The Beautiful Mystery

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny, 373 pgs.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his right hand man, Inspector Jean-Guy Beauvoir, are confronted with more than one mystery when they arrive at the intentionally-hidden Gilbertine monastery. As the Inspectors investigate a murder in this small, religious community, they uncover more about the mysteriously captivating Gregorian chants for which these monks have recently become world-famous. When Chief Superintendent Sylvain Francoeur, a man for whom Inspector Gamache has no love lost, arrives unexpectedly, the mysteries compound. Why has the boss arrived at this remote monastery? And is the outside world right behind him?

This story is carried by its strong characters, particularly Gamache and Beauvoir but also the monks. Penny's presentation of their differing reasons for joining the Gilbertine order, and her presentation of their lives there, is captivating. Additionally, the arrival of Francoeur, the clear villain with unclear motives, adds a level of intensity that some of the other stories lack. It took a while to get into, but the last third of the book had me on the edge of my seat.