Title: How the Light Gets In
Author: Louise Penny
First published August 27, 2013
405 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780312655471 (ISBN10: 0312655479)
Rating: 4.46
Overview
As the festive season approaches, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté de Québec finds himself facing a new set of challenges. His best agents have left, his friend and lieutenant Jean-Guy Beauvoir is distant, and enemies are lurking in the shadows.
Seeking a break from the chaos, Gamache journeys to the village of Three Pines, where he receives a message from Myrna Landers about a missing friend who was due to spend Christmas in the village. As Gamache begins to investigate, he discovers that the missing woman was once a world-renowned figure, now only recognized by the eccentric poet Ruth Zardo.
As the investigation deepens, Gamache finds himself drawn into the world of Three Pines, where danger lurks around every corner. With mounting threats against him and his colleagues, Gamache must find a way to keep everyone safe while seeking the truth about the missing woman.
Will peace be found in Three Pines, or will the cost be too high for Gamache and his loved ones? Find out in Louise Penny’s gripping novel, How the Light Gets In.
About the Author
Louise Penny writes the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels, which have become bestsellers in the New York Times and Globe and Mail. Her writing has earned her many awards, including seven Agatha Awards and a CWA Dagger.
She was also a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. In recognition of her contributions to Canadian culture, she received the Order of Canada in 2017.
Louise resides in a small village located south of Montréal.
Editoral Review
In How the Light Gets In, Louise Penny weaves together a gripping mystery with deeply personal themes of grief, growth, and redemption. Published in 2013, this novel is part of Penny’s acclaimed Chief Inspector Gamache series, which has won numerous awards and garnered a dedicated fan base.
Set in the quaint Canadian village of Three Pines, the novel follows Gamache as he investigates the murder of the last surviving member of a prominent family. There are plenty of suspects, from jealous siblings to greedy business partners, and Gamache must navigate a web of secrets, resentments, and hidden motives to uncover the truth.
Along the way, we also get to know many of the colorful and complex residents of Three Pines, including the beloved bistro owners Gabri and Olivier, the enigmatic artist Clara, and the troubled former heroin addict Ruth. Penny excels at creating richly drawn characters who feel like real people, with flaws and strengths, fears and dreams.
She also captures the cozy charm of a small town, with its warm community spirit and picturesque landscapes. However, Penny doesn’t shy away from darker themes, such as mental illness, addiction, and betrayal.
She portrays these issues with sensitivity and nuance, without glamorizing or stigmatizing them. She also highlights the ways in which our past traumas can affect our present lives, and how forgiveness and compassion can lead to healing.
One of the strengths of How the Light Gets In is Penny’s lyrical and evocative prose. She has a gift for describing the beauty and brutality of life with equal vividness, creating a sense of both awe and unease.
She also uses imagery and symbolism to convey deeper meanings and emotions, such as the recurring motif of light and shadows. Another strength is the intricately plotted mystery, which keeps readers guessing until the end.
Penny balances clues and red herrings, and reveals unexpected twists at just the right pace. She also shows how solving the case can have personal stakes for Gamache and other characters, giving the procedural element a deeper resonance.
If I had to point out some weaknesses or limitations of the novel, I would say that Penny sometimes relies too heavily on dialogue to reveal information or backstory. This can lead to some exposition-heavy scenes that feel artificial or forced.
Additionally, some readers may find the pacing slow or the tone melancholic, especially if they prefer more action-packed or light-hearted mysteries. However, these are minor quibbles compared to the overall impact of How the Light Gets In. It is a moving, thought-provoking, and immersive novel that showcases Penny’s mastery of the genre and her empathy for the human condition.
It is also a timely and timeless reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope and a chance for renewal. For fans of mystery, literary fiction, or Canadian literature, I highly recommend How the Light Gets In. It will challenge and reward you in equal measure, and leave you with a sense of awe and gratitude for the power of storytelling.
On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, I would give this book a solid 4.5 stars, based on its writing quality, character development, plot structure, themes, and emotional impact.
