Still Life

Still Life is the debut novel written by Canadian author Louis Penny.  It's the first book in a cozy mystery series set in a small, Quebecois town featuring Chief Armond Gamache and his team of investigators. In this peaceful town where nothing ever happens, a murder takes place. The murder of a beloved, retired schoolteacher puts everyone in this rural, artsy village of Three Pines on edge.

There is much to love about this mystery but there are a lot of characters to keep track of. Fortunately, Ms. Penny has a flair for character development.  It's hard to give them all a unique voice, believable personalities, and lifestyles, but she does it.  In the beginning they all seem misfits who have found Three Pines to be a safe haven from the rest of the world and then their world reveals itself when the safety net seems to unravel, and little secrets are revealed. 

The story progresses through vibrant conversations in coffee shops, walks in the woods and fascinating dinner parties that bring the quirky groups of townspeople together to figure out what happened to their 77-year-old friend, Jean Neal. I also commend Ms. Penny for including a social element that pervades our world today - that of gay bashing. She doesn't linger on it but does give the reader space to think about it.

Penny's Chief Inspecter Gamache is a gem of a character and just the right person to bring alive the story of this town. With his attention to details, unique observation techniques and a sympathetic, compassionate nature towards people; he easily engages them in conversations. He often begins with, "Tell me about it". The characters are all very likable and well developed with the exception of Yolande, Jean Neal's niece and the new agent on his team, Yvette Nicole.

While this is an enjoyable read, keep in mind that Ms. Penny has created a fictional town and also intermingles fictional books and authors as the plot develops. I was totally intrigued by the depth of the conversations taken place within the bookstore and looked up the authors mentioned. I was ready to purchase at least two book - Loss by Brother Albert and Being by Dr. Vincent Gilbert but sadly, the authors never existed.  Loss and change are key elements that vibrate throughout the story. The scene in the bookstore helps the plot line by describing the psychology of some of those who are considered misfits in society, and while the books and authors are fictional, the emotional response to the depth of conversations is real.

Tensions mount in the town as friends join forces to understand and to solve the mystery of who killed their friend while knowing that the killer is among them and someone they know and probably trust. 

I highly recommend that you enter into the intriguing world of the beauty and the community of this little village. You may want to stay for the whole series.