A delicious read

I don't know how I found the Chief Inspector Gamache books by Louise Penny, but I am forever grateful that I did. I read the first book, Still Life, in September of 2008 and I was instantly addicted. Most books that I read are mysteries and while I enjoy reading them, rarely do I read a mystery that has both an intriguing plot and interesting characters; it seems to me that many mystery writers pour all of their creativity into the mystery itself and not into the characters.

Not so with Ms. Penny - her books have intriguing plots and incredibly interesting characters. Most of the books are set in the small fictitious village of Three Pines in southern Quebec. Her descriptions of the village and the inhabitants are so vivid that I want to get in the car and drive there. I want to eat at Olivier and Gabri's bistro, browse books at Myrna's shop, dodge rude comments from Ruth as she stalks around the village green followed by her duck, Rosa. And if tragedy ever enters my life in the form of murder, I want Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beavoir to investigate.

Nothing is black or white in Ms. Penny's books but there is lots and lots of gray. Her characters are multidimensional: the good guys aren't always all good and even the bad guys have certain good qualities. And she isn't afraid to leave ends loose. I get weary of books and movies that feel the need to tie up everything in a neat package by the end. Nor do her books always have happy endings, another quality that I admire. Life does not always have happy endings so why should a book? I like that her books leave me unsettled, raise questions and linger in my thoughts for days, weeks on end.

When I saw that Ms. Penny had a new book coming out in September, I did something I never do: I bought a hardcover edition. Not only did I buy it, I pre-ordered it from Amazon so it would be shipped to me immediately upon publication, so I would not have to wait for the book on reserve at the library.

The Beautiful Mystery did not disappoint. While I easily could have stayed up all night devouring it, I forced myself to read it slowly and take pleasure from every chapter. I don't gobble a delicious meal or chug a luscious glass of wine, I savor every bite or sip, and I did the same with this wonderful book. I couldn't wait to get to the end, yet I did not want the book to end. And when it did, I was both pleased and devastated - no happy ending to this book.

The following passage from Louise Penny's website explains much of why her books appeal to me:

My books are about terror. That brooding terror curled deep down inside us. But more than that, more than murder, more than all the rancid emotions and actions, my books are about goodness. And kindness. About choices. About friendship and belonging. And love. Enduring love.

If you take only one thing away from any of my books I'd like it to be this:

Goodness exists.

No wonder I crave her books.