This was the third installment in the Inspector Armand Gamache series. I read the first two of this series in the summer of 2016, took a nice long break, and seem to be at it with a vengeance now - the winter of 2018.

This was my favorite so far. It would be a great Halloween read - a member of the Three Pines community is literally scared to death at a seance. Penny includes a lot of witchy details in this picturesque French Canadian village. It also had the best food descriptions that I've read in a while, which is something I love in books (weird, I know). Penny does a great job of studying human nature, which I'm learning to see is a huge component of great mysteries.

This was great fun to read and I would highly recommend to anyone who's looking for a cozy mystery that's not TOO fluffy.

The fourth installment of Penny's mystery series had a bit of a slow burn so I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the others, but it was full of insight into human nature and I was kept guessing until the end - a successful mystery book in my opinion!

This book mostly took place at a secluded bed and breakfast where Armand and his wife were celebrating their anniversary. The characters spent very little time in Three Pines, which I missed! In this story, a wealthy family has taken up residence in all of the other rooms of the B&B and Penny did an exquisite job examining their relationships and dysfunction. Of course, someone ends up murdered and it's up to Inspector Gamache and his gang to figure out who did it.

I listened to this one on audio, so I didn't get to take as many notes as I would have liked. This had some really inspirational stories that illustrated how goal setting can help shape our lives. I found the appendix to be the most helpful, actually!

This book is great for anyone who is trying to layer in new goals for the new year! It's totally approachable and not at all dull, unlike some other self-help or productivity books.

Much of this book takes place in Latvia in the early 90s, which felt like a different world to me. This one felt a bit too predictable, but I couldn't tell if that was because I may have watched the BBC (or PBS?) Wallander series and had already seen this story play out! Best part was Kurt Wallander pooping in a trash can.

Here's a link to my blog for a more thoughtful review: https://katiegilley.com/sing-unburied-sing-by-jesmyn-ward/

This feels impossible to review. There were so many layers packed into this slim novel that I know I missed at least half of what Ward was trying to teach us. I started slowly with this one - while the writing is approachable and beautiful, the story itself is HEAVY. I read only 2 or 3 chapters a night until I got about 2/3 through it - and then I just couldn't stop.

But it was so worth it. So, so worth it! Through the lenses of generational racism and poverty, Ward shared the All-American story of a black family in the south. She gave white Americans a small glimpse into the fear and unsettled feeling of being a black person in this country. She also conveyed the universal power of love - how much love and kindness can help those around us, even when we feel like they are too much to give.

What a charming little book! It might be a tad bit sexist, but it definitely made me laugh out loud multiple times. Without being judgmental, Magnusson gently leads us towards cleaning up our lives, if not for our own enjoyment than for the sake of the people who will be cleaning up after we die. She gave wonderful advice for all ages and stages of life and I just adored this slim little volume.

Maybe I wasn't in the mood for a thriller, but this just didn't do it for me. It felt predictable and I wasn't exactly surprised by anything. It was an entertaining story, but it wasn't as exciting as promised.

However, I hope Sandra Bullock plays the main character, because I kept getting "The Net" vibes - that 90s movie about the internet. That would be awesome.

My favorite Penny so far! This one was set in Three Pines and had a startling ending that I definitely wasn't expecting.

When a body is found in a local establishment, everyone is surprised because no one can seem to identify it. We meet the family who has bought the old Hadley House and is turning it into a day spa, which has set the town's gossip machine in motion.

There's a big focus on antiques and horses in this mystery, if you enjoy those. And of course, plenty of comforting french food to keep your stomach growling.