A Journey to Three Pines: a Deep Dive into Louise Penny's Mystery Series

We are so excited to journey with you to Three Pines, the fictional French-Canadian village created by Louise Penny for her Three Pines series, featuring Armand Gamache. This spin-off podcast series will tackle each of the books in the series in turn, in a spoiler-FILLED format. Be sure you've read the book before listening to the episode.
As you've come to expect with all Currently Reading content, Meredith and Roxanna will follow a regular episode format, with regular segments, so you know what to expect each and every time. We love staying focused on the book, rather than conversational rabbit holes. 
Show notes for this series will not be time-stamped except for broad sections, but will include links to Bookshop dot org or Amazon for any books or resources referenced in the episode.

3:15 - Putting the Book Into Context
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
Published Aug 26, 2014 by Minotaur Books
4.07 rating on Goodreads
Seasonal setting - Summer
Book Awards: Finalist for the Agatha Award for best novel, but did not win, nor win any other awards.
Critic Reviews
Meredith's and Roxanna's encounters with the book
13:17 - The Setup
11:21 - A Deeper Exploration
First paragraph
The pacing of the novel
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Unlikeable main AND side characters
No actual murder mystery to solve
Prose and plot do not compliment one another. Prose is beautiful.
P.92 quote
Is there a villain?
P.138 quote
Portrayal of Ruth
P.362 quote
Themes: redemption, Clara's arc to confidence, the long way home
Canadian elements
1:03:18 - Superlatives
Favorite Scenes
Character MVP
Biggest loser
Best food description
Is this book skippable?
No spoilers this episode! 
The next book will be The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny
Support Us:
Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch
Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon
Bookish Friends Receive:
The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. November's's IPL is brought to us from Content Bookstore in Northfield, Minnesota.
Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business. 
All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller
From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry
The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts
Connect With Us:
The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads
The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna
Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans

We are so excited to journey with you to Three Pines, the fictional French-Canadian village created by Louise Penny for her Three Pines series, featuring Armand Gamache. This spin-off podcast series will tackle each of the books in the series in turn, in a spoiler-FILLED format. Be sure you've read the book before listening to the episode.

As you've come to expect with all Currently Reading content, Meredith and Roxanna will follow a regular episode format, with regular segments, so you know what to expect each and every time. We love staying focused on the book, rather than conversational rabbit holes. 

Show notes for this series will not be time-stamped except for broad sections, but will include links to Bookshop dot org or Amazon for any books or resources referenced in the episode.

1:43 - Putting the Book Into Context
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Published Aug 27, 2013 by Minotaur Books
4.48 rating on Goodreads
Seasonal setting - Winter
Book Awards: Edgar Award nomination for best novel, Publisher's Weekly Best Mystery/Thriller book of 2013, one of Washington Post's top 10 books of the year, one of NPR's best books of 2013.
Critic Reviews
Meredith's and Roxanna's encounters with the book
9:24 - The Setup
11:21 - A Deeper Exploration
First paragraph
The pacing of the novel
Dual plots that compliment each other perfectly
Themes: how the light gets in, community and resistance, 
Subtle light vs dark - Surete vs Three Pines
Dogs
Ruth's addiction not a problem to solve in the series
Canadian aspects
Article about corruption in Quebec
Dionne quintuplets wiki
The ending
1:21:52 - Superlatives
Character MVP
Biggest loser
Best food description
Is this book skippable?
The next book will be The Long Way Home by Louise Penny

A deep dive into the Three Pines series from Louise Penny. In this episode, we discuss book 8 in the series: The Beautiful Mystery.

A deep dive into the Three Pines series from Louise Penny. In this episode, we discuss book 7 in the series: A Trick of the Light.

1:56 - Putting the Book Into Context
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
Published Sept. 28, 2010 by Minotaur Books
4.36 rating on Goodreads
Seasonal setting - Winter
Book Awards: Anthony Award for Best Novel in 2011, The Agatha Award, The New Blood Dagger Award, The Arthur Ellis Award, The Barry Award, and the Dilys Award
Critic Reviews
Meredith's and Roxanna's encounters with the book
7:20 - The Setup
16:22 - A Deeper Exploration
Setup and first paragraph
The pacing of the novel
The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
Quebec vs American History
Anglophone vs. Francophone history and culture
Themes: "bury your dead", "with time"
P.345 - Not everything buried is actually dead.
The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
One bit of lightness in the entire novel
Location, Location, Location
Relationship between Beauvoir and Ruth Zardo
Who leaked the video?
Enneagram Corner
The Ending
1:14:36 - Superlatives
Favorite Scene
Character MVP
Biggest loser
Best food description
Favorite Quote
No spoilers this episode! 
The next book will be A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny