What starts with the need for more space in an apartment in the village of Three Pines leads to a walled off area broken through - a wall that was erected over a hundred years ago - revealing a huge painting that partially replicates a famous painting in England. The creepiest part of this painting is how many of its altered elements seem to be speaking out to Chief Inspector Gamache directly, hinting at details committed by a serial killer who was in prison for his gruesome crimes. But then, how was the painting put behind the brick wall relatively recently, with no one being aware of it being done?
The novel also brings us back 10 years ago, to the murder case where Chief Inspector Gamache first chose to bring the outspoken, rather disrespectful Jean-Guy Beauvoir onto his team. That case was pivotal to so much of what follows in this series. Two abused children are orphaned when their mother is murdered. Their appearance in this story as young adults adds much second-guessing.
So many of the residents in the village are involved in this intricate, and at times, quite suspenseful novel. Already a Penny fan, I found this story to be among her very best.
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