Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel

It was a good book. She kept me guessing even though I actually "figured out" the bad guy at the beginning. I didn't really connect with the characters and didn't really care about the plot after the first third of the books. The young police woman really ruined the experience for me.

What a fabulous writer. So many layers! And not to figure it out till the last two chapters, and then how will it happen - sooo good

Glad I finally started this series! Enjoyed it and looking forward to the next books.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a thoughtful and intelligent mystery/detective story, the first in the Inspector Gamache series set in a small town in Quebec. It is also very well written. My only complaint is about the narrator’s monotonous performance and the fact that there is no pause between chapters. I found myself having to go back in order to catch the thread of the story, when it jumps from one scene to another. The way it is edited or narrated has everything connected.

Thanks to Amy for pointing me to Louise Penny and Still Life. What a delightful read! I see Roni just finished the 4th in the series so, obviously, I'm behind the times. I guess slow is OK as long as you get there eventually. Still Life is the first in a series of detective novels that take place in Quebec. I loved the characters which are real humans with strengths and weaknesses and I also liked that she includes reference to the challenges the "francophones" and "English" have in eastern Canada. I don't think even good crime solvers (which I'm not) would figure it all out before the end so it stays interesting for everyone right up to the end.

Twist at the end / love the audio voice -good

I have a hard time keeping track of the characters but I loved ? the setting, dialogue and story.

This if the first book I’ve reviewed on Scribd, and that’s because the charming story and talented narration were both so perfect for what I was looking for. I hope you give it a shot!

If you want a cozy mystery set in the late fall, with a bit of Québécois history sprinkled in (as well as some French), you will absolutely fall in love with the people and tiny details of their lives in the quiet village of Three Pines. There are brief but plentiful descriptions of architecture, food, hot drinks and cocktails, gatherings at cafes and bars, the musings of dogs, books, poetry, and art-making that are often paired with the habits, thoughts, and dreams of the characters. Listening to Still Life was seriously like a warm cup of tea in front of a fire and had me constantly smiling or laughing out loud! The witty banter between the tight-knit group of friends was actually pretty dark, dirty, and hilarious (as in real life), and the storytelling really flowed and kept me wanting more. That said, Still Life sticks with the cozy mystery vibe by glossing over any real sex scenes or graphic violence, though the author was not afraid to reference them from time to time, which only added to the vibrancy of the characters.

Louise Penny’s insight into human nature was also really thoughtful and fun. On top of that, there are a lot of different kinds of people and perspectives on their lived realities. The author is sensitive to issues about racism, homophobia, and police violence, even if the book really isn’t about any of that at all.

Still Life was such an easy listen, expertly written, and there was a totally unexpected twist at the end - she really set me up to think I knew who the killer was and it annoyed me that it was so easy to figure out haha! Little did I know, sometimes the devil is in the details…

A really well-done mystery that develops like an ordinary novel, rather than a formulaic series entry (or, in this case, series starter). The characters are fully fleshed out, not quirky or gimmicky. Penny has an uncanny ability to expose those nasty hidden feelings we all have (perhaps I should speak only for myself), and yet keep the personalities engaging. Set in a rather wistfully imagined small Canadian community, this book offers a main plot line with an underlying subplot. A very pleasant but not cloying village mystery.

Well written and engaging. Great book to listen as you walk or ride the train

I loved all the characters AND the plot. Also, I've already saved another Louise Penny's book.

A fine, fun and witty mystery that is also a character study of a small Quebec village and the police investigators sent to solve the crime. Highly recommend for mystery lovers and the first in the Three Pines series.

This was my first read by Louise Penny. I had always been meaning to try this series and it did not disappoint. It's important to be able to connect to the main character in a series and luckily I found Gamache to be a likeable, intelligent character. I didn't like all of the supporting characters but since I won't be seeing them again, I guess that's okay.There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end which I like. I hate obvious mysteries.I also don't think this series needs to go in any particular order. I definitely plan to read another.

Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel

This is the first Louise Penny I’ve read. The series was recommended by my 7th Grade English Teacher....which is a challenge I will take. Not many 65 year olds get to have recommendations made by their Junior High instructor.

This is her debut novel. The characters are interesting, and some of them lovable. Since there are 18 books in the series it is impossible to tell which characters are worth investing emotional energy in. Chief Inspector Gamache is lovable and I'm anxious to follow him.

I couldn't remember when or why I bought this book on Audible, so I didn't know what to expect when I started listening to it, but I was pleasantly surprised by the richly drawn portrait of life in the small Canadian town of Three Pines -- and the mysteries surrounding two older women's deaths.

I enjoyed all of the characters, including the two gay men who run the B&B, who were portrayed in a somewhat flamboyant but ultimately respectful manner. The part where we learn "who dunnit" was the least believable or enjoyable to me, as the guilty character went too far outside the boundaries of his previous characterization to be believable.

But I loved the exchanges between Inspector Gamache and the clueless newbie on the team as well as the parts from her POV, as it was so painfully clear that she had no business doing police work (despite her occasional good insight). My favorite part was when she saw the note on a potential suspect's mirror that read "you're looking at the problem," and instead of stopping to apply that bit of wisdom to herself, she turned around to investigate the part of the room reflected in the mirror, thinking that perhaps it would hold a clue to the mystery. A bit over the top, perhaps, but we've all known people who are almost as painfully un-self-aware as she is.

Love everything about Louise Penny! If only Gamache was real ❤️

I like the interaction of the characters and the description of their personalities. I like that there are several books to follow, just finished the first one, looking forward to the second.

A fun murder mystery with a sprinkling of psychology... a cozy setting in a small Quebec village... a community struggling to live together, help each other, and maintain relationships... and a wonderful B&B with a fireplace that I want to visit! Louise Penny has really turned on the charm! Did I figure out who-dunnit? Yup. Halfway through the book. But I was wrong. Drat!Well, I'm certainly going to try again with the next in the series. And I'll keep trying till I get it right! (Just my excuse to read more of these delightful books.) I appreciate the lack of graphic violence, blood and gore. This book proves it is not necessary for a good story. There were despicable characters and a tense, creepy scene at the end. Even idyllic settings need the elements of mystery and fear to keep those pages flying to reach the climax. Whew! Good stuff.