#1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny pulls back the layers to reveal a brilliant and emotionally powerful truth in her latest spellbinding novel.

When an intricate old map is found stuffed into the walls of the bistro in Three Pines, it at first seems no more than a curiosity. But the closer the villagers look, the stranger it becomes.

Given to Armand Gamache as a gift the first day of his new job, the map eventually leads him to shattering secrets. To an old friend and older adversary. It leads the former Chief of Homicide for the Sûreté du Québec to places even he is afraid to go. But must.

And there he finds four young cadets in the Sûreté academy, and a dead professor. And, with the body, a copy of the old, odd map.

Everywhere Gamache turns, he sees Amelia Choquet, one of the cadets. Tattooed and pierced. Guarded and angry. Amelia is more likely to be found on the other side of a police line-up. And yet she is in the academy. A protégée of the murdered professor.

The focus of the investigation soon turns to Gamache himself and his mysterious relationship with Amelia, and his possible involvement in the crime. The frantic search for answers takes the investigators back to Three Pines and a stained glass window with its own horrific secrets.

For both Amelia Choquet and Armand Gamache, the time has come for a great reckoning. -Amazon

“Penny writes with grace and intelligence about complex people struggling with complex emotions. But her great gift is her uncanny ability to describe what might seem indescribable – the play of light, the sound of celestial music, a quiet sense of peace.” ―New York Times Book Review

If you haven’t read Louise Penny you should, start here:

Winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it’s a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter. Still Life introduces not only an engaging series hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces—and this series—with integrity and quiet courage, but also a winning and talented new writer of traditional mysteries in the person of Louise Penny.- Amazon

This book was written so beautifully the world so exquisitely I actually slowed down to better absorb each detail. The architecture, landscape and streets of Ireland, Dublin and small village so vivid I felt I was there seeing and even smelling the environment. It was just an amazing experience to read her beautiful writing.
The story was riveting. A romance about a love grown apart for some unknown reason. An upper class man form an Estate fell in love with one of the staff's daughter. They had a young beautiful love till one day she disappeared. Years later, she returns to find her old flame engaged, enraged, and confused about what made her leave. Forced to work together, they fight, kiss, fight and things get dangerous when another factor comes at them.
I loved 95% of this book, really loved it. It would have been a 5 star read if it weren't for the rushed ending that just didn't fit the book. There was this glorious long romantic tale with suspense, danger, lies and cheating then it all just was okay. Everything was just fine, she had the ring, nobody questioned anything and it was over. The last 5% wasn't romantic or believable, it was almost as if another writer stepped in and finished it i under 10 minutes. Even with that disappointment, I would jump at the chance to read her works again, Ms. Fox is a gifted wordsmith.

The writing deserves 5 stars but I am waiting this on my feeling to it. This was a hard book to read, and as a mother, wife, daughter and friend I think it hit me harder, okay it walloped me upside the heart. I am not a fan of emotional reads, so this book was out of my comfort zone in more ways than one. It deals with the loss of love, children, time and the long road to recovery. It was very realistic, very well done and I'm glad I read it but I would not read it again so 4 stars, okay 4.4 stars.
A woman, falls and suffers brain trauma forgetting the last 17 years of her life, her children, her marriage all of it. She wakes up in a hospital at 40 years old and thinks she is 23, there is a stranger a man there and her parents who look oddly older. She slowly recovers, physically but her memory is not as easy to recover. She meets her children, yes meets them, get out your tissue box. Her husband, was her High School crush that she never talked too. Then the world has changed, cell phones, internet, everything is different. She goes through steps to reconnect, or at least be at peace with her past that was but may never be again. She may never find those lost years and must start new.
Her husband is the perfect husband, honest, supportive, attentive, sexy, and unwavering in his love for her and their children. He must court the woman of his dream who doesn't know him but has been with him for 17years. Time and paitience seem to come easily with his belief and complete faith that everything will be okay. I have never read a character with such wonderful qualities before, and I'd like to see more in future reads.
The kids, man what kids. They decide to take their mom on dates so she can get to know them. I had tears rolling down my cheeks, it was the sweetest thing. Young Dawson's date was the best of the best. I'll let you find out for yourself when you read the book, just get ready for a lot of 'awwww's"
It was an excellent read, it made me think about my own family and how much they mean to me. I had some hateful moments during the first 30-40% I can't stand others pain and suffering, I am marshmallow when it comes to reality issues. I would jump at another book from this author. Thank you SnoopyDoo for the recommendation

The Long Way Home goes to #1 (Sept. 14) on the NYT List and this is how you say thanks to your fans and publishing team. Congratulations, Louise, you and Gamache deserve it.

A lovely Thursday evening with several hundred other Louise Penny fans. As always it was an enlightening and entertaining event. Louise talked about writing her first book, her first contract, her writing process, and this new book, The Long Way Home.