It’s been six years since I liked one of Louise Penny’s books as much as I liked Miss Wolcott’s Ghost. Maybe I’m too picky. All the Devil’s Are Here, the 2020 release, was my favorite of her books. The new novel is filled with heart, little-known history, and the beloved residents of Three Pines, along with Chief Inspector Armand Gamache’s team. It has all the elements I appreciate in any long-running series.
Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie are startled awake at 3 AM by a phone call. A terrified voice says only “There’s a body in Lost Nation.” But neither of them have ever heard of Lost Nation. Jean-Guy Beauvoir shows up at their door as their son-in-law, but as soon as the call is traced to a phone registered to C.Morrow, Gamache and Beauvoir become police officers. They sneak into Clara Morrow’s house in Three Pines searching for an invader. By the time they finish the search, their small circle of friends have gathered at the bistro. But, it’s the owner of another bistro at a neighboring town who is able to lead Gamache and his team to Lost Nation and a cemetery hidden in the forest. That’s where they find the victim, dressed in clothes from early in the previous century, with a plant growing up around the body.
As I’ve always said, it’s difficult to review one of Penny’s Armand Gamache books because it would be easy to spoil the book. Gamache’s team searches for a killer, after they identify the person in the vintage clothing. But, it’s a search that leads them to a shocking forgotten event, a multi-million dollar company that provides genealogical assistance, several unrecognized murders, and a woman before her time whose work precipitated multiple crimes while she was forgotten in her own field.
There are new characters and new stories introduced in the book, Will Agent Ferdinand, who is in awe of Gamache and the homicide team, appear in future books? He shows promise for a rookie. The story of Lost Nation and the curse is a fascinating one. There are traces of humor,, with the judge who admires Three Pines, but cannot find it again. And, of course, Ruth and Rosa always add humor, but Ruth’s poetry and her curmudgeonly attitude have become an essential part of the heart of the story over the years. But, side-by-side with the humor is the awareness of death and murder, and the knowledge that someone who was loved and who loved has been lost.
Louise Penny’s writing itself has always sucked me in. When a new book in this series comes out, I plan one day to read it with no distractions. There are sentences that hit me. Two women died in a fiery car accident. “But it would be far from the first time women who knew too much, were too much of a threat, had been put to death by fire.”
While I lightly skimmed the plot, and didn’t spoil the surprises, it’s never a surprise to discover the depth and wisdom in one of Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache books. Miss Wolcott’s Ghost is one of the best.
Louise Penny’s website is https://louisepenny.com/
Miss Wolcott’s Ghost by Louise Penny. Minotaur Books, 2026. 407p.
FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of the book, with no expectation of a positive review.
Hurray! This is wonderful news, Lesa. After all the “world disaster” books she’s been writing or co-writing lately, I thought the Louise Penny that I liked so much was gone forever. I hadn’t planned to read any more of her books, but after this review, I’ll get this book! Thank you.
I was not a fan of the world disaster books, either, Kim. This one is a traditional Three Pines mystery with all the features we love about those books. You can safely pick up this one and enjoy it. I know exactly what you mean.
I agree that I didn’t like the way this series was going, after reading and loving so many of them. Nevertheless, this one sounded good, but it wasn’t available on NetGalley, and for some reason I can’t get it at the library yet either. I just entered the Goodreads drawing before I saw this post. So I will keep trying! Thank you, Lesa.
Interesting, Margie, that we all feel the same way about the series. I think Louise knows it, too. Her Acknowledgements at the end says some people didn’t like her recent choices. She’s right.
Thank you for this review Lesa. I used to love Louise Penny but gave up about 6 books ago (see world disaster comments!) but I’ll give this one a try. Checking my library now.
I think that’s about where most of us gave up, Susan. I read one of the wolf books, but neither my sister nor I read the last one.
You can add me to the list of faithful Louise Penny fans that has actually not read her last book and wasn’t happy with some before that one. However, I too am giving her one more chance. I’ve preordered this book and it should arrive tomorrow. Your review makes me hopeful, Lesa!
Right there with you, Kay, and we both love this series. I didn’t read the last one either. You won’t be disappointed in this one.
I have never read her. But, I have a memory for book covers When I worked in the bookstores, I was the dude folks got sent to when all they knew was it was blue with a red slash on it. So, when I saw the cover, I knew I had seen on NetGalley. I had. This is publication day so one can’t get it there anymore.
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/861678
You’re right, Kevin. It was on NetGalley for a while. I love that you have a memory for covers.
I was going to let this pass, but decided not to.
Not ALL of us disliked the books.
No reason to let it pass, Kaye. I know you liked the last couple. I still have both of them. I read The Grey Wolf, but couldn’t bring myself to read The Black Wolf. Maybe someday, if the world gets better.
Good to hear you liked it so much! I have read all the Gamache books (and also listened to them too), and while the last few books were a departure for her I didn’t dislike them. They just were not my favorites and I think it was more due to the writing than the topic. It just didn’t seem as tight as her previous ones.
I will definitely be reading the new one!
I did like it, Tracey. If you liked her earlier ones, you’ll like this one.