How the Light Gets In cover art

How the Light Gets In

Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 9

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How the Light Gets In

By: Louise Penny
Narrated by: Adam Sims
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About this listen

The number-one New York Times best seller.

A detective. As a fierce, unrelenting winter grips Quebec, shadows are closing in on Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department and hostile forces are lining up against him.

A disappearance. When Gamache receives a message about a mysterious case in Three Pines, he is compelled to investigate - a woman who was once one of the most famous people in the world has vanished.

A deadly conclusion. As he begins to shed light on the investigation, he is drawn into a web of murder, lies, and unimaginable corruption at the heart of the city. Facing his most challenging, and personal, case to date, can Gamache save the reputation of the Sûreté, those he holds dear and himself?

Evocative, gripping and atmospheric, this magnificent work of crime fiction from international best-selling author Louise Penny will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

©2013 Three Pines Creations Incorporated (P)2014 Isis Publishing Limited Crime Crime Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Exciting Tear-jerking

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Critic reviews

"Clever, full of twists and turns, a wonderfully satisfying -- and moving -- addition to Penny's atmospheric, distinctive series" (Kate Mosse)
"Penny's elegant style is deeply satisfying, while Gamache is contemplative even when under pressure, and remains a man you want to spend time with" ( Metro)
"Louise Penny twists and turns the plot expertly tripping the reader up just at the moment you think you might have solved the mystery" ( Daily Express)
"Another bravura performance from an author who has reinvented the village mystery as profoundly as Dashiell Hammett transformed the detective novel" ( Booklist)
"With skilful plotting and gift for creating atmosphere, Penny weaves a dark and suspenseful tale of deadly secrets, professional machinations and surprising twists" ( Good Book Guide)
"Subtle, elegant and beautifully written" ( Sunday Mirror)
All stars
Most relevant
I hope everyone who listens to or reads this book finds as much pleasure as I did! We’re all different so that’s unlikely and that’s ok. That’s part of what makes us human. And I’m in awe of the “humanness” (!) written into this book!

These characters are so real to me, the diabolical, despicable ones, I’ll be happy to see justice served and the good, flawed, broken, caring and talented ones I will miss dearly.

This book was so atmospheric, descriptive, just beautifully written and narrated, (Louise Penny and Adam Sims being a marriage made in audiobook heaven) and tense, made more so by the quite calm of Inspector Gamache.

I’m listening one after the other but I’m torn between wanting to know what happens or whether I should listen to something else between each, to keep these stories in my life for longer!

As you can tell, an author I am not! But a very grateful listener, thank you Ms Penny and Mr Sims. And I am going straight on to the next!

Just brilliant!

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Where does How the Light Gets In rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I listen to a wide variety of audio books, and these are a very satisfying listen. Perfect for winter, as most are set in the cold Quebecois winter.

What other book might you compare How the Light Gets In to, and why?

This is number nine in a series, and if you like one, you'll like the others, but it does help to read them in order.

What about Adam Sims’s performance did you like?

The performance is great. Voices clearly defined so you're never in doubt as to who's speaking. Accents not overdone.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The books have a gentle pace, and a strong sense of place. The star attraction is the village of Three Pines and its inhabitants. So nicely drawn that it really makes you wish it were real, and that you could visit.

Any additional comments?

I love this series. It's undemanding yet engaging, and not too simple. The complexity stems from the rounded characters and the exploration of their flaws as well as their virtues. But at its heart , there's a struggle between everyday good and evil, but all served with a side order of hot chocolate and marshmallows.

"cosy crime" with a brain, and a heart

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For me, the pull of these novels is in the extraordinary depth afforded to even minor characters. I can associate with all the villagers and agents, glimpse their motivations, on the way to the great reveal at the end.
The writing is sympathetic and the performance only adds to the overall effect. Quoting one of my favourite Leonard Cohen songs was the icing on the cake.

another excellent Gamache novel

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Adam Sims is an amazing narrator and another suspense fill delight full of beloved characters.

Brilliant

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From the first book these stories of Armand Gamache, his team & Three Pines grabbed my attention and haven’t let go. Louise Penny’s writing is so beautifully evocative, the variety of interesting characters and complex plots provide everything I want in a book. This is the best yet, it ties up the storyline that has bubbled away under the surface since book 1 and does it with a plot that was totally unexpected. The case that takes the story back to Three Pines is unusual, the protagonist is easily guessed but this doesn’t detract since the storyline is secondary to the main plot. As usual (for me) Ruth says little but easily rises above the pack of characters and her tender scene with Jonquil (towards the end) brought me to tears.

Adam Sims is a wonderful narrator making for a perfect listening experience.

The best yet!

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