Preview
  • The Brutal Telling

  • A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
  • By: Louise Penny
  • Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
  • Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (3,318 ratings)

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The Brutal Telling

By: Louise Penny
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
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Publisher's summary

Chaos is coming, old son.

With those words the peace of Three Pines is shattered.

Everybody goes to Olivier's Bistro - including a stranger whose murdered body is found on the floor. When Chief Inspector Gamache is called to investigate, he is dismayed to discover that Olivier's story is full of holes. Why are his fingerprints all over the cabin that's uncovered deep in the wilderness, with priceless antiques and the dead man's blood? And what other secrets and layers of lies are buried in the seemingly idyllic village?

Gamache follows a trail of clues and treasures - from first editions of Charlotte's Web and Jane Eyre to a spiderweb with a word mysteriously woven in it - into the woods and across the continent before returning to Three Pines to confront the truth and the final, brutal telling.

©2009 Louise Penny (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
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What listeners say about The Brutal Telling

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Wonderful Unfolding

I enjoy the quirky and complex Three Pines characters. I really appreciate that I cannot predict the outcome of Louise Penny's stories.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Well done!

The series is wonderful but this one really stumped me. Always love the little chuckles interspersed with the drama.

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

The Brutal Telling

My absolute favorite so far. I could visualize everything. Positively captivating. And laugh out loud funny at times.

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

Wow

I’m making my way through the Gamauche series & you should too. You think you know who dunnit? Nope. Not a chance. Fabulous series.

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

Oh what a twisting plot you weave...

At times reading this Louise Penny book, I thought my head was going to twist around like Linda Blair in the "Exorcist"! I loved this book....hated the ending.

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

Excellent

This has to be my favorite Louise Penny novel so far. The characters have really been fleshed out and I feel like I actually know them. The mystery was a slow reveal and the story was told in a way that left me wanting more.

Looking forward to reading the next installment of this series.

The narration was fabulous by the way!

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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

Exquisite character-driven mystery

In this, my second reading of a book I found uncomfortably dark, the first time around, I can only admire how exquisitely Louise Penny crafted her "brutal telling"...a phrase with many layers in this particular character-based mystery. I also raise it to five stars. I am finding this series fantastically passes the test of time, with the benefit of me being braced as to what will happen, which reduces the anxiety and lets me focus more on the nuance of conversation and plot development. VERY well-done! The third reading: the layers upon layers of character history and traits is just incredible, often subtly presented, yet powerful.

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

Great characters

The inspector lives up to our expectations in this next mystery. I want the bookstore order to play a major role in a future book

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

Just couldn’t get into it like the other ones

I just couldn’t get into it like the other ones I had to keep rewinding to pay attention, I just couldn’t believe that the murdered did it. Ruth doesnt make sense, her part of the story, needed to hear more about Clara’s art. It was ok, just wanted a little more to happen but in a little shorter time overall. It dragged on.

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

Love Louise Penny!

The series is wonderful, and I'm learning some French! Great story telling. I love the twists and turns. I love the character development. Excellent read.

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4 people found this helpful