Series: Three Pines Book 4
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Length: 336 pages
Audiobook Length: 10 hours and 53 minutes
First Published: 2008
View in Goodreads
Buy on Amazon
Rachael’s Review
During a summer heat wave, Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie visit a luxurious inn in the countryside for their customary anniversary visit. This year, a contentious family is also staying at the inn, which Gamache is shocked to learn are Peter Morrow’s relatives. After a statue dedicated to their late father is unveiled, one of the family members is murdered and Gamache must use his investigative skills to solve the case, even if one of his friends is a prime suspect.
The fourth entry into the Inspector Gamache series was just okay. I still think Inspector Gamache is a great character and I adore his wife. Moving the story out of Three Pines was a nice change and allowed the novel to focus more deeply on Peter and Clara Morrow. Though the case itself was intriguing, thought the action-packed ending felt a bit rushed. Everyone keeps telling me to hang on until books five and six, so I guess I’ll give Penny a few more tries to see if she can reel me back into the series.
Publisher’s Description
It is the height of summer, and Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache are celebrating their wedding anniversary at Manoir Bellechasse, an isolated, luxurious inn not far from the village of Three Pines. But they’re not alone. The Finney family―rich, cultured, and respectable―has also arrived for a celebration of their own.
The beautiful Manoir Bellechasse might be surrounded by nature, but there is something unnatural looming. As the heat rises and the humidity closes in, some surprising guests turn up at the family reunion, and a terrible summer storm leaves behind a dead body. It is up to Chief Inspector Gamache to unearth secrets long buried and hatreds hidden behind polite smiles. The chase takes him to Three Pines, into the dark corners of his own life, and finally to a harrowing climax.
Quotes from A Rule Against Murder
It’s a shame that creativity and sloth look exactly the same.
Her tragedy was that she always found men to save her. She never had to save herself. She never knew she could.
Not everything needed to be brought into the light, he knew. Not every truth needed to be told.
About Louise Penny
Louise Penny is the author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. Her husband Michael was the inspiration for Armand Gamache; he died in 2016. Penny currently lives in a small village south of Montréal. Visit the author’s website →
Featured In
Similar Books
