Welcome to Litsy!

My planned #AuldLangSpine picks were all readily available in my county library system, so I‘ve been waiting until closer to the end of the year to place my holds. Library hold timing is everything. 😆 I put these three on hold over the weekend, and they‘re on their way! 🎉

I don't really read many mysteries let alone cozy mysteries so I don't have much to compare this book too...but I did enjoy it and will likely read more in the series at some point. I did find it hard to follow all the characters at first but once I was a couple of chapters in I figured it out. The characters and the town fit what some small Quebec towns are well. A good cozy mystery to read in December - and I never figured out who did it.

Curled up with a vanilla latte and the #OhCanada book pick on this snowy day.

Just picked up my copy of Still Life from the library for the #OhCanada read. I've heard nothing but good things about this series, including from the Librarian that was checking my books out!

One month left and I'll post a discussion point at the end of December. It will be a brief, high level discussion post since people are reading various books in the series.

All are welcome to join this bi-monthly read where we explore Canadian authors.

Well, now I have a new series that I want to read all of! This was perfect for the first few cold days we've had. #OhCanada

The #OhCanada November/December read has kicked off and feel free to read any book from the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny. I will be reading book #1 (Still Life) as I haven't read any of these books before. Discussion will be high level with no spoilers since there will likely be multiple books read.
Anyone is welcome to join - easy going group read where we explore Canadian authors.

The #OhCanada November/December read has kicked off and feel free to read any book from the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny. I will be reading book #1 (Still Life) as I haven't read any of these books before. Discussion will be high level with no spoilers since there will likely be multiple books read.

Anyone is welcome to join - easy going group read where we explore Canadian authors. We will be continuing in 2026 too.

This beautiful 20th Anniversary edition of Still Life by Louise Penny arrived from Barnes & Noble tonight. I think I need an easel to display it so the edges can be seen. 💙🩵💙

LAST PUZZLE PIECE!! The author offers subtle clues to the mystery with descriptive feelings, conversations and reflections. Each leading to a dead end.

Often in this novel all clues lead to a dead end.

The path not taken, the picture not observed could be the “last puzzle piece”.

Solution will give you goosebumps.

Having read all the books in the Inspector Gamache series that have been written so far, it was interesting to go back to the beginning and revisit the characters as they were introduced to us the first time.

#gottacatchemall (Smeargle: art or artist as the central theme or character) @PuddleJumper

Finally started this series and it was really good! @CarolynM @TrishB I think it was you two who put this on my radar years ago! I do love a detective novel with interesting character work - and the setting and community was warm and friendly.
This isnt a photo of Three Pines of course - my local beach walk on the other side of the world 😁

My family and I were planning a trip to Montreal next month. Plans changed, so now I‘m armchair travelling to Three Pines with Chief Inspector Gamache. I wouldn‘t say it‘s an amazingly gripping book. It is interesting and cozy enough for me to look forward to the second in the series. #Quebec

Giving this a try tonight. Has anyone watched it?

#coverstories #barn
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I don‘t remember a barn in the story, but it sure looks like one or two on the cover!

Finished what's technically my 2nd #AuldLangSpine as it's the first of the series and @kspenmoll suggested I read it first. Loved it and already have books 2 and 3 on order from Thriftbooks! Thank you for the recommendation! @monalyisha

My first Penny book. Set in Quebec, making the the story more interesting to me because I can armchair travel. Armand Gamache he has to investigate an older woman‘s murder in a small village. Interesting characters in the village, one trainee detective who you can love to hate, & a good mystery with a satisfying ending.

#12BooksOf2024
@Andrew65

Chief Inspector Gamache and the bucolic community of Three Pines, Quebec, has enchanted and engaged me with an intriguing murder of a beloved member of the village, one whose death shatters all who loved her. I look forward to learning more about the characters and this enchanting town.

Thanks for helping all of us revisit our year of reading, @Andrew65. 🩶🖤🩶

I mistakenly read #2 in this series last December and decided to start from the beginning this December. Happily, I believe I have found a new series to explore. Chief Inspector Gamache and the bucolic community of Three Pines, Quebec, has enchanted and engaged me with an intriguing murder of a beloved member of the village, one whose death shatters all who loved her. I look forward to learning more about the characters and this enchanting town.

#Two4Tuesday
@TheSpineView (thanks for the tag! ❣️🎄❣️)

1. My best start to every day is having the girls (aka Kate and Pippa) wake us up. It is always the ultimate joy as they really do live in the moment.
2. In the tagged book, Inspector Gamache is one of the most methodical detectives I've ever read--maybe even more than Holmes.

Play? @IndoorDame @Sleepswithbooks @TheBookHippie

“Abby Hoffman said we should all eat what we kill. That would put an end to war.“

Not for the first time Beauvoir was at a loss for words with Gamache. Was he serious? Was he, perhaps, a little touched? And who was Abbé Offman? A local cleric? Sounds like exactly the sort of things some Christian mystic would say.

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1. Not having children to come home for the holidays, we really don't have many traditions. Mine are steeped in my childhood. One I do have, though, is to reread all of my mom's Christmas newsletters from 1974 until she died. I put them together in a spiral book and gifted them to my sisters the year she passed. She loved Christmas. How I miss her. ❣️🎄❣️
2. Tagged. I hope to read the whole series.

All are tagged! 🤩

#BookSpin2024 #bookspin24 #bookspin
@TheAromaofBooks

Happy reading, everybody! 🎄

Dull ride home yesterday but my loan on this fortuitiously came in, so I read the first chapter aloud to my husband to keep him entertained.

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons @Liseworks @StayCurious
#earlybirdpoints
#mostanticipateddecemberread
+10 points

I've only read one of her books (out of order! 😱) last December. I'm hoping to start anew with Book #1 and actually read the whole series! #readinggoals2025

I‘m going through some reading trauma right now apparently. I‘ve read this one five years ago! And I remembered it once I realized the plot. So I checked out book 2, and turns out, I‘d read it too! And reading my review I remembered it as well. So, I‘ve returned books 1 and 2, and now I‘ve put a hold on book 3. I‘m just a mess with my reading this week!! #Canada #foodandlit @Catsandbooks

I‘ve been wanting to start this series for ages. I‘ve read 2 or 3 of it out of order. Finally my library hold came in so I can read it for #Canada #foodandlit @Catsandbooks

This book introduces Inspector Gamache and the residents of Three Pines, a small town in Canada. The mystery kicks off when a beloved resident turns up dead under mysterious circumstances. The quirky cast of characters and cozy setting are what really sell this series. The audiobook format wasn‘t ideal for an intro to so many characters though. I‘ll stick with reading this series in print for now and look forward to more Three Pines. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

So freaking good! This series has been on my #tbr for a while, but the size of the series was daunting… It has so much more depth than I expected. I love Penny‘s take on the bookish detective with Chief Inspector Gamache. Plus the village of Three Pines is swoon worthy! Lives up to the hype!

I‘m in Three Pines, a tiny hamlet in Quebec. Happy #CanadaDay
#whereareyouMonday
@Cupcake12
#24countriesin2024

#Two4Tuesday

Fav meal: Turkey soup after Thanksgiving,

Tagged book has descriptions of Autumn & hot cider etc.
in the village of Three Pines.

Littens, consider yourselves tagged!

I can‘t believe I waited so long to start this series! I love curmudgeonly detectives. 🙂

Pic is how I imagine Three Pines in the winter. ❄️

I'm not sure why I've never read Louise Penny before (other than that mysteries aren't my first genre choice). However, this did not disappoint as the writing is so descriptive and the characters are intriguing. I plan to continue reading the series.

I‘m not ready for fall! But I‘ll give this a go.
1. Tagged
2. High Country Fall
3. Cider
4. All day!
5. City of Ghosts
6. Cozies
7. Cookies 🍪
8. I don‘t burn candles very often
9. Leaf peeping
10. So many!

Thanks for the tag

I listened 2 the 1st book in the Gamache series & perhaps bc of that I had problems following at times. It changed perspectives so many times it was hard to keep track. I think I‘ve been reading/listening to just thrillers that it was challenging to listen to a slower paced mystery. I liked the reveal at the end & more of the pieces came together. I will give the 2nd in the series a chance. Most likely on audio.

Lovely to start from the beginning again. Three Pines and Gamache are two of the best characters in fiction.

#NationalEggMonthChallenge @TieDyeDude Thanks for the tag!! 1) Tag a favorite mystery you‘ve read: This is the first book in the brilliant Armand Gamache/Three Pines series. Her writing is so poetic! 2) What is your favorite way to prepare eggs? If I‘m eating out, I enjoy Eggs Benedict or a good omelette. I‘m not really much of a cook but I will occasionally scramble up some egg with my cheese. Also deviled eggs or egg salad. Join in!

Next audible.

Catch-up post #5: I was very happy to get around to reading this. It was a top notch murder mystery and I am happy there are so many in the #Series to catch up on!

I only managed the first two books in this series this year so hoping for more in 2024! @Andrew65 @TheSpineView #serieslove2024

This is interesting enough for me to continue the series even if I didn't like some things in the plot.

I liked this book well enough. I‘ll definitely read more. I don‘t get the one star reviews on Goodreads. I really enjoy Gamache as a character. #audiowalk

I love that Gamache is afraid of heights! I can relate. Because I watched the Amazon show, I picture Alfred Molina as the inspector. I hope Nichol gets better. Right now, she‘s annoying. #audiowalk

This book seems to get mostly “meh” reviews, but I do want to read the series, and this is the first one. So far, it seems fine to me, but I‘m only a few chapters in. #audiowalk

“‘You described a personality type. The ones who lead what you called “still lives.” Do you remember?‘”

“‘Yes I do. The ones who aren‘t growing and evolving. The one‘s who are standing still. They‘re the ones
who rarely get better.‘”

Rereading Penny‘s Still Life which is just as good as I remember! Going to read the series ( on Libby during appointments) to catch up on the one‘s I‘ve missed.

Finally starting last month‘s #doublespin while Gatsby naps. Just a tad late. LOL! #serieslove2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

#SmallTownSetting

#BookBinge

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

It was a little boring and pretty easy to guess the killer mid way in.