The Brutal Telling

The Brutal Telling is the fifth book in Louise Penny’s long-running procedural series featuring Montreal Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. The story is set in a small Quebecois village (Three Pines) and begins with the discovery of a body in the bar of a local bistro. The plot is highly complex — sometimes too complex as it pulls in fantastical elements and literary allusions. But Penny is a solid storyteller and a witty writer. Winner of the 2009 Agatha Award and the 2010 Anthony Award.