Wow!  An outstanding post-pandemic book.  The author wrote a profoundly human story involving legal, moral, and emotional elements of how society cares for our most vulnerable people.  It was difficult for me to have the book end.

I always devour the Gamache books and they are responsible for many bad book decision nights. Louise Penny does a fantastic job of ending chapters in a way that makes me desperate to keep reading. 

I do like how intricate the plot was with this one. What was connected and what was not? And I guessed the solution, but Penny did a great job of muddying the waters so I wasn't quite sure until the reveal. I am also always appreciative that no one is perfect. Gamache is not always right and doesn't always make the right decisions. Nor do some of the other beloved characters in this series. But there is a running theme of community as family in this series, so you get to read about the hard work that goes into repairing damage that someone has done and the process of forgiveness as a person is brought back into the community. I also really liked the theme in this book of misunderstanding, some of it deliberate and some of it not. Penny did a great job of really digging into Haniya and how she is perceived; she challenged her characters to confront their behavior and assumptions, pretty much shaming them for it. And to see how the characters then challenge themselves to do better is amazing.

It's important to note that in this book, the COVID-19 pandemic is over, but there are many references to it. What hurt my heart most is that the world came together to do what was needed to stop the pandemic...and that isn't what happened in the real world. So to clearly see this alternate reality in which there are no masks and everyone can freely be around others because everyone got the vaccine (and wore masks/socially distanced) is a little heartbreaking. It's very in-character for the world of Three Pines, but never have I more fervently wished that the Three Pines reality was ours. 

So we're back in Three Pines post-Covid, which is a bold move on Louise Penny's part, as this little corner of the world seems to be ahead of the real world in recovery. The plot revolves around a statistics professor, Abigail Robinson, who has come up with a plan for economic recovery and for minimising damage from any further pandemics - but it is a plan abhorrent to many, and has public opinion divided. Inspector Gamache is asked to provide security for one of her events.
Once again, murder and mayhem ensues, with Three Pines at the centre. (I do like the way Ms Penny gently pokes fun at herself over the number of murders in such a tiny village). Ghosts from the past are woken, and feelings become very personal for both Gamache and Beauvoir, as well as for the suspects. As usual, the characterisation is superb, with new faces as well as the old and familiar ones, and the plot is intricate and interesting, with numerous twists and turns before the denouement.
I have read all of the Inspector Gamache novels this year, and I'm now a bit lost, having to wait a year for the next one! 
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the e-ARC of this book.