Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Hello, fellow Louise Penny readers! This discussion is about A Trick of the Light your discussion leader is Sheri.
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About spoilers

Please note: If you have not finished reading the book spoilers are permitted in this discussion from the start.
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Summary

"Hearts are broken," Lillian Dyson carefully underlined in a book. "Sweet relationships are dead."

But now Lillian herself is dead. Found among the bleeding hearts and lilacs of Clara Morrow's garden in Three Pines, shattering the celebrations of Clara's solo show at the famed Musée in Montréal. Chief Inspector Gamache, the head of homicide at the Sûreté du Québec, is called to the tiny Québec village and there he finds the art world gathered and with it a world of shading and nuance, a world of shadow and light. Where nothing is as it seems. Behind every smile, there lurks a sneer. Inside every sweet relationship there hides a broken heart. And even when facts are slowly exposed, it is no longer clear to Gamache and his team if what they've found is the truth, or simply a trick of the light.

Hi all. Our discussion will cover 2 months this time, September and ending October 31st. Let's all delve in and see if we think this book about a trick is a treat for us to read.

(view spoiler)[Elvis once said that he got sick with stomach upset (actually he said diarrhea) before every performance, when he was just starting out and until the date of that interview which was well into his career. Elvis was nervous!! For those who have stepped out all alone; not been on the softball team but played tennis - singles - winning or losing because of your skill or errors; or not singing with the choir but being a soloist - singing a beautiful melody or starting on the wrong note and not being able to get to the right note; whatever, sinking or swimming totally on your own merit, on your own achievement, on your own effort; the beginning of this novel describes what it might feel like for you. (hide spoiler)]

I could have spit out my Pepsi through my nose. Chapter 8 page 117 (view spoiler)[Beauvoir stared at the women. It wasn't enough that they were English and had a prayer stick, but now they'd lapsed into pig latin. It was no wonder there were so many murders here. (hide spoiler)]

I have some catching up to do! I see this is 7th in the series, so rather than read out of order, I'm going to start with the first one.

Lisa wrote: "I have some catching up to do! I see this is 7th in the series, so rather than read out of order, I'm going to start with the first one."

Lisa, you may find (as some of us have) that the first and second books are far from the strongest in the series. Which is not to say that you shouldn't start there, just that the later books are better, especially in terms of the plots. So if you're not swept away by the first book, don't give up!

Thanks Barbara, I'll bear that in mind :-)

Barbara, I agree because with each new book I say it's my favorite and this by far is the very best. I gave it 5 ⭐️. Not to give anything away but it made me rethink my take on Humpty Dumpty.🥚

I agree with you, Sheri. I loved this book. More books I read in this series more I fall in love with Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. I love that Louise Penny allowed Armand to grow in each instalment of this series.

1. Clara is simultaneously elated and terrified by the long-awaited celebration of her art, while other artists throughout the novel struggle with varying degrees of success and recognition. How do you see both the rewards and the hardships of life as an artist?

For me to be artists would be a hard life. The constant pressure artist put on themselves and how the community see them can cause mental illness or make that a stronger person. The reward for Artist is to have financial security and the recognition from their community. However, I think the most prominent award is for society has a whole we have fantastic records of our buildings, clothes and scenery for other generations.

2. “I was much too far out all my life/And not waving but drowning.” How do Stevie Smith’s lines apply to various characters in the story? Who seems to be drowning? Do you think they can be saved?

Inspector Jean-Guy Beauvoir is drowning with PTSD, and with the help, he will get better. However, he needs to admit that he needs help.

3. There are many old friendships in this book—from Lillian and Clara to Gamache and Beauvoir, to the relationships among people in Three Pines. How do these friendships help—or in some cases, hurt—the people involved? What do you make of Clara’s trip to see Lillian’s parents?

Lillian's parents such lost their only child, so sad that they could not embrace Clara so they could all grieve together.

4. Old grievances also play an important role in the story. When do you think that forgiveness is, or is not, possible? How much can people change?

I always forgive someone. However, I have trouble trusting that person again. I believe on the whole people can strange.

5. Who could be happy sitting in a disgusting church basement on a Sunday night? Beauvoir wonders at the AA meeting. What do you think of that meeting, and the subsequent glimpses of what Suzanne calls “one drunk helping another”?

I like the way, Louise Penny described the AA meeting. A person who been through the same hardship to stay sober is the best person to help you in your time of need. Will also help the sponsor to feel good about themselves.

6. Lillian particularly highlighted these lines in the AA book: “Hearts are broken. Sweet relationships are dead.” How does this idea recur throughout the novel, both for characters who are in AA and for others?

I am not sure about this one. It could mean the relationship between Lilian and the people she had hurt over the years and the lack of forgiveness on their part.

7. How do you regard Olivier Brule and the villagers’ differing responses to his return to Three Pines? If you have read previous books in the series, how have your impressions of the village evolved?

Three Pines is a lovely community, and I would love to live there. However, for Olivier, he did make mistakes that hurt others, and it will take time for everyone to welcome him back.

8. What do you think will ultimately happen to Peter and Clara’s marriage? What would you like to see happen?

I believe that Peter and Clara will divorce after separating for twelve months. However, I would like then to get back together again and support each other's art.

9. Gamache “believed if you sift through evil, at the very bottom you’ll find good. He believed that evil has its limits. Beauvoir didn’t. He believed that if you sift through the good, you’ll find evil.” What do you believe?

I think Beauvoir is hurting and suffering from PSTD, and he believes that everyone is evil. I believe that with the right support, you can change. However, some people, due to their personality, will never change.

10. Chiaroscuro, as Beauvoir discovers, “means a bold contrast. The play of light and dark.” How do both darkness and light manifest themselves in the novel? How is it possible to tell the difference between genuine hope and “a trick of the light”?

An excellent example of genuine hope in this book is how people follow the ten steps in the AA program, beginning with the coin. Another instance of sincere hope is Cara final getting recognition for her art.

Just finished my re-read. As I re-read these books, I'm finding that the plot nuances are not what has lingered from the first read, it is the characters and relationships. In this case, more revelations about Peter Morrow's wonky moral compass, and Jean Guy's continuing struggles with the aftermath of the factory shootout. The plot is excellent, as always, but it is Penny's true gift that she engages us so well with her characters. (Well, that and the graceful evocative writing about places - and food.)

I was very disappointed in Peter Morrow. What a tweeb. I was concerned Clara would decide not to paint anymore.

I read this one. Actually, the only I haven't read yet is the last one, because I didn't like the turn of events with Guy (my favorite character..).

If you like Harry Bosch as a detective, Gamache is truly a vacation, one of the few detectives I know that wins by empathy, kindness and truly listening to people's feeling.

Paty wrote: "I read this one. Actually, the only I haven't read yet is the last one, because I didn't like the turn of events with Guy (my favorite character..).

If you like Harry Bosch as a detective, Gamach..."

I agree with you, Paty. Gamache is a beautiful character and my favourite. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series called The Beautiful Mystery — two weeks to go.

Paty wrote: "I read this one. Actually, the only I haven't read yet is the last one, because I didn't like the turn of events with Guy (my favorite character..).

If you like Harry Bosch as a detective, Gamach..."

I actually am not a fan of Harry. It's not the writing it's his personality (so maybe it really is the writing). There's just something about his character that I don't appreciate.

I really enjoyed this one. I liked the character development and the fact that Gamache isn't perfect. He's suffering and feeling guilty, poor man. And Beauvoir has moved up in importance, I think. I wrote a review here.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I agree about Beauvoir moving up a bit. In our next read he really does take a flying leap. Let's check it out!!