The Brutal Telling

The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny (2009), 372 pgs.

The sleepy Quebecois village of Three Pines wakes early one morning to a shock: a stranger's corpse has been found at the local bistro. The villagers are grateful that it was not one of their own found lying in this hub of connection and sustenance, but initial shock and relief give way to dread as Chief Inspector Gamache uncovers more questions than answers. Who was the dead man? Who killed him? and Why was he discovered in the bistro of all places? While there are many unique things about this case, at its root it is like any other, blooming from an emotion. What rotten, corrosive emotion is behind this one

Armand Gamache is a steady, comforting presence, even in these deeply unsettling times. However, my appreciation for this book's central character does not entirely sway me to liking the story. Despite being the longest book of the series thus far, this novel feels a bit unfinished. Like a painter hoping to mix the perfect shade, Penny adds new colors to this book by asking many questions, introducing new and interesting characters, and uncovering many shiny things. Each of these colorful additions is beautiful and interesting on its own, but once all mixed together, the story painting loses its brilliance in a muddy, brown mess. I am still looking forward to reading the next one, though!

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller, 287 pages

After a falling out with her mentor, Freya has been out of the antique hunting game for 20 years. But when that mentor, Arthur, turns up dead inside his antiques shop, Freya and her aunt Carole (who also happens to be Arthur's close friend) are tasked with solving his murder and bringing some antiquities forgers to justice. Or at least I think they're supposed to be doing that second part. Even after reading the book, it's hard to tell if that last bit was one of Arthur's assignments from beyond the grave. The plot's a bit murky, and several of the characters are a bit bland (though that definitely cannot be said of Carole, who is larger than life in the best possible way). This was definitely set up as a potential series starter, and I can only hope that the second book finds Miller on more solid ground.

The Grace in Older Women

The Grace in Older Women (A Lovejoy Mystery) by Jonathan Gash (1995) 279 pages

This time I decided to try a mystery series written by a man with a man, Lovejoy, as the main character. Lovejoy is always hard up for money, quite an expert at antiques, rather a ladies' man in his scruffy, unwashed way, and a con man (though of course he doesn't see it that way).

There's a long set-up as Lovejoy moves from person to person, trying to get a meal, sex or a [con] job. He's frustrating and loveable, and in his first person narrative, he's quite a teacher of the antique business, both legit and forgeries. When his friend Tryer is murdered, Lovejoy tries to help the man's girlfriend (well, sometimes). He eventually thinks he knows who killed Tryer, but meanwhile, he's also arranging a huge exhibition of forgeries at great cost to others, while promising to pay up soon. His vetting of the forgeries for the exhibition is quite a production in itself. The action is nonstop.

This British author's writing is colorful, but there were times when I thought I'd need a "British-colloquial-English" to "American-standard-English" translator! I wasn't at all surprised to learn that there were 73 episodes of a Lovejoy mystery series on British television, as entertaining as these characters are.