A Great Reckoning

Not having been a fan of Penny's last book, The Nature of the Beast, (and feeling like an abject traitor) I was thrilled to read A Great Reckoning and see that she's back on track with her siren-like magic.

Although the books in this series can be read as standalones, each book is actually a chapter in one long story arc. This means that the books will have a much greater impact on readers if they are read in order, beginning with Still Life.

Corruption in Quebec's police force has been a long-running subplot, and in A Great Reckoning Gamache heads to the Academy to finish the task of "cleaning house." You can get rid of dishonest cops from positions of power in government and from the streets and patrol cars, but if you don't go to the show more source-- the Academy-- and clear out the bad teachers and cadets, you're never going to solve the problem in its entirety. This is the task Gamache has set himself, and he is well aware that it means he will have to do things that he does not wish to do.

The investigation into the professor's murder, the significance of the old map, the true identity of a cadet named Amelia Choquet... all these things and more combine to make a page-turning narrative that tugs at the mind and the heart. And, I'm happy to say, the citizens of tiny, idyllic Three Pines are back to being their vibrant selves-- especially Ruth.

I know that Louise Penny has a specific ending in mind for this series, but I sincerely hope we can all look forward to a few more trips to my favorite village in Quebec. show less

A digital review copy was provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

So how to tell you about A Great Reckoning without giving too much away? Very carefully, I promise, no spoilers here.

I can start by admitting I fell hard for this book and didn't come up for air for a couple of days

A Great Reckoning opens in Three Pines where Gamache and Reine-Marie are still living their idyllic life in the village (how they both don't weigh 300 pounds is beyond comprehension);

"The next morning Reine-Marie invited her husband to breakfast at the bistro. Henri came along and lay quietly under their table as they sipped bowls of café au lait and waited for their maple-cured bacon with scrambled eggs and Brie. The fireplaces on either end of the show more long beamed room were lit and cheerful, conversation mingled with the scent of wood smoke, and there was the familiar thudding of patrons knocking snow from their boots as they entered."

I can also tell you, that the mystery begins with an old map found boarded up in the walls of the bistro. At first, the map seems to be no more than a curiosity. But the map uncovers village secrets from WW I, and leads Gamache to an old friend, and even older adversary and to places he wishes not to re-visit.

Gamache, the retired Chief of Homicide for the Sûreté du Québec has been taken out of retirement and assigned to takeover the Süreté 's cadet training academy. Gamache seems invigorated and firing on all cylinders as he confronts corruption, greed and possible abuse at the cadet academy.

Ms. Penny always has a theme running through her novels and A Great Reckoning is about misfits and the myriad ways they are flawed and judged. Misfits who have been wounded but survive and learn to thrive - and even shine. (Ruth and her foul mouthed duck are, of course, a prime example of such shining misfits.) From the cadets at the academy, to Gamache's old friend, to the commanding officers at the academy - we recognize these misfits at every turn. Yet they are depicted with compassion and intelligence. Once again, Ms. Penny brings humanity to even her most damaged and suspect characters.

A Great Reckoning, like all the others in this series, is chocked full of fascinating historical and cultural perspectives. This time we learn about maps, early map makers and their vital role in uncharted territory explorations. In terms of current culture, there's always some new insights for non-Canadians. We get a glimpse into maple sugaring and a typical "sugar shack" as well as, the oddities of Quebéc communications;

"They were in the odd position, as sometimes happened in Quebéc, where the Francophone was speaking English and the Anglo was speaking French."

But some of the observations are applicable to any country and its politics:

"A man driven by an infected ego. But he was also a powerful man, I'll give him that. A charismatic personality. Stupidity and power. A dangerous combination, as we've found out many times, eh Armand?"

Long time fans of Ms. Penny will be pleased with the delightful humor and witty rapport between the quirky, but lovable, Three Pines villagers;

"Myrna sat down heavily on her side of the sofa, almost catapulting Ruth into the air. "I always suspected Ruth would end up a stain on the wall," Gabri said to Clara. "But, I never thought the ceiling." He turned to Myrna. "I'll give you five dollars to do that again."

Ruth is her usual cranky self when confronting a breakfast meal being served for dinner;

"How long have I been asleep?" asked Ruth looking down at her plate. "Victoria is no longer on the throne, if that's what you're wondering," said Myrna. "The good news is, we do have another queen," said Oliver glancing at Gabri.

The final chapter - again I'm being careful not to give anything away -- showcases some of Ms. Penny's best writing with guns as metaphors and surrender of same -- as redemption. I read it twice, as it was that subtly crafted.

But what brought actual tears to my eyes was after the novel ended -- in the afterword. Here, Ms. Penny lovingly acknowledges Michael's (her husband) dementia and writes of her gratitude to his doting caregivers, as well as her readers for giving her the support and encouragement to keep on writing despite this heartbreaking situation. (She's already well into writing the next novel.)

So in summary, without giving away anything to spoil your reading, A Great Reckoning gets not only my glowing review, but a standing ovation.

See more at http://www.bookbarmy.com show less

A Great Reckoning - Penny
Audio performance by Robert Bathurst
4 stars

It begins with this epigram.

“It strikes a man more dead than a great reckoning in a little room.”
Shakespeare - As You Like It

I love epigrams and literary references in novels. It’s usually worth some effort to find the source. So far, with a Louise Penny book it has always been worth the effort. This epigram isn’t just the source of a great title. Understanding even a little about the play and the meaning of this quote added layers to the theme of this book.

Armand Gamache has come out of retirement to become the commander of the Surete Academy. It is the next step in his ongoing fight against corruption within the Surete. The murder of a sadistic academy show more professor places several cadets and Gamache on the list of suspects. Gamache moves the young cadets to Three Pines for their own protection. He keeps them busy with an investigation into an old hand drawn map.

The best part of this book is the interaction of the students with the citizens of Three Pines. Two girls, two boys, each student is parceled out to a different Three Pines resident. It’s amusing.

“So what would you call a gathering of students?” asked Myrna. “A disappointment?” asked Ruth. “No, wait. That’s children. Now, students? What would you call a group of them?”

But, of course, Gamache is not the only person who becomes concerned for the welfare of the young people. And it’s deeply touching as the make-work investigation of an old map leads to a connection with the WW1 memorial stained glass window. Louise Penny connects the bullied and abused 21st century Academy cadets to the dead young soldiers in the memorial. Ruth and Gamache make the connection with quotes from Sassoon and Auden. Clara puts it into a new portrait.

“She had painted robust youth. Made frail and vulnerable by fear. By the stupidity and cruelty and decisions of old men.” show less

I don't know how I ended up reading these out of order, but it worked ok anyway -- this one is a doozy, from the pathos of the WWI history and heartbreaks, to the fatal toxicity of the Sûreté Academy -- echoes within echoes of tragedy and kindness, the beauty of three pines and its idyllic state and funny character, now entwined with the larger world. The small mystery of the map against the backdrop of the larger hurts and healing. Just altogether very moving, as Gamache mysteries tend to be.

This, the twelfth book in the Inspector Gamache series, was my favorite so far. Armand Gamache has accepted a post as Commander of the Sûreté du Québec Academy, which trains cadets for service. In previous books, Gamache systematically rid the Sûreté of corruption. Now he has an opportunity to address the effects of that corruption on new cadets, and ensure they join the force committed to the values of the Sûreté. He dismantles and rebuilds the staff, and personally oversees the selection of freshman cadets. When a murder occurs inside the Academy, Armand realizes his restructuring did not go far enough. He must play two roles: as Commander, ensuring the safety of the young cadets, and as a member of law enforcement, doing show more everything possible to bring the killer to justice.

There’s a second mystery in this novel, concerning the origins of an orienteering map found in Three Pines. Gamache assigns four cadets to investigate, initially as a training exercise. The stakes are raised when it seems possible the map is linked to the murder. And throughout the novel, there are hints Gamache has a personal connection to one of the recruits. Louise Penny ties it all together masterfully, while continuing to develop the characters in Three Pines and at the Sûreté. Loved it. show less

Armand Gamache has come out of retirement to take over as head of the Surete Academy which needs cleaning up as badly as the Surete did. Meanwhile, the village of Three Pines is agog over an old map discovered in the walls of the bistro. These two events cross over into an intricate combination of murder and old history.
Armand is a complex figure, clever and just in his own way, a man who agonizes over decisions but takes all the responsibility for them. The residents of Three Pines are delightful and their relationships with the cadets that become lodged in their village only enhance the story. The cadets and professors at the academy are at the heart of this mystery.
Ms. Penny is such a wonderful writer and never missteps. I admit she show more shocked me at one point when I thought there was a typo for youth (fans of My Cousin Vinny will get this). The quality of her writing is excellent and her plotlines only encourage the reader to go faster and deeper into the story to see what happens next. I highly recommend all of her books, but this is one of the best. show less

I am amazed at what Louise Penny has accomplished with this book. Not only did it keep me guessing to the end and reveal new insights into the characters I have grown to love but she did it all while caring for a husband in the latter stages of dementia. I don't think I have ever cried over an author's acknowledgements but I did over Louise Penny's in this book. Brava Ms Penny.

Armand Gamache has decided to come out of retirement to head up the Surete Academy which is where all the people who become police officers in Quebec receive their training. He was responsible for cleaning up the rot in the Surete itself just prior to retiring to Three Pines but he has decided that many of the problems still exist because of the training given in show more the Academy. He fired many of the old staff and brought in new professors of his own. However, there are a few curious decisions he has made. He asked one of the senior people disgraced in his purge of the Surete to come back to teach ethics. This man was once his best friend, best man at his wedding and godfather to his children and the revelations about his corruption hit Gamache hard. Almost as bizarre was his decision to keep the Academy's second in command in place since he had proof that the man had been involved in price gouging and other financial improprieties when the Academy was built.
Back in Three Pines Madame Gamache has settled in well and is helping the historical society catalogue the vast amount of material it has collected over the years. It is natural that she would dig in when Ruth Zardo is turned loose on a box of materials that were found in the walls when the bistro was renovated. The discovery of an old hand drawn map of the surrounding era is the best find. Olivier has the map framed and gives it to Gamache when he starts his new job so that he can find his way home. The map will go on to play a major role in the book. When The Duke (the aforementioned second in command) is found murdered in his rooms at the Academy a copy of the map is found in his bedside table.

There are some hints at the end of the book that Gamache will not be staying on at the Academy. I can hardly wait to find out what new challenges await him. show less