Review: The Brutal Telling (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #5)

Chaos had found Three Pines. It was bearing down upon them and all that was safe and warm and kind was about to be taken away. This is far and away the darkest of Penny’s books so far. She explores the dark heart that can be well hidden from view. Gamache’s second in command, Beauvoir remembers one of the first lessons Gamache taught him: What kills can’t be seen. It’s not a gun or knife or a fist. It’s an emotion. Rancid, spoiled.

When the body of an unknown man is discovered on the floor of Olivier’s beloved bistro in Three Pines, it’s soon apparent that Olivier has kept many secrets, not only from his partner Gabri, but from all his friends who think they know him so well. This is one of the many elements that makes Penny’s books shine so bright, her fearlessness in showing a character’s true self, flaws included. None of us is totally pure of heart, and we see these people in all their true colours.

But the darkness is leavened with wonderful glimpses of light, for example Gamache reminiscing about the end of the summer school holidays: The mix of sadness at the end of summer, and excitement to see his chums again. The new clothes, bought after a summer’s growth. The new pencils, sharpened over and over, and the smell of the shavings. And the new notebooks. Always strangely thrilling. Unmarred. No mistakes yet. All they held was promise and potential. So evocative!

This series is best read in order to fully appreciate the character development.

• Review
• Louise Penny