Peace In The Margins

“Three Pines wasn’t on any tourist map, being too far off any main or even secondary road. Like Narnia, it was generally found unexpectedly and with a degree of surprise that such an elderly village should have been hiding in this valley all along. Anyone fortunate enough to find it once usually found their way back.”

Louise Penny, Still Life

I’m not quite certain why it took me so long to pick up this treasure. For the last few years, Inspector Gamache consistently appeared as a recommended series on Anne Bogel’s What Should I Read Next podcast, and each time I would make a “mental note” to check it out. Earlier this year I ordered the first book in the series, Still Life, from Thriftbooks. That’s when I committed the ultimate readers’ sin, I added it to my ever growing TBR stack.

It is now August – over a half-year later, and I am reeling over this book! I spent the entire afternoon of National Book Lovers Day curled up in the new reading corner my husband created for me immersed in community of Three Pines. I began Still Life earlier in the week, reading about 20 pages a night before bed, but on Sunday, I devoured the last 200 pages of this gem!

Louis Penny has returned life to the Agatha Christie fans of the world! Yet saying Still Life is a cozy mystery doesn’t give the story justice. While I would definitely call it a cozy mystery, Penny creates a well-thought out study in setting, characters, and deeper yet, in humanity and the philosophy of actions and consequences.

Gamache notices everything because he purposefully takes the time to do so – but always with humility and compassion. Penny didn’t create the “perfect” character in Gamache, but instead, she created a relatable and flawed human who sees those around him as the same. It is through those flaws that the human element emerges, stronger and more aware of the importance of living a life true to yourself and your community.

Through the people of Three Pines, Penny challenges us to consider our positions on social justice, diversity, marriage and family, and how we give trust to others. Yes, this is a cozy mystery, and there is a murder of sorts to be solved. Yet, like I said earlier, this story is so much more.

I am desperate to grab the next book in the series, but alas, I’ll have to wait until the postman (or woman) arrives.

On a side note: I’m seriously considering this as a book club selection of 2021.

An unsolicited review.