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Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1)
Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1) | Louise Penny
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
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dabbe
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#Two4Tuesday
@TheSpineView (thanks for the tag! ❣️🎄❣️)

1. My best start to every day is having the girls (aka Kate and Pippa) wake us up. It is always the ultimate joy as they really do live in the moment.
2. In the tagged book, Inspector Gamache is one of the most methodical detectives I've ever read--maybe even more than Holmes.

Play? @IndoorDame @Sleepswithbooks @TheBookHippie

TheSpineView ❤️🐕❤️ Thanks for playing 5d
44 likes1 comment
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willaful

“Abby Hoffman said we should all eat what we kill. That would put an end to war.“

Not for the first time Beauvoir was at a loss for words with Gamache. Was he serious? Was he, perhaps, a little touched? And who was Abbé Offman? A local cleric? Sounds like exactly the sort of things some Christian mystic would say.

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dabbe
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#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1. Not having children to come home for the holidays, we really don't have many traditions. Mine are steeped in my childhood. One I do have, though, is to reread all of my mom's Christmas newsletters from 1974 until she died. I put them together in a spiral book and gifted them to my sisters the year she passed. She loved Christmas. How I miss her. ❣️🎄❣️
2. Tagged. I hope to read the whole series.

All are tagged! 🤩

AmyG #1….that is lovely….especially that you have them all together and passed on copies. ❤️ 3w
Susanita That‘s a sweet tradition. 🥲 3w
Deblovestoread 💙❄️💙 3w
See All 16 Comments
Lesliereadsalot Such a thoughtful and beautiful thing to do 🩷 3w
Read4life That is a wonderful tradition 💙💙💙 3w
TheSpineView Lovely tradition! Thanks for playing 3w
dabbe @AmyG It's fun to read what she thought my sisters and me as we were growing up. 🤩🤗🤩 3w
dabbe @Susanita Thanks. 💙❄️💙 3w
dabbe @Deblovestoread 💙❄️💙 3w
dabbe @Lesliereadsalot I'm so glad she had kept them in a file! 💙❄️💙 3w
dabbe @Read4life Thanks. 💙❄️💙 3w
dabbe @TheSpineView YW and TY! 💙❄️💙 3w
Lesliereadsalot They were waiting for you 🩷 3w
dabbe @Lesliereadsalot 💙❄️💙 3w
bthegood Beautiful tradition and lovely gift for your sisters 💕 3w
dabbe @bthegood Thanks, m'dear. 💙❄️💙 3w
46 likes16 comments
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dabbe
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TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 3w
kspenmoll You have sone good books in your mix! 3w
dabbe @kspenmoll Sansoms, Sherlocks, and Drews! 🤩😂🤗 3w
dabbe @TheAromaofBooks 💙❄️💙 3w
45 likes4 comments
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willaful

Dull ride home yesterday but my loan on this fortuitiously came in, so I read the first chapter aloud to my husband to keep him entertained.

19 likes1 stack add
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dabbe
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#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons @Liseworks @StayCurious
#earlybirdpoints
#mostanticipateddecemberread
+10 points

I've only read one of her books (out of order! 😱) last December. I'm hoping to start anew with Book #1 and actually read the whole series! #readinggoals2025

Kerrbearlib I still need to read this one. I‘ve heard great things. 4w
dabbe @Kerrbearlib I loved FATAL GRACE. I'm just so horrible at starting and finishing and entire series ... well, if I'm to be honest, pretty much anything! 🤩 4w
willaful This is very much in demand at all my libraries, so my husband and I will be sharing a copy. 😂 4w
See All 6 Comments
bthegood I started this series this year, love it! Hope you enjoy it too!🙂 3w
dabbe @willaful Luckily, my sister gave me her copy, so I'm good to go! I just have to start the damn thing! 🤩😂🤩 3w
dabbe @bthegood 💛🧡🤎 3w
64 likes6 comments
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Texreader
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I‘m going through some reading trauma right now apparently. I‘ve read this one five years ago! And I remembered it once I realized the plot. So I checked out book 2, and turns out, I‘d read it too! And reading my review I remembered it as well. So, I‘ve returned books 1 and 2, and now I‘ve put a hold on book 3. I‘m just a mess with my reading this week!! #Canada #foodandlit @Catsandbooks

Bookwormjillk It happens! 1mo
Catsandbooks 😅 try again lol 1mo
TheBookgeekFrau 😂😂 Are you even really a reader if you haven't experienced this?! I just did this last week with one of my BookspinBingo books 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 1mo
52 likes3 comments
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Texreader
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I‘ve been wanting to start this series for ages. I‘ve read 2 or 3 of it out of order. Finally my library hold came in so I can read it for #Canada #foodandlit @Catsandbooks

TEArificbooks This is the book I pulled for Canada too 1mo
Jerdencon Such a great series! 1mo
kspenmoll Love this series!!! 1mo
52 likes3 comments
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Elizabeth2
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Pickpick

This book introduces Inspector Gamache and the residents of Three Pines, a small town in Canada. The mystery kicks off when a beloved resident turns up dead under mysterious circumstances. The quirky cast of characters and cozy setting are what really sell this series. The audiobook format wasn‘t ideal for an intro to so many characters though. I‘ll stick with reading this series in print for now and look forward to more Three Pines. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

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Karisa
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Pickpick

So freaking good! This series has been on my #tbr for a while, but the size of the series was daunting… It has so much more depth than I expected. I love Penny‘s take on the bookish detective with Chief Inspector Gamache. Plus the village of Three Pines is swoon worthy! Lives up to the hype!

49 likes1 stack add
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Teresereading
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I‘m in Three Pines, a tiny hamlet in Quebec. Happy #CanadaDay
#whereareyouMonday
@Cupcake12
#24countriesin2024

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kspenmoll
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#Two4Tuesday

Fav meal: Turkey soup after Thanksgiving,

Tagged book has descriptions of Autumn & hot cider etc.
in the village of Three Pines.

Littens, consider yourselves tagged!

TheSpineView Love turkey leftovers! Thanks for playing! 2mo
33 likes1 comment
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Sparklemn
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Pickpick

I can‘t believe I waited so long to start this series! I love curmudgeonly detectives. 🙂

Pic is how I imagine Three Pines in the winter. ❄️

marleed Oh same! There‘s just so many boooks in the series that I haven‘t started it, but I really want to read the series. 4mo
Sparklemn @marleed It is intimidating! 4mo
CoffeeNBooks I love Inspector Gamache and Three Pines! 4mo
Sparklemn @CoffeeNBooks Do the other books take place in the same area? 4mo
CoffeeNBooks @Sparklemn Some of the books in the series are entirely in Three Pines, and sometimes part of the story is there. 4mo
40 likes5 comments
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NovelNancyM
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Pickpick

I'm not sure why I've never read Louise Penny before (other than that mysteries aren't my first genre choice). However, this did not disappoint as the writing is so descriptive and the characters are intriguing. I plan to continue reading the series.

ShelleyBooksie The series gets better and better. Enjoy! 4mo
34 likes1 comment
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Susanita
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I‘m not ready for fall! But I‘ll give this a go.
1. Tagged
2. High Country Fall
3. Cider
4. All day!
5. City of Ghosts
6. Cozies
7. Cookies 🍪
8. I don‘t burn candles very often
9. Leaf peeping
10. So many!

Thanks for the tag

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

I listened 2 the 1st book in the Gamache series & perhaps bc of that I had problems following at times. It changed perspectives so many times it was hard to keep track. I think I‘ve been reading/listening to just thrillers that it was challenging to listen to a slower paced mystery. I liked the reveal at the end & more of the pieces came together. I will give the 2nd in the series a chance. Most likely on audio.

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Shemac77
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Pickpick

Lovely to start from the beginning again. Three Pines and Gamache are two of the best characters in fiction.

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CatLass007
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#NationalEggMonthChallenge @TieDyeDude Thanks for the tag!! 1) Tag a favorite mystery you‘ve read: This is the first book in the brilliant Armand Gamache/Three Pines series. Her writing is so poetic! 2) What is your favorite way to prepare eggs? If I‘m eating out, I enjoy Eggs Benedict or a good omelette. I‘m not really much of a cook but I will occasionally scramble up some egg with my cheese. Also deviled eggs or egg salad. Join in!

TieDyeDude We had to institute a two egg limit when my mom made deviled eggs for holidays so everyone was able to have some 😅 7mo
CatLass007 @TieDyeDude Two whole eggs or two half eggs? We never instituted a limit, we just knew to make extra for Daddy. Everyone else was expected to just have self control.😂🐣 7mo
WildAlaskaBibliophile ❤🍳 thank you for playing! 7mo
CatLass007 @WildAlaskaBibliophile Thanks for posing the unusual question. 7mo
36 likes4 comments
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Shemac77
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Next audible.

27 likes1 stack add
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bthegood
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Pickpick

A perfect first book to a series. Chief Inspector Gamache and his team (Inspector Beauvoir and Agent Nichol and Agent Lacoste) are investigating the death of Jane Neal in Three Pines (Quebec). The cast of characters, setting, and mystery are well written. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Book 1/19 #SeriesLove2024
Book 1/2 for #MarvellousMarch goals.

Make a great day everyone 🙂

TheSpineView Fantastic!❤️📖📚 9mo
bthegood @TheSpineView thx for hosting🙂 9mo
51 likes2 comments
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BookishBelle
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Pickpick

Catch-up post #5: I was very happy to get around to reading this. It was a top notch murder mystery and I am happy there are so many in the #Series to catch up on!

Bookwormjillk They get so much better too! 12mo
BookishBelle @Bookwormjillk Good to know! Thanks! 12mo
27 likes2 comments
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JenReadsAlot
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I only managed the first two books in this series this year so hoping for more in 2024! @Andrew65 @TheSpineView #serieslove2024

CatLass007 I think this a wonderful series! I‘ve completed the first 14 books and finishing the rest of the series this year is one of my goals. 12mo
CoffeeNBooks This is a great series! 12mo
TheSpineView Great series! Enjoy! 12mo
Andrew65 It‘s a wonderful series, and one I too need to make good progress on. 12mo
31 likes4 comments
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LeticiaToraci
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Mehso-so

This is interesting enough for me to continue the series even if I didn't like some things in the plot.

Bookwormjillk They get better from here. 12mo
14 likes1 comment
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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

I liked this book well enough. I‘ll definitely read more. I don‘t get the one star reviews on Goodreads. I really enjoy Gamache as a character. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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I love that Gamache is afraid of heights! I can relate. Because I watched the Amazon show, I picture Alfred Molina as the inspector. I hope Nichol gets better. Right now, she‘s annoying. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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This book seems to get mostly “meh” reviews, but I do want to read the series, and this is the first one. So far, it seems fine to me, but I‘m only a few chapters in. #audiowalk

Librarybelle I love the series, and I really liked the first one. But, the books do get better, in my opinion. 13mo
KathyWheeler @Librarybelle That‘s what I‘ve heard. 13mo
25 likes2 comments
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CaitlinR
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“‘You described a personality type. The ones who lead what you called “still lives.” Do you remember?‘”

“‘Yes I do. The ones who aren‘t growing and evolving. The one‘s who are standing still. They‘re the ones
who rarely get better.‘”

Rereading Penny‘s Still Life which is just as good as I remember! Going to read the series ( on Libby during appointments) to catch up on the one‘s I‘ve missed.

28 likes1 stack add
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BookNAround
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Finally starting last month‘s #doublespin while Gatsby naps. Just a tad late. LOL! #serieslove2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

dabbe Oh, Gatsby. #toocuteforwords 🖤🐾🖤 1y
CogsOfEncouragement I just finished The Nature of the Beast. I‘ve been enjoying the series for a couple years, reading each book in the month/season it is set. 1y
TheSpineView ❤️📖📚 13mo
Andrew65 An excellent choice. 13mo
53 likes4 comments
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Eggs
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💛💛💛 1y
50 likes1 comment
review
Jgacreations
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Mehso-so

It was a little boring and pretty easy to guess the killer mid way in.

review
Jen2
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Pickpick

I‘m caught up with the paper books, going back to listen to them. Three Pines is my happy place.

TiredLibrarian Agreed! 1y
68 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Twainy
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Pickpick

🎧 Starting a new police procedural series. This was a solid start.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is our MC. There‘s a mysterious death of an artist to investigate. I look forward to the next book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

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Twainy
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I somehow thought I needed to start another long series …

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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

Finally getting around to this. First book was decent but will continue as reviews say the series gets better. #serieslove2023 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

TheSpineView Great job! Hopefully they will get better. 2y
FlowerFairy I‘m late to the party as well. Am currently on book 6. Have been reading this series like it‘s my job. LoL And yes, they get better and better with each book. 2y
JenReadsAlot @FlowerFairy LOL! Good to hear! 2y
44 likes3 comments
review
Lizwarnerpdx
Pickpick

A murder mystery set in the tiny French-Canadian village of Three Pines outside of Montreal. When a beloved member of the community, Jane, is murdered the villagers help Chief Inspector Gamouche find out who among them is the culprit.

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Robotswithpersonality
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Mehso-so

Currently on the fence about continuing in the series, and about whether the better category would be cozy mystery or cheesy mystery (but cultured 🧀...camembert? Brie?).
It introduces characters that you can see will have room to develop, some in dire need of growth, and it certainly gives charming autumn village vibes. Smidge melodramatic, people with secrets, doesn't feel ugly like a thriller...but a lot of regrets. Just too much? 🤷🏼‍♂️

Robotswithpersonality ⚠️Fatphobia; Smudging in a non-indigenous rite setting (co-opting religious practice) 2y
CSeydel This series did not grab me as much as I hoped it would. 2y
8 likes2 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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I sense a pun. It's been decades since grade school French, but wouldn't Malenfant => Mal | Enfant => Bad Child => André Bad Boy?! 🤔😄

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Robotswithpersonality
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Curious what would happen if I found some tea drinkers to poll. Is this an inherent truth? What would a barista recommend in such circumstances? 🙃

Caroline2 Love this! I am all about the healing powers of earl grey. It is my go to comfort drink. ☕️ 👍 2y
Robotswithpersonality @Caroline2 First results of the poll are in: confirmed! ☺️ 2y
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MelKelsey
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Pickpick

Book 26

I read it for a book club, the 1st in a series of mysteries w/ Inspector Gamache, the antithesis of the stereotypical detective.There are an overwhelming amount of mostly-dimensional characters, and the whodunit is surprising. However, there are so many red herrings and plot points left unfinished that I felt confused.Apparently these issues will be elucidated in succeeding novels, but I'm uncertain I want to expend the energy. 3.75 ⭐️s

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FlowerFairy
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Pickpick

Wow! Hundreds of Littens are not wrong! This one was fantastic! My only regret with reading this book is that I didn‘t read it sooner. I see a series binge coming. So happy when I discover a series I love and there are so many books in the series.

kwmg40 I've read all the books in this series so far, and I can assure you that it only gets better after this first book! 2y
84 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Lauranahe
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Mehso-so

I feel like I‘m in the minority, because I thought this was only meh. The writing felt a little self-published to me, like it could be cleaned up. There would be scenes between characters, then someone would talk and I was like “that person been there the whole time? Where‘d they come from??” There were jumps in time and action that were very abrupt. But I did laugh a few times, and I appreciated the French jokes. And I did not guess the end!

TheKidUpstairs The series definitely gets better as it goes, as she develops her groove with it! 2y
18 likes1 comment
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Bookish.SAM
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Pickpick

After a LONG week, this is all I wanted to do with my Friday night🍷📚❤️

I was very pleasantly surprised by this first of the series. Loved it and can‘t wait to read more. Bonus that this a (until recently unknown to me) 🇨🇦 author.

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terryduncan5719
Pickpick

My first Louise Penny. I didn't realize it was the first of all her books. It was engaging, easy to read. The characters were quirky and well described. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Then I discovered Three Pines on Amazon Prime! They did a great job with characters.

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Cathythoughts
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Pickpick

My first Louise Penny. I‘m looking forward to getting to know the characters better.. lovely writing.

Tamra Happy 2023 Cathy! 😘🤗🎊 2y
CarolynM 👏👏 2y
Cathythoughts @Tamra Happy New Year 😘 2y
Cathythoughts @CarolynM Yes ! I‘m a fan. It‘s 6.30 a.m. here and I‘m about to start book 2 2y
CarolynM Once you start it's hard to stop! And for the first 6 or so books they just keep getting better and better. 2y
60 likes5 comments
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NikkiKey94
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Pickpick

I‘ve had this book on my TBR for way too long. I‘ve been watching the show Three Pines on Amazon Prime, which is based off of the Inspector Gamache series and it really made me want to go ahead and dive into the books. I really enjoyed Still Life! I definitely plan on reading the rest of the series because I really enjoy the characters.

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mcctrish
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June #12booksof2022 I finally started the Inspector Gamache series ❤️❤️ I went on to read 4 more this year and now I face the horrible choice of pacing myself so the world of Three Pines can last forever

Andrew65 It is a lovely introduction to the series. Always difficult pacing yourself so always have more to look forward to. (edited) 2y
mcctrish @Andrew65 a true reader problem 😆 2y
Karisimo I started last winter and now I'm up to book 7! I like pacing myself to match the season in which they take place! Number 6 was my favorite so far! 2y
mcctrish @Karisimo that‘s a brilliant idea and now I will not want to wait to read book 6 🤣🤣 2y
49 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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JenReadsAlot
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Since I already own the first 8 of this series on my kindle it's time to get reading! @Andrew65 #serieslove2023

Andrew65 Think I‘ve read through first 3 and this is really a series I need to get back to . Good luck and enjoy. 2y
mcctrish I started this series this year and I love it so 2y
36 likes2 comments
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Cathythoughts
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There‘s been a lot of talk on Litsy lately about Three Pines. So I decided to start the first book in earnest. So far it‘s a pleasure to read 👍🏻♥️

CarolynM I feel sure you‘ll be a fan too🙂 2y
rockpools Aw, enjoy it! 2y
Cathythoughts @CarolynM Ithink so already 👍🏻😁 2y
See All 17 Comments
Cathythoughts @rockpools Thanks Rachel ! I hope you‘re having a lovely Christmas time. X 2y
rockpools @Cathythoughts You too, Cathy! 2y
erzascarletbookgasm I hope you‘ll like it. I read this some time back, but didn‘t pick up the second book. Too many distractions! 😄 2y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm I like it so far. Yes, lots of distractions. I hope all is well with you and yours Jessie ♥️ 2y
TrishB Hope you enjoy 😁 the residents have many ups and downs! 2y
Cathythoughts @TrishB Sounds good 👍🏻😁 2y
LeahBergen I have a copy of this and have told myself I‘ll get to it this year, too! 🤞 2y
LeahBergen Well, NEXT year … you know what I mean! 😆 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I know what you mean 👍🏻😂. Well , I‘m loving it, and I imagine you would really enjoy it too. 2y
AvidReader25 I hope you enjoy it, but I went to add that the series just keeps getting better! I think the first two or three books are actually the weakest of a series and it‘s so worth sticking with it. 2y
Cathythoughts @AvidReader25 Thankyou ! That‘s kind of you to share. I will definitely keep going 👍🏻😁 2y
Tamra I only listen to the audio editions and enjoy them! It does take a few installments to build the reader relationship/attachment to the characters and the village, but it‘s worth it. I‘m also enjoying the adaption on Amazon. LOVE Ruth! Fuk Fuk Fuk 🦆🤣🤣🤣 (edited) 2y
Cathythoughts @Tamra Just finished the first one. I like the writing , I think she‘s a sensitive person Louise Penny , I like that. Yes , I‘d say it will take me awhile to settle into the series. Ruth 🤣😂 2y
Tamra @Cathythoughts I appreciate the philosophical & ethical elements she includes. Life is messy. 2y
76 likes17 comments
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Tamra
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I really enjoyed this screen adaptation. I‘ll be looking for more episodes - there is certainly a lot of material for inspiration!

TheKidUpstairs I do enjoy it, but I hope future episodes get more into the cozy side of Three Pines. The first two really went all in on the dark and foreboding feeling. And I can't, for the life of me, figure out why they name swapped Olivier and Gabri? 2y
Tamra @TheKidUpstairs good question?! I think perhaps the cozy might come when Armand & Marie move to 3 Pines. 🤞🏾 Funny in my mind it‘s a lot smaller - more of a handful of homes on a square. 2y
JamieArc @TheKidUpstairs I totally agree with you. I was thrown off guard when the first two episodes had all the three pines characters as cranky suspects instead of the characters we‘ve come to love. Especially Myrna. I get why, it being Gamache‘s first intro to them so they were suspects, but I hope this changes soon. 2y
CBee It bugged me that the episodes were being marketed as based on Still Life but they were actually based on A Fatal Grace 🤷‍♀️ I love Alfred Molina as Gamache, though. 2y
Susanita It‘s funny that the advertising mentions Still Life when they jump right in with A Fatal Grace. I agree the characters seem more cranky than quirky, but maybe that will change as Armand spends more time there. Love Alfred Molina! And I don‘t want to smack the TV version of Jean-Guy, so there‘s that. 2y
47 likes5 comments
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PageShifter
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Mehso-so

I couldn't relate to characters and I was really confused how detectives acted toward each others but also toward other people. There were scenes were they were rude, rolled their eyes etc. That was strange.

I loved this little village and it was cozy & atmospheric. But this being a mystery I thought I would get an intriguing plot and this wasn't that thrilling nor interesting as a mystery.

Thanks for recommendation @Andrew65 !

#SeriesRead2022

Andrew65 Oh dear 😔 Feel like I should say sorry. I‘d read a few towards the back end which I felt were better than the opening book. 🎄🎄🎄 2y
JamieArc I always tell people not to read this book for the mystery element. They get much better as you go along - as the characters develop. 2y
PageShifter @Andrew65 No reason to be sorry! I believe this gets better when you continue the series, and @JamieArc already confirmed that 🥰 2y
TheSpineView Awesome 2y
Andrew65 @PageShifter Often the first book in a series can be disappointing, and they get better as they go along as the characterisation develops. (edited) 2y
15 likes5 comments