Louise Penny brings back Chief Inspector Gamache and Three Pines in this intriguing mystery. Gamache and team arrive in the quirky village of Three Pines when an unidentified body is discovered in the local bistro. A new family has moved to Three Pines to rehabilitate the old Hadley place and turn it into an upscale hotel and spa. This presents competition to the local B&B and tensions have risen in the village. Suspician twists and turns as the team struggles to identify the victim and the motive behind the killing. [return][return]The mysterious victim, a hermit living close to the village, presents a puzzle for Gamache with references to art, history and the Native Canadians of the Pacific coast. The amount of time and travel spent investigating does seem out of proportion to the crime, however, and the ending leaves you with several questions unanswered.[return][return]Penny's characters are wonderfully developed, each with his own eccentricities. Themes of community and belonging weave throughout the story. In conclusion, a fun read to curl up with as long as you don't look too closely at plausibility.