“Sidebar” Reviews are extremely early reviews designed to encourage readers to pre-order novels that will be released later in the year.
It is very fitting that as Louise Penny enters the second decade of Three Pines mysteries she returns to the formula that made her one of the most beloved crime fiction authors of all time. Miss Wolcott’s Ghost follows the pattern of those early Chief Inspector Gamache novels: a crime has occurred in the quaint and secluded community of Three Pines, and the Sûreté du Québec must investigate…with the help of some of the town’s most committed—and noisy—neighbors. It is a simple formula, but one the massive horde of fans this series has amassed over the years hold close to their hearts—like a lovely bouquet of flowers gifted to a loved one.
Miss Wolcott’s Ghost begins, as several of Louise Penny’s novels have, with a phone call. This time the call comes in the middle of the night with only one message: “There’s a body in Lost Nation.” And with that, Gamache is off and running on another fascinating homicide case and readers are once again glued to every page.
A fresh dead body found in a long-forgotten cemetery links Canada’s past to present-day Three Pines in unexpected ways, it exposes the troubled legacy of one of the small community’s former residents, and it eventually puts to rest the spirit of one remarkable woman.
As with all the books in the series, each new development is best discovered by readers alongside the investigative team. Long time fans will rejoice in knowing that the residents of Three Pines are front and center for this entire novel. Clara, Myrna, Reine-Marie, Olivier, Gabri, and yes indeed, Ruth are all on hand to help Gamache, Beauvoir, and Isabelle with uncovering the truth.
As Louise Penny has done so successfully across the series, she once again exposes some long forgotten Canadian history that will send even the most jaded reader on a research trip to their local library.
Most crime fiction series run their course long before a dozen books are released, so it’s important to note that Miss Wolcott’s Ghost (book number twenty-one) is easily one of the best novels in the series—and more than a few readers will surely rank it right at the top of a list that includes a stunning number of award-winning releases. There is something some incredibly comforting about returning to the traditional feel of those early Three Pines books after having gained such a deep understanding of every character on the page throughout this journey. Expect to see Miss Wolcott’s Ghost on many “Best Of” and award short lists at the culmination of the year—it’s just that good!
Preorder now: Miss Wolcott’s Ghost by Louise Penny
Disclaimer: Print and e-galley copies of this title were provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
