TITLE: Still Life
AUTHOR: Louise Penny
GENRE: Fiction/Thriller/Suspense/Mystery
PUBLISHED: July 2006
RATING: ★★★★☆
PURCHASE LINKS: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Review: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montréal and yet a world away. Jane Neal, a long-time resident of Three Pines, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it’s a tragic hunting accident and nothing more but Gamache smells something foul this holiday season…and is soon certain that Jane died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter.
I absolutely adored this book. Ms. Penny is an excellent writer. This being the first of her Inspector Armand Gamache series has really got me looking forward to the others! His quiet deductive reasoning as he goes along with what all seems to be a misfortunate hunting accident in the fictional township of Three Pines, Montrèal based Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Quebec quietly assumes the basis of facts and secrets of this township uncovering dark hidden secrets that all thought was lost with the death of Jane Neal. Her story-telling and plot line draw you into the "francophone" and "anglophone" distaste that is prevalent in Quebec. The character of Armand Gamache is to say the least, interesting you can't put a finger on his symbolism though each author wants to create their protagonist differently but most authors seem to give theirs a fault or flaw, Ms. Penny gives him a benefit.
The lunch progressed, the officers sitting around listening and thinking out loud, in an atmosphere that encouraged collaboration. He strongly believed in collaboration, not competition, within his team. He realized he was in the minority within in the leadership of the Sûreté. He believed a good leader was also a good follower. And he invited his team to treat each other with respect, listen to ideas, support each other. Not everyone got it.
Explaining Armand's personality is sprinkled through the book which is good, instead of spending a chapter, or chapter and a half on them she uses the whole book. He is very deductive in a very "Columbo" sort of way but he isn't the sort of bumbling haphazardly dressed detective, he is educated, stylish wearing a Burberry trench coat. He interacts well with the members of the Three Pines' community, displaying a knowledgeable personality, even revealing some of his own persona.
'When Agent Nichol here picked me up at my home, she brought along Tim Horton's coffee. Double double. That gets my heart racing' - here he brought his hand to his chest and held it there- 'totally and exclusively associated with investigations. I can walk into a concert hall, but if I smell Tim Horton's double double I'll start looking at the floor for a body.'
'I think many people love their problems. Gives them all sorts of excuses for not growing up and getting on with life.'
Explaining himself or describing him in this case, Ms. Penny really wants you to understand, and try to solve this case from his point of view, not from your own, which I did at first, I mean the wheels of my brain turned and turned trying to see where the killer might stumble up. As much as he loves his work, he pushes aside his allegiances for the truth even if it gets him suspended from the case.
His overall demeanor is methodical, maybe not pessimistic but not entirely full of optimism. Ms. Penny creates an ingenious and likable book and humorous character.
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