Louise Penny Books In Order – Inspector Gamache
Reading the Louise Penny books in order involves picking up the so-far 19 mystery novels in her popular Canadian crime series involving Chief Inspector Armand Gamache living in Quebec, her standalone novel, and short story anthologies.
Thus here is the list of Louise Penny Chief Inspector Armand Gamache books in publication order. Note that some of the books have been published under different names in different countries. If the case, then I will list both names for the same novel. The publication year is listed next to each book in the Gamache book series. We also list the author’s standalone works.
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Chief Inspector Gamache Books In Publication Order
featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache
- Still Life (#1), 2006
- A Fatal Grace (#2), 2006
- The Cruellest Month (#3), 2007
- A Rule Against Murder (#4), 2008
- The Brutal Telling (#5), 2008
- Bury Your Dead (#6), 2010
- The Hangman (novella #6.5), 2011
- A Trick of the Light (#7), 2011
- The Beautiful Mystery (#8), 2012
- How the Light Gets In (#9), 2013
- The Long Way Home (#10), 2014
- The Nature of the Beast (#11), 2015
- A Great Reckoning (#12), 2016
- Glass Houses (#13), 2017
- Kingdom of the Blind ( #14), 2018
- A Better Man (#15), 2019
- All The Devils Are Here (#16), 2021
- The Madness of Crowds (#17), 2021
- A World of Curiosities (#18), 2022)
- The Grey Wolf (#19), 2024
Standalone Novels
- State of Terror, 2021 (co-authored with former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton)
Short Story Anthologies in Publication Order
- Mysterious Writers: The Many Facets of Mystery Writing, 2010
- The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook, 2015
- The Best American Mystery Stories, 2018
Louise Penny Biography – About the Author
Louise Penny was born in 1958 in Toronto, Canada. The love of reading crime mystery books was in the family, since her mother would read such novels all the time.
Louise enrolled at the Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, currently known as Ryerson University, where she earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts (Radio and Television).
After graduation, she began working as a radio broadcaster (radio host) and journalist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, a position that she had for 18 years. After she got married to Michael Whitehead, head of hematology at Montreal Children’s Hospital, she stopped working, choosing instead to devote her time to writing at her husband’s urging to follow her dreams.
The author’s first book would have been a historical novel, but as she didn’t feel any calling for the genre, she soon switched to crime mystery, a genre that works for her very well even after all these years.
In 2013 the author was made a Member of the Order of Canada for her essential contribution to Canadian culture. This order is only second to the Order of Merit in Canada.
The author currently lives in a small village just south of Montreal called Knowlton alone, since her husband died in 2016. Her books won numerous awards over the year. From 2006 onward she won at least an award, if not more, every single year. Only her first novel won all these awards: the New Blood Dagger award, the Arthur Ellis Award, the 2007 Anthony Award, the Barry Award, and the Dilys Award. Some books have also earned Louise Penny the Agatha Award and the Macavity Award, and many were nominated for the Agatha and the Edgar Award.
In fact, she was ready to give up when she entered the British contest, Debut Dagger, aimed at unpublished writers. Among the 800 entries present, she won the second place. Next, she found a British agent which helped her become popular and published her almost 20 novels.
The books show that serious psychological books can easily hide inside a commercial genre. There is a deeper faith and hope that the author’s book radiates from within.
About the Louise Penny Books
The first book in the Chief Inspector Gamache series is Still Life. However, in Glass Houses, Armand Gamache, who is by now a Chief Superintendent of the Quebec Provincial Police, encounters a tall, hooded figure standing unmoving in the greens of the village for three days, a foreboding of something dark and sinister, and a murder of a body discovered by Armand’s own wife, Reine-Marie Gamache, in the church basement. Armand couldn’t do anything to remove the figure because no crime has been committed with regards to it.
Next, we meet Armand at the stand testifying about a murder that was committed about the same time the dark figure appeared at the doors of the village. he Three Pines, the idyllic village will be soon shaken by murder, revenge and dark secrets that Armand Gamache must uncover before it’s too late.
I loved Glass Houses, but I have to admit that the first half of the book was not up to the author’s usual standards. However, much to my delight, the pace picked up soon after and I, once again, became enthralled by the Louise Penny’s usual flowing style.
The 2013 Louise Penny movie adaptation by CBS is based on her first novel and has the same title as the book. The movie featured the village Three Pines, just like the Armand Gamache books, and Armand, of course, was there as well in a leading role cast by Nathaniel Parker.
The movie adaptation of the Chief Inspector Gamache series turned out to be great, it was a fine translation of the author’s first book in the series. However, for some reason, I expected something a bit more. I can’t put my finger on what that was – maybe the main character’s British accent, which I didn’t feel that was belonging in Canada all that much. Still, it was a darn good movie. And the author Louise Penny being an executive producer for the film I’m sure helped with making it as close as possible to the book a lot.
The Nature of the Beast was so far probably my favorite Louise Penny book. Laurent Lepage is just a nine-year-old boy, but one with a strong imagination. And all of it revolves around alien abductions, death, murder, and all sorts of other nasty things. The proverbial crying wolf is what everyone in town things it’s going on. Until it’s not. Because Laurent goes missing and there is a reckoning to deal with after that. Could it be that what some of the boy’s blabberings were true? There is a major search going on to find him everywhere, out in nature, in the woods, down south, up north, but what they come across is nothing less than death, murder, and complete betrayal and reckoning.
Should we read the Louise Penny books in order?
Having read all the Three Pines Chief Inspector Gamache books in order a while ago, with the latest two murder novels only recently, I don’t feel it’s essential to read the novels in order, unless you’re a stickler to reading the book list in chronological order like me, no matter what. They do stand on their own nicely, each with their own plot to murder someone.
Louise Penny makes a good job of explaining in each book if anything is important from the past, so you don’t feel overwhelmed with lots of stuff that you should have read before reading the current book.
However, for the sake of character development and getting to know the beautiful people a bit better, if you can pick up her novels and read each book in order, do it, even if to learn more about Armand Gamache, his wife, and the Three Pines village a bit more in each book.
If you read them out of order though, it’s not such a biggie. As the author herself put it, it’s not necessary to read previous books – but it is recommended. They make for relatively light reading (the nature of the characters involved in solving the murders has nothing seriously gory in them). So check out the Louise Penny reading order above and follow it, including the short novella.
What About the Inspector Armand Gamache TV Show?
December 2022 saw the premiere of the Three Pines series, an Amazon Studios mystery streaming television series starring Alfred Molina, which is based on the book series focused around Chief Inspector Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec police force.
Unlike the books, the TV series also includes another storyline going throughout the season, where Gamache is investigating the disappearance of a young Indigenous woman.
Some of the other main actors for the TV show are:
- Rossif Sutherland as Jean-Guy Beauvoir
- Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers as Isabelle Lacoste
- Tantoo Cardinal as Bea Mayer
- Clare Coulter as Ruth Zardo
- Sarah Booth as Yvette Nichol
- Anna Tierney as Clara Morrow
- Roberta Battaglia as Crie
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com talked about the Three Pines series, saying it is “A collection of intelligent two-hour mysteries that fans of Agatha Christie or even Columbo should watch.”
A former TV movie adaptation was released in 2013 with the title Still Life: A Three Pines Mystery featuring Nathaniel Parker as Inspector Gamache.
Louise Penny Awards and Nominations
Over the years, Louise Penny’s books have won several awards and nominations including
A Trick of the Light
- received the 2012 Anthony Award for Best Novel
- received the 2012 Agatha Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2012 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2012 Dilys Award for Best Book
Still Life
- received the 2006 John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
- received the 2007 Dilys Award for Best Book
- received the 2007 Barry Award for Best First Novel
- received the 2007 Anthony Award for Best First Novel
- was nominated for the 2010 Barry Award for Best Mystery/Crime Novel of the Decade
The Cruellest Month
- received the 2008 Agatha Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2009 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2009 Barry Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2009 Anthony Award for Best Novel
The Brutal Telling
- received the 2010 Anthony Award for Best Novel
- received the 2010 Agatha Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2010 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2010 Dilys Award for Best Book
Bury Your Dead
- received the 2011 Nero Award
- received the 2011 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- received the 2011 Dilys Award for Best Book
- received the 2011 Anthony Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2011 Barry Award for Best Novel
The Beautiful Mystery
- received the 2012 Agatha Award for Best Novel
- received the 2013 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- received the 2013 Anthony Award for Best Novel
A Great Reckoning
- received the 2017 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- received the 2017 Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel
- received the 2017 Barry Award for Best Novel
- received the 2017 Anthony Award for Best Novel
- received the 2016 Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel
Glass Houses
- received the 2017 Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel
- was nominated for the 2018 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2018 Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel
- was nominated for the 2018 Anthony Award for Best Novel
Kingdom of the Blind
- was nominated for the 2018 Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel
The Nature of the Beast
- received the 2016 Lefty Award for Best World Mystery
- was nominated for the 2016 Anthony Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2015 Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel
How the Light Gets In
- was nominated for the 2014 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2014 Edgar Award for Best Novel
- was shortlisted for the 2014 CWA Gold Dagger
- was nominated for the 2013 Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel
The Long Way Home
- was nominated for the 2015 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2015 Anthony Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2015 Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel
All the Devils Are Here
- received the 2021 Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel
- received the 2020 Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel
- was nominated for the 2021 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- was nominated for the 2021 Barry Award for Best Novel
The Madness of Crowds
- was nominated for the 2021 Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel
A World of Curiosities
- received the 2023 Macavity Award for Best Novel
- received the 2022 Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel
- was nominated for the 2023 Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel
- was nominated for the 2023 Anthony Award for Best Hardcover Novel
want to read the books referred to in The Gray Wolf — about the monks and when his agents were killed but not know which ones they are — please give me the titles
I think the book that is referenced about the monasteries is The Beautiful Mystery, where Gamache investigates a murder at the secluded Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups monastery.
As for the deaths of Gamache’s agents, it should be Bury Your Dead, because it had a disastrous police operation which resulted in some death (without spoiling too much).
Enjoyed all the books, Alfred Molina, as the main character, excellent, Hope they renew the series, as these are amazing stories, & should be continued.
I’ve seen that they are not renewing Three Pines. I’m so sad. I love all of Louise Penny’s Gamache series and was so hopeful to see the television adaptation. Any chance the decision will be reversed?
Just finished watching season 1 on Prime. The Hangman was the last episode. What book follows, A Trick of the Light? I’m going to read the books before season 2 comes out! Thank you.
My daughter gave me Still Life to read and I left it on my book shelf for months and finally decided to read it. WOW!… Love at frist read. .It has been years since Ive enjoyed reading so uch. I now have read 10 in total . I’m on #11. All of them are amazing.I think for me I can relate to the places the language, the history. Its been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a book so much. Thank you Louise Penny
I am trying to buy the series of books for a friend who is French. Trying to make sure I get the right books in order using the French titles. Are you able to assist? I have ordered the first 3 books but struggling to get a list of all the books using the French titles.
I read all the books except All the Devils Are Here, which I stopped reading after 200 pages…I could not find it interesting.
I would like to know if it is important to read it before reading the following one, The Madness of the Crowds. I always read the books in order.
I am losing my eyesight so I can no longer read (Or drive. Consider yourself lucky! At least I had enough sense to take away my own keys!). I have read everything all my life. Now I listen to audiobooks and, since I have started listening to them, I no longer feel quite as bereft. It is a very long, hot summer where I live. Right now, it is winter in Three Pines. It is shocking to go from winter to summer in a moment. I’m sure that other books must have transported me in season, place, and time as I have read them in the past. Right now, I can’t remember any.
I have read a lot of books in my time, and I have to say that Louise Penny’s Gamache series of books is the best ever. I love all of the characters, and the story lines. I don’t want to put them down and I don’t want them to end. I’ve convinced my husband he must read them, and in order. I can see these as movies, but only after reading them first.
Been listening to audiobooks out of order -as they become available from the public library.
Not at all a deal breaker, although in order would have been preferable.
Don’t want them ever to end!
I have a book by Louise Penny called The Murder Stone, but can’t find it on her list.
The Murder Stone is A Rule Against Murder
three pines is part of my life now,I’m so involved with the characters and feel they are friends, I will be deeply sadden if the series comes to an end…I’ve enjoyed it so much. it takes me out of my life into their world
I’ve read thru twice and will read them again….I praise Louise Penny for her wonderful series!
I have read the whole series three times. I start again every summer and I love Three Pines and all the inhabitants feel like old friends by now. The last book, All the Devils are Here takes them all to Paris, and is quite different, but very good. Her new book in the series comes out in August. By then I hope to have read all the books again. I also heard she is teaming up with Hillary Clinton to write a Washington Capitol mystery, so maybe she has ended the Three Pines series.
I truly enjoy this series for escapist reading. The inhabitants of Three Pines are delightful, and the food descriptions are mouthwatering. A nice foil to the darkness of murder and certain members of the Sureté. My least favourite was The Beautiful Mystery. I wanted out of that Monastery almost as desperately as Jean Guy! I found the climax and denouément a little lacking. My favourite is A Better Man. Hope there are more to come.
Yes, reading in order is a must. The characters and the story lines develop and build in each novel. I waited with anticipation to read the next chapter.
My goal for this winter was to read the Gamache series. Halfway through in a month. It will be a long winter when I have completed the remaining 7
Like the others in your comments, I am enthralled with Louise Penny’s books.
I love living in Three Pines with most of its inhabitants. Trouble is, what to do when I blow through all of them?
Start over with Still Life? Probably.
Just finishing #16. All since the pandemic started. Hope she writes more pretty quickly here as I am hooked!
I just finished reading her most recent book “All The Devils Are Here”. I became aware of her through a friend. Once I start reading a book, I can’t put it down. I have read them all in order and like it that way. You really become invested in the characters. I sincerely hope she continue to write the Inspector Gamache stories.
I have found Louise Penney! Her characters are alive and leave me with a desire to know where they are what they are doing now. Then the story takes hold. And her words are so gripping. I started with number 11 and will now go back to number 1!
I just discovered this author and love her insights. I feel like I’m in the story and know and/or relate to some of the characters.
I am an avid fan of her writing. I have just finished reading the first 14 bools in order to prepare for reading #s 15 and 16.
I find her books moving and satisfying on so many levels.
I agree that fhe movie adaptation of Still Life was very disappointing. Completely miscast. I find it hard to beleieve that any of the decisuon makers had read a single word of Madame Penny’s prose.
Regardless, she has a life-long fan in me!
Read them in order, it’s the best. I just finished The Long Way Home…not my favorite. I liked the early ones best. Why put yourself in a position of questioning relationships and situations. Read them in order.
I found Louise Penny’s first book about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache ‘Still Life’ in my local Charity Shop.
I was immediately hooked and have since bought and read four more books in the order they were written. I’m about to order ‘Bury your Dead’. This recent Lock down has meant more time to read and I really really enjoy Penny’s books.
Regards Yvonne Griffin, Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
I am reading the books in order and I just finished THE BRUTAL SAYING. it was just awful and I can’t believe the failure on Louise Penny‘s part. I’m going to go ahead and start the next book anyway since I’m in the middle of this COVID-19 stuff and these mystery books have been a great resource for taking up the slacking or extra time. But I am so disappointed in this book and I can only hope that she redeems her self in the next book.
The Murder Stone is the British title for book 4. Sorry I wasn’t able to reply directly to the questioner for some reason.
I found the Penny series when perusing the stacks. I always try to take home one Canadian author with each library visit. Became hooked with GLASS HOUSES. The rest I’m reading in order. Decided to view STILL LIFE since it wasn’t on the shelf once I decided that in order was the better way to go. I’m sorry to say that it was a big disappointment. Casting, acting-all off. Even the village of Three Pines was wrong. PBS should give these stories a go. They know how to produce quality storytelling. I’m almost done with the series. Hope Ms. Penny continues writing Gamage for some time to come. If not, give Donna Leon a try!
I must say that I thought the Still Life movie was horrible. Gamache would never be rude to wait staff which occurs in the first 15 minutes. Miscast horribly in my opinion. Believe you will lose much if not read in order. Do yourself a favor and read in order.
Have to disagree about movie adaptation of Still Life. It did not do her book justice, characters were flat and not developed. Totally wrong actors in roles. Love her books and the characters are so multi layered.
I agree with Tammy – if you read out of order you miss some elements that would spoil the other books and things happen to these awesome characters that would need to be in order – love all the characters in this book. i have read everyone and looking forward to the next one
Really enjoy characters and plots. Inspector Gamache is indeed complicated and yet lovable. A Renaissance Man in a way.
Love the cookbook idea! I can almost taste the scones, cream, and strawberry jam now!
I have always loved Louise Penny’s books featuring Inspector Gamache, the village of Three Pines and all the wonderful characters in the village. I enjoy Louise’s style of writing, her attention to detail, well organized plots and most of all the fascinating details about Quebec, its people, its culture, the land, cities, towns in this part of Canada. The books are also a journey through eastern Canada. I eagerly await each new Inspector Gamache novel.
All I can say is that I feel like I’ve always lived in Three Pines. And I wouldn’t want to move anywhere else.
Love the series. I want to live in Three Pines. I want these people to be neighbors of mine. I want to visit the ;lending library with Ruth and after go to the Gamache house(uninvited for lunch).
I just binge read the entire series. Well, not quite, I’m on the last book now. I feel they absolutely should be read in order because the characters and relationships unfold slowly. I’m hoping that eventually Gamache et al will move to France. Lots of crime there!
Hi I’ve read the whole series a couple of times and love them. I’ve just noticed The Hangman… how did I miss this one, and why?? I live in Australia and look forward to each new story – and rereading the old ones! Thank you!
Judith, you have to read The Long Way Home to know about Peter
Absolutely am glad I’m reading in sequence – find myself guessing next steps based on character history. Thank you for providing such superior fiction.
I have read the first 3 books from the library. I believe I remember that in Still Life it explains the reason Gamache has a British accent, but since I don’t have the books at hand I cannot verify.
How about a cookbook with all those delicious foods from The Bistro? I am also seriously sleep depleted since I can’t put these books down! I feel I am up there in the Three Pines!
I heartily agree with reading the series in order. I didn’t and find as mentioned above it took some of the
mystery away. Still great series, intuitive characterizations, great plots and I hope she continues this series
for quite awhile!
I have been reading the Kingdom of the Blind, and have read a fair number of the Gamache novels but not necessarily in order. I was stumped by a reference to Clara’s husband, Peter, as well as his non-appearance, in Kingdom of the Blind. What happened to him, and in which novel? Will someone please enlighten me?
I began reading the Gamache series out of order, because my wife reccomended Glass Houses to me. I went back to the first book in the series and am now catching up. I also saw the movie adaptation of Still Life the only character I was disappointed in was agent Nichol, I imagined her being more bedraggled. I read a lot of mysteries. And being a Daniel Silva fan, I have found that Louise Pinney has put a more human touch to her books. I feel a calm as I read these books. I can visualize the characters and three pines. Her intertwining of events keeps me going. I can now see why all the rewards.
I think it’s best to read them in order. Some of the characters change jobs and it would confuse you. Also, the characters become much loved as you get to know them.
One criticism I have of the audio books is that after the first reader passed away, a British man read. I am American but my parents were French Canadian. It disturbs me greatly to hear Armand Gamache speaking like a Brit. Quebec is a large province full intelligent people. Please find one to read stories that all take place in Quebec.
It is a “must” to read them in order… I started reading out of order and found that I knew who was NOT the killer because they appeared in future books still happily living in Three Pines instead of rotting away in prison… there are also several sub plots that carry from book to book and these would be very confusing if not read in order…
Never thought about it this way, but you do have a very strong point there.
I want to meet all these people and go to their village. I don’t want the series to end.
When do we get the next audio book
Should be out this August.
I would appreciate getting the books in order but they are in different order depending on the site you choose.
What site has them in the original order.
The books are in reading order here. Not sure what other order are you looking for?
Absolutely should be read in order, in my opinion. The “big event” in Gamache’s life is frequently referenced in other books and if you don’t know about the warehouse, then you will miss the nuances.
Love this series
Can’t get enough of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. He is insightful, warm and charming. The Beauvoir character works so well as Gamache’s assistant. Super series. Hopefully a movie or a series on PBS. Forgot to mention the love he has for his wife is to be envied.
I have read all 12!!! I am a big fan!!! Loved them all. Need to know, heard somewhere, is their a movie??? Hopefully!
I have read all but the last 2 cant wait to read them and see what happens to beauvoir
Read them in order if you want to get the most out of this wonderful series!! I started out of order because I was told it didn’t matter but quickly realized my mistake. I went back and re-read them starting from the beginning and it was so much better. Especially if you fall in love with Inspector Gamache as I have. It’s a relationship that builds up slowly and you’ll want to savour it right from the start.
Which book is about the big shootout in the factory? I just finished ” The Beautiful Mystery ” and it was constantly referenced.
Thanks
It is a sub plot in Bury your Dead!
I would disagree about not reading them in order. Things happen during this series that would be “spoiled” if read out of order. The series is amazing and well-written and the characters are amongst the most developed I’ve ever come across.