All the Devils are Here is Penny’s 16 th entry for the Inspector Gamache Series with the title taken from Shakespeare’s Tempest quote: “ Hell is empty, and all the Devils are here”. And they certainly are! The entire Gamache family has now gathered in Paris awaiting the arrival of Annie’s baby. After an evening dinner celebration Armand’s Godfather Stephen is struck by a hit and run. The mystery circles around why someone would try and kill the elderly billionaire. Highly recommended for all of Penny’s many fans.

As usual, after reading a Chief Inspector Gamache book, I say this one is the best! I wasn’t expecting to like a book set in Paris nearly as well as one set in Quebec City and Three Pines, but what won my love was the getting to know so much more about Gamache’s family. Having them play such important roles in this book. Hurray for Reine Marie and the other librarians who show how important libraries are! Learning so much more about Gamache’s son, Daniel, was also a big part of my love for this book. Of course, its emotional. I needed Kleenex several times to wipe the tears away. I am so glad it ended up back in Three Pines. Of the fiction places I most want to visit, Three Pines is at the top of my list. Be warned though: If you listen to the audio version, and you are halfway through the book, close the door and put a sign up that gives the phone number for pizza delivery. You won’t want to be interrupted for mundane things like preparing for dinner. I only meant to listen for an hour but ended up listening for three and a half hours. That is what a good narrator does. They so totally immerse you in the book, the rest of the world goes away.

Louise Penny is one of my favorite fiction authors at this point. I can’t think of another author that has managed to keep my attention 16 books into a series. I am been reading far too few fiction books lately. There are many reasons for that, but I do believe that fiction is essential. It is how we understand parts of the world that are not our own as well, giving words to help us make sense of the elements of the world that are our own. I was thrilled that Netgalley has started offering audiobook to review. I was desperate for a change of pace, and while a crime thriller isn’t what I would call relaxing, it was the change of pace I needed. I finished the 14-hour audiobook in three days. I would not recommend jumping into the 16th book in the series; there are too many details that you will miss.

Armand Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie are visiting their two children and their families, both of whom now live in Paris. Armand inherited a small apartment from the woman that raised him after his parents died when he was 9. And his godfather, recently introduced in the past couple books, also has an apartment here. His godfather is now a mostly retired 95-year-old billionaire who was once an impoverished German teen who reportedly worked with the French underground during WWII. Through his excellent business sense and a sense of justice, Stephen Horowitz brought down companies and became wealthy.

Walking home from a family dinner, celebrating being together as a family and impending birth, Gamache sees, but cannot stop, a hit and run accident that Gamache believes intentionally targeted Horowitz. That starts a series of events that are not only personal because of his relationship to Horowitz, but events that seem to be deliberately targeting his gathered family.

Louise Penny writes mysteries that are intentionally psychological. These are about what is happening inside Gamache and others. The books attempt to see the darkness that lies inside all of us, but also explores what character means. These are not mysteries that you try to figure out; although there are plenty of clues dropped, a number of them are false ones.

This is a series that I have mostly listened to on audiobook. The original narrator, Ralph Cosham, passed away between the 10th and 11th books, and Robert Bathurst, I think, has done an excellent job coming into the series late into the game. I continue to believe these books are as good now as the early books, which is unusual in my mind for a long series. And my only real complaint is that I think the crimes tend to be too big and the bigness of them can be distracting at times.

This is the first book I have read by Louise Penny, and this is the first time I have listened to Robert Bathurst narrate a book. He does amazing work in this book - so good that I knew who was 'talking' without having to be told. And the story, OH MY. If all of Louise Penny's books are so intense and twisting as this one, I have been missing out, and I need to catch up. This is a must listen to book! You will be glad you did.

How have I never read a book by Louise Penny?!?! I just discovered this author and now I need to read more!

All The Devils Are Here is the 16th book in the series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. In this book he is in Paris gathering with family in anticipation of his grandchild being born any moment. After dinner one night his godfather Stephen is critically injured. Gamache knows it was no accident and sets off to find the truth.

I listened to this on audiobook and loved the narration by Robert Bathurst. His narration was perfect for this book and the setting.

I so enjoyed this book and it can definitely be read as a stand alone. I’m sure I would understand and love the characters more if I had read more of the series though. Overall this book kept me invested and guessing the whole time and I’d definitely recommend to others.

I got an early copy of this book and like I always do with a new Louise Penny book, I read like a maniac until the end. What an amazing book!
The majority of the book takes place in Paris. Gamache’s right hand man, Jean Guy, has moved his family there and started a new job at a multinational company. He is finding his new work somewhat perplexing working with engineers and really not knowing what is going on most of the time. His stress is not alleviated by his second in command who seems resentful of Jean Guy. Add in that his wife Annie is ready to pop with their new baby and life is somewhat difficult. One positive thing is that Annie’s brother Daniel and his family are also living in Paris.
When the senior Gamaches come to visit both of their children, tensions arise. Armand and Daniel have a very strained relationship and nothing Armand does seems to make it better. When the whole family has an opportunity to meet Armand's godfather, Stephen, for dinner, it seems like an opportunity for some family bonding. However, Stephen seems preoccupied during dinner and when they are all leaving the restaurant he is run down in the street and nearly killed. Thus begins the meat of the story.
This book is a complicated mix of financial, industrial, and familial conflicts. As events fall in place Armand and Jean Guy find themselves in the middle of a deadly situation. They have no way of knowing who to trust but yet they have to unravel the truth or face threats to everything they love. Every time I read a new Book in the series I think that it can’t be as good as the ones before and I’m always wrong. This book was so fast paced that I was literally on the edge of my seat reading it. Parts of it were heartbreaking and other parts were so suspenseful that I couldn’t stop until I finished and knew the outcome.
Just when I thought I was going to have to read it again to absorb it all, I got an early copy of the audiobook. That version, read by Robert Bathurst, was excellent. Listening to the book all over again gave me the opportunity to absorb some details I had skimmed over in my first marathon reading of the book. Bathurst did such a skillful job that I was on the edge of my seat all over again even though I knew what happened!
Louise Penny is an absolute must buy for me and one author that I recommend to all my reader friends. This book is a perfect addition to her excellent series.

Once again, it’s time to take a trip. Usually this time of year, we head to Canada, to a small village outside of Quebec that has a surprisingly high crime rate. But this year is different. This year, instead of going to Three Pines, we will be heading to Paris. Armand Gamache, head of homicide for the Surete de Quebec, is taking some time for family in France. He and his wife are visiting their son Daniel and his family, their pregnant daughter Annie and her family, and Gamache’s godfather Stephen Horowitz.

After a family dinner at one of their favorite restaurants, they are walking back to their apartments when a van appears out of nowhere, hits Horowitz, and disappears into the Paris night. Gamache and his wife both saw it happen, and they are certain it was intentional. They go with Stephen to the hospital and report the attack to the police, but the local officers seem to think it was merely a hit and run, not a murder attempt. Gamache reaches out to his old friend, Claude Dussault, Paris’s Prefect of Police.

Dussault knows Horowitz, knows of his reputation for taking evil companies down, and he realizes the importance of the attack on his life. He takes the investigation seriously, putting his second-in-command on the case. But it’s not until they find a dead man at Stephen’s apartment that the case takes center stage at the Prefect. Eventually they identify the dead man as an engineer friend of Horowitz, but Gamache has no idea what his godfather had been working on.

Gamache wants to help his godfather, who survives the accident—but just barely—but can’t figure out what company he’d been investigating until he assembles a new team to help him in Paris. First, there is his former second-in-command, now his son-in-law, Jean-Guy Beauvoir. His wife, Reine-Marie and her friends, the top archivists in Paris. His son Daniel, a banker who has an understanding of business. And his old friend Dussault. Add a few more experts who are drawn to Gamache’s leadership, and slowly, you can see Gamache putting the pieces together. But he is clearly going up against those who have no qualms about killing those who get in their way. Will Gamache be able to figure it all out in time to keep his family safe, or will be mistakenly trust the wrong person, putting them all in mortal danger?

All the Devils Are Here is the 16th book in this series of novels about the man Chief Inspector Gamache and those who find themselves in his orbit. Having this book set in Paris allows us to see a different side of Gamache, to find out more of his origins, to see how he became the man he is. There is an exploration of France’s role in World War II, how the Nazis were in Paris for a while, along with those who sympathized with them and those who resisted. As always, the different strands of the story end up coming together with a dazzling brilliance, stemming from the fact that Gamache understands you can only see the whole picture if you ask and answer the right questions.

Starting All the Devils Are Here, I was a little apprehensive. I love the little village of Three Pines like another character, like a favorite vacation spot, and I wasn’t sure how much I could enjoy a Gamache novel that takes place on the other side of the world. As it turns out, I can enjoy it thoroughly, as I got to learn a lot more about the man and the father Gamache. And clearly, I wasn’t the only one feeling a little homesick, as the residents and warmth of Three Pines came up more than once from members of the Gamache family, particularly using words like Ruth, duck, and that iconic quack of Rosie.

I got to listen to the audio version of this, and narrator Robert Bathurst brought the story to life. Not only does he tell this story of good versus evil with pathos and dignity, but he also has a way of giving each character a distinctive voice. As I pictured these scenes in my head, I knew immediately which character was speaking based only on his inflections and timbre. I imagine that there are other narrators who do that, but that fact that I noticed it this time, that I thought it was so superbly done , must mean that Bathurst is a masterful storyteller. Clearly not someone happy with change, I was a huge fan of the late Ralph Cosham as a narrator for Gamache. I’ve read the last several books instead of listening, since I was reluctant to bring another narrator into my world. But I was wrong. Bathurst breathes life into All the Devils Are Here, and now I have the perfect excuse to go back and listen to all the Gamache novels he’s narrated, to enjoy them all over again.

I am a huge, consistent Louise Penny cheerleader, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when I saw that I loved this book! I devoured it in days, and I recommend it to anyone who is craving a mystery novel with depth, grace, greed, maliciousness, humor, an alcoholic poet, and a man who cannot rest until he does everything he can to confront the evil he comes across. Louise Penny writes with depth and wisdom, ingenuity and warmth, and her books are not to be missed!

A copy of the audio book for All the Devils Are Here was provided by Macmillan audio through NetGalley, with many thanks.

When I requested this book I hadn't realized it was a part of a series. That did not deter me from listening and enjoying the book. I liked the author's voice and the way he read the book-he made the book better. I have already requested the first from the series from my library.
I liked the characters, the settings, and the pace of the novel.

All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny was an enjoyable listen. I did not immediately realize this was part of a series, but was able to follow along with the story and characters just fine. I am, however looking forward to looking into Penny's earlier works in the Gamache series.
The writing was atmospheric and great, slowly building to a wild climax.
I really enjoyed this thriller and the way the narrator brought the story to life.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Can I just say “I’m F.I.N.E”. ⠀
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I love The Inspector Gamache series so much. I’ve spent all of August with #louisepenny in anticipation of her upcoming (Sept 1, 2020) release, ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE. ⠀
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ATDAH is the 16th novel in this series and one of my favorites. It follows as the #gamache family goes to Paris only to become enraptured in the mystery of Armands godfathers hit-and-run accident. ⠀
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There is nothing like a #louisepenny book. She is superb at character development, pacing, and making the plot interesting during the entire read. ⠀
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The most interesting part of this book to me is that almost everyone is playing detective with Gamache, solving the mystery bit by bit. Nothing is figured out all at once or easily. Everyone seems to be lying. The clues are hard to find and nothing is simple. ⠀
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If you’re looking for a cozy #threepinemystery know that this one doesn’t feature our residents that we have come to love. It’s more centered around the #gamchefamily ⠀
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I gave ALL THE DEVILS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! ⠀
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I recommend this book, but you have to start at the beginning and read them all in order. Its so worth it. ⠀
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Now I have to wait a year or so I guess until the next one comes out. ⠀
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Thank you #netgalley and @macmillanaudio for this free ALC in exchange for my honest review. ⠀
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#allthedevilsarehere

As always Louise Penny’s books are a real treasure. This one is no exception. The story is flawless and the cast of characters continue to delight. I hope everyone has a chance to listen or read this book. A shining light in a troubled time.

The locale For this book is Paris which is a change from Three Pines in Canada. And this book looks at the family connections for the Gamaches. We learn more about them as people. And as ever there is even more to love. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook as an ARC.

First, a confession: I have been a rabid Louise Penny fan since I read A RULE AGAINST MURDER (4th in the series) when it came out in 2009. After reading it, I went back and started the series at the beginning. While all of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache books can be read as standalones, they will definitely raise questions in readers' minds about historical connections between the characters. ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE is unique in the Gamache universe. Not only can it be read as a standalone, it could easily both wrap up the entire series (heaven forbid!), or launch a newcomer into the continuation of the series with nary a look back. (I doubt this would actually happen, because I haven't met a Gamache reader yet who hasn't joyfully delved into Penny's backlist.)

Armand Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, have traveled to Paris from Quebec for the birth of their daughter Annie's baby girl. Annie's husband, Jean-Guy Beauvoir (who long served at Gamache's side in the Quebec Sûreté), is now an executive at a prestigious French engineering firm, and Annie is practicing law. On the Gamaches' first night in Paris, all four are out to dinner with Daniel (Annie's brother), his wife, and billionaire Stephen Horowitz, Gamache's aged godfather. After leaving the restaurant, Stephen is nearly killed in a hit-and-run incident, and hospitalized with grave injuries. Gamache and the others agree it didn't appear to have been an accident, and the mystery begins. This is Paris, of course, and Gamache has no real authority under the law, but he knows a great many influential people, and carries his own silent, dignified authority that lets him Get Things Done.

The Gamache books are equally about solving crime mysteries and exploring the mysteries of the human heart. The heart has a very long memory, and the crimes in ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE--some reaching back to the 1930s and World War II-- illustrate that with brutal clarity .

Up to this 16th book in the series, several people close to Gamache have suffered intensely or even died. But this is the first time tragedy (that doesn't involve Gamache directly) truly engulfs the entire family. It's the first time, too, we get a really good look at the dynamics between Gamache, his son, Daniel, and Jean-Guy, Gamache's son of the heart. It's a very personal story in a series that is deeply character driven. Stephen has appeared in earlier books, but we learn far more about him with each discovery Gamache makes in Paris. Stephen is a complicated man--something that Gamache has always known--yet Gamache begins to wonder if Stephen is truly the principled person Gamache has always believed he was, or is a greedy criminal at heart.

Paris is a star. We get inside the legendary Hotel George V, and up into the Eiffel Tower. Penny has definitely done her on-site research. The food is to die for, and even the table wine is delectable. Penny's faithful readers already know how important food is in the Gamache novels. Three Pines, the fictitious, beguiling Quebec village where most of the Gamache books are set, is full of delicious food.

Speaking of Three Pines...If you're not familiar with the series, you might wonder what all the fuss is about the village. Penny readers who have a strong preference for English village-style murder stories get testy when Gamache has to solve crimes elsewhere. It's that special. Three Pines isn't on any official maps. It's a kind of Canadian Shangri-la, whose inhabitants are mostly people who stumbled into it by accident, recently or decades ago. While it's not exactly Miss Marple's St. Mary Meade, it has far more than its share of murders in its immediate area. For the most part (no spoilers here!), Three Pines doesn't make much of an appearance in ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE. Which, I suppose, is a good reason for anyone who reads it to circle around and start at the series's beginning.

I did not miss Three Pines terribly as I read, because I found the Paris story all-consuming. Nearly every member of the family is somehow involved in solving the mystery. Jean-Guy also has to navigate his rather strange new job, and when suspicious connections to Stephen's business dealings turn up, Jean-Guy is in the right place at the right time. It does seem awfully convenient that Gamache is a personal friend of the Paris Chief of Police, which makes his investigation less hassle.

I've listened to all of the previous Chief Inspector Gamache books on audio, as I did this one. Robert Bathurst has been the series's narrator since Ralph Cosham, who originated the series, died. Bathurst has grown on me over the years, and he does a particularly good reading of this novel.

Second confession: I cried as it ended. Read it. Listen to it. Enjoy.

(I received a complimentary copy of ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE from NetGalley in return for an honest review.)

This is the first Inspector Gamache book I've listened to on audio, and I honestly don't know which version I prefer! The narrator was excellent, I could clearly tell who was speaking, and I was totally engrossed the whole time. In some audio books I get distracted and lose track of what I'm listening to, but this one kept my attention - I think the combination of the actual story and the narration was a win. Honestly the only thing I missed vs. a print copy was there were lots of parts I wanted to highlight - so many good quotes!

This story takes place entirely in Paris. Gamache and his wife are visiting their children and grandchildren, while they wait for a new baby to be born. Gamache also spends time with his Godfather, who is really more of a father figure and mentor. When a hit and run gravely injures his godfather, Gamache feels that it was a murder attempt, and investigates.

That's a dry summary of a story that is anything but dry. The characters are as wonderful as ever, and Louise Penny has so many insights into emotion and relationships. The mystery was good, but to me it was really secondary.

Thanks to netgalley for letting me have a copy of the Audiobook to review. It is an excellent installment in the series (and although I think it would work as a stand alone, why miss the other great books in the series!?)

Another wonderful installment in the Gamache series. Although this book is set in Paris, it was still wonderful to see the whole Gamache family front and center and see what was happening in their lives.

The Gamaches go to Paris to visit their son and daughter along with Jean-Guy and Rosamond. Annie is about to give birth and they are also visiting Armand’s godfather, the billionaire Stephen Horowitz. Stephen is involved in a hit and run after a family dinner. Armand is a witness and the story begins.

Jean-Guy has just begun a job with GHS Engineering and thinks he is under qualified for the job and wonders why he was hired. Armand and his family become embroiled in a large corporate plot of which Stephen was already aware. Something is being hidden by the board of directors at GHS that Stephen has hidden and Gamache must find out. Amongst the many characters Armand must determine whom he can trust with the safety of his family at stake.

The descriptions of Paris are wonderful. The city of lights comes to life. Also, since I listened to the audiobook, it was so nice to hear everything pronounced correctly. The narrator did a very good job making the voice of the dialogue just a bit different for each character which made it very easy to understand. I was swept up in the story and finished it in just a few days. I am hoping we go back to Three Pines for the next book, but this was a nice diversion.

Ms. Penny, thank you so much for this wonderful series that I look forward to eagerly every fall. Also, thank you very much to Net galley, the publisher and Macmillan audio for the advance listening for my honest opinions. Audiobooks are such a great addition to Net galley!

I am in awe of Louise Penny - how does she do it? This is the 16th book in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series and she is still at the top of her game. I keep holding my breath thinking, “This can’t be better or equal to the last,” but she does it again! For the first time, I listened to the audiobook, courtesy NetGalley and the publisher - Minotaur Books - and I enjoyed it as much as reading others in the series in print. This one takes place solely in Paris, with the entire Gamache family in that beautiful city, including Gamache's godfather Stephen Horowitz, a super billionaire and well-known figure in the corporate world. When Stephen is hit by a vehicle that speeds away, it’s clear to Gamache that someone is out to kill Stephen - but why? Then they discover a shocking surprise at Stephen’s apartment that has also been ransacked and following that they find an unexpected key among Stephen’s items when he was hit. Along with his son-in-law John-Guy Beauvoir who is now working for an engineering firm based in Paris and his son Daniel, also living and working in Paris for a bank, and his wife Reine-Marie - they are racing against time to figure out what and how the attempt on Stephen’s life is connecting to all of them and threatens to destroy their family, coming dangerously close to intimately anticipating their every move and even ominously knowing the family’s Achilles heel. Penny brings out all the stops on this current day high stakes corporate world that pits power and money over truth, integrity, and the bonds of family. This is yet another fantastic mystery by Louise Penny layered with the intense insightfulness into human behavior and wrapped up in the warmth of family relationships. A wonderful read and highly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.

This is the 16th book in this series and having read the first 15 I couldn't wait for this one to come out. I was lucky to get an advance copy of the audio book from the publisher through NetGalley. While most of this story takes place in Paris as opposed to Three Pines it is still a wonderful story. I have grown to very much like the characters in three pines, and they are characters. This book gives you a lot of background on Gamache and the reasons behind his sons problems with him. Like all the others in this series it was hard to put this book down. I kept believing I knew who was good and who was bad only to be surprised a little later in the story. As someone who has been reading mystery stories for most of their 71 years believe me this is a book you don't want to miss. Highly recommended.

I received an audio copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I adore this series, and I read this audiobook in two days. Could not put it down. While not set in Three Pines like most of the rest of the series, it instead delves into Gamache and his son, Daniel, and their backstory, while of course also dealing with a number of conspiracies and murder. While I did guess parts of the finale, much of it came as a shock. I love how deliciously detailed Penny's mysteries become, so that the final answer is not a simple "whodunit" but an elaborate web.

This is the sixteenth book in the Inspector Gamache mystery series, and I have read them all. Besides the challenge of solving whatever crime is featured in the novel, I love the people and village of Three Pines, Quebec. This is the first novel in the series that is not set in that idyllic small town. But, the Paris setting, a more in-depth look at the Gamache family, and the complex mystery in this book, I didn't mind this detour. This book widens the world of the series and was as thrilling as any of her other books. I loved it.

What I Liked:

Setting:

Who doesn't like Paris? The author does a wonderful job of showing what this city is like for Quebecois visiting France. They don't quite fit in. Similar to when Americans go to England. They may speak the same language, but that's the only thing they have in common. Parisians consider themselves to be superior to all others, and treat anyone with a Quebecois accent like they are country bumpkins.

But Penny also shows the magic of Paris, with it;s many lovely parks and monuments, museums and libraries. It is a place of culture and privilege. One can definitely see why so many people want to live in such a magical place.

Characters:

All of the Gamache family are in Paris in this book. Daniel, Armand's son, is a banker and has made a comfortable life for himself and his family. Jean Guy Beauvoir, married to Gamache's daughter Annie, has just taken a job in the private sector (and away from all the bullets). Armand, and his wife Reine Marie, are in Paris for the birth of Annie and Jean Guy's baby. Everyone is looking forward to a happy occasion.

When Armand's godfather is attacked, Gamache must find out who is behind it. This strains his relationships, particularly with his son, Daniel. Daniel is a very complex character. Outwardly successful, he is actually full of insecurities, and anger towards his father. I vacillated between finding Daniel annoying, and feeling sympathy for his tragic misunderstanding of his father. So many years are lost to hurt feelings and grudges. This dynamic illustrates how difficult it is to see your parents as adults, and for parents to look at their kids as grownups.

Plot:

Once again, the plot is a web of conspiracies, and unlikely connections between people that lead to a satisfying puzzle. The author gives just enough information so the reader will have the possibility of solving the mystery along with Inspector Gamache. I loved figuring out the clues and piecing it all together. I also loved how the book focuses on how (and if) Armand can heal his relationship with Daniel.

What I Was Mixed About:

No Three Pines Characters:

I really liked this book, but I cannot lie: I missed the people of Three Pines. I think the purpose of this book was to focus on Armand and his family relationships, so it was natural for the plot to be set away from the village. The contrast between the small Canadian village and big old Paris couldn't be more stark. But this did end up being less cozy and more real world, as a result.

“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.” (Shakespeare) The latest Chief Inspector Gamache novel is set in Paris, the City of Light, providing the backdrop for murder, corporate espionage, and betrayal. The Gamache family is in Paris to await the birth of Armand's granddaughter. After a dinner at a local bistro, Stephen Horowitz, Armand's godfather, is run down and critically injured. A gruesome discovery in billionaire Stephen's apartment and a puzzling hotel key, sets into motion a series of events and questions that lead to the attempted murder of Armand and his son, Daniel.
I have read all 16 of the Inspector Gamache books since March and what an experience it has been. Penny has the ability to write a series of books, each one riveting and spell binding. All The Devils Are Here is the latest and the best so far. I laughed, I cried, and didn't want it to end. The thoroughness of the descriptions in Paris of the places, sounds, and sights adds to the authenticity and horror of the story. Armand ponders, "Where else would you find darkness except right up against the light?" in the gardens of the Musee Rodin at the Gates of Hell and in the novels of Louise Penny. Good triumphs over evil, but the reader is kept guessing as to who is the light and who embraces the darkness?

Simply masterful. Louise Penny is writing at a whole nother level than most crime writers.

This is a book that richly and deeply makes clear the importance of family, kindness, understanding, and trust against a backdrop of murder. I don't know how she does it. With most crime books, I think, "I could've written that." Not with Penny, and certainly not with this book.

Like a number of her books, "All the Devils" starts with about four chapters where seemingly nothing happens. Inspector Gamache is hanging out in Paris with his wife eating and drinking while waiting for their daughter to have a baby. Yet every word comes back into play later as the family finds itself in danger. There's the way Penny makes clear how essential each member of the family is to the well-being of the whole as she follows their lives while violence and mayhem happen in another part of the story. And the intertwining of actual poetry has never been better.

So I'll probably bump this up to five stars someday when I reread it. For now, like with many of her books, the sheer complexity of the ending with subtle understandings communicated in a split second between villains and heroes didn't so much seem implausible as much as a trick the author has done before -- like a magician making the Empire State Building disappear and later the Eiffel Tower. Still impressive, though.

Robert Bathurst narration, for me, has finally surpassed that of the late Ralph Cosham, narrated the early books. Bathurst is now the voice of Gamache. Just perfect.

#AlltheDevilsAreHere #NetGalley