In short, this book was interesting, but it wasn't what I had expected. Louise Penny's books have always served to entertain me more than most other crime-fiction authors. But this book was not as entertaining. The plot is something new in the world of crime fiction, in my opinion. But throughout the book, there's dialogue about Gamache trying to save an explosion of a dam and Agent Morin. Although it seemed interesting, it nevertheless confused me greatly and I did not really understand the significance of the story until about the very end. Of course, Louise Penny is a great writer and her writing is always very illuminating and structured, but I didn't really like how many futile commas there were. Seriously.

I have read all of this series and enjoyed each book for the suspense. However I did find that there should be a disclaimer that you read A BrutalTelling first because of the references that keep bringing you back to that story.

6th book the Chief Inspector Gamache series

"Bury your Dead", won numerous awards in Canada and other countries for being the "Best Crime Novel" in 2010 and consequently became profitable for everyone in the business. Browsing reviews from different sites before I finalized my thoughts, I discovered most readers' qualified it as extraordinary; the best in the series….seems I am one of the few to question this assessment.…OMG did I dislike one of Louise Penny's cosy novels? What did I miss?

I agree with those saying that Louise Penny ran out of ideas in this one, after creating so much murder and suspense in Three Pines she seems to have lost focus and direction in this one. The action moves to Québec City, dead of winter, Carnival time, where we learn the loveable Inspector has suffered a traumatic event. Initially I wondered, did I miss something, where, when and how did this event happen?

This latest instalment is a rather quiet introspective story that intertwines three plots:

1) Inspector Gamache while in recovery mode decides to spend some time with his mentor in Québec City and rehash some of his memories that still haunt him and try to tie up some loose ends. While there, he stumbles upon the Lit& His Library/Museum at the time when a body is discovered in the basement. Naturally our Québec "Columbo" takes the reins of the investigation, an investigation that brushes the delicate aspects of history between the French and Anglo communities.

2) While in flashback mode Gamache rehashes the events of a deadly police investigation that went terribly wrong. A deadly raid that always comes back to haunt him.

3) Another case that has also haunted him over time is brought to the forefront. He was never happy with the outcome and asks Jean Guy Beauvoir to revisit the case with the hope of answering some of his unanswered questions. It is a step back in time covering the events in the novel "The Brutal Telling"

The author hopscotches her way between plots that are not linked in an awkward manner making it very hard to follow, even with a full background of the previous novels, I found it a challenge. MS. Penny passion for Québec can be overwhelming at times, French terms and expression add atmosphere to the prose but may not have full effect if not understood. Gamache wandering the cobble stone streets of the Old City munching a baguette or a croissant spells tourist rather than a native of the province in my books….The pacing pussyfoots all through the story, the only serious action surfaces in the last pages with Gamache's step by step recount of the botched investigation.

This was a tedious read, a disappointment. ….I preferred when Inspector Gamache focused on one case at a time.

Louise Penny's novels just keep getting better. The characters are rich, the sense of place vivid, the prose strong, and the plots intricate. There are laughs despite the seriousness of a murder mystery. Plus literary and cultural references for those in the know, and those of us who don't know don't feel left out.

This is a series to read in order or you'll find spoilers, and to read the whole series is no chore although I could have done without the profanity. I'm very fond of the characters and want to see what happens next.

I have read all of Louise Penny's novels and was beginning to find them 'same as, same as' but not this one! I stayed awake all night to read this book! Definitely Louise Penny's best novel to date. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache at his most vulnerable.

I picked up Bury Your Dead, as I have been looking for a good murder mystery for quite a long time...am I glad I did! This was a great read. I read Bury Your Dead while in Mexico and could not wait to get back to Canada to buy the rest of Ms. Penny's books. I am now on #4 and loving each and every one of them. The prose is captivating, the characters are more than memorable, and Ms. Penny's grasp of humanity is extraordinary. As I sat in a beach chair in Mexico reading I found myself wanting to be in Quebec in the dead of winter.
This is a mystery set within a mystery set within a mystery. Absolutely wonderful!

All six of Louise Penny's are excellent reads. Bury Your Dead, however, stands out as the best so far in its scope, intricacy, plot flow, most wonderfully in its humanity. If you haven't read any of Mme. Penny's novels, treat yourself: get all six and read them in order.