Ponder: The Beautiful Mystery

The Beautiful Mystery ©2012 is the eighth book in the Chief Inspector Armande Gamache series by Louise Penny. I am still enamored by these murder mysteries, each a distinct case but still populated by a recurring cast of baseline characters that I have come to adopt as my literary family. The title refers to a series of chants that have such a mesmerizing, calming effect on both the singers and the listeners as to be referred to as "the beautiful mystery". The singers in this situation are monks in a monastery hidden deep in the woods of a secluded island in the wilds of Montreal. Despite a strict vow of silence, a dedicated work ethic, and a commitment to God, a murder is committed among their ranks. The meditative power of choral music, believed to be the precursor to Gregorian chants, is insufficient to deter one of the monks from being the perpetrator with his motive indiscernible.

In a setting with limited communications with the outside world, Chief Armande Gamache and his second in command Jean-Guy Beauvoir set out to investigate and solve the murder. Beginning to adjust to the cloistered atmosphere of the monastery while doggedly collecting information, evidence, and clues, their well oiled system is twisted askew by the abrupt, unannounced arrival of Chief Superintendent Sylvan Francoeur, Gamache's superior. Francoeur seems intent on thwarting their attempt to do their job, complicating the investigations for reasons unknown. He also is aiming to drive a wedge between Gamache and Beauvoir. You could say he threw a monk-ey wrench into the works. [Groan. Bad, bad pun.]

After reading each of Louise Penny's books I am curious to look into some of the background for her settings and situation. She modeled the fictional monastery of The Beautiful Mystery, Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, after the real Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, situated on the shores of Lake Memphremagog, less than 90 minutes east of Montreal

Bits of Penny's descriptive language throughout this novel periodically leapt out to amuse me:

When Lauds ended the Chief and Beauvoir stood in their pew, watching. It was, thought Beauvoir, a bit like taking the break in a game of pool. Balls heading off in all different directions. That's what this looked like. Monks going here, there and everywhere. Scattering, though not actually bounding off the walls. [Chapter 14]

Many of the brothers are fine musicians. We have recorders and violins. Or are they fiddles? I'm never quite sure what the difference is." [spoken by the abbot]
"One sings, the other dances," said Gamache.
The abbot looked at him with interest. "What a nice way of putting it." [Chapter 15]

Gamache picked up the page. "I don't suppose you have a photocopy machine?"
"No, but we have twenty-three monks." [Chapter 15]

The murder itself is well woven, as I have come to expect from a work of Louise Penny. Once again the intricate entanglements of the main murder storyline is intertwined with a parallel storyline of the personal relationship among the characters I have become so invested in. I am kept in suspense as to the revelation of the murderer and his motive until the very last pages. The closing Gamache/Beauvoir interactions shocked me and left me hungering for the next novel. At the risk of sounding like a Johnny-one-note I once again rate this Louise Penny book five stars. I devoured it, beginning one day and finishing it the next.
★★★★★ Great! Read it!

Ponder: A Trick of the Light

 A Trick of the Light © 2011 gives a fly on the wall view of the art world. The murder mystery by Louise Penny indeed portrays the emotional side of the art world – "does that stir you?" or "what feelings does it evoke?" But moreover, it also paints a picture of the competitive business side of the art world  – money grubbing, political maneuvering, back-stabbing, social posturing – where it is more important to make a buck than to make a statement. The insight I gained kept my interest once again with this, the seventh book I have read of Louise Penny's as she leads the reader through the sleuthing of Chief Inspector Armande Gamache.

The story takes place in two locations: first, the Musée d'Art Contemporain in Montréal, and second, the familiar quaint Québec village of Three Pines. Clara Morrow, a feature character in the Louise Penny novels is nervously having her first official private showing of her works, a coming out of sorts into the art community. At the vernissage, a cocktail-style party to launch Clara's first solo show, there was a variety of guests, from the straightforward villagers of Three Pines – Clara's husband and closest friends, to the highly polished socialites of the wealthy art community – art dealers and gallery owners, to the struggling poor artists – wannabe's valiantly striving to become famous. The stage is being set with suspects for a murder that has yet to happen in a location yet to be revealed.

The novel is sprinkled with bits of jealousy between husband and spouse and among "fellow" artists. Greed abounds as there is competition to sign on a lucrative artist, creating yet another motive for murder. But then again, is there revenge lurking as well for past slights? One aspect of Penny's work that I enjoy is that I rarely do guess "whodunnit" until the very last pages even though she provides an abundance of clues and motives.

The victim is discovered, the very night of Clara' vernissage, spoiling her night of recognition after lifelong efforts. To add insult to injury, the victim is found "among the bleeding hearts and lilacs" in Clara Morrow's very own garden, neck snapped. Along side/ underneath the body is found a coin with the image of a camel on it, the words of the serenity prayer on the reverse side.

God grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can, and

The wisdom to know the difference

As the clues begin to amass, the reader is still simultaneously treated to tidbits of the inner turmoils of the private lives of Chief Inspector Armande Gamache's family and co-workers, all characters in which I maintain a vested interest. These back stories and continual growth of these individuals keep me wanting to launch into the next novel she has written. I am lucky that novels #8 and #9 just became available off my wait list at the library. I will stop blogging and begin reading!

But first a final detail: I rate A Trick of the Light five stars, a rating I have bestowed on four of the first seven of her books I have read: Still Life (4 ★s), A Fatal Grace (3 ★s), The Cruelest Month (5 ★s), A Rule Against Murder (5 ★s),  The Brutal Telling (5 ★s),  Bury Your Dead (4 ★s). In my rating system this rating translates to   ★★★★★  Great! Read it!