On Wednesday I went to Louise Penny’s signing at Murder By The Book. Her latest novel, How the Light Gets In, is the ninth in her Chief Inspector Gamache series. Just hours before the signing was scheduled, she received word that the book debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Every published book is cause for celebration, but this is spectacular. I love this series and am so grateful that Johnny at MBTB recommended it to me several years ago.
The first time I went to a Louise Penny signing, she drew a blind pig in my Moleskine (which I take because all but one of her books that I own are eBooks I’ve purchased at MBTB for my Nook–nothing for her to sign). This time, she drew three pines over her name, because Three Pines is the fictional town where many of the characters live and where Gamache goes to nourish his soul and do some of his best thinking. If you haven’t read any of these books, I highly recommend that you begin with the first, Still Life, and read them in order. Though they are mysteries, they are also compelling stories about the best and worst of human nature.
Looking forward to many more visits (and revisits) to the Quebec village of Three Pines. Join me there!
If you’re not local to Houston and can’t visit Murder By The Book, you can still go through the store for your eBooks. Read how here.
I think that I gave you that Moleskine because of the graph paper … I luvs me some graph paper, and even if it is not, I like to pretend it is because you do such lovely things with them – and maybe the first was the inspiration for the rest.
This is absolutely the first one you ever sent (September of ’07), also known as the Maleficent Journal. I can’t believe I haven’t filled it up yet. It’s packed full of memories.
When it is published you will have to use the catchier title …THE DIABLO DIARY
2007? Really? It was that long ago?
Yup. Six years ago this month.
My mother love this series, thanks to your recommendation that time we shopped together at MBTB. (Mom just bought the new Penny book for her Kindle.) That afternoon was my first introduction to “cozies.”
I’m glad your mother is still enjoying them! The last third of the book may keep her up all night reading with a racing heart, though.
Also, David, if she enjoys mysteries and hasn’t already discovered these writers for herself, tell her to check out Donna Leon’s Brunetti novels (set in Venice–there are 22 of them, and I’m reading them S L O W L Y to savor them) and Martin Walker’s Bruno mysteries (set in the Périgord region of France, there are five of them and one short story). Brunetti and Bruno have the same kind of heart and strength as Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache.
Ooh! Those sound great. I’ll pass it along. Thanks!
I used to give my mother a big bag of books every Christmas (and a slightly smaller bag for her birthday), but now that she has a Kindle she rarely reads hardcovers/paperbacks anymore. Putting an Amazon gift card in a big Santa gift bag just isn’t the same.
I’ll have to give them a look.
Tom is reading them now and really enjoying them.
I have most of her books and haven’t started reading them yet – shuffling them up to the top of the pile now. 🙂
I hope you enjoy them!