Can somebody be literally scared to death?

By Ande Jacobson

The Cruelest Month is the third Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (of the Sûreté du Quebec) story by Canadian author Louise Penny. Penny has kept a pace of one or two Gamache mysteries a year since she started the series, and this one was first released in 2008. As usual, the murder requires some setup through the first quarter of the book, and when it comes it hits hard.

Easter is fast approaching, and Three Pines has a visitor – a psychic named Jeanne Chauvet with a surprising history. She’s staying at the B&B where all visitors tend to stay, and Gabri is beside himself with excitement. He convinces Jeanne to lead a séance at the B&B on Good Friday, an activity she ostensibly hadn’t planned on as she had other plans for her time in the village. Still, Gabri is her host at the B&B, so she eventually acquiesces and holds an informal ceremony that night after most of the villagers had spent the afternoon hiding wooden eggs for the upcoming Easter egg hunt. There’s a story behind the wooden eggs that’s nicely covered in the book. For now, suffice it to say that Three Pines has some interesting creative traditions.

Those assembled for the séance are in high spirits not quite sure what to expect, but they are curious enough to encourage their psychic leader nonetheless. Jeanne breaks off the séance early claiming that the venue is far too happy for her to successfully reach the other side. She tells the participants that she needs a place that’s less joyous. After serious consideration, the group decides that the old Hadley mansion would be the perfect place for another séance, and they commit to doing it on Easter Sunday. Needless to say the séance at the old Hadley mansion has a far different feel to it, and tragedy strikes in a most unexpected way.

Chief Inspector Gamache is in Montreal enjoying a glorious Easter with his beloved wife, son, daughter-in-law, and cherished granddaughter. The kids live in France and are only home for a short time over the holiday, and Armand and Reine-Marie want to make the most of their time together. Alas duty calls, and Armand embarks on yet another twisty journey with his team while at the same time fending off the turmoil stirred up by the old Arnot case. Readers learned more about the particulars of the Arnot case in the second book, and this time the fallout takes a more ominous turn. As a result, Gamache not only has a new murder to solve, he has to protect his family and himself from egregious personal attacks that threaten his continued livelihood and his family’s safety.

The new case starts as a question of whether somebody could be literally scared to death. As quaint and unlikely as that seems, that’s the first level explanation for Madeleine Favreau’s sudden death at the second séance. There’s a lot to unravel this time, and Gamache again has his hands full. Readers (and Three Pines regulars) know that Armand Gamache is a man who always does his best and puts others ahead of himself. Fortunately for all concerned, this murder case is no exception. Even with his distraction from the Arnot case’s after-effects dogging his every move, he uses his powers of observation, his reason and empathy, and his team to their fullest potential to solve the murder at hand. Make no mistake, despite the initial appearances to the contrary, Madeleine’s demise is indeed murder. Before the story’s end, Gamache works his magic to ensure that all understand what really happened to her and why.

All of the Three Pines regulars including Clara and Peter Morrow, Gabri Dubeau, Olivier Brulé, Myrna Landers, and Ruth Zardo are back along with a few previously mentioned more minor village folk. Additional new villagers are also introduced. Some of the new characters are long-time residents while others have arrived more recently.

A bit of a pattern emerges at this point in the series, at least in the three books so far. The core villagers, while sometimes fleetingly suspected, are generally uninvolved in any intentional wrong-doing. This village is very tight-knit, and it’s clear they care for one another. Even Ruth cares deeply for her friends and neighbors despite her caustic mumblings and banter. In fact, she might care the most of all as is evidenced by her reaction to a couple of orphaned ducklings who become her constant companions through this particular installment. She bonds tightly to the ducklings, one of which is strong and feisty while the other is destined for a different path. It will be interesting to see whether either of her charges revisit future stories.

Each of the newcomers has an unexpected backstory that unfolds over the course of the investigation. Gamache has a way of drawing people out which aids greatly in discovering the truth. Gamache also eventually brings the Arnot fallout distracting him to a satisfying, though not necessarily happy conclusion. He uncovers something he doesn’t expect, but in the process he strengthens his team in ways unimaginable earlier in the series.

Eventually, the Sûreté du Quebec loses two key members. Observant readers will see certain losses coming from the end of the second book, but there is also a reversal that I suspected but wasn’t able to confirm until close to the end of this third Gamache story. The reasons for the losses are varied, but the motivations for the actions of those who are ultimately dropped are slightly contrived. Jean Guy Beauvoir learns just how crafty his mentor really is and admires him all the more. Yvette Nichol is a far greater force for good than some had suspected. Robert Lemieux is something other than he might appear to most of the team. Isabelle Lacoste is insightful and efficient. Michel Brébeuf is perplexing. Relationships and rivalries can be deceptive as well as destructive. Friendships can be stressed or destroyed, and Gamache is not immune from those effects. He is resilient though, and with the support of his family and his good friends, he bounces back. In the end, his remaining team is stronger and tighter than before.

References:
The Cruelest Month, by Louise Penny
https://www.gamacheseries.com/books/the-cruelest-month/
https://agoodreedreview.com/2023/03/27/book-still-life/
https://agoodreedreview.com/2023/05/19/a-most-ungraceful-exit/