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lntubbs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really nice police procedural. This is a thriller writer I can get behind. It has cozy mystery vibes but with a bit more stakes that I enjoy. I will be reading more from Louise Penny.
clk1950senreader's review against another edition
4.0
No 1 best seller “The Madness of Crowds” is Louise Penny’s 17th novel. She wrote this during the pandemic but the story takes place post-pandemic. In Three Pines hugs and gatherings are the norm and all our familiar characters are back. The residuals of the pandemic life are just beneath the surface. Chief Inspector Gamache is dealing with pandemic horrors that will stay with him forever. We are forced to question our own values and beliefs when a charismatic scientist proposes the practice of euthanasia . Her followers are easily lead and vote seeking politicians are quick to join the movement - sound familiar? It is a madness. This is a darker story, not an enjoyable escape but a very worthwhile read.
kerri_strikes_back's review against another edition
2.0
I don’t think I’ve read Louise Penny before, pulled this off the recents shelf at the library. Eh. Didn’t like the writing style - it was incredibly curt and a little confusing. Lots of characters introduced quickly which I see this is #17 in a series probably from that! Heh. So that could be on me but it does say “a novel”.
The short sentences made it hard to get caught up in it. I skipped through and read individual pages to the end but nothing I read made me want to go back and figure out what was really happening.
The short sentences made it hard to get caught up in it. I skipped through and read individual pages to the end but nothing I read made me want to go back and figure out what was really happening.
gail1801's review against another edition
4.0
First time I have given her book a 4 instead of a 5. It drags a bit and not as exciting as most of her other books.
mbc007's review against another edition
4.0
Gamache/Louise Penny never disappoints. Timely, too, as ever.
crmailloux's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
jboitsova's review against another edition
5.0
My five stars for this book because it is one of the best Gamache stories for a long time. Louise Penny has had her ups and downs, but this book takes us back to the atmosphere of the village of Three Pines, where good neighborliness and humanity rules. The book may be a little chaotic, but I liked it.
jberg16's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
eldercrone's review against another edition
4.0
Very good book. I could not put it down. There were some places that I would have shortened or changed, but I’m more than happy to escape to this little village in Québec, if just for a while…
Topics are very much relevant to what we are still dealing with. Not necessarily about the pandemic (book is set somewhat in post pandemic time) but in the fascinating but frightening scenario of the “madness of crowds.“ And thanks to the author, I now have something new to read. A book originally written in the 1840’s but still available and relevant: Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay.
Topics are very much relevant to what we are still dealing with. Not necessarily about the pandemic (book is set somewhat in post pandemic time) but in the fascinating but frightening scenario of the “madness of crowds.“ And thanks to the author, I now have something new to read. A book originally written in the 1840’s but still available and relevant: Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay.