Mystery

The Madness of Crowds

The Madness of Crowds

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  • Create Date：2021-06-28 02:31:05
  • Update Date：2025-09-08
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Louise Penny
  • ISBN：1250145260
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Summary

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache returns to Three Pines in #1 New York Times bestseller Louise Penny's latest spellbinding novel

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。

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Reviews

Elaine Tomasso ，

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Madness of Crowds， the seventeenth novel to feature Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté de Quebec。Gamache is asked to provide security at a lecture by statistics professor Abigail Robinson。 “Why？” he wonders until he learns what she will be discussing， an idea that is gaining support all the time， that society cannot financially support all its inhabitants and the logical conclusion to that conundrum。 A fe I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Madness of Crowds， the seventeenth novel to feature Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté de Quebec。Gamache is asked to provide security at a lecture by statistics professor Abigail Robinson。 “Why？” he wonders until he learns what she will be discussing， an idea that is gaining support all the time， that society cannot financially support all its inhabitants and the logical conclusion to that conundrum。 A few days later a body is found and Gamache has to investigate the strong feelings Abigail Robinson and her feelings evoke。I thoroughly enjoyed The Madness of Crowds， which is an engrossing and thought provoking read with plenty of permutations。 To be honest， not much happens in the novel， there is a crowd disturbance at the lecture， a murder and a tense denouement and， yet， I couldn’t put it down because it’s all about the personalities， human nature and more broadly humanity。 I found it riveting because the author has a keen eye for people and a strong understanding of what makes them tick so， time after time I was captivated by her acute observations and apt applications。The title refers to a book that tries to explain mass delusion and how obvious falsehoods or faulty reasoning become accepted as truth in certain segments of the population， no matter how outrageous。 The obvious example in real time is American politics， but here the author uses forced euthanasia and eugenics as her example， inspired， no doubt， by the madness of herd immunity theory。 Abigail Robinson’s theories provoke a wider debate in the novel about death， murder， unforced euthanasia and family love。 It’s fascinating and made me really think about it， offering so much more to the debate than I had ever thought of。That’s the background that informs the plot， which， at a basic level， consists of interviews， theorising about who had a motive and uncovering a good few secrets about a monstrous event in Canada’s past。 I had no idea who the killer was， couldn’t hazard a guess and was totally hooked on every twist and turn。 I loved The Madness of Crowds for the way it made me think and the way it delivers some universal truths。 I don’t feel that I have done justice to the way the author effortlessly links her novel to real life while making it fun with her quirky characters and the village that doesn’t appear on maps。 I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read。 。。。more

Mary Louise ，

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again- If Louise Penny writes it， I’ll read it （and love it）， and if Three Pines was real， I’d move there in a heartbeat。

Misfits farm ，

When a statistician is giving a lecture at a hall in a village outside Quebec， the last thing the police expect is trouble。 However the speaker has a theory about post covid and has been stirring up feelings- social media as ever spreads things even quicker than a virus。 The police limit the number of people and everyone is searched so how on earth did firecrackers and a gun get into the hall and having been fired narrowly miss the target- the speaker herself？ Chief Inspector Armand Gamache was When a statistician is giving a lecture at a hall in a village outside Quebec， the last thing the police expect is trouble。 However the speaker has a theory about post covid and has been stirring up feelings- social media as ever spreads things even quicker than a virus。 The police limit the number of people and everyone is searched so how on earth did firecrackers and a gun get into the hall and having been fired narrowly miss the target- the speaker herself？ Chief Inspector Armand Gamache was at the scene- something everyone thought would be a non event which they tried to cancel beforehand to no avail。 Three pines village has a distinguished visitor- a nobel peace prize winner- but Haniya has a very hard side to her as well as the saintly side， having endured much in her short life。 This is brilliantly written and a page turner。 Much is narrative rather than action but done to keep the reader's interest and the pages turning easily。 Although one of a series， -this is number 17-this does stand alone （ I hadn’t read the others）。 To write a novel about post covid is a brave and interesting scenario when we are just coming out of it in reality and the world is a different place for all sorts of reasons， some of which is reflected in the book- of people's mindsets etc。 A clever concept and one very well executed。 One to keep the grey matter active and wonder about the madness of crowds。 。。。more

Nimalee Ravi ，

First novel I read by this author and I really enjoyed the whodunit mystery。 I loved the setting Three Pined and the community。 I liked the character Ms Penny and her little jokes。 This was a great read of murder and mayhem。 I will continue to read the series in order。 Really enjoyable read。

Cora ，

Louise Penny working her usual layered， thoughtful-and-thought-provoking magic。 Nice to be back in Three Pines for this one！

David ，

In her 17th book featuring Gamache and Three Pines， Louise Penny delivers again， this time in a post-pandemic world very much like today。 When does an idea go too far， and what is the tipping point for madness in a mostly sane world？ When Gamache is asked to provide security for a controversial professor who is speaking at a local university， a gunmen attempts to kill the professor during her presentation to a large crowd。 What is more dangerous， the gunmen or the ideas that the professor presen In her 17th book featuring Gamache and Three Pines， Louise Penny delivers again， this time in a post-pandemic world very much like today。 When does an idea go too far， and what is the tipping point for madness in a mostly sane world？ When Gamache is asked to provide security for a controversial professor who is speaking at a local university， a gunmen attempts to kill the professor during her presentation to a large crowd。 What is more dangerous， the gunmen or the ideas that the professor presents as logical conclusions？ And when someone does turn up dead， how might the murder be linked to the professor or those who want her ideas to die？ Set almost entirely in Three Pines， this book is clearly by an author who cares deeply about where we are and how we move forward as a society。 。。。more

Kerry Bridges ，

Chief Inspector Gamache is asked to provide protection for a speaker but when he finds out the content of the speech， it’s a little close to home for anyone’s liking。 Then there is a murder and it’s pretty hard to know who the intended victim was。 Meanwhile， Gamache must support his family and friends in the midst of the “madness of crowds”。I haven’t read others in this series so I’m not sure if more of the back story would have helped but although I quite enjoyed this novel， there was nothing a Chief Inspector Gamache is asked to provide protection for a speaker but when he finds out the content of the speech， it’s a little close to home for anyone’s liking。 Then there is a murder and it’s pretty hard to know who the intended victim was。 Meanwhile， Gamache must support his family and friends in the midst of the “madness of crowds”。I haven’t read others in this series so I’m not sure if more of the back story would have helped but although I quite enjoyed this novel， there was nothing about it to make it particularly memorable。 Setting the novel in the aftermath of the pandemic seemed a little premature and， although I thought the idea was interesting， I don’t think it was done well enough。 In a book of this length， I would have expected a lot more action but it just seemed rather repetitive。Not as good as it should have been。 。。。more

Emma ，

This is the first book by Louise Penny and whilst I was really interested in it’s premise I found it a slog to read， I had to force myself to finish it。 It was overly long and at times dragged。 I read it as a stand alone and felt like I was missing something having not read the previous novels。

Neville Townsend ，

I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley for a review。 A cracking read， this was my first Louise Penny novel and thoughly enjoyed it。

Mrs Lena ，

There were aspects to like about this novel including a strong sense of setting and well-drawn characters。 The story is linked to the events of Covid 19 in that it explores what could happen post-lockdown whilst Canada is recovering from the effects of a pandemic。 It centres on what approach should be taken in respect of the disabled and elderly who are most vulnerable during a pandemic and the social and economic problems that inevitably result。 The idea of the plot is a good one but my major c There were aspects to like about this novel including a strong sense of setting and well-drawn characters。 The story is linked to the events of Covid 19 in that it explores what could happen post-lockdown whilst Canada is recovering from the effects of a pandemic。 It centres on what approach should be taken in respect of the disabled and elderly who are most vulnerable during a pandemic and the social and economic problems that inevitably result。 The idea of the plot is a good one but my major criticism is the pace which is too slow。 The possible solutions are gone over repeatedly and it is not the sort of crime novel where the reader can follow the trail of clues and come to a definitive answer。 In the end several solutions would have worked。 。。。more

Kerry Park ，

I chose to read this after reading ‘All the Devils are Here’。 The Armand Gamache series does not exclude a reader who is joining on a later book， and this has been one of its strengths - that you can pick up the latest and be absorbed into the story and settings。 I found the storyline challenging in the fact that it is embedded in recent history， and that makes the possibilities of the storyline more real to me。 I read this book within a day， finding time to read more as I wanted to see how the I chose to read this after reading ‘All the Devils are Here’。 The Armand Gamache series does not exclude a reader who is joining on a later book， and this has been one of its strengths - that you can pick up the latest and be absorbed into the story and settings。 I found the storyline challenging in the fact that it is embedded in recent history， and that makes the possibilities of the storyline more real to me。 I read this book within a day， finding time to read more as I wanted to see how the story developed。 I thoroughly enjoyed this read！ Thank you NetGalley！ 。。。more

Paul Allard ，

Detective novel set in Quebec province - very good on the whole。Inspector Gamache becomes embroiled in a murder investigation on his doorstep in Canada which involves his colleagues， his family， his friends as well as neighbours and visitors to the area。 It also delves into the past regarding the main suspects。 The plot is very much character-driven as well as examining various ethical and moral issues。 All the main characters from previous novels are here although I have only read one of the au Detective novel set in Quebec province - very good on the whole。Inspector Gamache becomes embroiled in a murder investigation on his doorstep in Canada which involves his colleagues， his family， his friends as well as neighbours and visitors to the area。 It also delves into the past regarding the main suspects。 The plot is very much character-driven as well as examining various ethical and moral issues。 All the main characters from previous novels are here although I have only read one of the author’s earlier books about the inspector。 It’s a little longer than necessary in my opinion and perhaps slightly repetitive in places。 It builds up an interesting atmosphere about the location and is a thought-provoking and successful read。 I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Paromjit ，

It's always a joy to pick up Louise Penny's latest in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache， Head of Homicide at the Surete， series set in the stunning Canadian location of the Three Pines village in Quebec。 This addition has contagion as the central theme running through it， here the people have emerged from the horrors of Covid， but its impact continues as rising numbers begin to support the unpalatable lunatic theories and ideas being put forward by the seemingly normal and innocuous statistics It's always a joy to pick up Louise Penny's latest in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache， Head of Homicide at the Surete， series set in the stunning Canadian location of the Three Pines village in Quebec。 This addition has contagion as the central theme running through it， here the people have emerged from the horrors of Covid， but its impact continues as rising numbers begin to support the unpalatable lunatic theories and ideas being put forward by the seemingly normal and innocuous statistics professor， Abigail Robinson。 She is at the heart of a fast growing divisively infectious febrile climate of high emotions。 Robinson is but one of many others in the history of Canada， such as the now pariah and shamed McGill psychiatry professor who carried out unethical， devastating experiments that destroyed the lives of countless ordinary people， whilst others stood by doing nothing。 Such people illustrate just how normal the monsters in our society can appear to be。 The likes of Robinson are a reflection of our contemporary realities， particularly in the age of social media being used to spread discord through manipulated facts and outright lies， where people will do anything to attain and maintain power。 Gamache has been asked to oversee Robinson's talk at the university， something that really shouldn't have needed his involvement。 The wintry conditions of snow and freezing cold over the festive period should have ensured few attendees， but people travel from far and wide to hear Robinson。 Chaos and mayhem result， and its only through good fortune that no-one is seriously hurt， but murder is to follow during New Year celebrations at the Auberge。 As Gamache， Jean Guy and Isabelle investigate， the emotive conflicts and debates penetrate their professional and personal lives， raising questions such as whether murder can be motivated by love， and how far is it permissable to venture to prevent the deaths of thousands？ Three Pines has a fascinating visitor， a Nobel peace prize nominee， the Sudanese 'hero'， the 23 year old Haniya Daoud， the expectations of a 'saint' are rudely shattered by the reality of someone so damaged by past traumas and horrors that can barely be imagined， making almost everyone in the village want to avoid her。 What Haniya has seen and experienced suggest that she is a monster on the side of the angels， making her a suspect in Gamache's inquiries。 This was a wonderfully compulsive， entertaining and engaging read， even though it trawls through the darkest side of humanity。 It is always a joy to reacquaint myself with the residents of Three Pines， none more so than the poet Ruth， of whom there are key insights here， and her duck， Rosa。 I am already eagerly anticipating my next visit to Three Pines。 Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC。 。。。more

Katy Picken ，

So we're back in Three Pines post-Covid， which is a bold move on Louise Penny's part， as this little corner of the world seems to be ahead of the real world in recovery。 The plot revolves around a statistics professor， Abigail Robinson， who has come up with a plan for economic recovery and for minimising damage from any further pandemics - but it is a plan abhorrent to many， and has public opinion divided。 Inspector Gamache is asked to provide security for one of her events。Once again， murder an So we're back in Three Pines post-Covid， which is a bold move on Louise Penny's part， as this little corner of the world seems to be ahead of the real world in recovery。 The plot revolves around a statistics professor， Abigail Robinson， who has come up with a plan for economic recovery and for minimising damage from any further pandemics - but it is a plan abhorrent to many， and has public opinion divided。 Inspector Gamache is asked to provide security for one of her events。Once again， murder and mayhem ensues， with Three Pines at the centre。 （I do like the way Ms Penny gently pokes fun at herself over the number of murders in such a tiny village）。 Ghosts from the past are woken， and feelings become very personal for both Gamache and Beauvoir， as well as for the suspects。 As usual， the characterisation is superb， with new faces as well as the old and familiar ones， and the plot is intricate and interesting， with numerous twists and turns before the denouement。I have read all of the Inspector Gamache novels this year， and I'm now a bit lost， having to wait a year for the next one！ With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the e-ARC of this book。 。。。more

Cassie ，

Preordered， release date 8/24/21。

Angela ，

With many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for offering this ARC in exchange of my honest review。This is the 17th book in this series。 Although， it has complex story lines but It's wonderful written and it's done very well。 The characters are very interesting and well-developed to give thought provoking。 Fast and intriguing plot with twists and turns at the ending。 It would make you surprising and shocked。 With many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for offering this ARC in exchange of my honest review。This is the 17th book in this series。 Although， it has complex story lines but It's wonderful written and it's done very well。 The characters are very interesting and well-developed to give thought provoking。 Fast and intriguing plot with twists and turns at the ending。 It would make you surprising and shocked。 。。。more

Clbplym ，

This book grabbed me from the beginning。 Abigail Robinson is about to give a controversial lecture and Gamache is asked to police it。 You are kept waiting for a few chapters to find out what the controversy is。 There is an incident at the lecture and， quite a bit later， a death。 There are quite a few threads going on which could be the cause of the murder and you are kept guessing。 As usual， I find some of the Three Pine residents a bit of a distraction but the central family and the suspects ar This book grabbed me from the beginning。 Abigail Robinson is about to give a controversial lecture and Gamache is asked to police it。 You are kept waiting for a few chapters to find out what the controversy is。 There is an incident at the lecture and， quite a bit later， a death。 There are quite a few threads going on which could be the cause of the murder and you are kept guessing。 As usual， I find some of the Three Pine residents a bit of a distraction but the central family and the suspects are interesting characters。 This is the first book I’ve read which tackles post-lockdown issues。 It’s perhaps still a bit early for that！ That said， some of the long term human impact of COVID is touched on well。 Many thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Sid Nuncius ，

The Madness Of Crowds was better than All The Devils Are Here， but that’s not saying much and I wasn’t keen on it。Back in Three Pines （thank heavens！） Gamache is， implausibly， given the job of policing a talk by a very controversial academic。 This leads to lots of moral dilemmas， violence and ultimately a death。 He and his team/family then have to find the killer， which involves a lot of historical delving， some thoroughly unlikely coincidences and yet more moral soul-searching。Frankly， I found The Madness Of Crowds was better than All The Devils Are Here， but that’s not saying much and I wasn’t keen on it。Back in Three Pines （thank heavens！） Gamache is， implausibly， given the job of policing a talk by a very controversial academic。 This leads to lots of moral dilemmas， violence and ultimately a death。 He and his team/family then have to find the killer， which involves a lot of historical delving， some thoroughly unlikely coincidences and yet more moral soul-searching。Frankly， I found much of it it pretty stodgy and not very well done – something I am surprised and very sorry to have to say about a Louise Penny novel。 For example， she keeps the nature of the “shocking” views of the academic from us for so long at the start that it would be a significant spoiler to reveal them， even though all the characters know what they are and react strongly to them。 This went on for so long that it became ridiculous and I eventually found it very annoying。 I’m afraid I found her dealing with the moral issues clumsy throughout， with some very unsubtle moralising and a disappointingly underdeveloped study of one morally abhorrent but personally charming character and another who is morally noble but personally repellent。 Needless to say， everyone learns Important Life Lessons in a conclusion which I found positively cloying。Gamache is now so saintly that there is a distinct odour of sanctimony about him， the characters of Three Pines are reduced to a thin backdrop and there are some quite absurd scenes。 I can just about live with the idea that two of Canada’s most renowned academics and a Sudanese contender for the Nobel Peace Prize would all be in a tiny， unknown village for New Year， but other things were too much。 For example， Gamache and Jean Guy need to leave the house for some privacy for a difficult conversation。。。so they go to the bistro where the whole village can hear the argument。 And so on。Even this I could just about have coped with， I think， if it weren’t for Penny’s increasingly irritating prose style。 She will insist on making a clause。 Into a sentence。 For no reason。 And it made me cross。 Very cross。 Indeed。 It’s a cheap trick which lesser writers use to try to heighten tension。 Not only is Louise Penny better than this， she does it so much and often about such trivial things that it loses all impact， save making me mutter “For heavens sake” （I paraphrase） a lot。I did read to the end， which is more than I can say for All The Devils， but I was quite glad when I’d finished the book， which is never a good sign。 I’ve rounded 2。5 stars up to 3 out of respect for an author who has written some very good books， but I think I may have reached the end of the road with Louise Penny。（My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC via NetGalley。） 。。。more

Áine ，

You've got to be patient here as the story takes a while to get going。 Then you get a rollercoaster of action with thoughtful consideration of free speech versus hate speech， where's the boundary？ Interesting， thought provoking， this series always delivers。 You've got to be patient here as the story takes a while to get going。 Then you get a rollercoaster of action with thoughtful consideration of free speech versus hate speech， where's the boundary？ Interesting， thought provoking， this series always delivers。 。。。more

Alyson ，

This is the first I've read in this series by Louise Penny and maybe it my own fault but I felt I was jumpin into the middle of something rather than reading a stand alone novel。 The characters obviously all had history and whilst some of this was explained for the main characters， many of the minor players had things alluded to but never explored。 Perhaps none of it was necessary for the plot but as a reader I felt I was missing something。The story is set in the village/town of Three Pines。 A v This is the first I've read in this series by Louise Penny and maybe it my own fault but I felt I was jumpin into the middle of something rather than reading a stand alone novel。 The characters obviously all had history and whilst some of this was explained for the main characters， many of the minor players had things alluded to but never explored。 Perhaps none of it was necessary for the plot but as a reader I felt I was missing something。The story is set in the village/town of Three Pines。 A visiting Professor arrives to give a lecture， seemingly a last minute event。 However when Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is assigned to keep order at the lecture he realises the Professor has a particular agenda， one that is gaining credence throughout the country。 Set against the background of the COVID pandemic， the Professor's theories are cold blooded and abhorrent， but find favour with those who believe the world cannot return to the way it was。 An attempt on the Professor's life during the lecture is narrowly averted but Gamache can see that the Professor's message is finding favour with many。 Move forward to New Year's Eve and a party at the local inn。 Just after the midnight fireworks the local youth who had been drinking in the woods find a body。 Investigation by Gamache and his colleagues reveal it to be the Professor's assistant and thus a mystery has to be unravelled。I like a good crime/thriller but I'm afraid I found the latter part of this book dragged。 The constant back and forth at the end， and going over the same evidence again and again， when anyone with an ounce of sense had guessed who did it half way though the story。 The characters of Gamache and his deputies Jean-Guy and Isabelle were all a bit too clean cut， whilst the surrounding cast of artist， poet （duck？） and family were annoying。 The constant reference to Asshole saint felt as if a point was being driven home， hard。 Some thought provoking ideas in this but all in all a disappointing read。Many thanks to Netgally and Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read an early copy。 。。。more

Charlotte Pawson ，

You don’t know what emotion to feel next when reading this story。 You are taken through every emotion possible not unlike the main characters。 Do you follow the crowd just because it’s a professional person leading you？ C I Armand Gamache and his team are given security at a University lecture by Professor Abigail Robinson about statistics。 Why？ The lecture becomes more dangerous than anyone thought and when the main participants join up in Three Pines for a New Years Eve party murder follows。 T You don’t know what emotion to feel next when reading this story。 You are taken through every emotion possible not unlike the main characters。 Do you follow the crowd just because it’s a professional person leading you？ C I Armand Gamache and his team are given security at a University lecture by Professor Abigail Robinson about statistics。 Why？ The lecture becomes more dangerous than anyone thought and when the main participants join up in Three Pines for a New Years Eve party murder follows。 The main residents of Armand’s home Three Pines are out in force but all will pitch in with their own views to Professor Abigail Robinson’s ideas。 Armand usually a steady pair of hands to root out the murderer is hampered by his own personal opinions of the protagonist in this book。 Part of a long running series which are well worth visiting for fleshing out our Three Pines characters。 I found it difficult to put this book down even with a difficult subject matter。 It will be as difficult to wait for your next visit to 3 Pines。I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Roger ，

Well we're back in 3 Pines but suddenly with a much bigger hinterland。 The rather mannered local characters don't dominate thank goodness apart from the f***ing duck and its owner who are far too ubiquitous。 And Ms Penney seems far too fond of her Asshole Saint name if not the man。The plot is still rather preposterous and involves a post COVID reaction that I simply find unbelievable， although I also thought the same about Quebec care home story， but apparently it happened。 I know that the UK do Well we're back in 3 Pines but suddenly with a much bigger hinterland。 The rather mannered local characters don't dominate thank goodness apart from the f***ing duck and its owner who are far too ubiquitous。 And Ms Penney seems far too fond of her Asshole Saint name if not the man。The plot is still rather preposterous and involves a post COVID reaction that I simply find unbelievable， although I also thought the same about Quebec care home story， but apparently it happened。 I know that the UK doesn't have a great record like some other countries in emptying our hospitals into care homes without testing， but simply abandoning the residents is on a whole other level。 I am starting to wonder if Canada is quite the nice place we have been led to believe。。。Gamache is also acting out of character with 2 spells of angry though controlled reaction - maybe that is the author responding to some of comments about his saintliness in the previous book。There are some interesting conflicting ideas in the book， but maybe I am not ready for a book with COVID at its heart yet。 。。。more

Clarisa Butler ，

A most enjoyable whodunnit from a writer I had not read before and whom I heard recently talking on World BBC Bookclub about her first novel （Still Life） and her latest （The Madness of Crowds）。 I was impressed by her world views and comments， and that is the reason I decided to read this book （and I will continue reading the series， now in order！）。 The author has created a rather full， interesting world in Three Pines， a small village in Southern Quebec - the police， headed by Chief Inspector Ga A most enjoyable whodunnit from a writer I had not read before and whom I heard recently talking on World BBC Bookclub about her first novel （Still Life） and her latest （The Madness of Crowds）。 I was impressed by her world views and comments， and that is the reason I decided to read this book （and I will continue reading the series， now in order！）。 The author has created a rather full， interesting world in Three Pines， a small village in Southern Quebec - the police， headed by Chief Inspector Gamache， his family， neighbours， the fabric of the village， its landscape。。。 this is also a quirky， thinking community。 I particularly enjoyed the combination of a straightforward mystery with compelling ideas （the way the author introduces ¨the issue¨ is real fun - you don't have it spelled out for a few chapters so making your own mind about its actuality） The central ideas are really serious and are explored in a rather deep yet entertaining manner。 It has to do with the aftermath of Covid。。。 in a tremendously apposite way， but not only！ the value of life， the end-justifies-the-means ideologies， the weak and the strong。。。 I do not want to give anything away， because it is such fun to go into the story blind！ suffice it to say that the cast contains scientists， chancellors， Nobel-prize nominees， painters， poets。。。 and a number of deaths。。。 There were some longueurs to my taste towards the end， and one or two inverosimilitudes but they do not retract from an excellent， intelligent， entertainment。I recommend it heartily！ With many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley。 。。。more

Louisa B ，

Looking forward to this！ One of my most favorite series。

Lisa ，

Fantastic， as always。

Amy Imogene Reads ，

AHHHHH can’t wait！！ Beautiful cover， very intriguing title。 I love this series so much。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Madness of Crowds

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Madness of Crowds&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Madness of Crowds&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0