Glass Houses

Louise Penny has been a favorite of mine for many years, and Glass Houses continues her excellent storytelling. Even if you have not read any other of her books, you can jump right into this one and not feel as if you have missed anything.

The lovely peaceful village of Three Pines is a refuge for Chief Superintendent of the Surete du Quebec Armand Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie. His work is stressful and tension filled and Three Pines is an oasis of tranquility far from the madness of police work. Until it is not.

One evening a strange darkly-clad figure appears on the village green and stands for hours. Neighbors encourage Gamache to go and talk to the figure and find out what it wants. He approaches the figure and asks several questions, none of which are answered. Because the figure is not breaking any laws, there is nothing he can do to make the figure move.

After some research, Gamache discovers the dark figure represents a medieval cobrador del frac - a

debt collector. Historically in Spain the cobrador would follow his "victim" from place to place, shaming him into paying his debt. Gamache believes this cobrador is not here to collect a debt, but to frighten someone. Four friend, visiting Three Pines away from their usual time to be there, suddenly seem very worried about the cobrador. In fact everyone in town is becoming paranoid and Three Pines is not the tranquil place if usually is.

Once the cobrador is found dead and its identity revealed, Gamache begins to dig deeper. But there is more going on in the Surete and with Gamache.

Because this is such an intricate plot, revealing too much will give away the true mission. All I have to say is Cortes' quote "Burn Our Ships" factors heavily into the storyline.

If you have not read Louise Penny before, be prepared for a thrilling, tense plot with clever twists and turns. You will not be disappointed in this or any of her books.