I waited with baited breath for this to come out, and I was not disappointed. Penny is my favorite mystery, so a new Gamache is always a treat. I was glad to see him reconnected with La Surete, even if just in the Academy. As always, the writing here is beautiful; the characters are well-rounded and Inspector Gamache is so much more than "a cop!" Penny's books make me think, keep me guessing, open my heart, make me wish I lived in Three Pines.

This book is fiction based on fact. The story is of three sisters who are being harassed by the town rich young man and his cronies, which ultimately leads to the eldest sister becoming the first female sheriff's deputy. It is well written, nicely balancing fact and fiction. The characters, however, seemed a little predictable to me. The youngest sister, in particular, and the rich boy just didn't ring quite true. Good story, though.