Last updated on October 6, 2020
How The Light Gets In by Louise Penny is the ninth book in the Inspector Gamache series. I probably heard about this book on the What Should I Read Next podcast, so thank you Anne Bogel. I haven’t read any other books in the series, but didn’t feel at all lost.
Inspector Armand Gamache is the Chief Inspector of the Sûreté de Québec. He’s principled, intelligent and caring. While he is being punished for fighting corruption within the police, he continues to be guided by his sense of right and wrong,
The story takes place in Montreal and Three Pines as Gamache works on solving a murder mystery while fighting his enemies in the Sûreté and working to save his estranged friend. Although he first comes to Three Pines to investigate a murder, he finds a safe place for himself and two friends to work together to dig into rampant police corruption. The isolation of Three Pines, where there is no cell phone service, is an essential component in creating that safe haven.
There is a delightful cast of characters from Three Pines, Myrna (who owns the bookstore), Gabri and Oliver (who run the B&B), the poet Ruth with her pet duck, the artist Clara who captures people’s characters in her paintings, Gilles the lumberjack.
This is a book of intrigue. I listened to it, and it was enjoyable. My mind did wander a few times, and although I could rewind, it was not as efficient as leafing through a book.
Curiosities in How The Light Gets In
Some parts of this book are a bit incredulous, like a superhero story, and that contributes to the fun. Also, the wrap up happens quickly, with everything nicely tied in a bow. Why did the inspector write to Myrna instead of speaking with her? Did he want her to read what he wrote to the whole village despite marking it confidential? He must have known that would happen given the closeness of the inhabitants of Three Pines. And at the end, it’s hard to believe but fun that the duck ends up being crucial in saving the day at the end.
How The Light Gets In isn’t flawless but it’s fun and has a thriller element to it. I give this book 4 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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