The Nature of the Beast

(Book 11)

Book Summary

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The Nature of the Beast is a New York Times bestselling Chief Inspector Gamache novel from Louise Penny.

Hardly a day goes by when nine year old Laurent Lepage doesn’t cry wolf. From alien invasions, to walking trees, to winged beasts in the woods, to dinosaurs spotted in the village of Three Pines, his tales are so extraordinary no one can possibly believe him. Including Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache, who now live in the little Quebec village.

But when the boy disappears, the villagers are faced with the possibility that one of his tall tales might have been true.

And so begins a frantic search for the boy and the truth. What they uncover deep in the forest sets off a sequence of events that leads to murder, leads to an old crime, leads to an old betrayal. Leads right to the door of an old poet.

And now it is now, writes Ruth Zardo. And the dark thing is here.

A monster once visited Three Pines. And put down deep roots. And now, Ruth knows, it is back.

Armand Gamache, the former head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec, must face the possibility that, in not believing the boy, he himself played a terrible part in what happens next.

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Excerpt


Running, running, stumbling, running.


Arm up against the wiry branches whipping his face. He didn’t see the root. He fell, hands splayed into the moss and mud. His assault rifle dropped and bounced and rolled from sight. Eyes wide, frantic now, Laurent Lepage scanned the forest floor and swept his hands through the dead and decaying leaves.

He could hear the footsteps behind him. Boots on the ground. Pounding. He could almost feel the earth heaving as they got closer, closer, while he, on all fours, plowed the leaves aside

Audio Excerpt


Reading Group Guide


  • This novel is set in early autumn, with many references to apples throughout. What are some of those references, and what are some of their symbolic meanings?
  • In Chapter 4 there is a discussion about whether one can or should separate the quality of art from the character of the artist. “You’re an artist,” Reine-Marie says to Clara. “Do you think a work should be judged by its creator? Or should it stand on its own?” What do you stand on this issue?
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