The Beautiful Mystery is the second Inspector Gamache novel I've read. Based on the evidence I've seen, Louise Penny is quite a good crime writer. She has another virtue, though, especially evident in this. The entire book is set in a Gilbertine monastery in Quebec province. The Gilbertine Order was dissolved with Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536. In addition, they were an English order, so placing them in the traditionally French part of Canada is a leap.
I like that. Popular fiction is always throwing in little cheats that the author hopes no one will notice. But creating a murder mystery - an unusual one in itself - in the confines of a religious order almost 500 years gone? To invoke Martin Luther, that's sinning boldly
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1. Elvis Costello & the Attractions - White Knuckles
2. Paul Simon - Outrageous
3. Broadcast - Michael A Grammar
4. The Velvet Underground - Here She Comes Now
5. Neko Case - Lion's Jaws
6. Fairport Convention - Crazy Man Michael
7. Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley - Happy Talk
8. Reading Rainbow - Must Be Dreaming
9. New Order - Leave Me Alone
10. Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Farmer's Market
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2 comments:
It sounds like a pretty interesting mystery novel, one I'll definitely check out. I'd never even heard of the Gilbertine Order until now - then again, why would I have? 1536 was a bit before my time.
Another cool SR10 this week. Elvis Costello was always good, but he was white hot back then.
I think you could well like it. Gamache is a wise and thoughtful police detective who might bear some influence of PD James' Adam Dalgliesh. His partner is a hard-to-like hothead, but it's an interesting dymamic.
White knuckles→white hot? I see what you did there. :)
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