What readers think of Bury Your Dead, plus links to write your own review.

Oh So Good

Bury Your Dead grabbed me on the first page and with quick transitions in time and place pulled me through a whole series of characters and events that were intriguing, likeable, believable and hard to put down for the demands of my real world. The day after I finished it I was at the local library finding another of Louise Penny’s books. Chief Inspector Gamache of the Quebec Province and his family, friends and associates are real, interesting and part of three mysteries that are all unfolding at the same time and keep you enthralled and guessing to the end.

Before the first chapter ended, I was immersed in the atmosphere of Old Quebec City and caught up in the interactions between the main character Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his former chief and mentor, 80 year old Emile, Armand's wife and even his German Shepherd, Henri. Something traumatic had obviously happened to him, but what? I was hooked! So began my journey into the lives of people, both past and present, in Old Quebec City and small town Three Pines.
As this beautifully written story unfolded, the city and characters were given life,through lush and concise descriptions and subtle and sometimes silly humor. The depth of the characters indicates the author's keen understanding of human behavior and nature.

In the end, with three mysteries solved, I closed the book, saddened to leave these people and to return home from Old Quebec City and Three Pines.

Good characterization; excellent description of the many years-long stress and strife between the Quebecois and the Anglo Canadians; fun way to experience Quebec City; three mysteries solved ... all in all a fun book and, although part of a series, can be read with comfort as a stand alone. Definitely recommended.

I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of Louise Penny's books. I liked the characters, but particularly liked the descriptions and history of Quebec. I will be planning a trip there soon - as soon as winter is over!

As the latest installment of the Armand Gamache Series, "Bury Your Dead" found our Chief Inspector in Quebec City with his mentor Emile trying to recover both his body and spirit after a horrific terror threat that left several in his department dead and many others wounded. To escape the horrors in his mind, the Chief finds himself drawn to the history books at the local English "Lit and His" Society. Unfortunately, the Lit and His also drew in Augustin Renaud, a rather unusual local, famous for his obsession in the search of the body of Quebec's founder, Samuel de Champlain. Renaud's search had ended, along with his own life, in the basement of the Lit and His. Being recognized by some of the officials, Gamache was asked to assist with this bizarre case and although reluctant at first, accepted the challenge and went to work trying to find out more about Renaud; why he would be in the basement of the Lit and His to begin with; and who would want him dead. The search sends him over centuries of time and along many unexpected roads.   

As the Chief was recovering in Quebec, his right hand, Inspector Jean Guy, was recovering in Three Pines. However, like the Chief, Jean Guy also found himself with a little project during his recovery time. As a favor to the Chief, Jean Guy was taking a fresh look at a murder case - a murder case that he himself helped to close there just recently. It didn’t take long for a closed case to become re-opened and matters thought certain to be questioned again.

This mystery is very well written with brilliant depictions of the magnificent Quebec winter landscapes and well developed characters as real as you and me. Penny combines picturesque descriptions with some Canadian history, fantastic characters, a full range of emotions, and a rock solid mystery that doesn’t hint to revelation until the very end. Though having read the prior books in this series could be of help with the background information, this book can certainly be read and enjoyed on its own. This is a truly fantastic series that I would recommend to anyone!

I picked up" Bury Your Dead" not knowing there was a previous book, "The Brutal Telling" - not really a good idea! It is well written, carefully plotted, moves patiently to its conclusion, but refers constantly to events from "The Brutal Telling" "Bury Your Dead" stands well on its own, if one is patient and willing to have the two plots revealed slowly and alternately.

Two murders are being investigated, one by Chief Inspector Armand Gamache in Quebec City, the other by his assistant Beauvoir in the village of Three Pines. Descriptions of Quebec in the deep snowy winter backgrounding the thoughts of the two men are marvelous.

Readers of Louise Penny's series will find this a very satisfying forward step in the Gamache books. Readers like myself, with no background,will be intrigued and mystified.

This was my first Louise Penny Book. Besides the Travelog of Quebec, there are separate mysteries playing out at the same time. I couldn't wait for them to be all tied together. Characters well defined and I may consider reading other books by this author.

Bury Your Dead is a well written mystery, that contained several sub-plot mysteries. The author interwove several different investigations. While it took a while to understand this, the reward was an interesting historical exploration of the mystery surrounding the burial place of Champlain; a murder investigation involving an anglo historical society; and a new look at a recent murder case. Through it all, the protagonist, Inspector Gamache rehashes the recent death of a fellow officer during a terrorist plot. A complex and at times confusing number of events being told at once. At the end it all comes together.

Inspector Gamache was a most interesting character, thoughtful and fully human in his emotions. The historical look at Quebec was intelligently researched and it was fun to read about places I have been to in Quebec city. I would definitely recommend this book to history and mystery lovers. I look forward to reading more of Louise Penny's novels.