Join us here in The Bistro for a discussion on the entire Gamache series. Feel free to ask or answer any questions about any of the books or the series as a whole.
Located in the Equitable Building in Manhattan, Minotaur Books publishes bestselling and award-winning crime fiction ranging from thrillers and suspense to traditional mysteries. Minotaur has published Louise Penny since 2007.
3,660 replies on “The Bistro”
I used to read when things got quiet on the night shift via audiobook, (bad wyes). I really enjoyed it but then I retired & couldn’t find the time or enough interest, with so much else (living) to do. I didn’t think I missed it, but someone turned me on to the Gamache 3 Pines mysteries. I fell, hook, line & sinker!
Between November & Februaryi read them all, in order. Then,😱, I ran out, and have been waiting for the next one. I am afraid. I feel like an addict who was for ed to go cold turkey. I know I will love it when I read it, but even if I read it twice, the day will come when I will turn the last page, and then ….
It’s too long a wait.
What if Ms Penny takes a sabbatical, or decides to give up writing altogether???
Arrggghhhhh!
I’m in the midst of A World of Curiosities and am so happy to see Amelia ! I’ve been wondering about her- I get so involved in these books- it’s hard for me to separate real life from Three Pines!
I’ve always thought of Tom Selleck as Gamache.
Love it! But he has to wear a Hawaiian shirt!
Big thumbs down, not even close to the empathy of Gamache much less the wisdom that comes with age & experience ( besides selleck pushes guns ).
Please 🙏 , Heavenly Mother, NO 👎 NO 👎 NO. (NO tRumpsters to run this, too!!)
I was a bit disappointed with Armand Gamanche, although I loved Alfred Molina, but expected him to have a French accent, which to me, is always appealing. Beauvoir looks too old for a son in law, and Nicole not the Nicole I imagined. She was meant to be young, and surly looking, brooding.
However, was so excited to be in Three Pines, as I have missed it and all the characters since finishing the last book a couple of months ago. I need really, and it is my current dream, to hop back on a plane and fly over to Quebec and wander the streets of Knowlton and indeed a lot of Quebec. (I have been to Quebec, but not for nearly long enough!) But hopefully, we will be able to next year. It’s a long, long way from Australia.xxx
I recall that in a book Gamache is said to speak English with a British accent, which surprises people.
This is funny, MY Gamache 🙂 is very very far from Tom Selleck…
Oliver Platt … a grand, gracious and worthy Gamache!
He would be good. I pictured someone like Frazier’s father, although I know the actor passed.
I picture Tom Barnaby from Midsomer murders. And Joyce and Cully and Ben.
Oh no…Tom is the stoic Jesse Stone, Chief of Police in Paradise or Frank Regan head of the NYPD and of an incredibly service oriented family or that very young Magnum PI catching bad guys in Hawaii… never Gamache;-)
Ciarin Hinds is who I’ve pictured Gamache. However Tom Selleck I can see as well.
Yes I can see it but imagine he might be too old. Oh my! That’s a reversal. Usually women actors are carefully chosen for their age and looks.
Oh, ya…he’d have been good. But I’m still thinking that an unknown Quebec individual would have been even more perfect. I feel like it’s a missed opportunity.
YES! I was thinking the same thing. Though in my mind’s eye, Gamache is different from both actors. From a casting standpoint, however, I totally agree with you. Having said that, Molina is doing a great job, and seems to capture Gamache’s personality thus far.
While waiting for A World of Curiosities, I reread the entire series. My love for Louise Penny, Three Pines, Gamache and all of the other wonderful characters was only further cemented by reading one book after another in quick succession. A World of Curiosities may be my favorite so far, because of the complex weaving of storylines, backstories, and characters. Louise is such a genuine, caring person, and it shows in her work, not only the novels, but her newsletters, social media, and in interviews. When I first discovered Still Life, it was just before the fourth book in the series was due out. Reading it caused me to do something I’d never done before: Contact an author. Louise’s writing style had such an impact on me, a life-long reader of mysteries and thrillers, because it was so different in the best possible way. And to my surprise and delight, Louise herself wrote back to me! For that kindness, and for the excellent stories she tells us all, I will forever be one of her greatest fans.
I have been unbelievably blessed by Three Pines and Louise Penny. I found her only a few years ago and have read each of her books. I’m again asking for her latest book, Curiosities, from my stepson for Christmas. Her recent interview including comments on the joy and peace that a 12 step program gives, brought knowing tears to my eyes . Thank you Louise Penny! Please come to Sedona, AZ.
Yes to Sedona! Or, better yet 😉, Prescott, AZ!
Amy, last night I finished rereading every book in the series (except for the latest; I ordered it for my husband to give me for Christmas). Originally I had read them out of order, but I wanted to read them again to see the characters develop, particularly Jean-Guy. I enjoyed them even more the second time around. The complexities of each character and their relationships with one another are unlike those in any other series I’ve read. They are all so real to me, and I love their clever, snarky comments. I want to live in Three Pines, as I think we all do.
I reread all the books in preparation for this new one, and it did not disappoint. My only regret is that I read it too fast and now I’m again longing for more. I love Ruth Zardo’s poetry! I’d love a book of it so I could savor it.
I love the idea of a Ruth poetry collection, in print! Hmmm…
Yes, please do this. I’ll buy one…or two…..maybe three? for gifts of course………………..
they are already published by the authors who wrote them that Louise Penny uses with permission: Margaret Atwood and Marylyn Plessner.
Some of the poetry may be from Margaret Atwood
Ruth Poetry is amazing. I cried today reading
Oh yes, and breasts, and a sweet pear hidden in my body. Whenever there’s talk of demons, these come in handy. Death sits on my shoulder like a crow … Or a judge, muttering about sluts and punishment. And licking his lips.
Louise’s stories are so relevant to the issues and culture of our times and this piece of poetry so beautifully and painfully illustrates this.
I’ve just begun A World of Curiosities and am totally enthralled. I’m reading as slowly as I can so as not to miss anything. I adore all of Louise’s books.
I would also like to see Ruth’s poetry put together in a book. Her poetry is one of the gem’s I look forward to when reading the seroes/
I read A World of Curiosities in one day putting my life on hold and diving in to life in Three Pines. I meant to drag out reading your stunning, deeply thoughtful book slowly to make it last. I was completely out of control! Having read
every engrossing book in your series, I look forward to where you travel next with your fascinating Three Pines residents?
Thank you, for your talent, your dedication to your characters and your wonderful newsletters that take me along with you.
I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of A World of Curiosities. Any day now…
Hi, Jane! I did the same with All the Devils Are Here, devouring it in one Saturday. Then, I opened it up and read it again, savoring instead of devouring.
Louise’s December 2022 newsletter is as brilliantly crafted as her novels! Thank You for the smiles and warmth Louise!
Yes, thank heavens for the newsletter. I have reread many of the books;. It was a very long wait.
I had the great pleasure of spending time with Louise and Deborah Crombie on Tuesday evening at the Dallas Arts & Letters event. I say spend time although I was just sitting in the audience, but felt like I was having a glass of wine and a conversation with old friends. What an absolute treat is was to listen to both these wonderful authors chat about the writing process, the charecters and their quirks, life, and travel. I will not forget that evening.
Being a part of Louise’s Gamache community which offers joy and satisfaction to everyone everywhere is a wonderful thing, a lucky thing.
I am enjoying “The World of Curiosities” very much and admire the way it delves into relevant, and often disturbing, issues. This real world quality and the way characters interact with those issues is what makes this series so special to me.
Louise wrote about this in her December 2022 newsletter. I’m thoroughly enjoying Joy, the Ernesto Cervini’s jazz album, based on Louise’s characters and books. As I listen to it, I try to determine which character the musical selections are based on, and Ernesto nails it. It’s wonderful to feel this extra connection to Three Pines through this beautiful music. I highly recommend Joy.
I played snippets of Cervini’s jazz album to my one year old granddaughter during lunch today. She had a fit when I stopped it as she was entranced! It was her first introduction to jazz, and won’t be her last!
In All the Devils are Here, if Stephen lost all his money, who paid the massive hotel bill growing daily?
I thought, being Stephen, he had an emergency fund set aside for contingencies, and to pay off the Prefect’s mortgage in France. What about the trust funds for the grandchildren? Surely he would have kept them safe. It is a mystery.
Où se trouve des livres de Louise Penny en français. Merci et à bientôt Hilary
Love your books. I savour them.
If I had to cast Gamache it would have to be Hugh Bonneville. When I read your books it is he who I visualise.
I gave my unsolicited suggestions for the roles in Louise’s upcoming Amazon Prime series, “Three Pines”:
Hi, Louise!
I was just thinking how I cannot wait for the Amazon Series of Gamache to begin and how FABOO the casting of Alfred Molina is in the role of your/our beloved Armand.
Here are some of my suggestions for other roles:
Ruth Zardo — Maggie Smith (if you get her, you’ll get everyone else)
JeanGuy — Colin Farrell
Frankur — Ciaran Hinds
Michelle Braybuf — Brendan Gleason
Olivier — Stuart Townsend
Gabri — Brendan Fraser
Clara — Marcia Gay Harden
Myrna — Octavia Spencer
Love your choice of actors, especially Brendan Fraser, Maggie Smith (of course!), and Octavia Spencer. Perfect.
It would be nice to see more Quebecois characters be Quebecers or at least French. You have chosen all British actors – all anglophones. The setting and feel of all the books is Quebecois – a vibrant passionate and bilingual community. I hope that is not lost in the new series. I am really looking forward to it.
Wow…love your cast !
Did anyone else notice this at the bottom of the most recent email from Louse:
“Do you have any questions or comments about Louise Penny’s books, GamacheSeries.com, or just want to chat with other readers? Please join us in the virtual Bistro! And we’ll see you next week to share our final feature. ”
FINAL FEATURE
Are they saying that a “World of Curiosities” will be Louise’s final Gamache book?
No, that means the final updated feature here on the site. More books to come!
Thank heavens!
Thank Heavens! I don’t eve want this series to end.
A World of Curiosities is superb. I couldn’t put it down and now I’m sad that I finished it! I loved the history, suspense, familiar and new characters and as always, it left me yearning for the next one. Thank you Louise!!!
We all have such rich and wonderful images in our minds of the community of Three Pines. I love to imagine their voices and mannerisms. What a gift Louise Penny has given us, right? Yesterday, I listened to Terry Gross on NPR interview Misty Copeland, ABT’s first Black Principal dancer. Many suggested that she could not play the Swan Queen in “Swan Lake” (and many other roles) because she is a women of color. She reminded us all that acting and interpreting a character is an art. I view Molina in the same way. He will be interpreting Gamache and will bring the character to life with passion, no doubt. Of course it will not fit neatly into our imagined visions we hold. But he will be excellent in my opinion.
I agree. I’m sure most readers form an idea in their mind of what a character looks or sounds like, so there’s no pleasing everyone. But Alfred Molina seems a good choice.
What is the name of the new Prime series, please?
I want to be sure I can find it!!!!
Three Pines
I have always pictured the wonderful Michael Gambon as the good inspector. I didn’t think Nathaniel Parker “was” Armand and I have concerns about Alfred Molina, though he is a fine, fine actor. However, given the state of the world, the way Amazon casts even these most beloved of books seems like a fairly small potato!
Mary Beth, excellent, discerning woman! I believed I was the only person who envisioned – and *heard* – Michael Gambon! Sadly, well past an age for the role, but – well, I enjoyed him SO as Maigret, and in some ways the two Inspectors are not dissimilar. As appealing as Nathaniel Parker is, he was a disastrously wrong casting choice. (But then again, there was little to commend the entire project. She was dismayed by it, I believe, so now, if she is reasonably comfortable with what is being made, , I’ll trust her instincts. (And reportedly she is well pleased with Molina; we shall see…)
I agree with your comment about Nathaniel Parker. Not right at all. When I heard Alfred Molina was selected for the Three Pines series my reaction was “YES” much better!
Louise Penny’s books are worth reading again. Between new books I enjoy going back to the older stories to refresh my memory. The story lines are so complex that they still surprise me because I have forgotten what went before. We
are impressed by Gamache’s strength of character and his control in his personal and public life. He is what we would
all like to be. He is our hero. The people around him in Three Pines are his FRAMILY. And it seems that’s how they
feel about each other. I’m so happy that there are so many others who feel as I do and welcome a new book every year.
I could go for at least 2 more books a year.
I’m with you – two books a year.
Love the word ´framily’! I will adopt it. Thank you!
I, too, would really enjoy more books per year. But, having said that, I’m afraid then that we would become less enchanted with the series. Everything is so instant these days, that we don’t get to relish the anticipation that comes from knowing something special is about to happen. And it’s so special for me to know there are others who feel the same way I do about Louise’s books. Thank you Louise, for all your hard work. It must be so rewarding to have such a wonderful response from all your faithful readers.
I’m not going to over anticipate Molina as Gamache. I’m hoping to give him a fair chance, but I am also positive Gamache would have been a great follow-up for Michael Lonsdale’s Lebel in The 1973 The Day of the Jackal. He’s always been my head picture of Gamache.
Lonsdale too old, i feel.