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There are currently 23 member reviews
for Bury Your Dead
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Kristina B. (Pinehurst, NC)
Mystery the way it should be written!
As the latest installment of the Armand Gamache Series, "Bury Your Dead" found our Chief Inspector in Quebec City with his mentor Emile trying to recover both his body and spirit after a horrific terror threat that left several in his department dead and many others wounded. To escape the horrors in his mind, the Chief finds himself drawn to the history books at the local English "Lit and His" Society. Unfortunately, the Lit and His also drew in Augustin Renaud, a rather unusual local, famous for his obsession in the search of the body of Quebec's founder, Samuel de Champlain. Renaud's search had ended, along with his own life, in the basement of the Lit and His. Being recognized by some of the officials, Gamache was asked to assist with this bizarre case and although reluctant at first, accepted the challenge and went to work trying to find out more about Renaud; why he would be in the basement of the Lit and His to begin with; and who would want him dead. The search sends him over centuries of time and along many unexpected roads.
As the Chief was recovering in Quebec, his right hand, Inspector Jean Guy, was recovering in Three Pines. However, like the Chief, Jean Guy also found himself with a little project during his recovery time. As a favor to the Chief, Jean Guy was taking a fresh look at a murder case - a murder case that he himself helped to close there just recently. It didn’t take long for a closed case to become re-opened and matters thought certain to be questioned again.
This mystery is very well written with brilliant depictions of the magnificent Quebec winter landscapes and well developed characters as real as you and me. Penny combines picturesque descriptions with some Canadian history, fantastic characters, a full range of emotions, and a rock solid mystery that doesn’t hint to revelation until the very end. Though having read the prior books in this series could be of help with the background information, this book can certainly be read and enjoyed on its own. This is a truly fantastic series that I would recommend to anyone!
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Lorraine R. (Southampton, New York)
intelligent mystery
Bury Your Dead is a well written mystery, that contained several sub-plot mysteries. The author interwove several different investigations. While it took a while to understand this, the reward was an interesting historical exploration of the mystery surrounding the burial place of Champlain; a murder investigation involving an anglo historical society; and a new look at a recent murder case. Through it all, the protagonist, Inspector Gamache rehashes the recent death of a fellow officer during a terrorist plot. A complex and at times confusing number of events being told at once. At the end it all comes together.
Inspector Gamache was a most interesting character, thoughtful and fully human in his emotions. The historical look at Quebec was intelligently researched and it was fun to read about places I have been to in Quebec city. I would definitely recommend this book to history and mystery lovers. I look forward to reading more of Louise Penny's novels.
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