I may have mentioned that I recently got to listen to Louise Penny's How the Light Gets In, which is novel number nine in her Inspector Gamache mysteries. For this one I have to give a special shout-out to Half Price Books and their habit of marking down any products that don't sell quickly. I found the CD set of this book in their clearance section, and I grabbed it as soon as I saw it and would not let go. I'd been wanting to get started with this series, and getting this audiobook for less than $5 was a gift from the heavens. 

I hadn't read any of her novels yet, but I have heard people rave about them. I didn't really know much about the series, or even all that much about where it was set or who it was about, so I jumped off this cliff blind. I was nervous at first, as I found the narrator difficult to understand. It turns out that these novels are about the police in Quebec, so there is a strong French influence to the voice. But I just let it play awhile, let myself get acclimated to the voice, and by the end of disc one (the second time), I found Ralph Cosham's narration beautiful and perfect. 

I cannot recommend this audiobook enough. I cannot recommend this series enough. I am wondering how much time I need to go by before jumping in and starting at number one and heading all the way up to number 13 (I know, A Great Reckoning, which came out this year is only number 12; I anticipate this will take awhile. I want to savor these, not rush them). But first, a little about this one.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete is going through a challenging time. His department has been through cutbacks, with his officers spread throughout other departments. He is put in charge of newer detectives who share neither his standards nor his fastidious methods. His number two and close friend is being put in danger by the vengeful men who gutted his department. 

And then an old friend calls. An old friend from the small town of Three Pines, as charming and isolated a town as he's stumbled upon. A missing person's case brings him back to the place and the people that refresh him, but is it enough to revive his battered spirits so that he can save himself and the city of Quebec from the evil that haunts him? 

This is not much of a description, but I'd love to see you discover these books for yourself. They are beautifully written. The depth of the character development is staggering. The plotting is masterful. There is not one sour note anywhere, from start to brilliant finish. And i strongly recommend the audio versions with narrator Ralph Cosham. He is and will always be the voice of Inspector Gamache to me and to so many fans. 

Because I found the audio on CD, I got a special bonus at the end--a short conversation between narrator Ralph Cosham and author Louise Penny on their first meeting. It's adorable and brilliant, and I feel so lucky  that I got to listen to it all before my car stereo stopped working. The truth is, that last disc is still stuck in there. I wasn't ready to let go of the story yet, so I decided to listen to the last disc another time (a nice ending, as I'd listened to the first disc twice to get my bearings). I wish for everyone a listening experience as rich as mine was, except for that last part where the CD player eats your disc and won't turn back on. 

Seriously, listen to Louise Penny. Her book is a revelation. With the voice of Ralph Cosham, it becomes a miracle.