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  • How the Light Gets In

  • A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, Book 9
  • Written by: Louise Penny
  • Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
  • Length: 15 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (180 ratings)

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How the Light Gets In cover art

How the Light Gets In

Written by: Louise Penny
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
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Publisher's Summary

How the Light Gets In is the ninth Chief Inspector Gamache Novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny.

"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?

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

©2013 Three Pines Creations, Inc. (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

What the critics say

“Louise Penny's Three Pines mysteries are eminently satisfying due to their imaginative variety. The stories include scenes of Montreal sophistication and gritty crime contrasted with the idyllic setting of Three Pines. There's also literary appeal, quirky humor, and – let's not forget – murder.” —AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award Winner

“Penny writes engagingly whether you're reading her books or listening to them. An argument for the latter is that her characters – not the least being Gamache, the gentle, brilliant, introspective and beleaguered head of the Surete division – are enriched beyond description through the distinctive voice of reader Ralph Cosham” —The Star-Ledger

"Narrator Ralph Cosham moves seamlessly from character to character, adding depth to each; his narration, coupled with a suspenseful writing style, make for edge-of-your-seat listening. Highly recommended for series devotees or fans of literary mysteries.” —Library Journal, starred review

What listeners say about How the Light Gets In

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Amazing!

Like all in this Inspector Gamache Series, this book kept me captivated from beginning to end! I look forward to reading/listening to all the rest of this series. #Audible1

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5 people found this helpful

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Majestic and luminous

The author has the ability to bring the reader into the emotions and friendships of the village of Three Pines. A mystical and wondrous pace where I would love to visit and share in the thought provoking and complex emotions.
Her characters become friends with all their joys and fears.
Louise Penny writes for the head and the heart.
Truly a thought provoking book #audible1

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3 people found this helpful

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A crack, that’s how the light gets in!

Love, love, love this book! Each book in the series gets better. I feel like I know each character intimately, due to the author’s writing and the narrator’s telling.
I’m glad that I have more to read in this series and I implore Ms Penny to continue the series so that I don’t run out!
I highly recommend this book!

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Kept me on the edge of my seat

I really enjoyed this book. I have enjoyed the whole series so far but this one felt the most like a page Turner

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Great story, disappointing narration

I love these books! Being French Canadian, the local references are wonderful to hear.

But...the mispronunciation of "Oullette" is driving me crazy. To be clear, it is not pronounced "wee-lay" in any province, and definitely not in Quebec! It is pronounced " wool-ette".

I'm grateful that this narrator has corrected the pronunciation of toque. In an earlier book, it was read as "toke"...certainly not what we call a knitted winter hat! This narrator says "tewk," which is correct.

Otherwise, I love the stories and the depth of the characters and I love the weaving of current issues and events throughout the story.

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  • Overall
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The voyage of Jean Guy Beauvoir

So love Louise Penny’s writing ( and share her understanding and love of dogs)…. After reading A Beautiful Mystery for the second time I needed to move on immediately to How the Light Gets in (again for the second time). Her characters have a life of their own, so rounded and so real. Even though I knew that Jean Guy would eventually come back from the twilight zone I felt his pain and Gamache’s pain throughout the story. Relief when it was resolved.😊

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Best one yet

Loved this book and all its complexities, The characterizations make the book as much as the plot and subplot. Go read about the Dionne Quintuplets.

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wow

another great book.keep up the writing....cant get enough.of these books.and the 3 pines characters....thankyou.louise penny..from ontario..canada

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Best book yet in the series!

I absolutely loved this book. I had tears streaming down my face as I drove to work as I neared the ending. Just incredible.

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Culmination

Wonderful! This brings together the multi book plotlines in a beautiful , fascinating and suspense filled way. This amy be the best yet.

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