The Beautiful Mystery

No outsiders are ever admitted to the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, hidden deep in the wilderness of Quebec, where two dozen cloistered monks live in peace and prayer. They grow vegetables, they tend chickens, they make chocolate. And they sing. Ironically, for a community that has taken a vow of silence, the monks have become world-famous for their glorious voices, raised in ancient chants whose effect on both singer and listener is so profound it is known as “the beautiful mystery.” But when the renowned choir director is murdered, the lock on the monastery’s massive wooden door is drawn back to admit Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the Sûreté du Québec. There they discover disquiet beneath the silence, discord in the apparent harmony. One of the brothers, in this life of prayer and contemplation, has been contemplating murder. As the peace of the monastery crumbles, Gamache is forced to confront some of his own demons, as well as those roaming the remote corridors. Before finding the killer, before restoring peace, the Chief must first consider the divine, the human, and the cracks in between.

I was enthralled with the story, I loved that the author took us into a highly secretive and unknown world.  I loved the way the monastery and the monks were described, the surroundings of the monastery were beautifully written, at times breathtakingly so.  The mystery itself brought me to the edge of my chair of few times, second guessing myself with the possible culprits.  

I know when I read a Louise Penny book there will be plenty of twists and turns, but I never thought I would see this one, I'm sorry that it ended the way it did, but I can see why the author chose to do it.  But wow...I never thought that it would happen.  I felt terrible for Gamache.  I wonder what can happen next...

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny (4.5/5) Mystery; Published: Minotaur Books (8/2012); Series: # 8, Armand Gamache; Library; Books 2012 (45);