This is the third in the Armand Gamache series, the Canadian series that has become my companion on morning walks.

The villagers of Three Pines have a séance in the infamous Hadley House during Easter. One of the participants dies, apparently of fright. Gamache and his team (Beauvoir, Lacoste, Lemieux, and Nichol) arrive to investigate. Is it possible to die of fright or is Madeleine Favreau a murder victim? A second plot involves Gamache’s dealing with personal attacks intended to undermine him. He suspects they have to do with the old Arnot case which is alluded to in the previous books. The identities of Madeleine’s killer and Gamache’s enemy are revealed on the same night, again in the Hadley House.

Three Pines is again portrayed as this lovely, almost magical place. This idyllic description is starting to be problematic because once again there is a murder in the village. It’s becoming very much like Jessica Fletcher’s Cabot Cove in Murder, She Wrote. Another issue with the setting is that the reader knows that the murderer is not one of the regulars in the series (Clara, Peter, Gabri, Olivier, Ruth, Myrna) so the pool of suspects is limited to the new characters who are introduced.

Gamache continues to be the hero with virtually no flaws in his character. He’s cultured, well-read, observant, empathetic, patient, and introspective. He’s so astute that he recognizes a risk and sets in place a long-term plan to contend with it. Beauvoir’s hero worship is added to illustrate the type of love and respect Gamache commands.

Another issue I had with characterization is the portrayal of Lemieux. He seems to undergo a change that is such a dramatic contrast with how he has been portrayed in the previous book that it’s difficult to believe. I also had difficulty accepting his motivation since there has been no indication of his ambition and his feelings for Gamache seem to be extreme given the limited amount of time he has spent with him.

I did like how the theme of jealousy is explored. It proves to be a major motivation for several characters, some of whom seem to take inspiration from Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello. Even Peter Morrow does something to Clara that clearly indicates his envy of her artistic talent.

I had no difficulty correctly identifying Madeleine’s killer. Myrna’s discussion of the psychological concept of near enemy emotions is a major clue to point the reader in the right direction. Because the murder is committed in a complex way requiring a lot of information about Madeleine, there are few people who could have successfully carried it out.

I disliked the Agatha Christie-style ending in which the suspects are gathered in a room with the detective at the end and the killer is revealed. But Penny does one better because she has Gamache’s confrontation with his enemy take place at the same time. Having his antagonist there at that time stretches credulity.

There are other annoyances. Why must there be a detailed description of the food every time someone eats? Again, there’s almost a fixation with women and weight gain. And the repeated suggestions that the Hadley House is a malevolent entity become tedious.

Readers of the series keep telling me that the books get better. I haven’t really seen any improvement thus far; I’ve rated them all as mediocre, as in ordinary and adequate but not outstanding. But I’ll continue following the series . . . at least for now.

Note: Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski). ( )

3rd in series. Not as good as other two, but hooked you in the end. KIRKUS REVIEWFour statements lead to wisdom, but not before mischief and revenge come into play.The slumberous Quebecois village of Three Pines is about to have its hackles raised. In the spirit of good fun, the owner of the local B&B has arranged for a visiting Hungarian psychic to conduct a s?ance. She turns out not to be Hungarian and the s?ance is a dud. Undaunted, the participants plan a sequel at the deserted old Hadley house on the hill, where one of their number is evidently scared to death. How, why and whodunit will fall to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (A Fatal Grace, 2007, etc.) to discover, his task complicated by the villagers? tendencies to conceal secrets and his own cadre of officers? to work against him in payback for his role in bringing charges against a superior. A mother will disappoint a daughter. A husband will taunt a wife. And a golden girl too good at everything for her own good will wreak havoc on the village while Gamache instructs his subordinates in the path to wisdom: learning to say I don?t know, I?m sorry, I was wrong, I need help.Perhaps the deftest talent to arrive since Minette Walters, Penny produces what many have tried but few have mastered: a psychologically acute cozy. If you don?t give your heart to Gamache, you may have no heart to give.

(2007) Very good finds Gamache and his crew trying to find out how a woman is frightened to death during a seance in a haunted house. Gamache also has to combat a spy in his ranks, who at first seems to be the unlikeable Yvette Nicol. Turns out is the new Lemieux who is embedded in the group to force Gamache out. In the end he is arrested for assault on the inspector and the plot is foiled. Madeline's murdere is Hazel who had to live in her shadow since high school, always second fiddle. Very good book.KIRKUS REVIEWFour statements lead to wisdom, but not before mischief and revenge come into play.The slumberous Quebecois village of Three Pines is about to have its hackles raised. In the spirit of good fun, the owner of the local B&B has arranged for a visiting Hungarian psychic to conduct a s?ance. She turns out not to be Hungarian and the s?ance is a dud. Undaunted, the participants plan a sequel at the deserted old Hadley house on the hill, where one of their number is evidently scared to death. How, why and whodunit will fall to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (A Fatal Grace, 2007, etc.) to discover, his task complicated by the villagers' tendencies to conceal secrets and his own cadre of officers' to work against him in payback for his role in bringing charges against a superior. A mother will disappoint a daughter. A husband will taunt a wife. And a golden girl too good at everything for her own good will wreak havoc on the village while Gamache instructs his subordinates in the path to wisdom: learning to say I don't know, I'm sorry, I was wrong, I need help.Perhaps the deftest talent to arrive since Minette Walters, Penny produces what many have tried but few have mastered: a psychologically acute cozy. If you don't give your heart to Gamache, you may have no heart to give.Pub Date: March 4th, 2008ISBN: 978-0-312-35257-8Page count: 320ppPublisher: MinotaurReview Posted Online: May 20th, 2010Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1st, 2008

A murder mystery that is simultaneously humorous and serious. Fun with puns and literary references. ( )

Very slow start for me and I was a little annoyed with the subplot of spies and betrayal (especially since I figured it out early). I did love the ending though and am super interested to see where it goes next. ( )