Question #1: Your Louise Penny reading experience

[[deleted user]]

Since Louise Penny published Still Life in 2005, she has become one of Canada's most successful authors. The Nature of the Beast is Penny's 11th Chief Inspector Gamache novel. "The bucolic Quebec village of Three Pines again proves no refuge …. Gamache has settled in the small community after retiring from the Sûreté, where he worked as a homicide detective. But he's drawn back to the hunt after Laurent Lepage, a nine-year-old boy with a penchant for crying wolf, is found dead under circumstances that Gamache finds suspicious…. Series fans will delight in Penny's continued complex fleshing out of characters they have come to love." (Publishers Weekly).

What is your experience reading Penny's novels? Is this your first, have you read only some, or have you read all of them? Is it important to read the novels in order? If you're a long-time reader, what draws you to the novels?

[Kate]

I've read the first two books and while I enjoyed them I never got around to picking up the series. I'm curious to see what's gone on since I last visited Three Pines!

[Allison]

I am completely new to the Louise Penny experience, and I am finding there are a lot of characters. I keep having to stop and ask myself, who is Myrna? who is Antoinette? etc. I am still in the early chapters, but already I am thinking I should go back and start at book number 1. However, for the sake of the club, I will go on. :)

[Susan]

Allison, I agree with the difficulty in getting to know the characters. I read Penny's first book, Still Life, a few years ago. As soon as I started The Nature of the Beast, I thought it would be handy to have a cast of characters list. I did a quick search on the internet but could not find one - it would be great if someone who has read all her books made a list.

As I read the characters started to come back to me, although I still can't recall all of their back stories. I'm glad that I read at least one of the other novels before this one. You'll probably find yourself piecing the stories together as you get further along in the novel, and it's not critical that you know all of them.

I must say that I was immediately reminded of how much I liked Armand Gamache as soon as I started this book. He is such a strong and likable main character. I'd have tea in the Three Pines bistro with him anytime!

[Judi]

I have read several in this series and read two of them out of order. That wasn't a problem. However, I did not read the second last book so did not know that Gamache had retired to Three Pines or that Clara's husband had died.

[Maureen]

Judi wrote: "I have read several in this series and read two of them out of order. That wasn't a problem. However, I did not read the second last book so did not know that Gamache had retired to Three Pines or ..."

Same here, Judi. I've read four of Penny's previous novels, not in order, but I did find it a challenge to keep up with the number of characters introduced and often carried along in each new book. And yes, I was surprised about Gamache's retirement and Peter's death! Other than that, each book provided a good story on its own.

[Susan]

This is my first Louise Penny novel, although she has been on my "to read" list for quite a while. Because I am aware that this is the most recent in the series, I initially notice places where there is probably a back story - but once I let go those thoughts, the novel flows well. She has done a good job of making this a stand alone .. although to echo a couple of others, I will now go back and read some of her others.

[Susan]

I like what Susan said about "letting of thoughts" about a back story. That's good advice when reading any series out of order.

A couple of people have commented on Peter's death. Perhaps someone could comment on what happened to him - was he murdered, too?

[Gayle]

Not my favourite title, although I love this series. The narrative seemed to lack depth and didn't seem to have much meaning. The tie-in to solve the mystery wasn't her best. Although the story is based on an actual occurrence Quebec, it was not as engaging as her previous titles. I do look forward to the next in the series because Penny is an excellent writer.

[Susan]

Gayle wrote: "Not my favourite title, although I love this series. The narrative seemed to lack depth and didn't seem to have much meaning. The tie-in to solve the mystery wasn't her best. Although the story is ..."
An interesting take, Gayle, from someone who has read several of Penny's titles. Did you have a favorite novel in the series that you would recommend?