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”
Does anyone know when the Amazon Prime 8 episode series Three Pines will air? I’ve just finished the last book and really want to watch the new series!
Even Louise says she doesn’t know and she will let us know when. If you subscribe to the monthly newsletter you will get new info faster.
In todays newsletter Louise says that she is not allowed to say. Bummer….
What Amazon Prime Series? This is the first reference I have seen about it. Can someone give further details?
See the announcement here: https://www.gamacheseries.com/
I have some duplicates. Bury yout dead. Trick of the Light. If you want them, send me your address and I’ll mail them to you. MJ
Retired in May, read all 17 books this summer. Couldn’t wait for Madness of Crowds to come out in paperback, so I bought the hardcover. Even after re-reading the ending (several times), I remain confused. So I ask this question of those of you who have finished MoC, and will try not to spoil the novel for those of you not yet there – Does Penny actually reveal the murderer, or does it remain unknown. And most troubling, how does she explain the murder weapon being brought to the scene of the crime?
Help! I am new to the series (just finished the second and I LOVE everything about it). I am listening to the books and I just can’t seem to figure out what is going on with Yvette Nicole? Is she sent in as a spy? By who? And why!
Hi, Ingrid. I revisit this site rarely, so I know it’s a long time without any answer. I had hoped that Yvette would become a regular character. She will come up again in a few more books, but I guess never really clicked with the current team (or Ms Penny decided the team was better without her.) I think her raison d’être was to show Gamache’s process of nurturing the next generation by taking the misfits and teaching them to find their own way. Yvette seemed to me like a hard nut to crack, but wants desperately to do a good job. Before she is out of the books altogether (though, of course, who knows if she might come back sometime.) you will see that she is not a spy, that she is a troubled young woman who wants to succeed but doesn’t know how to do that. I really do wish that Gamache would have taken her under his wing, though some later dealings with her give you the reasons that might not work.
My only comment is, “Keep reading!” 🙂
I second that Deborah Kay! Keep Reading!
I agree with Deborah Kaye! Keep reading readers🙂
Just finished The Madness of Crowds and feel like I’m missing something… Who called Gamache in the opening scene? I remember he was upset and said “you’ll regret this” but did it ever explain who it was?
Whoops wrong title, just finished Kingdom of the Blind
Just wanted to know if the series is clean. How much profanity, sex, etc? Wondering if my 83 year old mother would enjoy them.
There is a decent amount of profanity (I’m looking at you, Rosa), but that’s about it. No sex, some violence but nothing over the top.
LP is not in the business of writing porn. Rest assured her books are “clean”- gory sometimes but clean. Some folks say her stories are more
intellectual than anything else – a lot of French words and expressions. 4 years of French and I don’t need the translations. You may not either. And you may find yourself collecting “ gamache sayings”. (Quack quack)
I have read all of these books twice. I love the small town of Three Pines.. I wanted to find a place that was so close knit it would feel like home, with all the quirks and supportive people, minus the homicide rate! And I have . It’s not in Canada , though I’m sure they exist there; it’s in France!
Yes your mom would enjoy them. My young granddaughter was given still life to read for school in grade 8.
I’m not sure about your mother, but my 84-year-old husband reads my Penny books as soon as I finish them.
I’m 82,and read every single book. If she can handle the gory details of an awful gun battle, the rest is easy. Penny is not in the business of writing porn and I think that’s obvious from the first book.
There is not one thing your mother would feel uncomfortable about. No sex – yes, it is possible to find a book without sex – but packed full of interest, warmth, wonderful characters and intriguing plots. I finish a Three Pines book feeling uplifted.
Mom 94 year old mother loves the series…why don’t you read one and decide for yourself. It is a personal thing how much you are bothered by whatever…that being said I do not think there is profanity, definitely no sex. There is a delightful gay couple that runs the Bistro. I really wish I could go to 3P and meet them!
I just want some of that licorice in the big glass jar.
It is squeaky clean…I a 74 and have read every one of Gamache books several times !
I’m almost as old as your mother and I have read and collected all of the books. I would be very surprised if she didn’t love them
Are you kidding? This is probably the best set of books we ever read and my husband is a retired lawyer and 82 years old. We couldn’t put them down and can’t wait for the next book. We wish Louise Penney would write at least one book a month. Your mother will be immersed in these books. We spent time in that Montreal area and the areas where these books take place and it brings back so many happy memories. My step-daughter is a very successful lawyer in Washington DC and finds time to read them. Every time she has a hard day she tells us she wants to move to Three Pines. Absolutely loved these books.
No sex, which is a very nice change, but the darned duck has a potty mouth, er, bill. Ruth also has one, but it’s FINE.
It sounds egocentric, but I may be responsible for all of the “F” bombs showing up in the books.
In the beginning, Ms. Penny used Quebecois cuss words. (Interesting fact: they were French words for items in a Roman Catholic church. I thought it added a Quebecois flavor to her books and miss them.
About book three, Ms. Penny started using English profanities. At one point, Jean-Guy Beauvoir drops the “F” bomb before Reine Marie Gamache . Even then, Jean-Guy’s love and respect for Armand Gamache was evident and I could not see him using that word in front of Ms. Gamache. And I wrote and told Ms. Penny so. After that, the “F” bomb started exploding more and more frequently and dropped by more and more characters.
Coincidence? I think not.
Beth, I am 83 and have read all the books.
I’m 84 and have read, chronologically, all of the Gamache series. Ms Penny makes him like your next door neighbor. The adventures are very realistic and when finishing one can not wait to get the next. Profanity is limited to what anyone would generally hear. You and your Mother will enjoy them
I am 78 years old, shall I say a contemporary of your mother, and I have read EVERY Gamache at least twice and love them all. The “profanity” is so very minor that your mind can easily read it and then ignore it as you move on to the next sentence to see what’s going to happen!
Yes, there’s some profanity, but it’s all in fun. Louise uses it well, and often it’ll be in French!
Her books are classic and your mother would love, the little profanity is not offensive and it is otherwise like most cozy mysteries in that they are timeless and wonderful. I want to re read them all again. I am obsessed with Three Pines and the Bistro. My favorite reading series of all time. Brilliant
Retired in May, read all 17 books this summer. Couldn’t wait for Madness of Crowds to come out in paperback, so I bought the hardcover. Even after re-reading the ending (several times), I remain confused. So I ask this question of those of you who have finished MoC, and will try not to spoil the novel for those of you not yet there – Does Penny actually reveal the murderer, or does it remain unknown. And most troubling, how does she explain the murder weapon being brought to the scene of the crime?
A little over a year ago my wife and I both discovered Armand and friends and very quickly fell in love. We are now ready to begin book 14 – Kingdom of the Blind. I don’t know what we will do when we catch up with Louise. We have started reading other authors in between each book (to slow us down) but find we can’t wait to get back to Three Pines. Thank you Louise for your wonderful and beautiful story telling and character portraits. Your stories have entertained and enriched our lives. So much so that we decided we needed to visit and see for real the inspirations that created these characters and their surroundings. We are going to do a road trip in November (even though Glass Houses almost made us change our minds about November in Quebec) to visit the “land of Gamache”. Other commitments kept us from doing so sooner. We can’t wait. The Gamache series has definitely been a bright spot to help us get through the pandemic. Thank you again Louise.
I enjoy Louise Penny’s books. I get the same vibe from Martin Walker’s “Bruno” series.
I read Louise Penny’s books as soon as they come out, also love “Bruno” series.
My wife and I are also very interested in such a road trip. I know Three Pines and the Bistro are fictional, but how did you plan such a trip? Very interested in your experience and how to tour the area.
thanks,
Steve & Barbara
I love the book series and I’m reading the Madness of Crowds right now in boiling hot sunny south Florida, it’s taking my mind off the overwhelming humidity reading about the snow and the freezing temperatures. Wish I was in Three Pines now
Wow I love these books, wish I had started sooner in my life. LP is a genius!
Stephen, The Nature of the Beast is next. A Great Reckoning comes after that.
Just started the series, trying to read in order of the story arc. At conclusion of THE LONG WAY HOME, first chapter of A GREAT RECKONING is offered as next in the series. But every story arc I’ve found shows THE NATURE OF THE BEAST as being next in the series. Which one should I read next?
I’ve read them all and wait but not patiently for the next. I find that finishing each book makes me feel like a good friend has moved away and for a while other books are difficult to get into. Hurry Louise! I’m waiting!
The books are listed in order in the FAQs at http://www.louisepenny.com. along with a slew of handy resources. Including a pronunciation guide. They are best read in order. Note that some have different titles for US, Canada and UK markets. I love this series!
I read that Alfred Molina will play the part of Gamache…..I do like him so am hoping he can do it, anybody know who might be the rest of the cast?
I think George Clooney would make a marvelous Gamache! So would Russell Crowe!
would you like some other suggestions?
I am full of them.
Juliet Binoche as Madame Gamache!
I was vacationing in VT years ago on my own and needed a new investigative book to read. I went to the Stowe bookstore and happened upon an intriguing titled book called A Beautiful Mystery. I went back to my hotel and began reading. After the fourth chapter I got back in my car and returned to the bookstore and asked to buy every other book by Louise Penny that they had in stock.
I have been singing her praises ever dance She is a wonder and writes so beautifully!! I cannot wait for her 17th book to come out.
I wanted to know if the Bistro discussion is still going on. It was wonderful to read the posts and to share the wonder and joy of these cherished books.
Looking for some clarification. The characters of Mark and Carol (son and mother who had the old Hatley House) seemed to completely disappear after Bury the Dead, while Dominique remains. What happened to them, and how did I miss that! Anyone, please?
In Glass Houses Stephen Horowitz mentions 3 children, but in Devils it sounds as though he has none. Or did I misunderstand?
In All the Devils are Here, L.Penny on page 438 of Acknowledgments, states “Lessons learned. Children erased.”
Apparently, she felt that listing that Horowitz had three children sort of have too much detail and perhaps limited where she could take the longer storyline. At least that’s how I received it.
So it was an error. You are not mistaken.
I have Just finished the last book. I am sad that there is not a “next” to look for.
Somehow I missed what happened to Clara’s husband, Peter. I remember the summer cottage and his family. I think Peter killed a family member. Is he in prison? Does he communicate with anyone?
Peter is last seen in Book 10, The Long Way Home. I am happy to tell you what happened to him but I don’t want to spoil it if you missed that one!
Hi there I’m just wondering if anyone has managed to figure out how Jacqueline managed to walk through the village and back with the bloody bat (as the implication is that she took it with her then panicked and replaced it) and how she got Anton’s prints all over it? This is an odd omission on Louise’s part, as she is usually meticulous about explaining such crucial plot points in the big reveal!
I’m about halfway through the series and keep reading reference to the factory when. Jean Guy is supposedly left for dead. I can’t remember which book this was in.
The full story is told in Bury Your Dead 🙂
How do I find the audio books?
How do I find the audio books?
I find them through Hoopla through my library.
The bookstore in knowlton?