An author has come to my attention and I am just thrilled to share her books with you. Louise Penny is an award winning Canadian author who has a series of cozy mystery books about a storybook beautiful village called Three Pines. The first book in the series, "Still Life", introduces us to the residents of Three Pines, and to Inspector Armand Gamache. An amazon.com review describes Inspector Gamache as "an elegant, well spoken man who commands his forces with integrity and courage". Once you meet him, you will be wanting more! And be warned, you will want to travel to Canada immediately and stay at a B&B full of antiques and be served mouth watering food.
The author, Louise Penny, is an excellent writer. As lovers of mystery know, a good who-done-it features a good plot, interesting characters and really good writing. She has that down in spades. I would say her books will appeal to those who enjoy Ruth Rendell and Elizabeth George. Penny's books are in the "cozy" genre, but are written to appeal to the intelligent reader who appreciates sophisticated literary mysteries. Her plots are complex and always involve human emotion and meditations on behaviorial motivation.
In the first book, Still Life, we are introduced to Three Pines and those who live there–recurring personalities who will continue to appear in future books. You will begin to feel as if you know these characters and that some of them are your friends. I could hardly put the first in the series down, and am now on the second book "A Fatal Grace". I believe Ms. Penny has written six books in the Three Pines series to date, and I plan to read them all.
Don't laugh–the plot of "A Fatal Grace" concerns a universally disliked woman who is murdered at a local curling match! I am completely hooked.
So, pick up one of Louise Penny's books and settle yourself in for a cozy reading experience.
36 responses to “Cozy Mystery Recommendation”
Thanks for the recommendation. It is always nice to find a good author. I just purchased the Kindle version of Still Life and look forward to reading it.
Thanks for the recommendation. It is always nice to find a good author. I just purchased the Kindle version of Still Life and look forward to reading it.
How ironic that you an American has to clue me, a Canadian in on this author. I have been wanting a good read so I will definitely check into it. Thanks!
How ironic that you an American has to clue me, a Canadian in on this author. I have been wanting a good read so I will definitely check into it. Thanks!
Hadn’t heard of her before. I wonder where Three Pines resembles. As a Canadian I can tell you there are many beautiful places to visit. I am 1.5 hrs away from the majestic Rocky Mountains. I can even see them from my house. Calgary and area is a wonderful tourist destination. This year is the centennial of our world famous Calgary Stampede. Yahoo.
I need a good read so will look her up. Thanks for the tip!
Hadn’t heard of her before. I wonder where Three Pines resembles. As a Canadian I can tell you there are many beautiful places to visit. I am 1.5 hrs away from the majestic Rocky Mountains. I can even see them from my house. Calgary and area is a wonderful tourist destination. This year is the centennial of our world famous Calgary Stampede. Yahoo.
I need a good read so will look her up. Thanks for the tip!
Nicole – I met Louise Penny and her husband at a book signing. She is terrific. My favorite book is Bury Your Dead. I also love the audio books, which are read by Ralph Cosham. She has a blog you might find interesting. http://louisepenny.blogspot.com/
Karen L.
Nicole – I met Louise Penny and her husband at a book signing. She is terrific. My favorite book is Bury Your Dead. I also love the audio books, which are read by Ralph Cosham. She has a blog you might find interesting. http://louisepenny.blogspot.com/
Karen L.
Sounds very interesting especially when you compare her with Elizabeth George. Am on the lookout for more of her books.
Sounds very interesting especially when you compare her with Elizabeth George. Am on the lookout for more of her books.
Thanks for the reco. I am a lover of mystery books. A friend recomended Louise Penny to me; with two recos, I will have to read one!
Thanks for the reco. I am a lover of mystery books. A friend recomended Louise Penny to me; with two recos, I will have to read one!
Oh I love a good mystery! This looks fun, particularly with more to go!
Oh I love a good mystery! This looks fun, particularly with more to go!
Thanks for the book recommendation. Maybe I can run down to B&N today. It’s gonna rain (yay!) for the next week and nothing sounds better than curling up with a good mystery, a cup of hot cider and a cozy quilt.
Thanks for the book recommendation. Maybe I can run down to B&N today. It’s gonna rain (yay!) for the next week and nothing sounds better than curling up with a good mystery, a cup of hot cider and a cozy quilt.
OK, gotta read a mystery with a curling match in it…I actually attended the men’s gold medal curling match at the Vancouver Olympics!
OK, gotta read a mystery with a curling match in it…I actually attended the men’s gold medal curling match at the Vancouver Olympics!
Ooh, ooh, ooh, this is just what I need. I’m off to see if my library has these!
Ooh, ooh, ooh, this is just what I need. I’m off to see if my library has these!
Did you get it on your Kindle? I see it is only $2.99 for the Kindle version. Thanks for the recommendation! I’m always looking for a good read.
Did you get it on your Kindle? I see it is only $2.99 for the Kindle version. Thanks for the recommendation! I’m always looking for a good read.
Thanks for the review. These sound great!
Thanks for the review. These sound great!
sounds good! I am always looking for cozy mysteries! Have you read any of the Rhys Bowen series? Molly Murphy Series and the other is her Royal Spyness series. Hilarious and fun…and very well done!
sounds good! I am always looking for cozy mysteries! Have you read any of the Rhys Bowen series? Molly Murphy Series and the other is her Royal Spyness series. Hilarious and fun…and very well done!
Thanks Nicole for the reading recommendation. Love your Birdie post from yesterday too. Have a great weekend.
Thanks Nicole for the reading recommendation. Love your Birdie post from yesterday too. Have a great weekend.
Hooray, another Louise Penny fan! We (my husband and I) have read all but the last one, which my aunt has and is reading first. It’s so lovely to find a mystery series with such humanity in its characters, isn’t it. Enjoy!
Hooray, another Louise Penny fan! We (my husband and I) have read all but the last one, which my aunt has and is reading first. It’s so lovely to find a mystery series with such humanity in its characters, isn’t it. Enjoy!
Now I’m intrigued. Gotta find time to read more books…in addition to the ones that are already stacked up and waiting their turns.
Now I’m intrigued. Gotta find time to read more books…in addition to the ones that are already stacked up and waiting their turns.
Thanks for the recommendation. I need a good book to take on vacation, so I placed an order after reading your blog.
Thanks for the recommendation. I need a good book to take on vacation, so I placed an order after reading your blog.
I love Louise Penny books. I’ve read/listened to just about all of the Three Pines books. Have you tried the audio book version? The narrator has a wonderful accent and plays the Chief Inspector particularly well. I’m not sure who I’m more in love with – the narrator or Inspector Gamache.
I love Louise Penny books. I’ve read/listened to just about all of the Three Pines books. Have you tried the audio book version? The narrator has a wonderful accent and plays the Chief Inspector particularly well. I’m not sure who I’m more in love with – the narrator or Inspector Gamache.