The Madness of Crowds
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache returns to Three Pines in #1 New York Times bestseller Louise Penny's latest spellbinding novel, The Madness of Crowds.
You’re a coward.
Time and again, as the New Year approaches, that charge is leveled against Armand Gamache.
It starts innocently enough.
While the residents of the Québec village of Three Pines take advantage of the deep snow to ski and toboggan, to drink hot chocolate in the bistro and share meals together, the Chief Inspector finds his holiday with his family interrupted by a simple request.
He’s asked to provide security for what promises to be a non-event. A visiting Professor of Statistics will be giving a lecture at the nearby university.
While he is perplexed as to why the head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec would be assigned this task, it sounds easy enough. That is until Gamache starts looking into Professor Abigail Robinson and discovers an agenda so repulsive he begs the university to cancel the lecture.
They refuse, citing academic freedom, and accuse Gamache of censorship and intellectual cowardice. Before long, Professor Robinson’s views start seeping into conversations. Spreading and infecting. So that truth and fact, reality and delusion are so confused it’s near impossible to tell them apart.
Discussions become debates, debates become arguments, which turn into fights. As sides are declared, a madness takes hold.
Abigail Robinson promises that, if they follow her, ça va bien aller. All will be well. But not, Gamache and his team know, for everyone.
When a murder is committed it falls to Armand Gamache, his second-in-command Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and their team to investigate the crime as well as this extraordinary popular delusion.
And the madness of crowds.
Louise Penny
Louise Penny, born on July 1, 1958, is a distinguished author celebrated for her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. With a #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling status, she has garnered a plethora of accolades, including multiple Agatha Awards and a CWA Dagger. A finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel, Penny resides in a quaint village located to the south of Montréal, bringing her stories to life in the enchanting backdrop of Quebec. Her captivating narratives and skillful storytelling have earned her a devoted following in the world of mystery fiction.
Chief Inspector Gamache
Chief Inspector Gamache is the compelling protagonist in Louise Penny's mystery series. Gamache, a thoughtful and empathetic police officer, heads the Homicide Division of the Sûreté du Québec in the picturesque village of Three Pines, Quebec. His character is multi-dimensional and relatable, and the series weaves together intriguing murder mysteries with character growth and a strong sense of community, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.
Chief Inspector Gamache consists of nineteen books, and the series is set to expand with the upcoming release of two more books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.