Recently I’ve read one of the most frequently recommended non-Cozy mystery series that site readers have been mentioning for quite some time now, Louise Penny‘s Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery Series. Specifically, I read the first book in the series, Still Life.
I’m going to stress again that this is most definitely not a Cozy Mystery, though it does share some elements with the Cozy sub-genre. That said, if your interest in mysteries extends past Cozies and into police procedurals with Cozy elements, I definitely “second” the many recommendations site visitors have already made. There is some swearing, so if you are particular about that, do beware! (Including what seems to be some non-conventional French Canadian swearing…?)
Turning to the murder, the death in Still Life begins with the death of elderly Jane Neal, former beloved local spinster and former schoolteacher. Naturally, she was one of the keepers of the community secrets, and naturally it seems like everyone might have had a reason to kill her, some recent and obvious, others ancient and obscure. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is the man sent to solve the crime, along with his specially picked team, including his right hand, Inspector Jean-Guy Beauvoir. Gamache is a kind, insightful man, with a very intuitive investigation style and a reputation for mentoring his people well, and is balanced by Beauvoir’s more analytical approach to policing and slightly more cynical viewpoint.
Still Life introduces us to not only Chief Inspector Gamache, the head of the Surêté du Québec (police of Quebec) homicide department, but also the scenic, rural, remote village of Three Pines, the iconic setting for the remainder of this series. Three Pines is definitely the element that feels the “Coziest” to me, as it is an out-of-the way community that harbors a wide cast of interesting characters, some native and some transplants, all of whom seem to know each other’s most – except of course the one reason that murder has been committed! That said, Three Pines does depart a bit from many more conventional Cozy settings >>>> as a village in French-Canadian Quebec but not far from the border to the United States, the village is a curious and interesting intersection between the “francophones” and the “anglophones” of Quebec, the division being whether any individual considers French or English their first language.
It feels unfair to keep harping on the fact that this really isn’t a Cozy, but I do want to stress that it’s definitely a well-written, enjoyable police procedural that I have no hesitation suggesting to anyone who is comfortable with a bit more police competence in their mystery reading than the standard Cozy, as well as a tolerance (or interest) in slightly darker “real-world” themes that Cozies sometimes have a tendency to shy away from.
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Carol Z says
I absolutely love this series! I’m more than halfway through the series and I’m trying to pace myself but it’s not easy!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Carol, I definitely know how that feels! I have other things to read, for the site, otherwise I’d probably be starting on another one right away (I might still try to sneak it in between other books…)
Andrew Sampson says
I finished the series last fall. I am now on my second reading through the series, this time I am reading with my wife. We have started an impromptu book club. They are just as good a second time. This series transports me to Three Pines every time I pick up a book.
Marty Bender says
Love Louise Penny’s writing. She makes you really care about her characters. And if the Bistro isn’t cozy I don’t know what cozy is.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marty, you’re right that the bistro does certainly give a very Cozy vibe – the fact that it’s also an antiques shop is definitely a Cozy twist as well.
Erina Galloway says
Louise Penny’s books are amazing. I’ve read them multiple times (I typically reread the entire series before the newest release) because they are so well thought out. The characters are well defined but still develop over time so that you are allowed to get to know them, as if you were there. The intelligence factor in her writing makes her so enjoyable to read. There’s humor, intrigue, love, drama and so much more without the sex. If I want to read about sex, I know where to find those books. When I want to read a good mystery I just want a really good mystery. And, hello, who doesn’t want to live in Three Pines?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Erina, you’re getting to a lot of books to reread every time there’s a new release! Still, somehow there’s always time for a particular favorite, and it’s easy to see how this could very quickly become a personal favorite.
Linda says
I feel the exact same way. Unfortunately I can’t always get the books in the same order because I listen to them from my library but I do read the books and I love listening to Ralph konshens duration.
Janice J. Richardson says
I felt the same when I read Still Life, it felt like a modified cozy. Moot point though, when one reads the book. Penny has a gift with language, she can turn a phrase and leave one in awe of her wisdom via her characters.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Janice, yes, at a certain point, genres are just guidelines, and what’s good is good, right?
Linda says
I feel the exact same way. Unfortunately I can’t always get the books in the same order because I listen to them from my library but I do read the books and I love listening to Ralph Coshams narration.
Cheryl M. says
One of the best series ever! I agree, definitely not a cozy, but the setting and the relationships between people are wonderful. Gamache reminds me of what Poirot could possibly be in a modern, violent, and cynical world. But the little gray cells are definitely working!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cheryl, a modern-day Poirot is definitely high praise, and in this case I agree that it certainly seems warranted! I’m very excited to try out more of this series… when I can find the reading time.
Shannon says
I was introduced to this series through a movie on AcornTV, Still Life: A Three Pines Mystery. From there I have listened to some of the audio books in the series and have really enjoyed them. I would enjoy watching more of the movies, also, if they were to make some more.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shannon, oh, I’ll have to check to see if it’s still on Acorn! I’d definitely like to see it some time if it’s still available.
Renda Reynolds says
I want to love Louise Penny’s books, and I could if we could get a sanitized version of them. I’m not willing to fill my mind with the endless f-words and profanity, but she definitely is a gifted writer. If AC could make murder appealing without all that, I’m sure LP could too! Makes me sad…
Sherri says
I appreciate your comments about the profanity. The writing is excellent and I thought I had found my new favorite author. By the end of book two I had had enough of the f-words. They serve no purpose. I would like a mystery like this. I’ll keep looking.
Laurie Obseg says
To me; the FBombs are entirely in character for Jean-Guy. I don’t mind them, myself. But we all have different sensibilities.
Mary Stanton says
This is an amazing series. The characters are true to life. Personally I think it is important to read the series from the beginning. Also check out Louise Penny. She is such an admirable person.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, yes, I understand that Louise Penny has had quite a career. It isn’t surprising that she was writing long before she began her mystery career, as her writing is already obviously very practiced compared to many other first time authors.
Melissa says
Interesting that you first saw the show and enjoyed it. I really hated the movie because I loved the books so much. Casting seemed so wrong for most of the characters, probably because I cared so much about those I saw in my mind’s eye.
Beverly A Diegel says
Melissa, I agree about the movie. I didn’t “hate” it and would probably watch if more movies of the series were made, but really, there is no comparison to the richness of the books. The character development, near poetry of some of her writing, the coziness of the little town are all pretty much missing from the movie. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the setting of Three Pines, but even that may be disappointing, as I have such a clear and wonderful picture of the town and bistro and even the bookstore in my mind.
Rose Kerr says
Hi Danna,
I’ve read the Inspector Gamache series and enjoy the series. I would not classify them as a cozy but a police procedural.
That said, I’ve heard them described as “cozy noir”. It appears there are sub-genres to sub-genres.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rose, I definitely agree that the Inspector Gamache series is more police procedural than Cozy. Though if I were inclined to go so deep into sub-genres to describe books in this sort of way, “Cozy noir” would definitely be a good one for this series!
Sandy says
My favorite mystery author. Her books and characters evolve over time. Events happen that haunt the characters over the course of several books. The people in the village of 3 Pines change and grow over the course of time. Her books are best read in order because of the events that have happened, it is hard to jump into a later book without the understanding of the previous books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sandy, I’m very glad to hear that – it’s a part of a series you can’t necessarily tell from just the first book! I also love when a series maintains a consistency and grows over time. It’s always disappointing when it feels like the events of previous books didn’t have an impact on the characters.
Vallaing. says
I’ve not read the books, but I have seen Still Life: A Three Pines Mystery the made for TV movie with the dishy Nathaniel Parker. He also played Inspector Lynley (excellent British TV series) I think they toned it down for TV as it was, if I remember correctly, a cozy movie.
I will check out the books too.
I’ve been listening to The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C Kasasian, a Victorian cozy series. I Wasn’t sure about it at first but thoroughly enjoyed it. Although I listened on Audible I’m sure it would be a good read too!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Vallaing, that’s not too surprising. I’ll have to try to hunt down the movie some time. Another commenter mentioned that it might be on Acorn.
Bek says
HUH…well, I’m not stuck on JUST cozies when it comes to mysteries, and (LOL) having been married to a sailor and having worked on a construction site (yes, really), I’m fairly bomb-proof when it comes to bad language. I’ll have to give this a try when the budget permits!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bek, I definitely recommend you do so – it’s really worth your time (and budget)!
Judi says
I’m most definitely a “cozy” reader, but I really enjoy these books. I just finished one this morning when I should have been doing the things!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judi, I’m glad to hear that they hold appeal for other mostly “cozy” readers.
Diane says
This sounds very similar to the first episode in Midsomer Murders, which makes me very excited to read it! Thanks for sharing.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Diane, now that I think about it, there are some parallels, though my understanding is that most of the novels are in Three Pines, rather than scattered around a series of villages like Midsomer.
Mary Joy says
I’ve not read any of the books, but did see the movie ( or series) of Still Life with Nathaniel Parker (of Inspector Lynley fame) – it was excellent!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, I can’t speak to the movie, as I don’t think I ever ended up catching it here. My understanding is that it’s now available on Acorn, so I’ll try to watch it some time. I do definitely recommend the book.
Pam says
I, too, had read so much about this series. I had a chance to get Still Life free on my Kindle and just recently read it. Since I like all kinds of mysteries along with my cozies, I am now a fan and will read more.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pam, it’s definitely an easy book to recommend to anyone with a well-rounded appetite for mysteries.
Nancy says
It’s a brilliant literary series. Louise Penny writes prose that is often poetic.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nancy, that’s a very good way to put it.
BevD says
Danna…I agree. Sometimes when I read a phrase or thought, it is so poetic I have to stop to absorb it a bit….and then read it a couple more times. The woman can write!!!
Hanna says
How can you say this is not cozy? From your own page: ” I find that most of the cozy mysteries that I read take place in a small, picturesque town or village, with characters who I could envision having as neighbors or friends.” Well, this, and other stories, do take place in Three Pines. It was thanks to this site that I discovered her, when many expressed their wish to live in Three Pines thanks, in part, to the interesting neighbors. And I liked each and every one of them. In one of her last book Penny admitted that she constructed Gamache after her husband. With kind eyes and kind soul. And it was heart breaking to read her story, a couple of years ago, how he developed dementia, she had to move to a loving senior living where he passed. All her stories, even the ones that do not take place in Three Pines are full of history of places that I long to visit. In “How the Lights get in” she described a beautiful Quebec City that I hope to visit some day. Though not in the winter… Her stories are more cozy than Anne Perry and like her, there is a wealth of history in the books. I would take Penny any time over some of the other beloved cozies here when a new character appears toward the end and we know that he is the one who done it. There is more violence in many of the books beloved here, and I’ve mentioned it before, when the heroine is on the verge of death before being rescued. And in contrast to others, yes, including Perry and Hart, she does not change characters’ names from one book to the next, nor does she send the heroine “West, toward the (Atlantic) ocean, toward home.”
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hanna, while I do agree that there are some Cozy elements, the amount of swearing and other less “Cozy” elements in the book definitely make me shy away from considering it a true Cozy. That said, it is so good on its own merits, that I definitely do still suggest it to most readers.
Glen says
Three pines and inspector Gamache is a series that I read a lot of reviews of in mystery magazines. I resisted for a long time because I thought it was over-hyped, and nothing was THAT good. I finally succumbed, and, wow! Was I wrong! They are wonderful, and like others who have read these books, I want to move to three pines myself. Gamache is a very caring man who loves his family deeply, cares a great deal about the people he works with, and is pretty relentless in his search for whodunit, as well as WHY hedunnit. (Or she.) But tho maybe not a cozy, you still feel like you have been welcomed, hugged, fed, and made a part of the family. And, I buy them in hardcover, which I don’t for very many Mysteries…or other books!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Glen, it’s a very similar case for me, though admittedly the fact that I run a Cozy mystery site sometimes makes me feel like I’m “off the hook” for trying out other genres of mystery. It’s only when I realized that she was recommended no fewer than six of the last twelve months by readers that I decided I just had to try her first novel. And wow, am I glad that I did!
Diane Watson says
Louise Penny is the BEST!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Diane, she certainly is a very skilled author – I haven’t read enough of her works to call her the “best” myself yet, but I think I finally understand why people would do so!
BevD says
As I read more books in this series, I began to wish that I could move to Three Pines, have coffee and pastries at the bistro, buy books from the book store and become friends with the characters….even the quirky (swearing) poetess Ruth. Armand G. is a gentle man of integrity and wisdom whom I would be honored to call a friend and neighbor. So yes, they are a bit darker and more police procedural, but the above qualities put the series in the “cozy” category for me. Louise Penny is my (current) favorite author, and my only complaint is that she writes only 1 book a year…but they are so well done that they are worth waiting for!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
BevD, I can see what you mean… I’m just reluctant to recommend something as a Cozy unless it really meets strict criteria! You’d be surprised how many complaints I get about swearing, even in series I usually remember (perhaps falsely) as being relatively “clean”.
Elaine says
I too want to move to Three Pines, and be able to go to the bistro, and be friends with everyone there, even Ruth, and her duck. I’d probably fit right in, and be F.I.N.E.
Nancy says
Cozy or not, these are the best, most well written mysteries ever. You love the quirky characters, and Three Pines. I have recommended Louise Penny more than any other author I have read. I went to a book signing by her and she is kind, intelligent and extremely personable. I highly recommend trying her.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nancy, I’m glad to hear that Louise Penny is as pleasant in person as her writing makes her feel!
Cameron S says
I mostly read the Cozy mysteries… but I adore Louise Penny, right… it is not a cozy, but it isn’t an Ed McBain either!! Although some of those I liked when I was a bit younger.
Thanks
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cameron, I agree – it isn’t a Cozy, but does still qualify as one of the less violent or otherwise extreme examples of police procedurals. (Though I’m not sure if Ed McBain qualifies as those either – I’m haven’t actually read any of his works.)
Missy says
One of my very favorite series! I could easily binge-read the entire series; however, I try to pace myself, reading (or at least trying to) one every couple months.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Missy, it’s always good to have a favorite series that you can come back to time and time again.
Shalma S says
I became a big fan of the Louise Penny: Chief Inspector Gamache mystery series after discovering them while working at a bookstore. I read all except the last 2 books even though, they are part of my collections. Unfortunately, too little time so many books to discover. Each August, I eagerly await a new Inspector Gamache and even if I don’t get to it immediately – at least I have a copy to read.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shalma, I definitely know how it feels to have too many books and too little time! I don’t know how long it’s going to take for me to get through this series, especially since it will hopefully be continuing for years to come.
Susan says
This series is spectacular.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, I definitely agree!
Page T. says
I am very glad to see you note this is not a cozy, although I’ve seen it referred to as such. This is, I believe, a marvelous series with strong literary elements. As the series continues it becomes less cozy, more painful and at times violent. I love these books but readers should know they are not a light read and make strong emotional demands that are at times heartbreaking.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Page, that’s definitely interesting to hear. It’s pretty close to what I’d feel comfortable calling a Cozy in the first book, but I could definitely see how it could continue down a darker and darker path.
Janice G says
I agree with your comments, Page. The first few books seemed much more like cozies but later books take a very dark turn. Louise Penny is a wonderful writer and makes the reader care about her characters which may explain why their actions can cause such concern. The most recent books seem to be less dark.
Gail Wood says
I think this series is one of the most lyrical and beautifully written I’ve ever read. For an added treat, listen to them on audiobooks. The narrators, especially the late Ralph Cosham, capture the beauty and darkness of what it is to be human.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Gail, thanks for the suggestion. You’re not the first person who has suggested the audio books, so I’ll try to give them a shot for the next book in this series.
Elaine says
I love Louise Penny’s series. I first listened to several of the books so I could get the correct French pronunciation. Then I have read all of the books so far. I watch the film, but that fell far short. They changed the characters, and it was, at least for me, a let down. But the books are wonderful! I want to go to Quebec, to the areas that inspired Three Pines. Don’t know if I’ll get to, but it is a dream I have. Her books have a dark side, but the characters are so real, that I feel as if I know them all, and I feel as if I could go curl up at the bistro and have a licorice pipe.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Elaine, I could definitely see hearing some of the terms first a much better way to get the pronunciation down. That’s definitely a tip that I might take advantage of, since several other readers have also pointed out how excellent the audio book versions are as well. And I hope you can make the time to get that trip to Quebec – it certainly sounds beautiful!
susy lewis says
Louise Penny’s website has a link to an audio of the author pronouncing some of the names from her books. It was very interesting and I was very wrong in my pronunciation choices.
Page t says
Thank you for the hint and comments about the audio books. I don’t usually listen to books but have always preferred to read. With these recommendations I am going to try the first and see what I think.
Page t says
Elaine and others. Oh yes, to be in the village! I would leave at a moments notice. Although, I suppose, if all the people who have come to love Three Pines moved it….
MEinMO says
I love Louise Penny. Her books, and Louise herself, are inspirational. My favorite book is How The Light Gets In. My heart pounded and I cried often as I read it. But the ending was magnificent.
MEinMO says
I visited Quebec and saw many of the places mentioned in the books. I hope you have the opportunity to see it. Even without Gamache Quebec is a lovely city.
MEinMO says
I have been to Quebec twice since reading the Gamache series. It is well worth the trip.
Nancy Rampala says
Louise Penny is not only a fantastic writer but she’s also a charming, funny person. In 2012, or so, she was being interviewed by Vermont Public Radio & my husband arranged for us to stop by and meet her. She and her husband spent about 20 minutes alone with us and she graciously signed all of her books that I brought with me. We’ve since attended one of her “official” speaking engagements here in VT (which was sold out) and she continues to be my favorite author. If you ever have the chance to see & hear her speak in person, I highly recommend it !
Sullivan, Mary Lou says
I love all 18 of Louise Penny‘s novels. I’m hoping that she is writing a 19th Inspector Gamache book. Please don’t stop writing. I love these books.