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When an intricate old map is found stuffed into the walls of the bistro in Three Pines in A Great Reckoning, it at first seems no more than a curiosity. But the closer the villagers look, the stranger it becomes. If it’s been awhile since you’ve read the 12th book in the series, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read led by Mary Beth Roche. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in A Great Reckoning, and explore more of all things A Great Reckoning here at GamacheSeries.com. 

Don’t believe everything you think. Ain’t that the truth!

In The Nature of the Beast, a monster returns to Three Pines, and Armand Gamache, the former head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec, must grapple with what happens next. If it’s been awhile since you’ve read this one, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read led by Laura Cok. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in The Nature of the Beast, and explore more of all things The Nature of the Beast here at GamacheSeries.com. 

But they both knew that words were weapons too, and when fashioned into a story their power was almost limitless. Everyone here clearly has a love of reading. Other than Louise’s books, what are some of your other favorites? Let us know in the comments!

In The Long Way Home, Armand Gamache, former Chief Inspector of Homicide with the Sûreté du Québec, has found a peace he’d only imagined possible in his retirement in Three Pines. But the search for a missing villager leads him deeper and deeper into the wilderness. If it’s been awhile since you’ve read the tenth book in the series, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read led by Paul Hochman. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in The Long Way Home, and explore more of all things The Long Way Home here at GamacheSeries.com.

“I believe in using your head. But not in spending too much time in there. Fear lives in the head. And courage lives in the heart. The job is to get from one to the other.” This reminds us of a famous quote: “To think too much is a disease.” Who said this? Let us know your guesses in the comments. No Googling!

In How the Light Gets In, the Christmas season is approaching: a time of dazzling snowfalls, bright lights, and gatherings with friends in front of blazing hearths. But shadows are falling on the usually festive season for Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Is there peace to be found in Three Pines, and at what cost to Gamache and the people he holds dear? If it’s been awhile since you’ve read the ninth book in the series, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read led by Lesa Holstine. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in How the Light Gets In, and explore more of all things How the Light Gets In here at GamacheSeries.com. 

But, like peace, comfort didn’t come from hiding away or running away. Comfort first demanded courage. In the comments, join us to discuss examples of Gamache’s courage – both in How the Light Gets In and from other books in the series.

In The Beautiful Mystery, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the Sûreté du Québec are admitted to the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, hidden deep in the wilderness of Quebec, where they discover disquiet beneath the silence, discord in the apparent harmony. If it’s been awhile since you’ve read the eighth book in the series, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read led by Barbara Peters. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in The Beautiful Mystery, and explore more of all things The Beautiful Mystery here at GamacheSeries.com. 

Privacy. And with privacy, of course, came something else. Safety. That was, Gamache knew, what people valued most of all.  Do you see a correlation between privacy and safety? Let us know in the comments!

In the fifth book in the series, the peace of Three Pines is shattered – and Gamache must follow a trail of clues and treasures into the woods and across the continent, before returning to Three Pines to confront the truth. If it’s been awhile since you’ve read the seventh book in the series, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read lead by Jamie Broadhursti. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in The Brutal Telling, and explore more of all things A Brutal Telling here at GamacheSeries.com. 

She wasn’t afraid to be wrong. And that, the Chief knew, was a great strength. In the comments, talk about times when Gamache wasn’t afraid to be wrong. What about yourself?

Bury Your Dead is a novel about life and death—and all the mystery that remains. If it’s been awhile since you’ve read the sixth book in the series, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read lead by Annette Jones. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in Bury Your Dead, and explore more of all things Bury Your Dead here at GamacheSeries.com. 

That was the danger. Not that betrayals happened, not that cruel things happened, but that they could outweigh all the good. That we could forget the good and only remember the bad. This quote reminds us of the village of Three Pines! Despite the cruel things that often happen in and around the village, we would move there in a heartbeat. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments! 

In the fifth book in the series, the peace of Three Pines is shattered – and Gamache must follow a trail of clues and treasures into the woods and across the continent, before returning to Three Pines to confront the truth. If it’s been awhile since you’ve read this one, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read lead by John Kwiatkowski. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in The Brutal Telling, and explore more of all things A Brutal Telling here at GamacheSeries.com. 

It was vital to be aware of actions in the present. Because the present became the past, and the past grew. And got up, and followed you. This piece of wisdom reminds us of the famous quote by George Santayana: ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Do you agree? Let us know in the comments!

In A Rule Against Murder, it is the height of summer, and Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache are celebrating their wedding anniversary at the luxurious Manoir Bellechasse. But while Manoir Bellechasse might be surrounded by nature, there is something unnatural looming. If it’s been awhile since you’ve read the fourth book in the series, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read lead by Sarah Melnyk. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in A Rule Against Murder, and explore more of all things A Rule Against Murder here at GamacheSeries.com. 

Not everything needed to be brought into the light, he knew. Not every truth needed to be told. Do you agree with this statement? Let us know in the comments!

In The Cruelest Month, it’s spring in Three Pines; 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. . . If it’s been awhile since you’ve read the third book in the series, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read lead by Robin Agnew. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in The Cruelest Month, and explore more of all things The Cruelest Month here at GamacheSeries.com. 

Gamache knew people were like homes. Some were cheerful and bright, some gloomy. Some could look good on the outside but feel wretched on the interior. And some of the least attractive homes, from the outside, were kindly and warm inside. He also knew the first few rooms were for public consumption. It was only in going deeper that he’d find the reality. And finally, inevitably, there was the last room, the one we keep locked, and bolted and barred, even from ourselves. Especially from ourselves. Does this quote remind you of any of the characters in the series? Let us know in the comments!