Questions About Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #1)

by Louise Penny (Goodreads Author)

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Still Life, please sign up.

Answered Questions (60)

Why doesn't Inspector Gamache like Yvette Nichol? What exactly did she do wrong?

Ali Nazifpour

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

flag

This books has been recommended to me and is on my list.

Scott Brazil I just read it, after having met the author on her recent book tour. Very well written, wonderful characters and setting. Highly recommended by me. I …moreI just read it, after having met the author on her recent book tour. Very well written, wonderful characters and setting. Highly recommended by me. I have been told that it is important to read this series in order, which I intend to do.(less)

flag

What is a licorice pipe?? I feel like I need one - lol. Does it pair with a scotch? Need one of those, too!!

Artemisia I loved that too - the Bistro was one of my favorite things about the book, almost the center of Three Pines.

flag

I don't understand why the niece did the rush job with the hideous wallpaper inside her aunt's house. If she thought she was inheriting it, why would she make it deliberately ugly and so different from her own home? (I also don't understand why the police couldn't get access right away - but that's probably something about Canadian law?)

Matt Reardon Yeah, that was an awful idea by the niece and completely unnecessary. Also must have been very costly for someone who obviously was low on funds. It i…moreYeah, that was an awful idea by the niece and completely unnecessary. Also must have been very costly for someone who obviously was low on funds. It is never really explained why she did it as she wouldn't want to live there decorated like that and it would hurt any resale value (she was a realtor after all) and the coverup worked for all of like 10 minutes after the police and neighbors actually got inside. If she had just done normal wallpaper then it might have actually worked, but still not clear why she was so intent on covering up the walls and floors so quickly.

Agreed about access to the house. I don't see how there is any possibility that the police would not be allowed into the house of someone killed under mysterious circumstances when there is a live investigation going on (no matter whether it was murder or an accident in the end). Even in Canada that sounds like a horrible way to restrict the police. It makes no sense as the heir should have no right to the house until the investigation of the killing is complete. Different story if the person died of natural causes and there is no police investigation of course.(less)

flag

This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)