Is Still Life recommended by me? Yes, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as is the second book, A Fatal Grace. Is it an accidental hunting death or is it something more sinister? You will have to read the book to find out. In Still Life, Chief Inspector Gamache arrives to investigate the suspicious death in the woods of a local school teacher and secret artist. When that happens, Chief Inspector Gamache and his team of of provincial police officers are called in from Montreal to solve the crime. They struggle through whatever life throws at them and even, sometimes, experience a murder or two. I am a city girl but Penny’s books have me wanting to move to a quaint little village somewhere 'away from it all.' However, as we all know, it is impossible to truly be away from it all and despite the lovely location, the people who live here enjoy real life issues. This book, Still Life, and presumably subsequent ones in the series, will make you want to visit and stay at the village's lone bed and breakfast. It has cozy homes with fireplaces, friendly community gatherings and lots of home cooking. Three Pines is a village so small as not to be found on the map and I have yet to look and see if it is a real village or not. I love Penny's realistic portrayals of people both good and bad, of the careful and sometimes instinctive detective work and of the idyllic, almost cottage-like setting. It is he who makes this series great when he solves crimes with careful observation and integrity. I can honestly say that I did not like the book until page 59, when I met the main character, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. I read the first few pages and wondered what all the fuss was about. I was happy to at last have the first book, Still Life, in my hands. Penny is a Canadian author who, since the year 2005, has written a series of murder mystery novels that are set in Canada in the romantic Eastern Townships of the province of Quebec. Despite the recommendation of every member of my book club and many of my other friends, I have only just finally found my way into the world created by Louise Penny.

Louise penny still life review