Friday, October 15, 2010

Review AND Giveaway - Bury Your Dead - Louise Penny

Oh my goodness! Why have I not read Louise Penny before now?! I loved this book and literally could not put it down! (To be entered to win a copy courtesy of The Miami Book Fair International, leave a comment on this review)

Bury Your Dead is the 6th book in the Chief Inspector Gamache series.

Detective Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec is hoping to recover from his horrific last case that left him both physically and mentally wounded. He has come to Québec City to stay with his mentor Émile Comeau and heal. It is winter in Québec and Carnaval  is on, but Gamache instead seeks out solitude in the library of the Literary and Historical Society - an English bastion in a French dominated city and  province. The Lit and His tries to maintain a low profile, but that is shattered when a well known local archaeologist, bent on finding the lost body of Quebec's founding father, is found murdered in the basement of the library. Inspector Gamache reluctantly agrees to consult.

The hidden village of Three Pines is a setting for many of the previous books in this series. Gamache has sent Olivier, a local bistro owner, to prison for the murder of a local hermit, but receives letters every day from the man's partner proclaiming that a mistake has been made. Gamache, already second guessing himself,  decides to send his deputy Jean-Guy Beauvoir, also on leave from the tragic last case, to unofficially re investigate the case.

This was my first introduction to this marvelously fascinating lead character. Gamache is wise, introspective and human. In addition to nearly losing his own life in his last investigation, he did lose members of his team. The one who lives in his head every day is Paul Morin.
Je me souviens, thought Gamache. The motto of Québec. The motto of the Québécois. I remember. That was the problem. Always the problem. I remember. Everything."
As Gamache works his way through the murder at the Lit and His, Morin's voice is always in his head. Snippets are revealed and more as Gamache moves forward, a little bit at a time.

Every school age child in Canada has studied Samuel de Champlain, known as the founding father of New France - Québec.  But, Champlain's final resting place and some details about his life have never been firmly established. Penny has brought the mystery of Champlain into the mystery of Bury Your Dead, weaving intriguing historical detail into her fictional tale. The political atmosphere of Québec is captured with much discussion surrounding the Separatist movement for Sovereignty. I enjoyed reading the descriptions of Québec City very much, as I have visited many of the places described.

Penny has written an incredibly detailed, thoroughly engrossing mystery that successfully includes historical and political subplots. The odd little village of Three Pines is filled with quirky characters that I look forward to knowing better. But it is the characters, their thoughts, feelings and emotions that made the book for me. Just superb.

Bury Your Dead is a fitting title on so many levels. Gamache must put the past to rest before he can move, as do many of the characters in the book.

Louise Penny has joined the list of my favourite mystery authors. Fans of Peter Robinson would enjoy this author.

Louise Penny will be appearing at The Miami Book Fair International
on Sunday November 21, 2010. I wish I could be there to see her!

"The books are coming.

And the readers and writers will follow, as they do by the hundreds of thousands every year for the Miami Book Fair International, an eight-day literary party in November.
Among the noted authors who have already confirmed are Margaret Atwood, Al Gore, Barbara Kingsolver and Ralph Nader.

The Fair, in its 26th year, will open Sunday November 8th with the popular Evenings With… series, featuring six nights of readings and discussions with noted authors from the United States and around the world.


On Friday, the Street Fair gets under way. The highlight of the Street Fair is the Festival of Authors, with more than 350 authors reading and discussing their work, including the Latin American and Spanish authors who participate in the IberoAmerican Authors Program. Thousands of South Florida schoolchildren will help kick off the Street Fair, making the trip downtown Friday to hear authors and participate in Children’s Alley activities, including theater, arts-and-crafts, storytelling and readings by children’s book authors. Comix Galaxy is back this year, with a school of comics on Friday and a new section just for kids and teens, as well as presentations over the weekend by renowned graphic novelists and illustrators.


During Street Fair weekend, more than 250 publishers and booksellers exhibit and sell books, with special features like the antiquarians, who showcase of signed first editions, original manuscripts and other collectibles.

The first Miami Book Fair International, founded by Miami Dade College and community partners, took place in 1984. Since then it has been recognized as the nation’s finest literary festival. In 2001, the Fair became part of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami Dade College, a cultural and academic initiative that promotes the advancement and appreciation of literature throughout the year."

And it is with thanks to The Miami Book Fair, that I have a copy of Bury Your Dead to giveaway. Open to US and Canada, no po boxes please. Ends Sat. Nov 13 at 6 pm EST. Simply comment to be entered.

75 comments:

DarcyO said...

I want to find out what happens with Olivier. Please include me.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

bermudaonion said...

I keep reading great reviews of Penny's work. She's an author I obviously need to try.

Jenn's Bookshelves said...

Isn't her writing the best! I have BURY YOUR DEAD in my review pile as well; I'm so happy to read all the great reviews about it!

Marie said...

Great review. I love mysteries, so I can't figure out why I haven't read any of her books. I'll have to see what I can do about that. ;)

Tina said...

Great review! I love mysteries but I haven't heard of this author yet. Thanks for the chance to win!
melodiousrevelry (at) gmail (dot) com

Cackleberry Homestead said...

Wonderful review. I have the 5th in this series, but have to say I haven't read it yet either, but you make me want to go home and pick it right up.

Please enter me in the giveaway.

crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

Sarah said...

Thank you for the great review and giveaway:)

foxchick0323@live.com

debbie said...

This is a new author to me. The book sounds really good.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

fredamans said...

I love a great mystery and even more so when it has some Canadian content in it. Thanks for the entry.

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

PoCoKat said...

I love Louise Penny's books...please enter me.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

chey said...

Great review! Now I want to read it!

chey127 at hotmail dot com

shanaelyse said...

This looks awesome!

shanaelyse@gmail.com

holdenj said...

I really enjoyed The Brutal Telling and am happy to read such great reviews of Bury Your Dead.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Sheila Hickmon said...

Sounds like a great book! Please enter me!

fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

Charleydog said...

I spent 55 years in the "Je me souviens" province - Quebec.

Always nice to read a book with identifiable locations.

Please enter my name in the giveaway for the book. Thanks!

pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

rossjenc said...

Looking for a new series to enjoy. Please enter me.
Thanks!

a real librarian said...

Great review!! Thanks for the chance to win!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, doll. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I'd like to give Penny another try!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Pamela Barrett said...

I stumbled upon one of Louise Penny's books a year ago and loved it. Interesting story lines and characters. Thanks for an oppourtunity to win this one ;-)

Carol M said...

I've heard so many good things about Louise Penny's books! I would love to read this one! Thank you for the giveaway!
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

Would love to win this book!

billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com

Judy H said...

Please enter me in the giveaway!

headlessfowl at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I'm so happy to know you enjoyed this book. I love Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache books and am thrilled she's come out with her 6th one.
Thank you for offering this book in a giveaway!

~ Amy
Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Debbie F said...

Please include me. Thanks

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Dorte H said...

I have read two of Louise Penny´s Gamache stories (though not this one), and I found several things to like. The setting was wonderful, the plots good, and I liked several of the characters. But to be honest, I *didn´t* see Gamache as very human. In the two stories I have read, he is not only flawless, he is almost saintly. I have seen reviews of Penny´s later works which suggest that it is not quite as bad any more, however, and I´d like to hear what you think.

Luanne said...

Dorte;

This is the first book of Penny's I've read. Gamache is definitely not 'saintly' in this one. In fact, he is pondering his own shortcomings, misgivings and mistakes...

Meredith said...

Sounds like a great story! Please include me!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Amber said...

I love books set in canada. Familiar territory and all :)

ayoung3360@hotmail.com

Linda Kish said...

Count me in, please.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

linett said...

would love to read this

littlelatina said...

Sounds like a good read

Unknown said...

Sounds like my kind of book! roach808@hotmail.com

rubynreba said...

Looks like a very good book. Please enter me.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

tamathamc said...

not familiar with the author but sounds like I will like it

Alicia said...

Would love to read this.

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

bloggyig at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read Bury Your Dead :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
http://scr.im/ladybugemail

clynsg said...

Don't think I have ever read anything by this author, but maybe I should start looking at her.

cgclynsg0 @ gmail dot com

Fireflyhex said...

I hope I'm not too late.
fireflyhex@gmail.com

minishoes1 said...

Never heard of the auther but sounds like my kind of book! Thanks! jacquecurl1(at)gmail(dot)com

topkat said...

fun stuff

Unknown said...

I've loved her other books and would love to receive this one!

Renee G said...

Would love to read this. I've heard wonderful things about her books.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

pippirose said...

I'd love the chance to win this book.
:o)
pippirose59 at gmail dot com

Joanne said...

i would like to read this

Bcteagirl said...

Great review! I have a few of Louise Penny's books, starting with Still Life. I don't have this one though and would love to read it! :) :)

teagirl1 at telus dot net

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you can start this series in the middle :) I'd love a copy!

swiftfan1@yahoo.com

cowboyswife said...

Thanks

wgbc1446 said...

This book sounds like a real page-turner. Thanks for the chance to win! wgbc1446[at]yahoo[dot]com

maria said...

Sounds like an interesting book!

billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I have never red this author before I would love to win so that I would have the opportunity to red her.
mjmeeks5@netscape.net

Anonymous said...

Would love to read this!
shawnac68@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I, too, would like to find another good mystery author, so please enter me in your contest.

farrell@crosslake.net

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this work!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Susan said...

I want to find out what happens, please enter me thanks

suelee1998 @ gmail.com

Kim (Randominities) said...

This sounds like a great read. I love finding new books! Thanks so much for the review and the giveaway!

Rhonda said...

I am a huge mystery lover and a Canadian. I have never read Louis Penny. I would like to as I like to support Canadian writers

rhondastruthers atyahoo.ca

Colengal said...

I am always looking for new mystery writers that go outside of the formulaic plots.

Mary said...

I just bought one of her books. Would love to read this one.

mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

please enter me

sheryljeffries at verizon dot net

Venus Montoya said...

Sounds intriguing, definitely on the must read list!

susansmoaks said...

i love to read, i would love to win this!
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Wow, This sounds like a great novel with the characters and the historical setting in Quebec. I would love to read it. Thanks. garrettsambo@aol.com

Candie L said...

Definately got my attention. THank you

candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

Laura H. said...

Thanks for the giveaway! Sounds like a great book!

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

07violet said...

this sounds interesting to me

alterna7 at hotmail dot com

loni broesch said...

Looks good ...count me in to win please

trippyjanet at hotmail dot com

tallcapp said...

All you had to do is compare her to Peter Robinsom and I'm definitely in. I love ins books so ergo I will love her books.

Kellie Conklin said...

Sounds like a great book! I would love to read it! Thanks for the giveaway!
kconklin1028@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Interesting mystery....What happens to Oliver?
Diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com

Kathy P said...

Thank you for the great giveaway please count me in :)
kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

Sand said...

I would love to read this book!

Anonymous said...

Please enter me & thx for contest
thehighflyer3(at)hotmail(dot)com

Sarah said...

I'm now wondering why I haven't read Louise Penny before, either.

Tonya M said...

I would love to have a new author to read