What do you think?
Rate this book
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #20
The Black Wolf
Somewhere out there, in the darkness, a black wolf is feeding.
Several weeks ago, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec and his team uncovered and stopped a domestic terrorist attack in Montréal, arresting the person behind it. A man they called the Black Wolf.
But their relief is short-lived. In a sickening turn of events, Gamache has realized that plot, as horrific as it was, was just the beginning. Perhaps even a deliberate misdirection. One he fell into. Something deeper and darker, more damaging, is planned. Did he in fact arrest the Black Wolf, or are they still out there? Armand is appalled to think his mistake has allowed their conspiracy to grow, to gather supporters. To spread lies, manufacture enemies, and feed hatred and division.
Still recovering from wounds received in stopping the first attack, Armand is confined to the village of Three Pines, leading a covert investigation from there. He must be careful not to let the Black Wolf know he has recognized his mistake. In a quiet church basement, he and his senior agents Beauvoir and Lacoste, pore over what little evidence they have. Two notebooks. A few mysterious numbers on a tattered map of Québec. And a phrase repeated by the person they had called the Grey Wolf. A warning…
In a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Gamache and his small team of supporters realize that for the Black Wolf to have gotten this far, they must have powerful allies, in law enforcement, in industry, in organized crime, in the halls of government.
From the apparent peace of his little village, Gamache finds himself playing a lethal game of cat and mouse with an invisible foe who is gathering forces and preparing to strike.
Several weeks ago, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec and his team uncovered and stopped a domestic terrorist attack in Montréal, arresting the person behind it. A man they called the Black Wolf.
But their relief is short-lived. In a sickening turn of events, Gamache has realized that plot, as horrific as it was, was just the beginning. Perhaps even a deliberate misdirection. One he fell into. Something deeper and darker, more damaging, is planned. Did he in fact arrest the Black Wolf, or are they still out there? Armand is appalled to think his mistake has allowed their conspiracy to grow, to gather supporters. To spread lies, manufacture enemies, and feed hatred and division.
Still recovering from wounds received in stopping the first attack, Armand is confined to the village of Three Pines, leading a covert investigation from there. He must be careful not to let the Black Wolf know he has recognized his mistake. In a quiet church basement, he and his senior agents Beauvoir and Lacoste, pore over what little evidence they have. Two notebooks. A few mysterious numbers on a tattered map of Québec. And a phrase repeated by the person they had called the Grey Wolf. A warning…
In a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Gamache and his small team of supporters realize that for the Black Wolf to have gotten this far, they must have powerful allies, in law enforcement, in industry, in organized crime, in the halls of government.
From the apparent peace of his little village, Gamache finds himself playing a lethal game of cat and mouse with an invisible foe who is gathering forces and preparing to strike.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2025
6025 people are currently reading
23969 people want to read
About the author
Louise Penny
87 books26.5k followersLOUISE PENNY is the author of the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (seven times), and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. In 2017, she received the Order of Canada for her contributions to Canadian culture. Louise lives in a small village south of Montréal.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,913 reviews
November 12, 2025
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #20
The Black Wolf by Louise Penny
Narrated by Jean Brassard
With book #19 and #20 of this series, we once again have a new narrator. So far I have been unable to adjust to his manner of speaking and way of narrating this series. Everyone sounds the same and words and names are pronounced differently from the way previous narrators pronounced them. The story is so intensely complex and garbled that I can't say if I would have had a better time just reading the book. I do think reading would have given me better cues as to who was speaking and the words being spoken.
Aside from the narration, I would have still had trouble with the story. This is Gamache on steroids. He tends to speak in circles for hours on end on his best (or for me, worst) days and will give some of his underlings a verbal clout on the head for not understanding what he is saying but I'll be the first to admit, I hardly understood anything he was saying in this book. Except that maybe he was saying we are bad people and we are going to do bad things and there is nothing we can do to stop us from doing bad things and we will like doing bad things. Do not go by my interpretation of things because I was very confused and would never stand up and yell my understanding is the correct understanding.
I miss cozy mystery moments from this series. I realize there are other books where Penny went heavy on the political thriller aspect of the series but I think this is the book where we have had the least interaction with the people of Three Pines. They were there in the the background mostly, lips moving, arms waving, plus Ruth driving...ha ha...I think Ruth has had a brain transplant or something. I do admit maybe it was the audiobook narration that had me feeling less connected to the people of Three Pines. Everyone "sounded" the same so it felt as if my favorite people where missing even if they were there in tiny ways or in the background.
The doom and gloom isn't over so if you like all doom and gloom, I think more is coming. Call me confused, depressed, and glad the book is over. I was able to buddy read (listen) this book with DeAnn and it was nice to discuss my feelings with her.
Pub October 28, 2025
Thanks to my library and Libby for this audiobook
The Black Wolf by Louise Penny
Narrated by Jean Brassard
With book #19 and #20 of this series, we once again have a new narrator. So far I have been unable to adjust to his manner of speaking and way of narrating this series. Everyone sounds the same and words and names are pronounced differently from the way previous narrators pronounced them. The story is so intensely complex and garbled that I can't say if I would have had a better time just reading the book. I do think reading would have given me better cues as to who was speaking and the words being spoken.
Aside from the narration, I would have still had trouble with the story. This is Gamache on steroids. He tends to speak in circles for hours on end on his best (or for me, worst) days and will give some of his underlings a verbal clout on the head for not understanding what he is saying but I'll be the first to admit, I hardly understood anything he was saying in this book. Except that maybe he was saying we are bad people and we are going to do bad things and there is nothing we can do to stop us from doing bad things and we will like doing bad things. Do not go by my interpretation of things because I was very confused and would never stand up and yell my understanding is the correct understanding.
I miss cozy mystery moments from this series. I realize there are other books where Penny went heavy on the political thriller aspect of the series but I think this is the book where we have had the least interaction with the people of Three Pines. They were there in the the background mostly, lips moving, arms waving, plus Ruth driving...ha ha...I think Ruth has had a brain transplant or something. I do admit maybe it was the audiobook narration that had me feeling less connected to the people of Three Pines. Everyone "sounded" the same so it felt as if my favorite people where missing even if they were there in tiny ways or in the background.
The doom and gloom isn't over so if you like all doom and gloom, I think more is coming. Call me confused, depressed, and glad the book is over. I was able to buddy read (listen) this book with DeAnn and it was nice to discuss my feelings with her.
Pub October 28, 2025
Thanks to my library and Libby for this audiobook
August 5, 2025
I usually love Louise Penny’s Gamache books but this one really didn’t grab me.
It is a continuation from The Grey Wolf and I think that needs to be read first. I enjoyed The Grey Wolf but found the follow up to be very convoluted and with too many twists and turns for me. I know that in 2025 Trump is president so when I say some of the plot seemed preposterous, it is with the thought of unbelievable events really happening in North America right now. Nevertheless, I want Gamache to be a detective rather than star in a thriller with worldwide implications.
I ended up skimming through the last half as it was just not for me this time. I should add that I have read most of the series often giving 5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers.
It is a continuation from The Grey Wolf and I think that needs to be read first. I enjoyed The Grey Wolf but found the follow up to be very convoluted and with too many twists and turns for me. I know that in 2025 Trump is president so when I say some of the plot seemed preposterous, it is with the thought of unbelievable events really happening in North America right now. Nevertheless, I want Gamache to be a detective rather than star in a thriller with worldwide implications.
I ended up skimming through the last half as it was just not for me this time. I should add that I have read most of the series often giving 5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers.
November 5, 2025
Gamache versus time, terrorists, and the specter of a Canada-US war - honestly, what more can you throw at the man?
Update: I just finished the book and, with all due respect, it was ridiculous. Once again, Gamache is humbly saving the world, and by the end, I just didn’t care about any of it. The resolution felt convoluted and overblown. What used to be an intimate, character-driven series about a cozy town, its inhabitants and a murder has turned into a convoluted maze of politics, conspiracies, and far-fetched theories.
I used to love the Three Pines books, but over the last few years they’ve become more and more fantastical. If I wanted to read Dan Brown, I would’ve picked up Dan Brown. Maybe this series just isn’t for me anymore.
Update: I just finished the book and, with all due respect, it was ridiculous. Once again, Gamache is humbly saving the world, and by the end, I just didn’t care about any of it. The resolution felt convoluted and overblown. What used to be an intimate, character-driven series about a cozy town, its inhabitants and a murder has turned into a convoluted maze of politics, conspiracies, and far-fetched theories.
I used to love the Three Pines books, but over the last few years they’ve become more and more fantastical. If I wanted to read Dan Brown, I would’ve picked up Dan Brown. Maybe this series just isn’t for me anymore.
January 21, 2026
This series has given me so much over the years, which is why writing a three-star review hurts more than I expected. There’s a quiet sadness in admitting my disappointment, because this series has lived in my heart for a long time—and sharing these feelings feels a bit like letting go of it.
This novel follows “The Grey Wolf,” with its themes feeling uncomfortably familiar. At the beginning in her Author’s Note, Penny shares how real-world headlines began to echo her fiction after the manuscript was submitted, a concern that adds gravity—but also exposes how overt this book may feel to readers. At times, it feels less like a mystery and more like a warning.
Penny has explored this ‘warning’ territory before—most notably in State of Terror (co-written with Hillary Rodham Clinton) and in The Grey Wolf. While that approach has worked effectively in the past, it feels less successful here.
Armand Gamache, our main character, and head of homicide for the Surete, is still physically and emotionally marked by prior events from ‘The Grey Wolf.’ While Penny provides enough context for readers who may not recall—or haven’t read—the previous book, the narrative feels weighed down from the outset. The mystery is complex, but the pervasive sense of distrust and looming threat often makes the novel exhausting rather than compelling to read.
Penny also leans heavily into metaphor and moral messaging here: fear versus hope, kindness versus cruelty, truth versus manipulation. These themes although clear and intentional, frequently overwhelm the plot itself. The balance between story and sermon tilts too far toward the latter, diminishing the suspense and emotional payoff for this reader.
Gamache remains the central heart of the series—principled, worn, decent and deeply human. Yet, he now seems crushed by the relentless darkness surrounding him. This left me wondering whether the character, or the series as a whole, might be reaching its natural endpoint.
Ultimately, while the themes are thought-provoking, this novel feels uneven and more message-driven than earlier books in the series. Thus, making it a less satisfying read for me.
Whether Gamache retires, the series ends, or I quietly step away, this felt like a parting—one I didn’t expect, but can’t ignore. It might just be time for me to say goodbye. 😢
Trigger warnings: foul language; graphic descriptions of violence against persons.
This novel follows “The Grey Wolf,” with its themes feeling uncomfortably familiar. At the beginning in her Author’s Note, Penny shares how real-world headlines began to echo her fiction after the manuscript was submitted, a concern that adds gravity—but also exposes how overt this book may feel to readers. At times, it feels less like a mystery and more like a warning.
Penny has explored this ‘warning’ territory before—most notably in State of Terror (co-written with Hillary Rodham Clinton) and in The Grey Wolf. While that approach has worked effectively in the past, it feels less successful here.
Armand Gamache, our main character, and head of homicide for the Surete, is still physically and emotionally marked by prior events from ‘The Grey Wolf.’ While Penny provides enough context for readers who may not recall—or haven’t read—the previous book, the narrative feels weighed down from the outset. The mystery is complex, but the pervasive sense of distrust and looming threat often makes the novel exhausting rather than compelling to read.
Penny also leans heavily into metaphor and moral messaging here: fear versus hope, kindness versus cruelty, truth versus manipulation. These themes although clear and intentional, frequently overwhelm the plot itself. The balance between story and sermon tilts too far toward the latter, diminishing the suspense and emotional payoff for this reader.
Gamache remains the central heart of the series—principled, worn, decent and deeply human. Yet, he now seems crushed by the relentless darkness surrounding him. This left me wondering whether the character, or the series as a whole, might be reaching its natural endpoint.
Ultimately, while the themes are thought-provoking, this novel feels uneven and more message-driven than earlier books in the series. Thus, making it a less satisfying read for me.
Whether Gamache retires, the series ends, or I quietly step away, this felt like a parting—one I didn’t expect, but can’t ignore. It might just be time for me to say goodbye. 😢
Trigger warnings: foul language; graphic descriptions of violence against persons.
November 16, 2025
Most of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series can be read as stand-alone novels, but not The Black Wolf.
You will need to have read The Grey Wolf in order to follow what is going on.
Refresher: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his agents, Beauvoir and Lacoste, save Montréal from a city-wide poisoning attempt in the previous novel.
At the end of The Grey Wolf, the Deputy Prime Minister is found guilty and imprisoned, but Gamache knows there are others who were complicit and not identified.
Picking up where The Grey Wolf left off — “We have a problem...” — turns out, the conspiracy they all believed to be the end of the domestic terror plot was merely its opening act.
Hmmm, who can Gamache trust?
A chilling and at times prophetic thriller, The Black Wolf uncovers a web of corruption and complicity that encompasses amoral politicians, greedy corporations and billionaires, not to mention the utter stupidity of those who believe everything on social media as gospel truth.
Sound familiar?
Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.
But in this case, fiction seems all too real.
You will need to have read The Grey Wolf in order to follow what is going on.
Refresher: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his agents, Beauvoir and Lacoste, save Montréal from a city-wide poisoning attempt in the previous novel.
At the end of The Grey Wolf, the Deputy Prime Minister is found guilty and imprisoned, but Gamache knows there are others who were complicit and not identified.
Picking up where The Grey Wolf left off — “We have a problem...” — turns out, the conspiracy they all believed to be the end of the domestic terror plot was merely its opening act.
Hmmm, who can Gamache trust?
A chilling and at times prophetic thriller, The Black Wolf uncovers a web of corruption and complicity that encompasses amoral politicians, greedy corporations and billionaires, not to mention the utter stupidity of those who believe everything on social media as gospel truth.
Sound familiar?
Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.
But in this case, fiction seems all too real.
October 29, 2025
Truthfully, it’s 2.5 stars. I gave it 3 because I wanted it to be better, I think. I’ve re-read this entire series over the past couple of months in anticipation of this new audio release. Maybe it’s just the new narrator but none of the characters feel as lovely as they do in the early books. They aren’t as light and charming and insightful. They swear more than is necessary, seem hard and angry, and just not like who they originally were. For example, since when does Gamache curse for no reason? Since “The Grey Wolf”. Since when does Ruth quote her own poetry? Since “The Grey Wolf” (even though the previous book specifically says she never quotes her own work. Since when does Ruth give winks and playful jabs to let you know she cares? Since this book. Up until this point her protection has been her “meanness”. Now she’s just like anyone else and that doesn’t make sense to me. And, truly, why oh why is there suddenly so much swearing?
I just don’t think these are written as well as they used to be. I wish I enjoyed them more. I may be at the point where future re-reads end at “All the Devils Are Here”. I don’t think I can put myself through the rest of them again.
I just don’t think these are written as well as they used to be. I wish I enjoyed them more. I may be at the point where future re-reads end at “All the Devils Are Here”. I don’t think I can put myself through the rest of them again.
November 6, 2025
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this installment of the Gamache series at all. The last one I disliked this much was A Better Man. I feel that Penny's imagination is growing darker, toward a more evil place. Despite the "happy" ending and greeting-card-platitude of an author's note, I'm not sure I trust her as an author anymore. She continues to turn Gamache into a godlike, superhero figure, and gives him impossible tasks to endure, somehow coming out okay on the other side every time. Everyone who opposes him is cartoonishly evil. I felt like this book was exploitative of Penny's characters, her readers, and the real-life victims of natural disasters due to climate change.
As Andrew Osenga said, “Part of how we serve our audience is creating what they come to us for. Just because I get into Irish disco next week does not mean I should get mad at them for not liking my Irish disco record.”
Penny is the one who decided to write a series that began in a very specific way, and then decided to depart from what she created to reach places many of her readers didn't want to go to. I'm not sure I'm still along for the ride when it comes to new Gamache books. I think the series is long past due for ending and that Penny should have started a new series to explore her darker fears. Unlike what she states in her author's note, it's not a Three Pines murder or global catastrophe. She made that false dichotomy for herself. She's written wonderful mysteries set outside Three Pines before (A Rule Against Murder, Bury Your Dead, The Beautiful Mystery, All the Devils Are Here) that did not have ridiculous plots like this one. She is the author! She makes the rules! She could have been faithful to her readers and her original creative vision, but she chose not to be.
I'll continue to love and appreciate the earlier books, and will pick a new stopping point--probably 13 or 14, with maybe 16 and 18 on top. I will withhold my judgment of any future books until they come out, though I sincerely hope the next one is the last.
As Andrew Osenga said, “Part of how we serve our audience is creating what they come to us for. Just because I get into Irish disco next week does not mean I should get mad at them for not liking my Irish disco record.”
Penny is the one who decided to write a series that began in a very specific way, and then decided to depart from what she created to reach places many of her readers didn't want to go to. I'm not sure I'm still along for the ride when it comes to new Gamache books. I think the series is long past due for ending and that Penny should have started a new series to explore her darker fears. Unlike what she states in her author's note, it's not a Three Pines murder or global catastrophe. She made that false dichotomy for herself. She's written wonderful mysteries set outside Three Pines before (A Rule Against Murder, Bury Your Dead, The Beautiful Mystery, All the Devils Are Here) that did not have ridiculous plots like this one. She is the author! She makes the rules! She could have been faithful to her readers and her original creative vision, but she chose not to be.
I'll continue to love and appreciate the earlier books, and will pick a new stopping point--probably 13 or 14, with maybe 16 and 18 on top. I will withhold my judgment of any future books until they come out, though I sincerely hope the next one is the last.
February 7, 2026
Thank God it's over, because forcing myself to pick this book back up felt like punishment. I'm in end stage Never Ending Multi-Novel Eco-Terror Plot Fatigue.
To put a fine point on it, this was tedious and zero fun. I don't like the current voice narrator and I'm 100% over Louise Penny preaching at me. This series has turned into merde. I'm pretty sure I've just read my last Gamache.
To put a fine point on it, this was tedious and zero fun. I don't like the current voice narrator and I'm 100% over Louise Penny preaching at me. This series has turned into merde. I'm pretty sure I've just read my last Gamache.
October 8, 2025
3.5 Stars
As someone who loved the previous novels in this long running mystery series, I was thrilled to receive a copy of the newest novel. This one is a very direct sequel to the previous book, Gray Wolf, so I don't recommend jumping into the series here. In fact, the character development has come so far that I would strongly recommend going back to the beginning.
These last few books have involved bigger stakes and more action compared to some od the earlier entries. Personally, I prefer this series for it's slower mystery elements so I was less invested in these more thriller centric ones.
That being said, I still love returning back to these characters. This has become a comfort series that I will read as long as the author continues to write them.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
As someone who loved the previous novels in this long running mystery series, I was thrilled to receive a copy of the newest novel. This one is a very direct sequel to the previous book, Gray Wolf, so I don't recommend jumping into the series here. In fact, the character development has come so far that I would strongly recommend going back to the beginning.
These last few books have involved bigger stakes and more action compared to some od the earlier entries. Personally, I prefer this series for it's slower mystery elements so I was less invested in these more thriller centric ones.
That being said, I still love returning back to these characters. This has become a comfort series that I will read as long as the author continues to write them.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
October 31, 2025
Lose the US politics
I've noticed Penny's politicizing her books in the last two books as anti-American. I think Gamache would ask her to rethink it. Also so much more swearing with the F word. I love these books and own every one. I wish US politics stayed out of these books
I've noticed Penny's politicizing her books in the last two books as anti-American. I think Gamache would ask her to rethink it. Also so much more swearing with the F word. I love these books and own every one. I wish US politics stayed out of these books
November 4, 2025
The Grey Wolf was my least favorite book in this series, until The Black Wolf came along. If the stories continue like this, then I will be sad to say goodbye to a series that I once loved. The stories have become way too political and have left behind the charm of Three Pines and its inhabitants.
December 20, 2025
Penny asks: What happens when there’s no more water?
Black Wolf (2025 by Louis Penny is part two of the project beginning with Grey Wolf (2023), a book I found surprisingly flat and predictable, a book of eco-terrorism (a foiled attempt to poison the water supply of Montreal, a story of which I, as an environmentalist, should have loved). This plot reaches across several domains, including the Montreal mafia, an assassination plot to kill Gamache that damages his hearing, the second-highest-ranked Canadian Mountie, widespread corruption. The early Penny books are Three Pines-focused, with lots of fine food and drink and sweet characters. As Penny wrote on in her series, the outside world increasingly intruded on Three Pines. The later books are tales of dire existential threats, which I really do appreciate, generally.
I have been reading dozens of tightly constructed Maigret novels by Simenon, a quarter of the length of Penny’s books. In Dark Wolf we recap Grey Wolf in the first quarter of the book and we learn that Something is Going To Happen. Honestly, this takes us up to about halfway of a very big book. In this time we learn that that first threat of the Poisoning Plot, in Grey Wolf, may have just been the tip of the iceberg! But what else can it be?! When we finally snowshoe into action, we see some of the backdrops for this story include Climate Change criminals, politicians in league with businessmen who would allow thirty times the amount of pollution into the environment as is healthfully allowable, the boys of the Tar Sands and endless mining for short term profits. Corruption that may extend to the Prime Minister’s office and the White House. Penny underscores here that perhaps the key existential challenge at the moment is water safety. We already know the UN has declared fresh water an International Emergency. We already know that the majority of the tens of millions migrating around the planet are leaving waterless (and thus food scarce) homes.
The US West in particular is drying up. And who has water? Canada. And who has already (in real time) threatened Canada with “annexation” for its natural resources? The US. A few years ago I read Brian Vaughn’s relatively light graphic novel We Stand Guard, about the invasion of Canada by the US over water rights. I thought then, heh, somewhat intriguing, somewhat amusing. The US invading Canada? Get serious. But now the scenario faced in this book seems all too possible at some point in the near future. Now we know Greenland, Venezuela, and other countries are ripe as well for US colonization by the US First Boys. So the story has some relevance!
One focus of this book is also on the wildfires as an added threat to water safety, and another on misinformation, social media craziness: Penny notes thousands believe the Canadian wildfires were set as part of an attack on the US in retaliation for American tariffs, though it is also poisoning Canadian waters.
The thriller plot with a double twist at the end is crazy to me, somewhat confusing, somewhat feasible, somewhat ludicrous, vague and dragging for way too long. A environmental and political thriller format, which doesn't fit the intimate Gamache provincial inspector vibe. Too much, I say. I might just be getting a little tired of Penny, since I should have loved this book for the real environmental terror in it, but I still say three stars, putting me in the vast minority of Penny fans.
Black Wolf (2025 by Louis Penny is part two of the project beginning with Grey Wolf (2023), a book I found surprisingly flat and predictable, a book of eco-terrorism (a foiled attempt to poison the water supply of Montreal, a story of which I, as an environmentalist, should have loved). This plot reaches across several domains, including the Montreal mafia, an assassination plot to kill Gamache that damages his hearing, the second-highest-ranked Canadian Mountie, widespread corruption. The early Penny books are Three Pines-focused, with lots of fine food and drink and sweet characters. As Penny wrote on in her series, the outside world increasingly intruded on Three Pines. The later books are tales of dire existential threats, which I really do appreciate, generally.
I have been reading dozens of tightly constructed Maigret novels by Simenon, a quarter of the length of Penny’s books. In Dark Wolf we recap Grey Wolf in the first quarter of the book and we learn that Something is Going To Happen. Honestly, this takes us up to about halfway of a very big book. In this time we learn that that first threat of the Poisoning Plot, in Grey Wolf, may have just been the tip of the iceberg! But what else can it be?! When we finally snowshoe into action, we see some of the backdrops for this story include Climate Change criminals, politicians in league with businessmen who would allow thirty times the amount of pollution into the environment as is healthfully allowable, the boys of the Tar Sands and endless mining for short term profits. Corruption that may extend to the Prime Minister’s office and the White House. Penny underscores here that perhaps the key existential challenge at the moment is water safety. We already know the UN has declared fresh water an International Emergency. We already know that the majority of the tens of millions migrating around the planet are leaving waterless (and thus food scarce) homes.
The US West in particular is drying up. And who has water? Canada. And who has already (in real time) threatened Canada with “annexation” for its natural resources? The US. A few years ago I read Brian Vaughn’s relatively light graphic novel We Stand Guard, about the invasion of Canada by the US over water rights. I thought then, heh, somewhat intriguing, somewhat amusing. The US invading Canada? Get serious. But now the scenario faced in this book seems all too possible at some point in the near future. Now we know Greenland, Venezuela, and other countries are ripe as well for US colonization by the US First Boys. So the story has some relevance!
One focus of this book is also on the wildfires as an added threat to water safety, and another on misinformation, social media craziness: Penny notes thousands believe the Canadian wildfires were set as part of an attack on the US in retaliation for American tariffs, though it is also poisoning Canadian waters.
The thriller plot with a double twist at the end is crazy to me, somewhat confusing, somewhat feasible, somewhat ludicrous, vague and dragging for way too long. A environmental and political thriller format, which doesn't fit the intimate Gamache provincial inspector vibe. Too much, I say. I might just be getting a little tired of Penny, since I should have loved this book for the real environmental terror in it, but I still say three stars, putting me in the vast minority of Penny fans.
June 4, 2025
I might have screamed a little when I got my hands on this ARC. I refused to read it quickly though I really wanted to. It was so worth the savor. I love all things about Louise Penny’s writing. The nuggets of truth hidden among poetry that allows you to reflect and remember; the delightfully twisting and turning storyline with imperfect people; the most perfect village in the world that we all want to return home to- I most very much enjoyed this latest book. It was worth the slow read and had all my most favorite things. I’m very much looking forward to sharing this with friends. Love love loved it.
October 31, 2025
I was excited to get this book, hoping that it would be better than the last which was all conspiracy theory and thriller type. unfortunatey I put it down after the first few pages because it just picked up from the last book.
I had really enjoyed this series and the characters and Three Pines and the basic murder mysteries. This change in the direction has put me off and I won't be coming back to finish the book.
I had really enjoyed this series and the characters and Three Pines and the basic murder mysteries. This change in the direction has put me off and I won't be coming back to finish the book.
November 10, 2025
Back with another stellar piece, Louise Penny brings Chief Inspector Armand Gamache into the mix for a scintillating mystery, the immediate continuation of the previous novel. The head of Homicide for the Sûreté du Québec, Gamache and his team have stumbled upon a massive domestic terrorist plot in Montreal. A high-ranking politician is arrested and has been referred to as the Black Wolf, Gamache’s moniker for someone seeking to wrest negative control away from the general public. However, Gamache soon realises that the plot is larger than first thought and a misdirection has kept the Sûreté from learning the truth. Armand works in semi-isolation from his small Quebec community of Three Pines. He brings senior Sûreté agents Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and Inspector Isabelle Lacoste with him to take a second and more detailed look at the evidence. New truths emerge, which shock everyone, and sends the case into a tailspin. Looking out, there may be an international component to the case that could send the entire country on a mission of defence and an enemy no one expected to act. Gamache must stop all of this before a geo-political incident takes over and no one is safe. Louise Penny delivers yet another stunning thriller that proves powerful and effective.
I remember my discovery of Louise Penny and her stubborn protagonist. I was addicted to both the writing and detail Penny included in her stories, especially the Canadian themes and small Quebec community setting. Since then, Three Pines has become a favourite fixture as the series keeps advancing. Penny develops a strong narrative that supports the story and crafts a visual setting for the reader’s enjoyment. The story gains momentum in many ways, soon impacting the attentive reader and leaving them in the middle of the action. Her addition of the ego-political event, while poignant at the time of publication, was entirely fictional in its development, as Penny mentions in an author preface. How she read the tea leaves is anyone’s guess, but the clay of infantile politics is of little surprise to anyone.
Characters are unique in their own way, providing flavour and shaping the larger piece for all to enjoy. Armand Gamache has proven to be a strong protagonist, though he is supported my many others to ensure the story moves forward. The ongoing police presence, seen once more with Gamache’s interactions alongside Sûreté agents Beauvoir and Lacoste, is complemented with Three Pines locals to ensure there is a well-rounded set of faces who push things along in an exciting way, sprinkled with bucolic aspects. The contrasting characters presented within the piece allows the reader to see the two sides to the series.
The plot points prove subtle at times and in your face in other instances, leaving Penny much with which to work. She she creates realistic issues and finds solutions in a timely, yet not too swift, manner. This Three Pines series has to be one of my favourite and I always find myself excited to see another Penny idea blossom into a full-length novel. I can only hope others find the same excitement and that future publications will keep fuelling that fire.
Kudos, Madam Penny, for remaining a relevant and impactful author on my reading journey.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I remember my discovery of Louise Penny and her stubborn protagonist. I was addicted to both the writing and detail Penny included in her stories, especially the Canadian themes and small Quebec community setting. Since then, Three Pines has become a favourite fixture as the series keeps advancing. Penny develops a strong narrative that supports the story and crafts a visual setting for the reader’s enjoyment. The story gains momentum in many ways, soon impacting the attentive reader and leaving them in the middle of the action. Her addition of the ego-political event, while poignant at the time of publication, was entirely fictional in its development, as Penny mentions in an author preface. How she read the tea leaves is anyone’s guess, but the clay of infantile politics is of little surprise to anyone.
Characters are unique in their own way, providing flavour and shaping the larger piece for all to enjoy. Armand Gamache has proven to be a strong protagonist, though he is supported my many others to ensure the story moves forward. The ongoing police presence, seen once more with Gamache’s interactions alongside Sûreté agents Beauvoir and Lacoste, is complemented with Three Pines locals to ensure there is a well-rounded set of faces who push things along in an exciting way, sprinkled with bucolic aspects. The contrasting characters presented within the piece allows the reader to see the two sides to the series.
The plot points prove subtle at times and in your face in other instances, leaving Penny much with which to work. She she creates realistic issues and finds solutions in a timely, yet not too swift, manner. This Three Pines series has to be one of my favourite and I always find myself excited to see another Penny idea blossom into a full-length novel. I can only hope others find the same excitement and that future publications will keep fuelling that fire.
Kudos, Madam Penny, for remaining a relevant and impactful author on my reading journey.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 7, 2025
While marginally better than the ridiculous Gray Wolf, these two novels compel me to ask what on God’s earth was Louise Penny thinking? And what book did the five-star reviewers read??? Because it could not possibly have been this book.
Where are the intriguing but comprehensible murders? Where are the stories readers could follow? Where happened to what was good for 18 books??
I swore I would not read the second of this two novel arc. The first was beyond ridiculous, but I suppose that I had to know. At least the characters stayed in North America for this one instead of traipsing across the world.
The reader is still awful. Sorry, but he is. I have no idea who is speaking half the time.
I needed a crime board with photos and descriptions to keep track of the characters. I completely lost who was whom in this. The prime minister. The deputy prime minister. The minister of this and the minister of that. Puleeze.
And the way Armand, Isabelle and Jean-Guy conveniently connected the dots was, well, entirely too convenient. As with the first of these two books, Penny had an outcome and had to manipulate everything to make it all fit, often just skipping over the steps the characters took to get there.
Ms. Penny, please. Go back to just plain old murders!!! Enough terrorism and international intrigue. I beg you.
Where are the intriguing but comprehensible murders? Where are the stories readers could follow? Where happened to what was good for 18 books??
I swore I would not read the second of this two novel arc. The first was beyond ridiculous, but I suppose that I had to know. At least the characters stayed in North America for this one instead of traipsing across the world.
The reader is still awful. Sorry, but he is. I have no idea who is speaking half the time.
I needed a crime board with photos and descriptions to keep track of the characters. I completely lost who was whom in this. The prime minister. The deputy prime minister. The minister of this and the minister of that. Puleeze.
And the way Armand, Isabelle and Jean-Guy conveniently connected the dots was, well, entirely too convenient. As with the first of these two books, Penny had an outcome and had to manipulate everything to make it all fit, often just skipping over the steps the characters took to get there.
Ms. Penny, please. Go back to just plain old murders!!! Enough terrorism and international intrigue. I beg you.
November 7, 2025
I am so disappointed in this book. Rather than a murder mystery involving interesting characters, this is all about politics - and I don't want politics invading my pleasure reading. Because I follow Ms. Penny, I am aware of her political leanings, but the fact that she had to bring them into her books is so sad to me. It made the story much less interesting, as it was trying to get its message across (orange man bad) rather than just trying to tell a good story. I found it convoluted and often difficult to follow. I really hope, if she continues this series, that she returns to her original style and leaves the politics out of it.
November 14, 2025
I’m sorry Louise Penny. I’ve been a huge fan of yours since I first read your books in 2016. I’ve read them all, in order. I’ve met you three times, first at Manior Hovey in Quebec, soon after your husband’s death, and (i later found out) were planning a party for Hilary Clinton at that beautiful hotel. You were absolutely delightful. But I don’t like your stories anymore. I’m not interested in elaborate conspiracies, where everyone seems to change from being a bad guy to a good guy and back again. Where the story line is so ridiculously complex, and involves whole continents, and all of mankind and yet, only Armand can figure it out. Nope, I didn’t like The Grey Wolf, and I did not like this book. I won’t read your books again. I miss the early ones, with poetry, and food, and a warm fire, and a simple murder in the woods.
August 9, 2025
6 stars if I could. To say I adore this series, is an understatement. With that, comes the excitement of a new book but also the worry of will it live up to the previous books? And I apologise for ever worrying that, Louise, because somehow you manage to raise the bar every. single. time. I don’t know how you do it, but I am in awe of your genius in creating a plot that staggers you, your skill in writing such beautiful prose (and humour), and your heart for creating such wonderful characters. This was one of those times where as I got to the gripping end, I had to prise myself away to go to my volunteer shift at the library. I was thinking about it the whole shift. And then I sat in the library when I finished, and read the last few chapters. Once I did, I had to just sit for a while and process the feelings and book.
If anyone thinks the idea of war that is raised in the book, is too preposterous - Louise refers to this in an author comment at the start of the book, explaining that after she submitted the book in 2024, the headlines in real life seemed ripped from the plot…
And while I do love Three Pines and the characters, I completely understand why Louise needs to set the occasional book in another location (which she mentions in the afterward). I agree it’s necessary for the health of the series, to step away and return. For one thing, it’s a small village; by book 20 you’d have run out of characters to be victim or killer, unless you clearly make every new character one or the other!
What I would say to anyone considering this book, is that as a bare minimum, you need to read the preceding book The Grey Wolf, because this is the only two parter in the series. A lot won’t make sense if you’ve not read TGW. You could drop in with that book, and you’ll pick things up - but if you read right from the beginning, it will be so much richer an experience. So many of the characters undergo such huge evolution and development, and there are past events such as an ambush situation years before, that are still affecting the characters now. Without having read those events, you can’t fully feel the impact in the later books. And because I hope for everyone else to love and experience this series as much as I do, I beg you start at the beginning the spend the journey with Gamache, his family, friends and colleagues.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers Hodder & Stoughton, in return for an unbiased review. I’ve ordered a signed copy for release date, from my local indie ❤️
If anyone thinks the idea of war that is raised in the book, is too preposterous - Louise refers to this in an author comment at the start of the book, explaining that after she submitted the book in 2024, the headlines in real life seemed ripped from the plot…
And while I do love Three Pines and the characters, I completely understand why Louise needs to set the occasional book in another location (which she mentions in the afterward). I agree it’s necessary for the health of the series, to step away and return. For one thing, it’s a small village; by book 20 you’d have run out of characters to be victim or killer, unless you clearly make every new character one or the other!
What I would say to anyone considering this book, is that as a bare minimum, you need to read the preceding book The Grey Wolf, because this is the only two parter in the series. A lot won’t make sense if you’ve not read TGW. You could drop in with that book, and you’ll pick things up - but if you read right from the beginning, it will be so much richer an experience. So many of the characters undergo such huge evolution and development, and there are past events such as an ambush situation years before, that are still affecting the characters now. Without having read those events, you can’t fully feel the impact in the later books. And because I hope for everyone else to love and experience this series as much as I do, I beg you start at the beginning the spend the journey with Gamache, his family, friends and colleagues.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers Hodder & Stoughton, in return for an unbiased review. I’ve ordered a signed copy for release date, from my local indie ❤️
November 4, 2025
I love Louise Penny, but unfortunately I feel like the series has really jumped the shark with this one. Not because the broad sketches are implausible—both the spread of weaponized disinformation, and US threats to invade Canada, are all too real. But the details of the plot weren’t well done. The back-and-forth of the ending (it was the deputy PM, it was the PM, no it was the deputy PM, just kidding it really was the PM) should have been scrapped in favor of fleshing out the narrative to explain why exactly the PM would benefit from getting the US to invade, and making us believe it. Just a lot that strains credibility, here. If she continues the series, I hope she goes back to a more traditional murder mystery plot, which is where she excels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2026
I just didn’t enjoy this book as I enjoyed Louise Penny’s previous books. I felt the political plot and the the story was dragged out and it just wasn’t heartfelt as her other novels,the back and forth with the villains being the prime minister and the deputy prime minister,I just didn’t care and just wanted the story to finish! I didn’t like either character, and some of the other characters involved in creating an unimaginative war between Canada and the USA Please?Stick to Chief Inspector Gamache solving crimes and life in three pines that’s what we enjoy.
November 1, 2025
I am a huge fan of the series, until the last two.
November 6, 2025
Lucky me,
A 7 day “skip the line” selection from Libby. I had The Black Wolf as a ‘notify me’ quite a few months ago. I just happened to be in Libby at the right time, they get chosen quite quickly.
I just do not have words. LP has the most unique writing style of any authors I have read and she does it again keeping me on the edge of my seat for the last three chapters, well no, for the whole book. Three Pines is a haven for Gamache and his whole crew to return to the comforts and safety of the village and LP does that time and time again throughout the book. In fact, she settles us all in this work of fiction.
“When needs must……the devil drives.”
“Wolves know no boundaries, respect no borders.”
And then, I found this phrase, “Armand stopped just inside the door and exhaled a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.”
A 7 day “skip the line” selection from Libby. I had The Black Wolf as a ‘notify me’ quite a few months ago. I just happened to be in Libby at the right time, they get chosen quite quickly.
I just do not have words. LP has the most unique writing style of any authors I have read and she does it again keeping me on the edge of my seat for the last three chapters, well no, for the whole book. Three Pines is a haven for Gamache and his whole crew to return to the comforts and safety of the village and LP does that time and time again throughout the book. In fact, she settles us all in this work of fiction.
“When needs must……the devil drives.”
“Wolves know no boundaries, respect no borders.”
And then, I found this phrase, “Armand stopped just inside the door and exhaled a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.”
November 13, 2025
So, Louise Penny is a soothsayer.
To enjoy this, you have to be willing to accept, as always, Armand Gamache’s outsized reach in the world. And this was a bit convoluted, and has a huge cast of characters. I can’t say I was always sure exactly what just happened. But as long as we end up in the village with the same wonderful faces, at the Bistro, with the dogs, Gracie and Rosa, I’m always satisfied.
To enjoy this, you have to be willing to accept, as always, Armand Gamache’s outsized reach in the world. And this was a bit convoluted, and has a huge cast of characters. I can’t say I was always sure exactly what just happened. But as long as we end up in the village with the same wonderful faces, at the Bistro, with the dogs, Gracie and Rosa, I’m always satisfied.
October 31, 2025
The latest Gamache book reads like a fast action thriller, similar to the prior book. Additionally, while Penny’s books have always contained themes of social
Issues, justice, human nature, and good vs evil, the books are becoming more overtly political. I’m not opposed to either of these shifts but must admit in this book I missed the character focused village mystery. I’m still a huge fan of the series, the characters and Three Pines and hope there will be more Gamache mysteries to come.
Issues, justice, human nature, and good vs evil, the books are becoming more overtly political. I’m not opposed to either of these shifts but must admit in this book I missed the character focused village mystery. I’m still a huge fan of the series, the characters and Three Pines and hope there will be more Gamache mysteries to come.
November 2, 2025
3.5 stars
All I want is another book actually set in Three Pines. The town and its characters are the best parts of these books, and have been almost entirely missing in the last couple books.
All I want is another book actually set in Three Pines. The town and its characters are the best parts of these books, and have been almost entirely missing in the last couple books.
August 15, 2025
4.5
Folks, I was honestly nervous to read this and went into it fully braced. Like others, I'm getting uncomfortable with how superhuman Gamache has become and 'conspiracy intrigue' of the plots, not to mention how much I did not want to read the . But, I'm relieved to say that I enjoyed this one!
It started super slow; like, for the first 20% I was like "come on, do something!" but I think a lot of this was because Louise Penny openly shared the trigger warning of [Penny has spoken about this for a while so I don't think it's a spoiler but JIC] is terrifying as a Canadian. How Penny crafts the rationale for it was disturbingly plausible. I was physically squirming and felt sick to my stomach, it was that uncomfortable. But, I hung in there.
While Gamache is very lucky in this story, and some of the coincidences and twists require a strong suspension of disbelief, I liked how some of our side characters have more prominent roles. While we still don't spend a lot of time in Three Pines, Penny addresses this in the afterword. She knows her readers are clambering for a story set in the village (and maybe a plot that doesn't mirror the horrors of reality quite so closely); but her rationale is well argued and shows some insight into the choices she's made for these last two books. I'm still not convinced that all of Penny's (pretty awesome) plots need to be set in the Three Pines universe, but I understand her thought process better. Bottom line: IMO, Penny's incredible writing will always counteract her wilder plots.
My main concern with the 51st state plot, is the same concern I had The Madness of Crowds. It represents the world Penny wants, not necessarily the world we have; if, like me, your nerves are frayed, you may feel despondent. Yet, despite the anxiety, I did love how Penny wove very real climate breakdown themes into the narrative.
Was I surprised by this? Yes, I was. And relieved that I enjoyed it.
Am I keen to read another political intrigue plot in the Gamache series? Absolutely not.
If you like the series, don't give up on it yet. In a lot of ways, I found the storytelling stronger in this than Grey Wolf. The latest Gamache is one of the better reads I've had this year!
Merci beaucoup to Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC via NetGalley.
Folks, I was honestly nervous to read this and went into it fully braced. Like others, I'm getting uncomfortable with how superhuman Gamache has become and 'conspiracy intrigue' of the plots, not to mention how much I did not want to read the . But, I'm relieved to say that I enjoyed this one!
It started super slow; like, for the first 20% I was like "come on, do something!" but I think a lot of this was because Louise Penny openly shared the trigger warning of [Penny has spoken about this for a while so I don't think it's a spoiler but JIC] is terrifying as a Canadian. How Penny crafts the rationale for it was disturbingly plausible. I was physically squirming and felt sick to my stomach, it was that uncomfortable. But, I hung in there.
While Gamache is very lucky in this story, and some of the coincidences and twists require a strong suspension of disbelief, I liked how some of our side characters have more prominent roles. While we still don't spend a lot of time in Three Pines, Penny addresses this in the afterword. She knows her readers are clambering for a story set in the village (and maybe a plot that doesn't mirror the horrors of reality quite so closely); but her rationale is well argued and shows some insight into the choices she's made for these last two books. I'm still not convinced that all of Penny's (pretty awesome) plots need to be set in the Three Pines universe, but I understand her thought process better. Bottom line: IMO, Penny's incredible writing will always counteract her wilder plots.
My main concern with the 51st state plot, is the same concern I had The Madness of Crowds. It represents the world Penny wants, not necessarily the world we have; if, like me, your nerves are frayed, you may feel despondent. Yet, despite the anxiety, I did love how Penny wove very real climate breakdown themes into the narrative.
Was I surprised by this? Yes, I was. And relieved that I enjoyed it.
Am I keen to read another political intrigue plot in the Gamache series? Absolutely not.
If you like the series, don't give up on it yet. In a lot of ways, I found the storytelling stronger in this than Grey Wolf. The latest Gamache is one of the better reads I've had this year!
Merci beaucoup to Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC via NetGalley.
December 16, 2025
"We have a problem.” is the closing line of Louise Penny's 19th installment of her Armand Gamache series, so I know I must pick up book #20 to find out how this rollercoaster ride ends.
The Black Wolf, the continuation of the story, is a propulsive read. Thankfully not as convoluted as The Grey Wolf, I still could have done with one less plot twist. I appreciate that we spend more time in Three Pines and more time with Ruth, one of my favorite denizens of the town.
Penny turned her manuscript over to her publisher months before Trump was sworn in and began talking about Canada as the 51st State. How prescient she is. As misinformation and conspiracy theories continue to grow and spread in the real world, they do the same in Penny's fictional world.
“If he were in charge of the attack, how would he go about it? First, a covert war. Create a common enemy. Subvert the media. Form their own outlets, broadcast media, newspapers, social media platforms, to spread lies. Scare the population into believing their way of life, their very lives, were threatened. Condition them. Groom them. Then, when the moment was right, get rid of any leader likely to oppose them and install a dummy regime, including a charismatic but not overly bright bully sold as a strong leader who could bring order to chaos.”
“This isn’t about reasons or reason. It’s all emotion.”
Penny's tale of misinformation, corruption, and courage showcases Armand Gamache and his band as they once again stand up for decency, loyalty, and integrity. Gamache is a man whom I would love to have in my corner, one who believes that good can prevail if we fight for it. How many of us will join him?
As always, Penny is optimistic, and this light and her love for and her belief in our humanity moves through her work.
“But the huge painting that all this led up to, the one at the very end, the last one Clara painted, was of a single snowflake, glittering in perfection. A moment before it began to melt. The tragedy wasn’t its disappearance. The gift was that it existed at all. What a perfect, beautiful world, where snowflakes existed. Even for a moment.”
Publication 2025
The Black Wolf, the continuation of the story, is a propulsive read. Thankfully not as convoluted as The Grey Wolf, I still could have done with one less plot twist. I appreciate that we spend more time in Three Pines and more time with Ruth, one of my favorite denizens of the town.
Penny turned her manuscript over to her publisher months before Trump was sworn in and began talking about Canada as the 51st State. How prescient she is. As misinformation and conspiracy theories continue to grow and spread in the real world, they do the same in Penny's fictional world.
“If he were in charge of the attack, how would he go about it? First, a covert war. Create a common enemy. Subvert the media. Form their own outlets, broadcast media, newspapers, social media platforms, to spread lies. Scare the population into believing their way of life, their very lives, were threatened. Condition them. Groom them. Then, when the moment was right, get rid of any leader likely to oppose them and install a dummy regime, including a charismatic but not overly bright bully sold as a strong leader who could bring order to chaos.”
“This isn’t about reasons or reason. It’s all emotion.”
Penny's tale of misinformation, corruption, and courage showcases Armand Gamache and his band as they once again stand up for decency, loyalty, and integrity. Gamache is a man whom I would love to have in my corner, one who believes that good can prevail if we fight for it. How many of us will join him?
As always, Penny is optimistic, and this light and her love for and her belief in our humanity moves through her work.
“But the huge painting that all this led up to, the one at the very end, the last one Clara painted, was of a single snowflake, glittering in perfection. A moment before it began to melt. The tragedy wasn’t its disappearance. The gift was that it existed at all. What a perfect, beautiful world, where snowflakes existed. Even for a moment.”
Publication 2025
November 1, 2025
I don’t mind a bit of politics in a book but this went overboard with politics and propaganda. Where’s the story here? The mystery? 2 stars is extremely generous
Read
November 25, 2025DNF. Profanity.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,913 reviews