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  • Still Life

  • Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 1
  • Written by: Louise Penny
  • Narrated by: Adam Sims
  • Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (496 ratings)

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Still Life cover art

Still Life

Written by: Louise Penny
Narrated by: Adam Sims
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Publisher's Summary

The discovery of a dead body in the woods on Thanksgiving Weekend brings Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his colleagues from the Surete du Quebec to a small village in the Eastern Townships. Gamache cannot understand why anyone would want to deliberately kill well-loved artist Jane Neal, especially any of the residents of Three Pines - a place so free from crime it doesn't even have its own police force. But Gamache knows that evil is lurking somewhere behind the white picket fences and that, if he watches closely enough, Three Pines will start to give up its dark secrets....

Coming soon: Book 2 in the Chief Inspector Gamache series, Dead Cold. Winter in Three Pines, and the sleepy village is carpeted in snow. It's a time of peace and goodwill - until a scream pierces the biting air. A spectator at the annual Boxing Day curling match has been fatally electrocuted. Despite the large crowd, there are no witnesses and - apparently - no clues.

©2005 Louise Penny (P)2006 Isis Publishing Ltd

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What listeners say about Still Life

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful start to a well written series

Great writing, good performance, ocassional odd pace skip. An excellent beginning to an intriguing series that builds anticipation and depth.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful narration

Great story. I have to strongly disagree with some of the reviews because I think the narrator did a superb reading. Will definitely check out the next book in the series and look forward to Adam Sims’ presentation.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Canadian Surprise! Truly enjoyable!

I couldn't stop listening. Adam does an AMAZING job and Louise's writing is beautiful. I found myself invest in characters, hating characters and now I am off to buy the next book. Beautifully written. I may have figured out who the murdered was within the first few chapters but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

could not stop listening

It was a really interesting story with well developed characters. Looking forward to the next one

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sign me up for more Gamache!

This is my first Louise Penny experience, and won't be the last! I'm looking forward to catching up with Gamache in Book 2.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great mystery series set in Canada.

I loved this first book in the series. The characters and setting feel familiar and the plot has twists!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

I enjoyed it immensely, as I do, every Louise penny story. I look forward to the next one.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

It's her FIRST book

a little slow moving and it is difficult to keep all the characters straight. a little over the top....unnecessary detail s can be a bit much.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent in every way

I couldn’t find a single flaw in the book. The characters are so well written, the mystery is very good and the narration was excellent.
I plan on reading all the books in this series.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Book fantastic, narrator not so much

Loved the book and getting to know how the series started. Huge fan of Louise Penny and her cast of characters, the warmth of Three Pines and the pacing. The writing is smart and credits readers with bring able to follow elements of not just this story but those that will thread throughout the series.

I have listened to all the audiobooks in the Gamache series available from my library. They are narrated by voice actors chosen by the author and publisher and their narration is mesmerizing, perfectly capturing Gamache, the other characters, and the essence of the stories of Three Pines.

Unfortunately, my library doesn't have the first three in the series on audiobook. I came to Audible to purchase and listen to them but am bitterly disappointed to discover Audible hired a different voice actor and director whose choices are grating and irritating, and greatly diminish the experience of Louise Penny's writing.

Dear listener - do seek out the original audiobooks...they make listening a dream and feel like you're really in Three Pines at the bistro with a hot chocolate and a croissant.

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