A Rule Against Murder (Chief Inspector Gamache, 4)

Product Information

Normally Pierre is exceptionally patient, and has trained young workers summer after summer, but Elliot seems a special case. I’m back in Three Pines with start of “Brutal Telling” and have just remembered hearing about Roar Para in passing in one of the other stories – but can’t remember which one! Now it’s up to Chief Inspector Gamache to unearth long-buried secrets and hatreds hidden behind polite smiles. I suspect that haboob has Mideastern origins – since climate and topography in places are similar to southern Arizona – and I know they have fierce dust storms there at times.

Most of the characters could not remember the visual image on an intellectual level because they were children when the Chef was on TV but remember how much better she made them feel when they were sick.The hotel staff includes Madame Dubois, the elegant elderly proprietor; Chef Veronique, a large woman who is a world class chef; Pierre Patenaude, the maitre d'hotel; Eliot, an insolent and handsome young waiter; and Colleen, a young gardener. I had the utmost pleasure reading it, with its enchanting prose, exquisite storytelling, and a vivid cast of characters. It is generally nice to be reflected and read "runners" and "icing", instead of "sneakers" and "frosting.

Gamache is a tall, courtly, cultured man who quotes poetry, and whom we’ve enjoyed meeting during murder investigations in the small village of Three Pines (the other side of a distant hill from the lake. Pierre the matre d’ tries to show duty and diligence by continuing to show the guests professionalism and respect a trait his father would appreciate, he thinks.In a heart-stopping climax, Gamache, the murderer, and Bean are at the top of the steep copper roof of the Manoir. One of the Morrow children, Julia, is at the reunion for the first time in many years, having been estranged from the family. The character of Bean himself draws attention to him/herself only to disappoint readers that he/she was of no particular significance other than proving a philosophical point and a roof top ending.