Chief Inspector Gamache and his second-in-command, Inspector Beauvoir, are each recovering from near-fatal injuries from a rescue mission to save one of their officers who was taken hostage. The story of the hostage situation is handled via flashbacks. Gamache is trying to deal with the psychological fallout from the rescue mission while visiting his mentor, Emile Comeau, now retired and living in Quebec City. Gamache is drawn into helping as a civilian on a murder case there. Meanwhile, Inspector Beauvoir, at Gamache's request, is in the village of Three Pines, reconsidering the murder case that ended with the conviction of Olivier Brulé, the owner of the Bistro.This story reverberates in subsequent Penny books, and is the reason I decided to read the series in order (even though the books can each be read as stand-alones). Penny captures the reasoning and the emotions of those involved in these cases, and draws the reader into some of Quebec City's history from the time of Samuel de Champlain in the 17th century and the continuing struggles between those of French and English descent that continue to the present day.
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