The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny

Louise Penny has written another gem of a crime novel, this being one of a series with Armand Gamache, as the protagonist, the chief inspector of the Surete du Quebec. This is the fifth novel in the series that has been reviewed in Men Reading Books, all reviewed favorably. The Brutal Telling is no exception to that. I won’t review the plot except to say that one of the beloved characters that has evolved over the course of the earlier books, Oliver Brule, is in trouble. He’s been keeping secrets from his partner, Gabriel. A body has been found, and no one in the small village of Three Pines knows who it is. Penny has presented her most intricate plot, but has done so while continuing with exquisite character development. This series is as much about character as it is about plot and crime. She weaves in wonderful history about Canada, particularly Montreal. She delves into the art world with its rewards, difficulties, and troubled personalities. 

I can tell you the moral of the story without giving away the plot. Near the end, Penny writes, "But there was no hiding from Conscience. Not in new homes and new cars. In travel. In meditation or frantic activity. In children, in good works. On tiptoes or bended knee. In a big career. Or a small cabin. It would find you. The past always did." 

This series of stories is worth savoring and not hurrying through. My advice -- start with her first book, Still Life, and then work your way forward.