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”
Margaret Brenneman, Gracie appeared first in Chapter 16, “The Great Reckoning”.
I hope we get to see her in “All the Devils Are Here”.
In which book does Gracie the dog find her home withArmand Gamache?
I just finished reading A Rule Against Murder. I enjoyed it immensely. However, I didn’t find an explanation as to how Julia was killed by the statue of her father. How did the killer actually perform the feat? I know the statue was rigged with sugar to roll off the pedestal, but how did the killer know when Julia would be at the statue and how did he topple the statue? Many thanks for your response.
I found red and black licorice pipes, no embers from Donny at Old-time Candy online. They are very tasty. Just started Ganache series in January. No clue why it took ten years to start it. Two books to go. Great series.
Perhaps it this question has been addressed already:
Who writes “Ruth’s” poetry? I love it and find it and all of Gamache’s wisdom! Really Louise ‘s wisdom. Thank you so much. A second reading/listening is helping me through the Pandemic. I hope all in and of Three Pines are well.
At least some of Ruth’s poetry was really written by Margaret Atwood.
I just found these discussions on the Gamache series in Three Pines just today. I have read almost every book so far from the beginning of the first book, I did go thru a period of ill health for 2 years, which means I missed those books from 2015-2017. So those would be the years I have to catch up on. I am doing a little investigating, but I love the Bistro and Gabri and Oliver and of course our dear Ruth…
I have been assigned by my book group to ask a question about Kingdom of the Blind. Some thought that Gamache set Amelia up to be back on the street in order to stop the drug trafficking. Others thought she relapsed on her own and he simply used that as an opportunity knowing she would lead him to where he needed to go. We are asking if it is one or the other?
My opinion is that he sent Amelia back on the street to stop the drug trafficking. Not his finest moment.
Gamache actually gave Amalia the assignment to track down the drug traffickers; they were in cahoots. She did not relapse on her own; the pusher who was doing his own drug tests on users administered the drug to Amelia which is why she found the tattoo on her arm. Gamache had Amelia watched for her protection while she was on the streets.
I am re reading the book, it has been a long time between readings and I am inclined to agree that Gamache set up the situation to have Amelia on the streets seeking the drugs. This is her hood and she knows better than anyone how to locate the drugs if anyone can. And I read on enjoying the tension in every page.
I hope I’m not alone in reading this series totally out of order due to just picking up one of these treasures by accident about 9 months ago. Now I’m trying to track the ones I’ve missed, but I would love to ask a simple question that obviously has been answered in the book following, The Brutal Telling. Who actually killed the Hermit and why?
I know from another of the books that Oliver was falsely convicted and later Gamache resolved the case to get him released. But I don’t know or remember what else was revealed in that book. Please help, it will be weeks before I can request the older books from other libraries.
**Spoiler**
In case you haven’t figured this out yet, it was Old Mundin, the carpenter. He thought he was killing his father’s murderer when in fact it was his father, hiding out years after faking his own death
Just finished Glass Houses.
Question: How did Anton’s DNA get on the bat if he didn’t commit Katie’s murder?
Was the bat gone and then returned just cause Jaqueline panicked or because she was somehow adding Anton’s DNA to the bat?
Thoughts?
What happened to Brother Andre, the brother in the book about the quints?
I came here to try and figure out the same thing, felt kind of unresolved
A Better Man is the best of Louise Penny’s books I think and I have read them all. I read about her first book when she was a new author and got it and read it at once. ABM is excellent and surprising. Please give yourself a treat.
I am curious as to the meaning of the word “woo” referenced in the killing of the Hermit in Books 5 and 6. Why would that word frighten the Hermit? Thoughts? Thanks!!
I think it was what the baby/child said or how he/she pronounced a name.
I wish I had the book with me now, I could find it
I love, love, love the inspector Gamache books. Currently reading the current one and there are two different quotes that I want to find but since I actually listen to books it’s not easy to tag them and go back. Or at least not for me. There is one about every time you say something, think, say it with kindness or don’t say it all and something else. I know that’s vague and I’m going to try to listen again, but does anyone remember? He quotes it when he’s remembering sitting with his mentor somewhere. Thanks
Is it true? Is it kind? Does it need to be said?
Hi fellow enthusiasts – may I join you?
I have a couple of questions about Better Man – which I absolutely LOVED. If you haven’t read it yet, please skip this post!!
Why would Vivienne have her pink duffel bag over her shoulder when she met wth her actual murderer? And why DID she have the pills in her bag? Just feel like I must be missing something here…
I think I have a new favourite “thing”: the lines “But then, ducks often…” That makes me smile out loud every time!!
Right here is the perfect webpage for anyone who wants to understand this topic.
You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want to…HaHa).
You certainly put a new spin on a subject which has been written about for years.
Great stuff, just wonderful!
Please help me remember……. who hurt Ruth so far beyond repair and which book it was in.
Her mother. It’s explained in Glass Houses.
Who’s in the Bistro today and what’s the topic of conversation? Are we all F.I.N.E.?
I happened on this series via one of my older sister’s who happened to purchase Glass Houses, which she loaned to me, but she had ordered the series. From the Glass Houses I found myself wanting to start at the beginning as well. I’ve come to love Three Pines and the characters of the Gamache series, and once I’ve read the full series I plan on listening to the audio books. I’m not sure what I will read after I’m finished the Gamache series it will be hard to follow.
I have listened to the whole series on Audible and will definitely listen again. These books are sublime. I was so impressed with them, I bought the whole series for my 92 year old father, who loves mysteries and lived in Quebec until 1969 (It wasn’t easy to find them all…) He devoured the books in short order and loved them.
If anyone is interested in the whole series 1-13 please contact me at ginanpa@gmail.com
I hope it’s ok to post this here. I tried finding book clubs on facebook without any luck.
The book I just referenced was A Fatal Grace.
I don’t understand how “L” could have said she loved Clara’s art if she’d never seen it. The only mystery left for me from this book.