Wow. This one was really good and I was happy to see the setting of the book takes place in a former Robber Baron home that is turned into an inn. Our favorite Chief Inspector is celebrating his anniversary with his wife Reine-Marie at an inn they have stayed at every year of their lives together. While there, they meet old friends from Three Pines (Clara and Peter Marrow) and unfortunately murder finds them again. I loved the ins and outs of this case even though it did not take place in Three Pines. I am glad I read this book and the next few others back to back since I got a very good rhythm with all of the characters introduced so far. Can I also say that it was great to not have Armand Gamache dealing with a police conspiracy? We do get into his family's backstory which was nice though. 

"A Rule Against Murder" has Armand and his lovely wife Reine-Marie staying at Manoir Bellechasse. It is an inn near Three Pines (don't even ask, I still don't get how far apart they are based on the book description) which for once is not dealing with a dead body. While the Gamache's are staying there, we have Armand reflecting on his father's past as well as his own. The Gamache's arrival at the manoir coincides with a family reunion that has ties to Peter and Clara Marrow. When a murder takes place (by the way, the way this murder happens was a bit much for me, still gave the book five stars though) Armand and his team are quickly on the scene and have to get up close and personal in not only Peter and Clara Marrow's lives, but everyone they come across. 

We get more information on Armand and Reine-Marie's lives together and we hear about Armand's father. I loved that each book reveals itself to us about his background. I don't know if I would have liked all of this information dumped on us in just book #1. It definitely keeps the reader invested though since you want to keep reading about what is going to happen next. 

I also loved that we get more information about Peter's background in this one. We had hints here and there in books #1-3, but we really get to see who he is in this one. The crazy part is, Armand has known who Peter is for a long time, and I think he keeps hoping that Peter can change from a man being eaten alive by jealously that his wife is a better artist than he is. Based on the next few books, it's not looking likely though.

We get some other characters in this one that I don't want to reveal since it will spoil who the murder victim was and I like to leave that open for other readers in the series. Let's just say that the family reunion we are witness too makes the Wynant family in "The Thin Man" series look like the Waltons. And that's saying something. I don't know if I agree with the underlying premise though that the children in the family were loved. They were some warped human beings. 

The writing was very good in this. Louise Penny always does a great job of describing people and places. And I love reading her food descriptions. The flow in this one was much better than the other books too. Everything felt properly laid out. That said, still the way the murder is later explained and how the murderer did I am giving side eye to. I don't buy it. And I spent way too much time Googling stuff on the internet after finishing. Once again, don't want to get into it since I would be spoiling events from the book.

It was nice to get away from Three Pines in this one. I do miss the village and the people there and was glad to see we return to them in the next book which I found to be a heartbreaker. 

I received this book as an ARC for a in exchange for a honest review. ThE charaters are well developed and the story line keeps pulling you deeper in as you read. This book has a hot as bad boy, a twist to a mystery.I was hooked on bad boy Titan Blackstone.
Titan was getting released from prison after serving five year for avenging his mother and sisters death. Titan soon to be stepsister picks Jordana picks him up from jail. He make her uncomfortable on the ride home he was pissed because his dad Lewis couldn't take the time out of his day to pick him up. Titian though the world ended when he lost his mother and sister and there was no good left of him especially after being a felon. Lewis tells Titan he can stay with the has them for month then has to leave. Titan finds a mechanics job and co-worker tells him how he can make some extra cash fighting. Titan takes his chance with the fights so he can move faster.
Jordana has a intership to become a parol officer and help ex convicts something she has always wanted.Jordana has a big heart and wants to help convicts make a better life for them when released from jail. A fellow intern makes her fell uncomfortable and later ends up beaten to death like her brother and several others . Jordana cant keep Titan off her mind so she sneaks and criminal record and it shows he no other criminal record but him beating the guy half to death that killed his mother and sister. Jordana cant help but think about helping Titan because his father doesnt want to hlep him so she give him the keys to her brothers car that t way he can get to work.
Titan confronts Jordana about her wanting to sleep with him.She admits it and tells him how awkward it would be at holidays and he tells her he plans on not comming back. They have a wild hot fuck session while the parents are gone.Titan moves out and Jordana is mad he didn't tell her he was moving out so soon. Jordana goes to see Titan he does everything to keep her away but it doesn't work she want give up on him like Lewis. Jordana is knows Titan can be the man he wanted to be befor he went to jail.Titan doesn't think there is room in his life for love and Jordana is going to stop and nothing to prove him wrong.
Someone is beating drunks up and has even left a few dead over several years. Now more men being beaten to death. Jordana gets a little worried about Titan being the man doing the beatings because some criminal will go back to jail within 90 day for the same offience that they went to jail for the first time.She learns Titan is fighting for extra cash and that was how he was able to move out so soon.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*****SPOILERS ALERT*****THIS REVIEW DOES CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*****
I was HOOKED from the first chapter.
Noah Hardly is the bad boy rock star with the band Cut Up Angels.Laurel is a journalist who goes undercover.The last show the band played Noah accidentally kills a fans by pushing him off the stage.Most of the band and the police don't believe Noah when he tells them the guy had a knife and was trying to kill his band member.The cops are building a case against Noah for murder.
The band is on break due to the accident at the last show. The band goes on break while waiting to see if anything is going to happen to Noah and look for new band members because of the Noah.Laurel is a journalist who goes undercover to get the true story. Laurel is out at going club to club looking for Noah. Laurel last club is the Graveyard.There is a shirt laying on the by a drink .Laurel decides shes had a long day in her serch for Noah and she might as well have a drink or two. She is watching the in the people in the mosh pit and notices that Noah is there in the pit listening to the band.The band stops playing the house music starts and the owner of the shirt is Noah and he offer to buy Laurel her next rournd.Neither can beleive the night they are having and they hook up. Noah and Laurel make plans to meet up again. Someting Noah never does he is a one hit and quit,he never see the same woman twice. But there is just something about Laurel they keep seeing each other for hot steamy sex and getting to know each other. Laurel goes deeper undercover and get a flash driver with a video that will help Noah prove he is innocent. Only to make Noah not want to trust her.Noah contacts his lawyer and his band that way everyone can see what is on the flashdrive. Once everyone see the truth Noah tells them just what he is going to do. Laurel is about to leave town when she gets the call that she is the only person that Noah will talk to about the accident.Laurel knows what is on the flashdrive and Noah will only tell the whole storie her the struggle of not know if he is going to prison or not and how he had to cope with life until the evidence that saved him

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*****SPOILERS ALERT*****THIS REVIEW DOES CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*****

I was HOOKED from the first chapter.
Noah Hardly is the bad boy rock star with the band Cut Up Angels.Laurel is a journalist who goes undercover.The last show the band played Noah accidentally kills a fans by pushing him off the stage.Most of the band and the police don't believe Noah when he tells them the guy had a knife and was trying to kill his band member.The cops are building a case against Noah for murder.
The band is on break due to the accident at the last show. The band goes on break while waiting to see if anything is going to happen to Noah and look for new band members because of the Noah.Laurel is a journalist who goes undercover to get the true story. Laurel is out at going club to club looking for Noah. Laurel last club is the Graveyard.There is a shirt laying on the by a drink .Laurel decides shes had a long day in her search for Noah and she might as well have a drink or two. She is watching the in the people in the mosh pit and notices that Noah is there in the pit listening to the band.The band stops playing the house music starts and the owner of the shirt is Noah and he offer to buy Laurel her next round.Neither can beleive the night they are having and they hook up. Noah and Laurel make plans to meet up again. Something Noah never does he is a one hit and quit,he never see the same woman twice. But there is just something about Laurel they keep seeing each other for hot steamy sex and getting to know each other. Laurel goes deeper undercover and get a flash driver with a video that will help Noah prove he is innocent. Only to make Noah not want to trust her.Noah contacts his lawyer and his band that way everyone can see what is on the flash drive. Once everyone see the truth Noah tells them just what he is going to do. Laurel is about to leave town when she gets the call that she is the only person that Noah will talk to about the accident.Laurel knows what is on the flash drive and Noah will only tell the whole story her the struggle of not know if he is going to prison or not and how he had to cope with life until the evidence that saved him.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018FNBE2G