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  • A World of Curiosities

  • Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 18
  • By: Louise Penny
  • Narrated by: Adam Sims
  • Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (163 ratings)

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A World of Curiosities

By: Louise Penny
Narrated by: Adam Sims
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Summary

Book 18 in the acclaimed and number one-bestselling Three Pines series featuring the beloved Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Soon to be a major TV series.

It's spring and Three Pines is reemerging after the harsh winter. But not everything buried should come alive again. Not everything lying dormant should reemerge.

But something has.

As the villagers prepare for a special celebration, Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir find themselves increasingly worried. A young man and woman have reappeared in the Sûreté du Québec investigators' lives after many years. The two were young children when their troubled mother was murdered, leaving them damaged, shattered. Now they've arrived in the village of Three Pines.

But to what end?

Gamache and Beauvoir's memories of that tragic case, the one that first brought them together, come rushing back. Did their mother's murder hurt them beyond repair? Have those terrible wounds, buried for decades, festered and are now about to erupt?

As Chief Inspector Gamache works to uncover answers, his alarm grows when a letter written by a long dead stone mason is discovered. In it the man describes his terror when bricking up an attic room somewhere in the village. Every word of the 160-year-old letter is filled with dread. When the room is found, the villagers decide to open it up.

As the bricks are removed, Gamache, Beauvoir and the villagers discover a world of curiosities. But the head of homicide soon realizes there's more in that room than meets the eye. There are puzzles within puzzles, and hidden messages warning of mayhem and revenge.

In unsealing that room, an old enemy is released into their world. Into their lives. And into the very heart of Armand Gamache's home.

©2022 Louise Penny (P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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Critic reviews

'Electrifying drama ... the bodies pile up, the intensity and horror are reminiscent of Thomas Harris at his finest. Gamache is a fascinatingly complex protagonist ... The way Penny explores the meaning of this line from Auden's Twelve Songs: VIII - "There is always another story, there is more than meets the eye" - makes it one of her very best' BOOK OF THE MONTH, THE TIMES

'Penny delves into the nature of evil, sensitively exploring the impact of the dreadful events she describes while bringing a warmth and humanity to her disparate cast of characters that, unusually for a crime novel, leaves you feeling better about the world once you've finished' BOOK OF THE MONTH, OBSERVER

'Bestseller Penny's virtuoso 18th novel featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Québec Sûreté ... blends nuanced characterization with nail-biting suspense ...This tale of forgiveness and redemption will resonate with many' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

What listeners say about A World of Curiosities

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Another really good story

I have loved the whole series. This story as previous ones is gripping, interesting and very well performed. Thank you

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Another Brilliant Story From Louise Penny

I have read all of these books and enjoyed all of them. Louise Penny never disappoints.

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Great narration but the story is average

As previously the narrator is excellent and manages to go give all the players their own voice & bring out characters. The story lets it down somewhat being the tired “serial killer targets hero with outlandish plot” trope that deserves to die as horribly as some of the victims. Well told but unnecessary.

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Amazing

I loved this book! How Louise penny keeps coming up with such fabulous tales is beyond me, this was so compelling and clever! I love the development of the key people in 3 pines village. And look forward to the next one!

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Wonderful!

Louise Penny never disappoints and Adam Simms’ narration is just perfect. One of my favourite series, with a wonderful cast of characters.

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Absolutely brilliant

Louise Penney had done it again and it is the best story ever. It flips backwards & forwards in time and ties up a lot of loose ends. I hope this isn’t the last book in the series though I fear it will as it will be difficult to beat and would make a suitable conclusion.

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Oh. My. Gosh.

If you have anything else you should be doing, work for example, just don't start reading/listening to this book.

I haven't been able to focus on anything else for two days while I was listening to it on Audible.

It's magnificent, mind-boggling, intense and shudder-making.

My mouth just dropped open on a couple of occasions and even now I've finished it and really should be doing something at my desk, the story is going around and around in my head.

There are tripwires, blind alleys, mis-directions and twists.

Most of all there is trust, faith and the superb connection between Louise Penny's characters.

The narration is always excellent on the Gamache books.

Now I just have to wait another two years for the next one.

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Fantastic!

We absolutely loved this book, the latest in the best mystery series, with beautifully developed characters and an excellent reader.

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Intricately woven tale

Another fantastic rip roaring read by Louise Penny, she never disappoints with her Gamache epic.
Read superbly by Adam Sims.

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The best yet.

This latest inspector Gamache novel is I think the best yet. It builds up to such a dramatic end.,and holds your attention and curiosity throughout. The narrator really makes it extra special.

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