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The Madness of Crowds
The Madness of Crowds: A Novel | Louise Penny
Coming off her seventh #1 New York Times bestseller, this new book is the seventeenth in her Inspector Gamache series.
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Susanita
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Eggs Beautiful 🌈 3mo
40 likes1 comment
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Mpcacher
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Pickpick

I actually own this one and so it slipped in the pile some, it was finally time to read it. I was not disappointed and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Three Pines and the wonderful characters in this series. I also love when real history is included in part of the story (in this case Dr. Cameron and his CIA funded human experiments at McGill). There are a lot of morality issues in this one and it would be a good choice for book clubs. 4.5/5

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Susanita
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1. The Madness of Crowds
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Hobbit/LOTR
#TLT

ShelleyBooksie It's tied as my fav book in the series (Madness of Crowds)- SO good!! 7mo
dabbe 1: Now on the TBR! 2: YES! 🤩 3: YESx2! 🤩 Thanks for sharing. 💚💙💚 7mo
Susanita @dabbe This is one of the few that would work as a standalone. If you want the whole series start with 7mo
dabbe @Susanita I read A FATAL GRACE over the holidays and realized it wasn't the 1st in the series. I LOVED it and have it tagged as a series I want to read more. I love Inspector Gamache and Three Pines! 🤩 7mo
35 likes5 comments
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elkeOriginal
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Pickpick

Not my favorite #Gamache and plot was pandemic-related (and madness of crowds regarding support for terrible ideas/people) so not what I was in the mood for. But I am one step/book closer to being caught up now that bk 17 is in the rear view! This cover is beyond gorgeous.

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ShelleyBooksie
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Pickpick

My fav book of the series so far. I love Louise Penny's unique blend of "whodunit," mixed with character development, moral questions, actual history, and poetry. It's a seamless blend of so many genres into a fantastic fictional series.

Tamra Fabulous color combo in your pic! 1y
46 likes1 comment
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LeslieO
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Quick trip to DC for a wedding so of course I had to visit a bookstore. #independentbookstores #TBR #bookhaul #ObamaShopsHere

SamAnne Oh, I love that bookstore! 2y
youneverarrived Ohh I visited DC a few years ago and my hotel was really near this bookshop. It was lovely 😍 2y
44 likes2 comments
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Christinak
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Tackling my TBR pile and catching up on this series.

30 likes1 stack add
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Susanita
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There is a lot of death in this book, even for a mystery.

There‘s the attempted #murder Armand prevents, a successful murder he investigates, an old murder that he unravels, heartbreaking suicides, hair raising scenes of war and insurgency, plus a provocative “resource saving” proposal.

There‘s also an entirely unnecessary character and an ending that takes too long. Still, I enjoyed rereading it and had a good BC discussion. #januaryjazz

kspenmoll I am listening to this now but only a few chapters in. Had no idea it was so full of all you said. 2y
Eggs Perfect choice 👏🏻👏🏻 2y
Lcsmcat I just finished this too. So who do you consider the “completely unnecessary character?” 2y
Susanita @Lcsmcat I thought Hania Daood served no purpose other than a foul to various characters, and her appearance in Three Pines in the middle of winter was a bit improbable. 2y
Lcsmcat @Susanita I agree that her appearance in Three Pines is improbable. I thought her purpose though was to further explore whether killing another human is ever the “right thing” to do. Without someone like her it would be too easy to say that it‘s always wrong, full stop. Could Penny have done that without such an “exotic” character? Probably. But I‘m not writer enough to offer a suggestion. 😀 2y
42 likes5 comments
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readwithcori
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Pickpick

Rating: 4 🌟

I really enjoyed this one up until the ending and then it fell flat. But up until then, I was hooked and loved getting to see yet another side of some amazing characters that I have come to love over 17 books! Very excited for book 18 to release very soon 📖❤️

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Bookglow
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“There are four sentences that lead to wisdom. Do with them as you will. I'm sorry. I was wrong. I don't know. I need help.“

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canbku
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Mehso-so

It was ok. Really good and definitely one of the streak of better novels in the series. It's just tough to do pandemic stuff right now and I didn't think the hero of the Sudan scenes ever landed.

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Jnnlb
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Breanne1
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Pickpick

When I first picked up this 🌲 🌲 🌲 book to read I really struggled to get invested and put it aside. I think it was too soon for me to read even a COVID adjacent storyline. But now I really enjoyed my time with these great characters and loved this addition to the series.

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Honeybeebooks
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Pickpick

The second title I have read in the series. In all I liked it but it feels a little overdone. Check on mystery with lots of misdirection, quirky characters, trio development with love of family at the center. I did appreciate the post-pandemic storyline, ‘reasonable‘ solutions and dark scientific research. These topics resonated with me long after I finished reading. That may have been the author‘s purpose all along. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this one.

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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

This is a post-pandemic novel that I was able to cope with despite our still being in a pandemic. There is enough levity from the Three Pines gang and a non-pandemic-related strand of plot to balance out the dissonance of a life after Covid.

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Louise
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Mehso-so

I‘m a fan of this series, and it‘s always fun to revisit the characters in Three Pines; but this book felt weighed down in sections. It was more ponderous and less exciting. #audio

robinb Miss you, my friend. 🤗 Hope all is well. 2y
Louise @robinb Thank you! We have been going through a very difficult time. I‘ve been meaning to write. We have a new address, which I will send to you. I hope all is well in your corner of the world. 😘 2y
robinb @Louise so sorry to hear this but hope things are looking better day by day. Thinking of you and sending positive thoughts. 🤗 2y
Louise @robinb Thank you so much. I‘ll be in touch soon. 💗 2y
63 likes4 comments
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cajunsyd
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Excited to start this one, the last Gamache book in the series so far. Does anyone have any similar series to recommend? I will be having withdrawals after I finish! 😩

Susanita Anne Bogel to the rescue! Besides the podcast, I think there‘s an earlier blog post if you look around on the website. https://modernmrsdarcy.com/323-episode/ 3y
LikelyLibrarian I like the Ruth Galloway Series by Elly Griffiths. 3y
cajunsyd @Susanita ooh, I hadn‘t seen this episode. I have listened to that podcast but it‘s been a few months! Thanks! 3y
cajunsyd @LikelyLibrarian thanks, I will check that one out! 3y
25 likes4 comments
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SoapboxEdits
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Mehso-so

Well, I enjoyed the mystery, but was not very surprised at the end. This was my first title by Penny. I felt there were a few things missing within the mystery itself and it felt like a game of Clue, lots of speculation and no hard facts. There was a TON of head-hopping that got me confused from time to time. It also kept the characters at a distance for me, that prevented me from caring about them and their motivations.

SoapboxEdits Anyone else have trouble with head-hopping? Have you noticed it happening more often in new releases? 3y
14 likes1 stack add1 comment
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SoapboxEdits
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I‘m hoping this lives up to the hype and the flap copy. So far I‘m a little confused as to who is who and how they‘re related, but it should clear up soon. And what a beautiful cover!

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TrishB
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Pickpick

I thought this was the strongest for a while. Ethical dilemma at the centre, mystery killing and the pandemic. Written against the euphoria that we have a vaccine and all is back to normal. If only it were that simple.

batsy Nice review. (And hello, Sansa! 😍) 3y
Cathythoughts Hello Sansa ❤️❤️❤️ 3y
Cathythoughts And yes , nice review 👍 3y
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kspenmoll Fantastic book, and all too real. Nice review 3y
TrishB @batsy @Cathythoughts Sansa says hi 👋 3y
TrishB @kspenmoll definitely 👍🏻 3y
ShelleyBooksie Awesome photo. Our doggos are almost twinsies! 3y
LeahBergen The holidays have exhausted Sansa. 😆 3y
Caroline2 Such a cozy doggie!!! 🥰 3y
TrishB @ShelleyBooksie ah that‘s cool ❤️ 3y
TrishB @LeahBergen @Caroline2 she‘s had a chilled day ❤️ 3y
110 likes2 stack adds11 comments
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Christyco125
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Pickpick

Louise Penny hits another one out of the park. I love the dynamics of the characters and how they interact with one another in this series. It‘s also great they flash back to give you glimpses of how these relationships developed. #audio #christyread #series

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kwmg40
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Pickpick

This Inspector Gamache mystery had a bit of a slow start but it was so nice to return to Three Pines!

I finished the #20in4 with only 9.5 hours of reading time but I did finally get a #BookSpinBingo!
@TheAromaofBooks @Andrew65

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Fabulous month!! 3y
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Jen2
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Pickpick

Amazing as always!

JamieArc I love the juxtaposition of the title (crowds) and the photo (no people). 3y
Cathythoughts Yes ! What @JamieArc said 😁 3y
Jen2 Ha! Thanks!!! 3y
71 likes3 comments
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Howseldomtheydo
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Enjoying this so far! This book takes place during the Winter holidays but I am not ready to let Fall go 🍁

OriginalCyn620 Gorgeous photo! 🍁 3y
Wife So pretty 😍 3y
kspenmoll Beautiful! 3y
Howseldomtheydo @OriginalCyn620 @Wife @kspenmoll Thanks, we‘ve had a good stretch of weather for getting in a few more Fall hikes. 3y
81 likes4 comments
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Howseldomtheydo
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Not looking good #goodreadschallenge time to get off Litsy and start reading 😂 #2021readingchallenge #goodreads

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Readswithcoffee
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Pickpick

Very interesting premise. Excellent narrator. If you like this series, I think you will be pleased with this book.

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders

Penny is always so adept at the titles used for her books. Already “the madness of crowds” is strongly and intensely conveyed.

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
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Too soon to read a book about the pandemic when we‘re still very much in it? Perhaps. Louise Penny does have such a brilliant way with her succinct words though. How true is all of this?

Penny_LiteraryHoarders Why is the image black? Sigh. 3y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders So I tried to draw attention to the words I wanted but it made everything black. 🙄 so here‘s the full page. 3y
28 likes2 comments
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mom2bugnbee
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Pickpick

Forgot to review this one after I read it! It was strange to read about life after the pandemic that we are currently living through (though it wasn't mentioned by name), but it was fantastic, as always. And what a cover!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Booknerd2
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Pickpick

Another winner from Louise Penny!!! I‘m so glad everyone is back in Three Pines!!! 💜💜💜

kspenmoll This was soooo good. Love your background! 3y
Booknerd2 @kspenmoll Thank you! I thought it had a “madness” of color. 😬 3y
Andrew65 Loved this. 3y
50 likes1 stack add3 comments
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AvidReader25
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I‘m in the middle of a few big books right now and so this was definitely a light reading month for me! Starting Bible Study Fellowship also became a big time commitment. Regardless, I got to dive into a new Louise Penny and that was a treat.

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Susanita
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My reading went way down in September. In my defense, I spent MANY hours in knee treatment and recovery, and that‘s much better now.

Anyway, I did at least accomplish one of my 2021 reading goals by getting completely caught up with Louise Penny. I wasn‘t crazy about the latest. The post-pandemic timeline was confusing, and an extra character seemed a bit out of place. Still love Gamache though!

#seriesread2021
#wrapup

EvieBee Hope your therapy is helping. 💙💙 3y
29 likes1 comment
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mom2bugnbee
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Just started the newest Louise Penny. Here's the first page. This is my first time reading a book that references COVID. What new books have you read that have done the same? I'm sure this will be par for the course soon, just like 9/11 is.

LiteraryinPA Wow, that‘s jarring. I wonder if she wrote about a post-Covid current day back when we didn‘t know about Delta. 3y
mom2bugnbee @LiteraryinLawrence Wouldn't surprise me, because this continued for the entire chapter - talking about how life (in a very small town in Quebec) had gotten back to normal after the vaccine became available. It was very surreal to read. 3y
mom2bugnbee @Bookwormjillk That's on my list! I still haven't read The River (it's on my Kindle), but plan to read both. 3y
35 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Susanita
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Something happens on New Years Eve, and the kids at the #bonfire are oblivious…at least for a little while. #falltreasures

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🔥 🙌🏻📚 3y
Eggs So excited to read this one 🤗🤗 3y
smalldogs_bigbooks2419 Do you know what the first book in this series is called? 3y
35 likes4 comments
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Preciouz29
Pickpick

A bit slow at the start, but great finish. Very thought provoking!

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kspenmoll
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#weeklyreport
Finished Louise Penny‘s wonderful wonderful book! #audio
Almost finished Sophie‘s World, just a few chapters of Eloquence. The other two I did not touch. Slow reading week.

Cinfhen I‘d say it was still a good week 😁 3y
Sapphire I loved Sophie‘s world 3y
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Floresj
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Mehso-so

I haven‘t read any of the previous series. For me, while I liked a lot of Penny‘s style, I felt the plot forced and more drawn out than it needed to be. I liked the moral questions posed, but it felt as though it was “shocking” or an attempt to create an illusion of complication in the mystery. Just ok, but still enjoyable.

Tamra I thinks it‘s a series that is really character & place centered. 3y
JamieArc I love this series, but don‘t think I would ever recommend it to anyone for its “mystery” value. Definitely more for the characters and place, as said above. 3y
19 likes2 comments
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kspenmoll
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#weeklyforecast
Just started reading EOTD, hope to read at least 4 chapters. #
Listening to TMOC; on ch 4. #Gamache #ThreePines ABWHOUS -1ch #studentbuddyread
AAL- one ch. #nonfiction
SW- 2ch. #sophiesworld #philosophy

Cinfhen I love the cover for the Penny ~ is it good?? Is it a stand alone??? 3y
Cinfhen I just read the blurb…. #17 in a series 😝 3y
59 likes2 comments
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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

Finally got to finish this audiobook. As always, I live traveling to Three Pines to visit the whole gang. I got a little lost in the middle of this but Armand is always good about tying it all together in the end.

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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

A new Three Pines mystery! I loved that Penny embraced writing in a world where a pandemic is part of the conversation. I thought it might be exhausting to read that, but it was oddly cathartic to see the way we were all united in the shared experience.

The plot meandered a bit in the end, but I didn‘t for one second wish the philosophical book had ended sooner. I read it as slowly as I could because I never get tired of Gamache and his crew.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome cover!! 3y
AvidReader25 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It‘s so gorgeous! 3y
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CarolynM
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Pickpick

While Three Pines and its inhabitants were as warmly welcoming as always, I'm really not so sure about this story. I can't quite put my finger on what bothered me about it, it just all felt a little off somehow. Still a pick, but with intangible reservations.

Amiable I‘m still making my way through it — I got distracted by another book first. 😬 3y
63 likes1 comment
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Shemac77
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Pickpick

Never a disappointment.

CoverToCoverGirl I need to read this series… sigh… someday. 3y
Shemac77 I highly recommend it! @CoverToCoverGirl 3y
31 likes2 comments
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WanderingBookaneer
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I put the book down and #LexieCat came to check it out. #CatsOfLitsy

LeahBergen What does the rest of the kitty crew think of her?? 😊 3y
TiredLibrarian What a lovely kitty! 😻💕 3y
DinoMom Those ears 😍😍😍 3y
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WanderingBookaneer @LeahBergen : #BonBonCat hisses at the mere sound of her. #TrickyCat and #DavidCat have gotten some bedroom time with her while she was in her play pen. She still hasn‘t been let out of our bedroom. I‘ll update you in a couple of weeks. 3y
Kappadeemom Her ears ❤️❤️❤️ 3y
Leftcoastzen She‘s adorable! Good to see you know the drill , slow introductions. That kitty is gonna be seeing lots of books, she better get used to it.😻😂 3y
WanderingBookaneer @Leftcoastzen : I used to foster and we have five cats. I am, indeed, familiar with the drill. 😹 📚😹 3y
DivineDiana Adorable! 😻 3y
KathyWheeler What an adorable kitty! 3y
LeahBergen Oh, BonBon! 🤣 3y
Gissy ☺️😻 3y
kspenmoll I got my copy; cannot wait to start reading! Bonbon is the best! (edited) 3y
Bookzombie So dang cute! 3y
80 likes13 comments
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WanderingBookaneer
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Was about to bail on this one (150+ pages in) but now there‘s been a murder and my interest is rekindled.

kspenmoll Glad to hear it-usually I love her books. 3y
61 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Amiable
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Lunch break on the back patio at work. I don‘t want to go back inside. The book is too good. 😬😀

Bookwormjillk So good 3y
77 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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CarolynM
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Outside with my book for #AustralianReadingHour

LeahBergen It looks like lovely weather! 3y
CarolynM @LeahBergen It's sunny but a bit on the cool side - maximum of 16C (don't laugh). 3y
Ruthiella 16C is on the cool side where I live too! 😆 It was 36-37 today. 🥵 3y
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TrishB 16-18 is perfect 😁 3y
LeahBergen 😆😆 It‘s been around that temperature here, too, and starting to feel quite autumnal. 3y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Reading hour, you say! Looks lovely and green! ☺️ 3y
69 likes6 comments
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Mshookquilts
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Pickpick

As always, a fantastic read. I wasn‘t sure I‘d be able to read this post pandemic story, as it deals with the madness from the pandemic, but it was handled gracefully. Well done, Louise Penny and well done Gamache & crew! Oh….and my favorite line….the last one in her acknowledgement….always read acknowledgements & author‘s notes!

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Susanita
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This morning while I was eating breakfast, I saw a familiar swirl of colors on the TV screen. It was a commercial for the tagged book! I was astonished!

This afternoon Libby did her thing again, and the book is available weeks before I was expecting it! So I guess I can‘t procrastinate any longer to read All the Devils Are Here, no matter what other books I‘m stringing along half read.

#SuperSeptember
Get well soon @Andrew65 !

Bookwormjillk A commercial for a book? Cool! 3y
EadieB @Susanita Thanks for participating! Hope you enjoy your books. I am reading these 2 books this month too! 3y
31 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Amiable
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You guys! I went into the library to pick up the book I‘ve had on hold for a month (The Burning Blue) and the latest Louise Penny novel was sitting on the “new books” shelf—obviously just waiting for me to snag it! I grabbed that sucker so fast … I can‘t believe there isn‘t a huge wait list for it. Today‘s my lucky day!

Bookwormjillk Nice! 3y
suvata Lucky 🍀 you! 3y
Tamra Yay!!! 3y
CarolynM I'm just about to start it🙂 3y
74 likes4 comments
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Shemac77
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Can‘t wait to be back in Three Pines

Nute I can‘t wait to revisit Three Pines. I‘m still at the beginning of this series, but I think about the characters often.🙂 3y
Shemac77 @Nute I wish I was reading for the first time! It‘s such a wonderful series. Happy reading! 3y
36 likes1 stack add2 comments