The Nature of the Beast, Louise Penny
The Nature of the Beast, Louise Penny
36 Rating(s)
List: $26.99 | Sale: $18.89
Club: $13.49

The Nature of the Beast
A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel

Bestseller

Author: Louise Penny

Narrator: Robert Bathurst

Unabridged: 12 hr 41 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/25/2015


Synopsis

Hardly a day goes by when nine year old Laurent Lepage doesn't cry wolf. From alien invasions, to walking trees, to winged beasts in the woods, to dinosaurs spotted in the village of Three Pines, his tales are so extraordinary no one can possibly believe him. Including Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache, who now live in the little Quebec village.

But when the boy disappears, the villagers are faced with the possibility that one of his tall tales might have been true.

And so begins a frantic search for the boy and the truth. What they uncover deep in the forest sets off a sequence of events that leads to murder, leads to an old crime, leads to an old betrayal. Leads right to the door of an old poet.

And now it is now, writes Ruth Zardo. And the dark thing is here.

A monster once visited Three Pines. And put down deep roots. And now, Ruth knows, it is back.

Armand Gamache, the former head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec, must face the possibility that, in not believing the boy, he himself played a terrible part in what happens next.

About Louise Penny

Canadian author, Louise Penny, has been very successful in her career of writing mystery novels. The main character of her novels is francophone Chief InspectorArmand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec. She won several awards for her work, including the Agatha Award for five years, and the Anthony Award five times, as well as publication in 23 languages.

Penny's earlier career was a broadcaster with the Canadian Broadcasting System after her graduation from college. Many times, she had postings booked far from family and friends, so loneliness became a big problem. She turned to alcohol, until age 35 when she admitted her problem to herself and has been sober since.

After accomplishing sobriety, she met her future husband, Michael Whitehead, who was head of hematology at Montreal's Childrens Hospital. They were married for 20 years, and she described him as a man of kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, and a man of courage and integrity. She lost her beloved husband to dementia in 2016 at age 83. Louise has all of her friends in the village outside of Montreal, along with her golden retrievers to keep her company.


Reviews

Goodreads review by PattyMacDotComma on April 20, 2020

4.5★ “In the beams of their flashlights, Gamache could see [x]’s face. His eyes. Bright, but not overexcited. He seemed almost calm, in control. This was his natural environment. The belly of the beast. This was where [x] belonged.” This is the eleventh of Penny’s wonderful Chief Inspector Gamache seri......more

Goodreads review by Barbara on December 02, 2021

In this 11th book in the 'Chief Inspector Armand Gamache' series, Gamache is retired and living in the Québec village of Three Pines. There he gets involved in a situation that has dire international implications.....and costs a child his life. The book provides enough background information to be r......more

Goodreads review by Esil on September 08, 2015

I love Louise Penny. Every late August, she publishes a new book in the Inspector Gamache series, which means that I get to spend Labour Day weekend with this great cast of characters in Three Pines or wherever she sets the story in Quebec. At number 11, The Nature of the Beast is another great addi......more


Awards

  • Audie Award Finalist
  • Anthony Awards - Nominee
  • Agatha Awards - Nominee
  • Amazon.com Best Books of the Year