Thank you Goodreads for giving me the wonderful opportunity to read an advance copy of "The Beautiful Mystery" and become acquainted with the writings of Louise Penny. I was immediately drawn into this book and my only wish is that I could have had the means to read it faster.

A religious order of cloistered monks who it had been thought were no longer in existence are rediscovered through a mixture of their 24 beautiful chanting voices. 24 monks become 23 and a mystery is created. The order must face many challenges as their solitude is disrupted and Chief Inspector Gamache and Inspector Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the homicide division of the Surete du Quebec are called to investigate the nature surrounding the death of the order's choir director at the once thought mythical monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups. While staying at the monastery, Gamache and Beauvoir not only search out clues as they pertain to their case, but also undergo their own private introspection stemming from their own personal and internal struggles.

Through a wonderfully descriptive and intense novel, the reader is able to appreciate the characters and story presented. Although I was saddened by the turn of events which led to the conclusion of this story, I was not in the least disappointed in "The Beautiful Mystery". It is with pleasure that I would highly recommend this mystery to others and look forward to reading more from Louise Penny.