and its effects, creating a compelling narrative set in a cloistered community that follows the Rule of silence.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of murder, trauma, addiction, and discussion of human flaws.
From The Publisher:
The brilliant new novel in the New York Times bestselling series by Louise Penny, one of the most acclaimed crime writers of our time
No outsiders are ever admitted to the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, hidden deep in the wilderness of Quebec, where two dozen cloistered monks live in peace and prayer. They grow vegetables, they tend chickens, they make chocolate. And they sing. Ironically, for a community that has taken a vow of silence, the monks have become world-famous for their glorious voices, raised in ancient chants whose effect on both singer and listener is so profound it is known as "the beautiful mystery."
But when the renowned choir director is murdered, the lock on the monastery's massive wooden door is drawn back to admit Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the Sûreté du Québec. There they discover disquiet beneath the silence, discord in the apparent harmony. One of the brothers, in this life of prayer and contemplation, has been contemplating murder. As the peace of the monastery crumbles, Gamache is forced to confront some of his own demons, as well as those roaming the remote corridors. Before finding the killer, before restoring peace, the Chief must first consider the divine, the human, and the cracks in between.
The Beautiful Mystery is the winner of the 2012 Agatha Award for best novel, the 2013 Anthony Award for best novel and the 2013 Macavity Award for best novel.
Ratings (13)
Incredible (6) | |
Loved It (5) | |
Liked It (1) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (20):
Read It (16) | |
Want To Read (3) | |
Not Interested (1) |
1 comment(s)
Oh, poor Jean-Guy!
What can you read after
The Beautiful Mystery?
About the Author:
LOUISE PENNY is the author of the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (six times), and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. In 2017, she received the Order of Canada for her contributions to Canadian culture. Louise lives in a small village south of Montréal.
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