Day 28: Kingdom of the Blind – Louise Penny

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 28: Kingdom of the Blind – Louise Penny

I recently received a gift … two books: 'Kingdom of the Blind' by Louise Penny and 'Trust Me' by Hank Phillippi Ryan.

These were not the kind of books I would have selected, but since they were given to me I decided to read them. I started with 'Kingdom of the Blind.'

The book is set in Montreal, Quebec and it soon became clear that Louise Penny was indeed Canadian. This was a new experience for me. I usually read British authors and from time to time American. Never ever had I read a work from a Canadian author.

This was because many years ago I had read or rather tried to read a book by Margaret Atwood and I couldn’t get into it. Perhaps I was too young, perhaps it was the wrong time, I have no idea, but I didn’t like her writing at all. I never read a Canadian author again. I don’t think there are many Canadian authors, to begin with.

Louise Penny surprised me though. Her story grabbed me right from the beginning. There’s something deeply satisfying reading about a harsh Montreal winter in the middle of a hot Toronto summer.

Synopsis:

When a peculiar letter arrives inviting Armand Gamache to an abandoned farmhouse, the former head of the Sûreté du Québec discovers that a complete stranger has named him one of the executors of her will. Still on suspension, and frankly curious, Gamache accepts and soon learns that the other two executors are Myrna Landers, the bookseller from Three Pines, and a young builder.

None of them had ever met the elderly woman.

The will is so odd and includes bequests that are so wildly unlikely that Gamache and the others suspect the woman must have been delusional. But what if, Gamache begins to ask himself, she was perfectly sane?

When a body is found, the terms of the bizarre will suddenly seem less peculiar and far more menacing.

But it isn’t the only menace Gamache is facing.

The investigation into what happened six months ago―the events that led to his suspension―has dragged on, into the dead of winter. And while most of the opioids he allowed to slip through his hands, in order to bring down the cartels have been retrieved, there is one devastating exception.

Enough narcotic to kill thousands has disappeared into inner city Montreal. With the deadly drug about to hit the streets, Gamache races for answers.

As he uses increasingly audacious, even desperate, measures to retrieve the drug, Armand Gamache begins to see his own blind spots. And the terrible things hiding there.

So as I said, the story grabbed my attention from the beginning, held it all through the 500 something pages, and became a frantic page-turner near the end.

I will definitely read other books by Louise Penny and her central character Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of the Surete du Quebec.

When Kingdom of the Blind was finished I started 'Trust Me' by Hank Phillippi Ryan.

Synopsis:

CAN YOU SPOT THE LIAR?

An accused killer insists she's innocent of a heinous murder.

A grieving journalist surfaces from the wreckage of her shattered life.

Their unlikely alliance leads to a dangerous cat and mouse game that will leave you breathless.

Who can you trust when you can't trust yourself?

Interesting, right? And yes, the story is interesting, but unfortunately, Hank Phillippi Ryan writes in the style of Stephen King. Allow me to explain … 

Many years ago I picked up 'Duma Key' by Stephen King, where the main character has lost his arm. He rages and rages against the loss of this arm for … I can’t remember, the first 40 pages or so. Eventually, I wanted to scream … “Alright already, I get it, you’re mad about your arm, get over it and get on with it.”

Hank Phillippi Ryan does the same thing. She suspects that a woman murdered her 2-year-old daughter and continues to spew her venom page after page after page. She herself has lost her husband and daughter in a car accident year ago and she's not coping with the loss.

So while the book is interesting, her hatred toward the suspected killer and her grief somewhat spoil the story.

I’ll continue reading because I want to know what happens and how it all ends, but I really hope the author eases up on her snipe remarks and prejudice. She wants the reader to think the woman killed her daughter, she wants to convince her readers, but she's overdoing it. It becomes annoying. 

I'll keep you posted on my findings ones the book is finished.