A new Louise Penny novel is a day to rejoice, and I think the latest is particularly strong and well-plotted. Gamache is at the top of his game, and I so enjoyed the weaving of Spanish culture and the conscious of the book. She always takes such human emotion into consideration, and the emotions are what drives the narrative and whodunit. Very clever, and a spellbinding installment. I'm just sorry it ended, but what a flight read back home from BEA.

The less said the better since I don't want to give anything away, so my review will be very brief. I will say fans of this series will not be disappointed, this one may well be the best so far. A hard thing to accomplish in series of this length. Gamache will put everything on the line. Something old will be mixed with a current scourge in many countries, has reached epidemic proportions, and is hurting and has hurt many. Ruth, my favorite, and her duck get a somewhat larger role and more of her poetry is quoted. It will all come down to who did what where and who knew what when. So, so good, very suspenseful and as always the characters of Three Pines will pull together. There is after all a great deal of love in this little town and a great deal of good. Remember to read the afterward, it is poignant and awe inspiring.

ARC from Netgalley.

An amazing book. This is the 13th book in the Inspector Gamache books and it is even better than the previous books though one would not think that possible. An amazing book, from an amazing author who suffered great personal loss during the period in which she was writing.

Glass Houses maintains a level of tension and suspense which does not let up which has not been present in previous books. It also switches time frames with nothing to let you know it is going to happen without becoming confusing. As with all of Louise Penny's books, there are great moral questions which are central in this book. What part of one's moral code can be sacrificed to achieve results that will work to the good of all?

This book touched my soul in ways that the other have not. A solid hit that everyone should read but really one should start with book one. And really I want to move to Three Pines.

I like the way that Louise Penny describes "Three Pines" as an ideal place to live, in a safe atmosphere out in the boondocks hidden away from the world. Where the drug cartels finely found a home to drag all the main characters out of their positions to have a final battle with the U.S. and Canadian cartels. Only there was a murder that they had to solve prior to going after the drug cartels. I was aware of the inner battle that Louise Penny was having as she wrote this story and the passing of her husband. This was not even brought out until the afterword. Her book showed that she was really focused on the material in her book. Another reason to read this book.

Glass Houses by Louise Penny is another wonderful novel about the peaceful small village of Three Pines and all the interesting people who live there. Chief Superintendent Gamache is head of Surete in Quebec and makes his home in this quiet country village. Death and violence come to his town when he is involved in fighting a drug war. The book is a thrilling adventure story and well written.

Ever since a friend introduced me to Louise Penny's work several years ago, I've looked forward eagerly to each new novel. And I was never disappointed. However, Glass Houses goes well beyond merely pleasing, merely not disappointing, merely presenting a mystery, merely adding to my desire to visit fictional Three Pines. Penny's new novel hits new heights for her. In it, she explores questions about when and why we act, what is consciously good and not good, when stretching the truth or lying is right and when telling the truth may be irreparably harmful, and when is something really finished. Glass Houses deals with treachery, honor, strength of character, courage, friendship, and love, and in doing so it made me stop and think much more deeply than I had about some of these critical questions. Ghandi and Gamache make an interesting pair.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an objective review.