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mpusterla89's review against another edition
5.0
Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series is an excellent foray into the world of mystery novels. I've always loved mysteries and who-dunnit type TV shows and movies, so it only made sense that I would love a good mystery novel as well. Still Life introduces you to the world of Three Pines and immediately sucks you in. I found the characters a little hard to follow through the first few chapters, but once personalities emerge and develop, you begin to really know them. Louise Penny paints a beautiful picture of this fictional Quebec town, punctuated with murder, deceit and suspicion. Even so, I wish I could move in! Like a good mystery should, you're given enough information to figure out the murder on your own and draw your own conclusions, but I was surprised by the ending.
sarahrigg's review against another edition
4.0
I accidentally started the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series in the middle, having started with #6, "Bury Your Dead." But I liked it well enough that I went back to start the series from the beginning.
The first novel is rich and layered. Gamache already has backstory before the first page, as do the main characters from Three Pines, where a suspicious death has occurred. I liked what a wonderful observer of human behavior Penney is, and how much art theory and philosophy play into the plotline.
This book is told in third person omniscient, and I'm not always crazy when an author bounces around from head to head in a story, but that is one of my few criticisms. I look forward to reading more in the series!
The first novel is rich and layered. Gamache already has backstory before the first page, as do the main characters from Three Pines, where a suspicious death has occurred. I liked what a wonderful observer of human behavior Penney is, and how much art theory and philosophy play into the plotline.
This book is told in third person omniscient, and I'm not always crazy when an author bounces around from head to head in a story, but that is one of my few criticisms. I look forward to reading more in the series!
emsage's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the setting and setup of this charming mystery. I appreciated how there were not many twists nor "wow" factors, yet the author maintained a level of intrigue and surprise.
gateway_to_wonderoand's review against another edition
3.0
En ole aiemmin lukenut Three Pines dekkareita, mutta olen kuullut niistä hyvää. Siksi tämä herätti kiinnostusta. Kiinnostusta herätti myös aivan upea kansi, joka huokuu syksyä, mysteeriä ja jostain syystä nostalgiaa. Tiedän ettei kirjaa saisi arvostella kannen perusteella, mutta tämä vaan on niin hieno!
sandyincanada's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
mandykool's review against another edition
3.0
Weirdly nice and cozy. Like one of those tv shows you have on in the background that you can miss things and still get the gist of the plot.
The town of Three Pines was adorable and I’d sit and read from their perspectives like a Gilmore Girls show. That’s how much I enjoyed the quirky town.
Where I struggled was with the sassy young detective who never listened to her superiors. She was so out of place and took away from the experience for me. I hope she doesn’t come back in the next ones, but if she does, has a character arc change.
Simple plot: someone is murdered in this small town and the detective is figuring out who. It’s not special, but enjoyable.
The town of Three Pines was adorable and I’d sit and read from their perspectives like a Gilmore Girls show. That’s how much I enjoyed the quirky town.
Where I struggled was with the sassy young detective who never listened to her superiors. She was so out of place and took away from the experience for me. I hope she doesn’t come back in the next ones, but if she does, has a character arc change.
Simple plot: someone is murdered in this small town and the detective is figuring out who. It’s not special, but enjoyable.
michaelg66's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
drumrollplease1's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this. I finished it and immediately started her second (though not necessarily sequential) book in this series. A great look at human behavior and why people commit the acts they do. Plus Armand Gamache is the MAN.
kmetzing's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lauren_laf's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by my Nana, who loves this series and has read every one of Penny’s works the second they get released! Really enjoyed the way Penny creates such fleshed out characters in really simple ways— it really does feel like you’re stepping into the community along with the detective. Mysteries aren’t always my favorite but this was a smooth read that kept me interested and guessing (though not correctly because I’m apparently really bad at figuring out who did it or Penny really is that good at hiding it)! Feels like a beach read but for a cozy cabin by a fireplace in the fall, would recommend!