‘A Great Reckoning’ by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache, Three Pines # 12)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A chilling story, but filled with hope.

After rooting out evil in the Sûreté du Québec, Armand Gamache is now Commander of the Sûreté Academy, a training school for officers. But there is corruption lurking there as well. Gamache finds himself up against a dangerous force to be reckoned with, where young minds are being poisoned. As always, he approaches this dangerous problem with wisdom, bravery, and integrity.

A mysterious old map is found stuffed into the walls of the bistro in Three Pines. All hands are on deck to discover its provenance and how it relates to a dead professor at the Academy.

Of course all of the old familiar Three Pines characters are present (and in fine form) as they interact with the new recruits. Picking up another book in this series is always a bit like coming home. This one is less ‘action packed’ as some of her others, but the author wrote this during a difficult time in her own life and I can see how it is more reflective and compassionate in tone as a result.

I was incredibly touched by the author’s Acknowledgements at the back of the book where she shares how challenging it was for her to write this while her beloved husband Michael was suffering from dementia. She says, “Dementia is a marauder, a thief. But every hole it drills has been filled by our friends. By practical help and emotional support.” The tribute to her husband in the Acknowledgements is so moving and full of love and respect for him. Don’t miss it. Penny has freely admitted that there is a lot of Michael in Armand Gamache.