A Better Man

I had a date with Chief Inspector Armand Gamache last weekend!. What a treat to sit and read the newest of the Louise Penny mystery novels.  A Better Man is the newest in the Louise Penny, Gamache series.

Again we meet up with all the villagers living Three Pines.  Though it never seems to be summer there or even good weather, the people are dedicated to the village and their neighbors.  They muddle through protecting each other from harm and even negative feelings.  They care for each other and keep each other warm and dry against the elements.

This time spring is coming and the thaw has started and snow and ice melt threatens to flood not only the village of Three Pines but all along the St Lawrence River throughout the province.  There is a discussion at the Surete highest level about how to handle the dangerous situation and again Gamache has the best answer though his colleagues disagree.  There is still unrest among the leadership of the force and respect for Gamache is challenged.  His title has been taken away and now he answers to his second in command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, who is also his son-in-law.  Along with Isabelle they are off to solve another crime.

After sandbagging the riverbanks around Three Pines they are watching the storm.  The father of Vivian Godin approaches Gamache and asks him to find his daughter.  Though Gamache knows he should put this aside until after flood is averted, struggles with the knowledge that he also has a daughter he would want searched for.

This is a psychological study in the different personalities of the girl and the people around her.  This novel involves domestic abuse and the relationships between family members.  Penny is so adept at interweaving the familiar characters in the village into the major plot.  She involves them in the crime and weaves their personal stories in with similar themes to the crime motivations.

Clara is suffering from a bad review from the art critics, as Gamache is working through bad social media coverage of his last case.   Both Gamache and Beauvoir share the thoughts throughout this novel,  "What would I do if..."  because  Gamache has a daughter who is pregnant, who is also Beauvoir's wife, and they both realize how personal this case is.  How can you abandon a missing girl and possibly let a killer walk free?