A Journey to Three Pines - Episode 4: A Rule Against Murder
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.
2:40 - Putting the Book Into Context
A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
Publication date (2009)
4.21 rating on Goodreads
Seasonal setting - Summer
Book Awards: Crimewriters of Canada Award for Excellence in 2009
Critic Reviews
Alternate Title: The Murder Stone
Meredith’s and Roxanna’s encounters with the book
9:25 - The Setup
8:46 - A Deeper Exploration
Setup and first paragraph
Perfect prologue - sets us up for Manoir Bellechasse, but then chapter 1 goes back to Three Pines shortly
An entire family of characters we as readers cannot really root for
Mic drop moments
Flimsy mystery, great building of suspense
The pacing of the novel
Quality of writing itself - last major action scene
Themes: Rest, oppressive heat, paradise lost, prisons, things being unnatural, bravery in vulnerability
The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny
Still Life by Louise Penny
Character Development - Gamache’s misstep
57:08 - What Do We Need to Know?
History within the book as it pertains to reality
The Oddness Factor
1:07:11 - Superlatives
Biggest Flaw
Favorite Quote
Character MVP
Biggest loser
Best food description
1:22:37 - Within the Series
Is this book skippable?
Setting the foundation
1:23:34 - SPOILERS AHEAD HERE
Easter eggs to future books
Next episode’s read: The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
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