Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is the 12th..12th! installment in the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny. Her works are such a pleasure to read, her talent to convey emotion and set up a mystery make this a page turner. Inspector Gamache has come out of retirement to take charge of the Surete academy. In the last novel we found out that the corruption Gamache exposed within the Surete has deeper roots which begin with cadet training at the academy. Once again the fictional Three Pines where Inspector Gamache has retired with his wife Reine Marie and charming dog Henri offers a mystery for the Inspector. He uses this as a training exercise for four cadets, two new and two senior cadets. An old map is found, a connection to the stained glass window in the church is seen and the cadets must find out who drew this map? What is it for? What type of map is this? Why was it hidden? The Inspector makes several decisions which change the way things are done at the academy but some people, including himself, question his decisions. One of which is accepting a most unlikely new recruit, Amelia Choquet. Who is she? What, if anything has she to do with the Inspector? The former Commander of the academy is kept on as a professor, and what happens to him is the main mystery of the story. Interesting is that another professor talks a lot about misdirection and Ms Penny uses this herself to make you question who is really doing what. The main characters from Three Pines; Clara, Oliver, Gabi, Myrna, Ruth ( and her duck ) contribute to the story but are more in the background in this novel. The setting alternate between Three Pines and the academy. Once again the reader is exposed to the depth of maturity, compassion and intellect of Inspector Gamache and how all these qualities are hard won. It's hard to write a review without reveal too many details which may spoil the discovery for others. Don't miss out on this wonderful read! Louise Penny is one of my favorite authors. I can't imagine the talent of writing 12 amazing novels.