The Cruelest Month - Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny Paperback

About the Book

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec is called to investigate the death of a villager at an Easter seance that was held at the Old Hadley House.

Book Synopsis

Read the series that inspired Three Pines on Prime Video.

The Cruelest Month is the third book in Louise Penny's award winning Three Pines mystery series featuring the wise and beleaguered Inspector Armand Gamache.

"Many mystery buffs have credited Louise Penny with the revival of the type of traditional murder mystery made famous by Agatha Christie ... " -Sarah Weinman

Welcome to Three Pines, where the cruelest month is about to deliver on its threat.

It's spring in the tiny, forgotten village; buds are on the trees and the first flowers are struggling through the newly thawed earth. But not everything is meant to return to life. . .

When some villagers decide to celebrate Easter with a séance at the Old Hadley House, they are hoping to rid the town of its evil---until one of their party dies of fright. Was this a natural death, or was the victim somehow helped along?

Brilliant, compassionate Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec is called to investigate, in a case that will force him to face his own ghosts as well as those of a seemingly idyllic town where relationships are far more dangerous than they seem.

Review Quotes

"With its small-town hominess, the Canadian village of Three Pines draws the reader into its quaint traditions. Who wouldn't be charmed by the dramas of a community where Easter egg hunts and socials at the bed and breakfast are the most exciting events?"
--People

"Mystery readers who want more than puzzles and thrills look for serious purpose and literary value, and Canadian writer Louise Penny provides both in spades - and hearts."
--Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Louise Penny is almost single handedly taking us back to the good old days of the traditional village mystery. Influenced by Simenon, Christie, and Sayers before her, Penny is doing them all one better....THE CRUELEST MONTH soars above them all."
--Mystery News (5 quills out of 5)

"Penny's plotting has been compared to Agatha Christie's, and indeed she follows the same method of tossing out so many clues that the few salient ones are impossible to single out. But it's more about the journey than the destination in these wonderful books full of poetry, and weather, and a brooding manor house, and people who read and think and laugh and eat a lot of really excellent food. Move over, Mitford."
--Charlotte Observer

"Arthur Ellis Award-winner Penny paints a vivid picture of the French-Canadian village, its inhabitants and a determined detective who will strike many Agatha Christie fans as a 21st-century version of Hercule Poirot."
--Publishers Weekly (starred)

"Penny is an award-winning writer whose cozies go beyond traditional boundaries, providing entertaining characters, a picturesque locale, and thought-provoking plots. Highly recommended."
--Library Journal (starred)

"Perhaps the deftest talent to arrive since Minette Walters, Penny produces what many have tried but few have mastered: a psychologically acute cozy. If you don't give your heart to Gamache, you may have no heart to give."
--Kirkus Reviews (starred)

With its small-town hominess, the Canadian village of Three Pines draws the reader into its quaint traditions. Who wouldn't be charmed by the dramas of a community where Easter egg hunts and socials at the bed and breakfast are the most exciting events?
People

Mystery readers who want more than puzzles and thrills look for serious purpose and literary value, and Canadian writer Louise Penny provides both in spades - and hearts.
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Louise Penny is almost single handedly taking us back to the good old days of the traditional village mystery. Influenced by Simenon, Christie, and Sayers before her, Penny is doing them all one better....THE CRUELEST MONTH soars above them all.
Mystery News (5 quills out of 5)

Penny's plotting has been compared to Agatha Christie's, and indeed she follows the same method of tossing out so many clues that the few salient ones are impossible to single out. But it's more about the journey than the destination in these wonderful books full of poetry, and weather, and a brooding manor house, and people who read and think and laugh and eat a lot of really excellent food. Move over, Mitford.
Charlotte Observer

Arthur Ellis Award-winner Penny paints a vivid picture of the French-Canadian village, its inhabitants and a determined detective who will strike many Agatha Christie fans as a 21st-century version of Hercule Poirot.
Publishers Weekly (starred)

Penny is an award-winning writer whose cozies go beyond traditional boundaries, providing entertaining characters, a picturesque locale, and thought-provoking plots. Highly recommended.
Library Journal (starred)

Perhaps the deftest talent to arrive since Minette Walters, Penny produces what many have tried but few have mastered: a psychologically acute cozy. If you don t give your heart to Gamache, you may have no heart to give.
Kirkus Reviews (starred)

"

With its small-town hominess, the Canadian village of Three Pines draws the reader into its quaint traditions. Who wouldn't be charmed by the dramas of a community where Easter egg hunts and socials at the bed and breakfast are the most exciting events?
"People"

Mystery readers who want more than puzzles and thrills look for serious purpose and literary value, and Canadian writer Louise Penny provides both in spades - and hearts.
"Richmond"" Times-Dispatch"

Louise Penny is almost single handedly taking us back to the good old days of the traditional village mystery. Influenced by Simenon, Christie, and Sayers before her, Penny is doing them all one better....THE CRUELEST MONTH soars above them all.
"Mystery News" (5 quills out of 5)

Penny's plotting has been compared to Agatha Christie's, and indeed she follows the same method of tossing out so many clues that the few salient ones are impossible to single out. But it's more about the journey than the destination in these wonderful books full of poetry, and weather, and a brooding manor house, and people who read and think and laugh and eat a lot of really excellent food. Move over, Mitford.
"Charlotte Observer"

Arthur Ellis Award-winner Penny paints a vivid picture of the French-Canadian village, its inhabitants and a determined detective who will strike many Agatha Christie fans as a 21st-century version of Hercule Poirot.
"Publishers Weekly" (starred)

Penny is an award-winning writer whose cozies go beyond traditional boundaries, providing entertaining characters, a picturesque locale, and thought-provoking plots. Highly recommended.
"Library Journal" (starred)

Perhaps the deftest talent to arrive since Minette Walters, Penny produces what many have tried but few have mastered: a psychologically acute cozy. If you don t give your heart to Gamache, you may have no heart to give.
"Kirkus Reviews" (starred)"

Gamache is a prodigiously complicated and engaging hero, destined to become one of the classic detectives. "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"

The cozy mystery has a graceful practitioner in Louise Penny. "The New York Times Book Review"

Don't look for the hamlet of Three Pines anywhere on a map . . . although Louise Penny has made the town and its residents so real . . . that you might just try to find it. "The Chicago Tribune"

["A Fatal Grace"] is not the usual cosy' or even a traditional puzzle mystery. It's a finely written, intelligent, and observant book. "The Houston Chronicle"

A remarkable new writer . . . Louise Penny arrives with flair, humanity, and intrigue in her debut novel, "Still Life." . . . Elegant writing alone would not carry this remarkable book; Penny also creates a puzzle worthy of the masters. But more important, she studies issues of good and evil, of human nature, of human kindness, and human cruelty. "The Richmond Times-Dispatch"

This cerebral mystery . . . is a rare treat. "People on Still Life""

"Gamache is a prodigiously complicated and engaging hero, destined to become one of the classic detectives." --"Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"

"The cozy mystery has a graceful practitioner in Louise Penny." --"The New York Times Book Review"

"Don't look for the hamlet of Three Pines anywhere on a map . . . although Louise Penny has made the town and its residents so real . . . that you might just try to find it." --"The Chicago Tribune"

"["A Fatal Grace"] is not the usual 'cosy' or even a traditional puzzle mystery. It's a finely written, intelligent, and observant book." --"The Houston Chronicle"

"A remarkable new writer . . . Louise Penny arrives with flair, humanity, and intrigue in her debut novel, "Still Life." . . . Elegant writing alone would not carry this remarkable book; Penny also creates a puzzle worthy of the masters. But more important, she studies issues of good and evil, of human nature, of human kindness, and human cruelty." --"The Richmond Times-Dispatch"

"This cerebral mystery . . . is a rare treat." --"People on Still Life"

Gamache is a prodigiously complicated and engaging hero, destined to become one of the classic detectives.

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.