The setting of Louise Penny's novels are the most interesting element. In this novel, it's December in Quebec and all is frozen and snowy, with white out conditions and below zero temperatures that add another element of danger to this muder mystery. Lovely writing that explores life in a small Canadian village with a police inspector that reminds one of George Simenon's Maigret.

Another good mystery reserved form sis-in-law for her next holiday here.

Lucky me, I received this among my holiday gifts from orchidgrower! I devoured it forthwith and liked it even better than the first one, as I grow more familiar with all the characters. I'd like to move to Three Pines (well, maybe not in the dead of winter, although it can't be much worse than Maine,....) This was a very convoluted and complicated story; even though it did rely on some coincidences, it was very satisfying and takes you way back in the time of youth for some of the older village inhabitants. Louise Penny just hooks you in with all her asides into the lives of the villagers, and now we begin to see the background of Gamache as well.