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  • How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
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How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Paperback – July 29 2014

by Louise Penny (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 27,399 ratings
4.5 on Goodreads
94,844 ratings

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The #1 New York Times Bestseller

"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." ―Leonard Cohen

Christmas is approaching, and in Québec it's a time of dazzling snowfalls, bright lights, and gatherings with friends in front of blazing hearths. But shadows are falling on the usually festive season for Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department, his old friend and lieutenant Jean-Guy Beauvoir hasn't spoken to him in months, and hostile forces are lining up against him. When Gamache receives a message from Myrna Landers that a longtime friend has failed to arrive for Christmas in the village of Three Pines, he welcomes the chance to get away from the city. Mystified by Myrna's reluctance to reveal her friend's name, Gamache soon discovers the missing woman was once one of the most famous people not just in North America, but in the world, and now goes unrecognized by virtually everyone except the mad, brilliant poet Ruth Zardo.
As events come to a head, Gamache is drawn ever deeper into the world of Three Pines. Increasingly, he is not only investigating the disappearance of Myrna's friend but also seeking a safe place for himself and his still-loyal colleagues. Is there peace to be found even in Three Pines, and at what cost to Gamache and the people he holds dear?
How the Light Gets In is the ninth Chief Inspector Gamache Novel from Louise Penny.
One of Publishers Weekly's Best Mystery/Thriller Books of 2013
One of The Washington Post's Top 10 Books of the Year
An NPR Best Book of 2013

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  1. Book 9 of 20
    Chief Inspector Gamache Mysteries
  2. Print length
    432 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 29 2014
  5. Dimensions
    13.46 x 3.3 x 20.83 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1250047277
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1250047274
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  1. Armand Gamache had always held unfashionable beliefs. He believed that light would banish the shadows. That kindness was more powerful than cruelty, and that goodness existed, even in the most desperate places. He believed that evil had its limits.
    Highlighted by 1,583 Kindle readers
  2. “Corruption and brutality are modeled and expected and rewarded. It becomes normal. And anyone who stands up to it, who tells them it’s wrong, is beaten down. Or worse.”
    Highlighted by 1,409 Kindle readers
  3. He knew, as a man used to fear, the great danger of letting it take control. It distorted reality. Consumed reality. Fear created its own reality.
    Highlighted by 1,375 Kindle readers
  4. But, like peace, comfort didn’t come from hiding away or running away. Comfort first demanded courage.
    Highlighted by 1,219 Kindle readers
  5. There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in.
    Highlighted by 884 Kindle readers
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From the Publisher

From Brand

The St. Martin’s Publishing Group is a leading publisher of books designed to entertain, inform, and delight. Our imprints include St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Griffin, St. Martin’s Essentials, and Castle Point Books. The St. Martin’s Publishing Group is part of Macmillan Publishers, a global trade book publishing company that is a division of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned media company headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

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Review

NPR's Best Books of 2013

Washington Post Top 5 Fiction Books of the Year

Library Journal's Top 5 Mysteries for 2013

The Globe and Mail Best Book List for 2013

Booklist's Year's Best Crime Novels for 2013

“This is a mystery novel worth staying home for: Cancel those weekend plans, crank up the air conditioner and mute all electronic devices…In ‘How the Light Gets In,’ Penny has written a magnificent mystery novel that appeals not only to the head, but also to the heart and soul.”
―The Washington Post

“The delightfully quirky inhabitants of Three Pines are the kind of people
you can’t wait to see again.”
―Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

“Penny proves again that she is one of our finest writers.”
―People (4 stars)

“Good and evil do battle not just out in the world, Ms. Penny's thoughtful and absorbing text shows, but in each of us.”
―Wall Street Journal

“Louise Penny has done it again. Magic. Wonderful, captivating, heart-pumping,
edge-of-the-seat magic.”
―Huffington Post

“Penny’s Quebec-set Inspector Gamache novels concentrate on psychological underpinnings of the crimes and are among the strongest and most fascinating books being written…
This is a wonderful book.”
―RT Book Review Magazine, TOP PICK, 4 ½ stars

“Masterful...Once again, Penny impressively balances personal courage and faith with heartbreaking choices and monstrous evil.”
―Publishers Weekly (starred) on How the Light Gets In

“Penny has always used setting to support theme brilliantly, but here she outdoes herself, contrasting light and dark, innocence and experience, goodness and evil both in the emotional lives of her characters and in the way those characters leave their footprints on the landscape. Another bravura performance from an author who has reinvented the village mystery as profoundly as Dashiell Hammett transformed the detective novel.”
―Booklist (starred)

“Highly recommended for mystery lovers, readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries, and those who like seeing good triumph and evil get its just desserts.”
―Library Journal (starred)

“Three Pines, with its quirky tenants, and luminous insights into trust and friendship...will hook readers and keep them hooked.”
―Kirkus Reviews (starred) on How the Light Gets In

“A magnificent writer who deftly and sympathetically explores the dark desires, pains and joys of the human heart in each immaculately-crafted tale she writes.”
―Cleveland Plain Dealer on How the Light Gets In

“Penny takes her mix of the cozy mystery and the police procedural to a new high in her enthralling ninth novel by merging two plots…‘How the Light Gets In’ sparkles, from its amusing beginning to its jaw-dropping finale.”
―Oline Cogdill, South Florida Sun Sentinel

“If you have not yet made the acquaintance of Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of the Québec Homicide Department, now is an excellent time to do so. How the Light Gets In is Canadian writer Louise Penny’s ninth novel featuring the wise and wonderful Gamache… Intriguing plot lines, marvelous character development, and heavy atmospherics make this series a winner.”
―Christian Science Monitor

“One of the best Canadian crime series goes from strength to strength… Marvelous.”
―The Globe and Mail

“Heartbreaking… surreal… We hung on after last year’s cliffhanger and, friends,
it was well worth it.”
―Salem Macknee, The Charlotte Observer

“A magnificent writer who deftly and sympathetically explores the dark desires, pains and joys of the human heart in each immaculately-crafted tale she writes.”
―Plain Dealer

“With the grace of a master prose stylist and the generosity born of a kind heart, Penny again explores the mysteries of humanity in a novel that builds to a nerve-burning climax, engages the mind in an examination of sin and redemption and ends in tears of relief. Suffused with brilliance on all levels, ‘How the Light Gets In’ displays Penny at her beautiful and bountiful best.”
―Richmond Times-Dispatch

About the Author

LOUISE PENNY is the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling author of ten Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (five times) and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. She lives in a small village south of Montréal.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 29 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250047277
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250047274
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 210 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.46 x 3.3 x 20.83 cm
  • Book 9 of 20 ‏ : ‎ Chief Inspector Gamache Mysteries
  • 鶹 Rank: #6,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 27,399 ratings

About the author

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Louise Penny

Louise Penny

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LOUISE PENNY is the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (five times) and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. She lives in a small village south of Montréal.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
27,399 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the content really great, a good page-turner, and fun to read. They appreciate the writing quality, saying it's lovely and the picture painted through words. Readers find the plot suspenseful, swept up in the drama, and the continuity of the plots from one book to the next. They find the mystery good, with many surprises right to the end. They also appreciate the Canadian setting and excellent descriptions of food and beverages.

Select to learn more

ContentWriting qualityPlotCharacterEnjoymentMysterySettingDescriptive
109 customers mention "Content"109 positive0 negative

Customers find the content great, fun, and a page-turner. They say it's the best of Louise Penny's books and one of the best in the wonderful series. Readers also enjoy the characterizations and struggles the characters go through. They also praise the author's remarkable storytelling skills.

"...A great read and possibly the author's best!" Read more

"Great Read" Read more

"A great story, especially if you're from Quebec." Read more

"Great book another page turner. Hard to put down I would recommend this series to all mystery enthusiasts. Excellent book." Read more

38 customers mention "Writing quality"36 positive2 negative

Customers find the writing lovely, well-written, and unique. They describe the book as beautiful, captivating, and beautifully crafted. Readers also mention the author is a master storyteller and the characters are human in every way.

"A classic Louise Penny Inspector Gamache mystery. Well written, excellent very real characters, good plot" Read more

"Louise Penny is an extraordinary writer who keeps you engaged on every page. At times Believe I can feel, hear or smell what she describes...." Read more

"Like Louise's other books, this was very enjoyable. Lovely writing and flow. Highly recommended, in the series. Anticipating the next one." Read more

"she is a good writer and always enjoyable" Read more

37 customers mention "Plot"37 positive0 negative

Customers find the plot satisfying, suspenseful, and interesting. They also appreciate the continuity of the plots from one book to the next. Readers mention the imagery and gift of phrasing added to the suspense. They say the book keeps them guessing and is pure escapism.

"This is the culmination of a major underlying plot line, as such it was very satisfying while having all of the usual suspense and excitement that we..." Read more

"...Everyone will enjoy this book, it's interesting as are all the people involved. Donna" Read more

"...her stories with the action and mystery, with life and laughter, suspense and a need to keep on reading right to the very last paragraph...." Read more

"I really enjoyed How The Light Gets In by Louise Penny. The story is intriguing and the characters are fascinating...." Read more

33 customers mention "Character"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters good, perfect, and riveting. They say the author has a profound understanding of human fragility. Readers also say the plots are plausible and well-developed.

"Louise Penny's books are always good and captivating. Arrived in good shape" Read more

"Good. Continuation of ongoing story." Read more

"I've read all of these novels. Love them all. Pure Escapism. Perfect and healthy." Read more

"Very good!" Read more

11 customers mention "Enjoyment"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, satisfying, and thrilled. They say it has suspense, mystery, and keeps them guessing. Readers also relate to the great welcoming feeling of a small town.

"...the culmination of a major underlying plot line, as such it was very satisfying while having all of the usual suspense and excitement that we've..." Read more

"...I live in the townships and can really relate to the great welcoming feeling of a small town...." Read more

"Suspense, mystery, thrills. The book keeps you guessing. Loved it. I will reread this one a few times." Read more

"...Very terrifying and then satisfying to have all those loose ends tied up...." Read more

10 customers mention "Mystery"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good mystery with many surprises right to the end. They say it keeps them guessing and is brilliantly written.

"...It was described a blend of food, drink, Quebec culture and mystery. How true. I loved this book...." Read more

"...Brilliantly written Louise keeps you guessing to the very dramatic suspenseful end...." Read more

"...Gamache is adorable as usual, and there are so many surprises right to the end - wow. Couldn't put it down...." Read more

"...The mystery was great and as always left you turning pages until the end." Read more

6 customers mention "Setting"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the Canadian setting wonderful and spot-on. They say it's great for learning about characters from earlier novels.

"...I like the Canadian setting." Read more

"...Wonderful setting. Great learning more about characters from earlier novels. I couldn't put this book down once I'd started!" Read more

"...I love that the setting is Canada, but could be anywhere. A Canadian writer who just improves with every novel." Read more

"I love this series. Very Canadian and very good. I want to move to three pines. I am sure you will enjoy it too" Read more

4 customers mention "Descriptive"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the descriptions in the book vivid, excellent, and atmospheric. They also appreciate the beautiful picture painted through.

"...As ever, the descriptions of food and beverages are so vivid as to make one gain weight while reading." Read more

"...Louise Penny has such a knack for description that you really feel like you're right there with the characters. Loved this book!!" Read more

"...the Inspector Gamache stories which are atmospheric and have excellent characterization, but this one was my least favourite...." Read more

"this was an amazing read. i love the descriptive language and the beautiful picture painted through words enjoy Three Pines Gamache I certainly have" Read more

Top reviews from Canada

  • Prairie Nomad
    5.0 out of 5 stars There is a crack in everything...
    Reviewed in Canada on October 17, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I cannot believe that it has taken me this long to discover Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Having read the last novel first I am now making it my goal to read the rest of the series this winter. I would say, "comfort reading", but as anyone who reads these tales knows, there is much darkness before the comfort comes.

    As others have noted Penny embues her stories with the action and mystery, with life and laughter, suspense and a need to keep on reading right to the very last paragraph.

    To discover why this is titled, How the Light Gets In, requires one to devour all of the tale. Two cases, both stemming from pasts now long forgotten and unknown, are dark tales. One case, the murder of a woman who is not who she seems to be, takes Gamache back to Three Pines where he has worked on cases before. The other mystery brings him to Three Pines to secret away those in danger.

    The unraveling of the mysteries done with a wonderfully deft hand. But what is most wonderful for me is the rounding out of the characters who live in this book. I saw and understood without long narrative just how much Gamache cared for those he was in charge of, and how painful some of his decisions were because of the internal conflicts he carried with him. That is a writer's gift when done well.

    If there is one character who stands out from the rest in this story it is the crusty Ruth Zardo (and of course her dear Rosa). Ruth and her tag-a-long are like the bouquet garné in the stew that mom made for that cold winter supper... they have you coming back for more. And so I did.

    Usually I pace myself with the books I read, savouring them, enjoying that feeling of something to look forward to at the end of the day. However, I found myself pulling out my phone to read a bit while on a break or reaching for my tablet to squeeze in some "book-time" time while waiting for the clothes dryer to finish. The last few chapters had me making the decision to eat soup just so that I could easily eat and read at the same time! What a way to go... :-)

    Love this book. And I will be back for more. What better recommendation can there be?
    One person found this helpful
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  • Alison S. Coad
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Wonderful Novel from Quebec's Own Louise Penny
    Reviewed in Canada on August 30, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    As "How the Light Gets In," by Louise Penny, begins, Chief Inspector Armand Ganache's crack team of homicide investigators has been dismantled and the most disreputable members of the SQ, the Quebec Provincial Police force, have been drafted in their place. Their purpose? To drive him to retirement or worse, at the behest of his known enemy and head of the entire SQ, Chief Superintendent Francouer, but to what end? When Armand's friend Myrna calls him from the village of Three Pines because she is worried about a friend who didn't arrive when she was supposed to, he is glad to drop the tensions of work for a while to investigate for her. As it turns out that her friend was once one of the most famous people on the planet, and that she has indeed been murdered, Armand wonders if he might use the investigation into her murder to help provide cover for him as he tries to find out what Francoeur is up to.... Penny's last Gamache novel, "The Beautiful Mystery", left me with my heart broken, and this new story leaves me still in that same place initially; but I still needed to read and read and read, to find out what happens next. I don't think a reader can give a writer a better accolade than to say that, "well, I couldn't do anything at all in my regular life, I just had to read your story." The title comes from a line of Leonard Cohen's: "There is a crack in everything/That's how the light gets in." A philosophy that Penny embraces with respect to how compassionately she draws her characters, how much the reader feels them to be real people. And yes, I cried again at the end of this book, but not for the same reasons as in the previous novel. Extremely highly recommended; one note though - you need to have read the previous eight books in the series, in order, before coming to this one. How I envy those people who get to start reading Louise Penny's remarkable series for the first time!
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Paulette Gougeon
    4.0 out of 5 stars A story to read again
    Reviewed in Canada on October 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed the characterisation s and the struggles the characters go into a
    nd through as their characters develop. marvellous!
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  • KattyW
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Story!
    Reviewed in Canada on June 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed How The Light Gets In by Louise Penny. The story is intriguing and the characters are fascinating. Louise Penny's books keep me motivated to read more of them and learn about the residents of Three Pines. I have now read 10 of her books. I love her mystery books and find them so much fun to read. This one is no exception!
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  • Alexandra
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love Louise Penny's books
    Reviewed in Canada on November 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I love Louise Penny's books, because they are all about beauty and kindness, with a fair dose of quirkiness and humour. I've read at least 1/2 a dozen of them, and I'll speak about the series in general, as the stories have somewhat converged in my mind.

    Now, I don't give these a 5, just for a few little details: as a Quebecer, I've raised the occasional eyebrow at what I (mistakenly or not) have deemed to be errors in factual information, as well as in some of the French translations. And some of the leaps in logic and rationale seem a bit stretched. And I have occasionally found the books a tad repetitive. Yet, these are insignificant details, as these are novels, not documentaries, and, I've had to admit to myself, for the most part, I can use the repetition, as I would probably get a bit lost without it.

    These small negatives are, to me, by far overshadowed by: the familiarity of the Quebec setting, the time we spend with the characters taking in the beauty of their surroundings, eating wonderful meals, and enjoying the company of good people. Who are caught up in a battle against a shadowy evil. Do I cross a line if I say the series has a bit of a Tolkienesque vibe? I adored "The Lord of the Rings" for the beauty of its world, and the depth, kindness, imperfection, and camaraderie of its characters. And so I adore these books. Maybe I should give them a 5.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • charvall
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Book arrived with no issues. Good reading.
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  • Janus
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another good Gamache novel ticks the boxes
    Reviewed in Australia on August 21, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Really like the series. Louise Penny captures a sense of nostalgia and old values. She creates characters who appeal to us maybe because they have personalities we can identify with and draws us into life in a small rural community where we can almost taste the croissants and smell the woodsmoke. I think they are clever, a kind of Harry Potter for adults with humour, human nature, a good mystery solved in each book yet a thread that continues through all books tying the whole as a series. I look forward to reading nature of the beast. Louise Penny has developed a winning formula.
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  • Simona Ciani
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sempre meglio
    Reviewed in Italy on February 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Ormai sono una Gamache addicted. Ho iniziato con i libri in italiano e poi ho continuato con il primo libro in inglese. Credo che rileggerò in inglese anche quelli in italiano. Ogni libro mi piace di più di quello precedente.
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  • John Venning
    5.0 out of 5 stars Louise Penny - another master piece
    Reviewed in France on January 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Im only half way through this book but am really enjoying it ! Highly recommend recommended all of her books. Perfect for winter reading.
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  • Anon C
    5.0 out of 5 stars The title evokes many themes
    Reviewed in India on January 17, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Another Louise Penny novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. As always, she takes us on a journey through Three Pines village with the landscape and forest, characters with their insecurities and fears as well as talents and qualities.
    The research this author does is evident in all her books and her love for art is palpable. This novel gives various meanings to the light getting in, in the context of art and life.
    As always, a meaningful well written book!
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  • bgs
    5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling end to an excellent series of novels
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I ordered this from my bookseller to get my hands on it as soon as it was published here in the UK. He lost it. Disaster, so I bought the Kindle version from 鶹 and had the delight of being able to start reading it within seconds. I came across Louise Penny in my library and read all the Gamache novels but out of order. While I know that you can read them as stand alone novels, the linking themes makes it more and more compelling to know how good and evil are resolved. I have reread the Kindle version but now, months later, finally have my hard back edition and reading it will be my new year treat. I think that Louise Penny scores highly in every aspect of thriller writing. Her characterisation is complex and consistently credible. Her plots are interesting and properly resolved and the human drive that creates each dilemma is thoughtful and truthful. I found How the Light gets In hugely satisfying. Two thoughts, I am delighted with her success in Canada and the US but I do not understand her low profile in review terms here in the UK. Second, reading her blog I see she has finished the first draft of her next novel and I have no idea what it is about and whether it is a new start or links in any way to the Gamache series. Thank goodness for her website! If you are wondering whether to order her books, I'd say do and I hope you thoroughly enjoy them.
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