Glass houses, by Louise Penny

Having mostly tidied up the problems in the police academy, Gamache has finally accepted the position of head of the Sûreté du Québec.  And what is the most pressing problem facing it?  The crime and despair associated with the drug trade across the porous border between Canada and Vermont.  But to lure the cartels in charge of the trade out into the open, first Gamache must first trick them into thinking that he and his officers are incompetent and perhaps compromise his own beliefs and standards.  Meanwhile, back in Three Pines, as strange, silent black figure has appeared on the village green and just stands there out in the November weather.  It is soon revealed that this figure is a "cobrador", a conscience.  In modern  Spain, this figure follows and shames debtors; in medieval times, it was literally a “conscience,” sent to shame someone who has a great moral failing.  Who is this creepy figure, and who has it come for?  Not too surprisingly, there is soon another dead body in Three Pines.  What is the connection of this person to the cobrador, and might this also be connected to Gamache’s work?  Not as good as the previous book and still excellent and very timely.  400 pp.