All the Devils Are Here was my first Louise Penny novel, sixteenth in the Chief Inspector Gamache mystery series. I've had this author recommended to me several times over the years, and decided it was okay to just jump in at the current end. Gamache is a homicide detective in Montreal, but for this book, he and his family are in Paris, where his two children and their families live and work; his godfather is also a major character. I was able to easily pick up the essentials of the established relationships and events and even became emotionally engaged (though likely not nearly as much as longtime readers of the series!). This novel had the feeling of renewal, of tying off some old threads and establishing a new normal for the characters. All those who recommended Penny were right, she's an excellent writer.

Scheduled to post February 6, 2021.

This is book 16 in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series and I thinks it's one of my favorites. Armand and his family are on a vacation to Paris to visit with his Godfather and visit his son. The action begins quickly and has some surprises and twists you won't expect. As Armand and his 2nd in command begin to investigate the hit and run accident that puts his Godfather into a coma the family becomes targets of some nasty people. Normally these stories are set in Canada so it's nice to get a new location. Also good to see family dynamics ebb and flow. Could be read as a stand alone. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I feel like this book hardly needs my recommendation, but! Louise Penny! This is one of my favorite entries into her world. Suspenseful and unexpected. A pleasure to read.

I really enjoyed All the Devils Are Here. As usual, Penny delivers a fantastic story line with our favorite characters from Three Pines. I liked the different setting, but I found myself missing the town and characters like Ruth.

The newest addition to Penny's Inspector Gamache series is a must-read! A beautiful cover, a line from The Tempest as a title, and the Paris backdrop make for an intriguing opportunity for readers who have not yet delved into this mystery series. As a newcomer myself, I found this book to be right up my alley! Character driven with just enough action for this to be a fast page-turner, I'm eager to start this series from the beginning and read Gamache's journey the right way. Highly Recommend!

ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE by Louise Penny is mystery number sixteen in the excellent Chief Inspector Gamache series. As the cover suggests, this title is set in Paris where Armand and Reine-Marie are visiting their grown children, Daniel (now a venture capitalist pursuing investment strategies) and Annie (pregnant and married to Armand's former assistant, Jean-Guy Beauvoir). Paris is also where a key influence in Armand's youth, financier and honorary guardian Stephen Horowitz, lives. Sadly, Horowitz is almost killed after a celebratory dinner and Armand sets about finding why. In addition to exploring family dynamics, Penny also continues to offer wry social commentary: "Don't believe everything you think. Chief Inspector Gamache wrote that on the board for the incoming cadets at the start of every year." Another character later comments, "people believe what they want to believe, beginning with their own lies." Penny's tale is full of twisty relationships and her trademark suspense. This story involves corporate finance, possible police corruption, and jealousy – both personal and professional. ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. This mystery is another engrossing puzzle from a favorite author – enjoy!

I loved the change of scenery for Louise Penney's new Armand Gamarche novel. She deftly blends family dynamics with a great mystery set in the City of Lights. I feel Penney just keeps getting better and better and this series has flown off my shelf. I just love introducing new readers to Three Pines.

"Readers might miss the extended cast of the village and the familiar comforts of home, but all the racing around the Marais, grand Haussmann apartments, and stops at the Lutetia, the renowned art deco hotel on the Left Bank, is welcome escapism..." Click link to read full review. Happy to feature Penny's latest set in Paris as a Read & Recommended title on Zoomer magazine's digital Books hub.

All the Devils Are Here is the sixteenth entry in Louise Penny's popular series that began with Still Life.

This sixteenth episode takes the Chief Inspector to Paris, France. His familial entourage is there too - his wife Reine-Marie; his estranged banker son Daniel and family; his very pregnant daughter Annie (due any day now) and her husband Jean-Guy (now working for a multinational engineering firm in Paris).

Armand's esteemed godfather and mentor, Stephen Horowitz is left in a coma near death by a hit and run. There are lies and betrayals (some very close to home), extreme danger for Armand and his family (who all have important roles to play), and more deaths before it's all over. All the Devils Are Here is an extraordinary read, the best of Penny's work so far.

My review can be found on the Bookbrowse site:
https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/pr266240

In Louise Penny's All the Devils Are Here, the 16th book in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, readers find Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, in Paris for the imminent birth of their fourth grandchild. Celebrating with them are their two adult children and their spouses (all of whom are now living in France), as well as Gamache's godfather, 93-year-old billionaire Stephen Horowitz. Meeting Stephen in the garden of the Musée Rodin, Gamache is concerned by a few strange comments the elderly man makes, but decides they're simply age-related lapses. When Stephen is struck by a hit-and-run driver, though, Gamache becomes certain that his remarks were no accident — and neither was the attempt on his life. Leveraging his connections within the Paris police force, Gamache proceeds to delve into the mystery: What could Stephen possibly have been involved with that would incite someone to murder?

Penny's approach is tried and true — there's a reason there are 16 books in the series, after all. Slipping into an Inspector Gamache mystery can be like putting on a comfy sweater (in spite of the occasional dead body showing up), and this one's no different in that respect; it feels familiar and cozy, and devotees of the series won't be disappointed.

The novel is, however, a departure from the previous entries in a number of ways. First and most obvious is the fact that the book's setting is Paris, not Three Pines, Canada with its beloved quirky residents and isolated, old-fashioned ambiance. Some may find they miss the characters that are as much a part of the series as Gamache, but for these loyal readers the author throws in the occasional "Easter egg" — even Ruth Zardo's duck Rosa gets a mention. The move is a good one on Penny's part; fans are likely to work through any disappointment they feel in the omission, while those new to the series will find the simplification of the back story makes the book a much better entry point than most of her earlier works.

Another change is Penny's emphasis on Gamache's family. The author's mysteries have always been character-driven, but this is the first time the action has revolved so entirely around the Gamache clan. While Reine-Marie and Jean-Guy Beauvoir (Gamache's second-in-command and son-in-law) are staple characters in the other books, and the inspector's children Annie and Daniel have also made appearances, this is the first time that Gamache's relationships with family members — and with Daniel in particular — have played such a central, key part in the narrative. As a result of this and other plot elements, we learn much more about Gamache's past than has been revealed previously.

Last but not least among the book's differences is the faster tempo. Because the author doesn't have to spend a lot of time re-introducing her Three Pines characters, the novel's pacing is considerably tighter than in many of the other offerings in the series. The mystery that drives events becomes apparent early on, and some very entertaining action scenes make All the Devils Are Here more of a page-turner.

However, the novel does have its shortcomings. Gamache is, of course, always Gamache — too perfect, too likeable, too calm. Penny tries to combat this a bit by actually having him lose his polished façade once or twice over the course of the book, but generally he remains the stoic Chief Inspector and loving family man we've seen so often. Additionally, some aspects of the story seem unlikely. Gamache is permitted to take part in the investigation even though he's a close friend of the victim, never mind from another country and, as the plot thickens, a potential suspect. I found myself questioning if, in real life, professional courtesy would extend that far. Each member of Gamache's family is also put in the perfect position to aid him in his quest — they have the right contacts or professional access to critical information — which struck me as improbable. And finally, when all's said and done, I'm not sure I bought into various characters' motivations as they become apparent at the novel's denouement (the conclusion is rather complex, but that's not unusual for the series). While I couldn't completely overlook these complaints, overall I found that I didn't mind the book's failings, and I doubt that they'll concern the majority of Penny's readers.

All the Devils Are Here is a fun-filled, exciting read, perhaps Penny's best work to date and perfect escapism for mystery lovers. It's sure to please both the author's ardent fans as well as those new to the series.

The Gamache family finds itself in Paris instead of Three Pines. All the Devils Are Here highlights the relationship between Armand and his godfather Stephen . It also addresses the questions that have been raised about Armand's relationship with his son Daniel, which we know, as avid readers is strained almost to the point of estrangement. Paris is also highlighted here, the apartments, the history, the hidden parks. And then, of course, there is the mystery. Who attempted to murder Stephen? Why would these same people attempt to murder Armand? Penny is , in my opinion, not at her best away from Quebec and Three Pines but All the Devils Are Here is still a most enjoyable read.

I am always so happy to have another Inspector Gamache novel to read, and this one did not disappoint! Spoiler, but not really, since this is set in Paris, I missed all of the Three Pines characters that I love so much, but a deeper dive into the Gamache family dynamics was appreciated! It kept me guessing until the end, and now I'll have to wait for another Louise Penny novel.

A Parisian vacation leads Armand Gamache to danger in “All the Devils are Here.”


In Louise Penny’s latest novel, “All the Devils Are Here,” Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of Homicide for the Sûreté du Quebec, is in dire need of a vacation to Paris. It will be a chance to reconnect with his ex-pat children, revisit his childhood haunts, and celebrate the arrival of his newest granddaughter. However, after fifteen novels, dedicated readers know that murder and intrigue are as inseparable from Armand’s life as the Eiffel Tower is from Paris.
On the night of their arrival, Armand and his wife, Reine-Marie, are strolling home after a family reunion at a bistro when Armand’s godfather, Stephen Horowitz, is the struck down by a van. The entire Gamache family, including their children and spouses, are witnesses to the terrifying hit-and-run, which leaves Horowitz comatose. Immediately, questions arise as to whether it was accident or a plot against the elderly man’s life.
A strange key found among Horowitz’s possessions unlocks the mystery of the billionaire-corporate raider-Resistance hero’s past, a corporate cover-up and, of course, a gruesome murder. When the police thwart the investigation, the Gamaches step in and quickly discover that old friends, colleagues and even family are not who they appear to be. Armand must rely on his instincts to determine whether his old friend, Claude Dussault, the Prefect of Police in Paris, is corrupt and whether his son, Daniel, is a traitor to Stephen’s agenda.
By far, “All the Devils are Here” is Penny’s most intimate entry in the Gamache series. As she explains in her Acknowledgements, this is a story about family, love and friendship, and that “lives are shaped by our perceptions, by not just our memories, but how we remember things.” While the story is propelled by conspiracy and murder, Armand learns to face and make peace with Horowitz’s weakness as well as his own failings as a father. She finally examines the strained relationship between Armand and Daniel, as well Daniel’s jealousies over Armand’s relationship with Jean-Guy Beauvoir, his former second-in-command and husband to Armand’s daughter Annie. Armand’s heart-wrenching lesson is one that we can all learn from; that words left unsaid can lead to a lifetime of misery.
The novel also examines how during a time of crisis the Gamache family’s love for Stephen Horowitz, and each other, binds them together. Each member possesses a unique talent, which they contribute to the homicide investigation. For example, when Reine-Marie smells an unusual perfume in Stephen’s apartment, she remains vigilant on the scent of the crime. Her perseverance helps sniff out a major clue to the identity of the murderer. Armand’s daughter Annie’s legal skills, Daniel’s financial background and Jean-Guy’s investigative talents prove essential to solving of the crime and proving that they work better as a unit than alone or relying on the police.
Throughout the Gamache series, readers have come to cherish Louise Penny’s Armand for his compassion and intellect when investigating crimes, and his intense love for his friends and family. Her novels have never shied away from challenging contemporary issues such as nuclear disarmament, drug addiction, mental illnesses, and sexual abuse. And they always they’ve occurred in Penny’s native Canada, with the novel’s heart beating within the remote fictional village of Three Pines.
Readers rely upon the cozy setting of Three Pines, with it’s cast of character including Ruth Zardo, the wacky poet, and Olivier and Gabri, the owner’s of the local Bistro. In “All the Devils are Here,” as the Gamaches’ untangle the web of lies, Penny takes the reader on a glorious tour-de-force to Paris’s luxury hotels, the top of the Eiffel Tower, corporate boardrooms and the bowels of the Paris Archives. While Armand lived in Paris with his grandmother as a boy, he has long since left Paris behind. By returning Armand to Paris, he must deal with the contradictions between his memories and the changes of present day Paris. He must slay these personal demons in his pursuit of truth and justice.
While aficionados of Louise Penny may balk at the change of scenery to Paris, both Penny and Armand have earned a well-deserved holiday. However, we’ve all experienced trips that were a bust, but hopefully none as perilous as the Gamache’s. In “The Devils are Here,” this deadly and intriguing vacation grabs the reader and doesn’t let go until the last line. I’m confident that Armand would agree that while it’s exciting to travel, there’s still no place like home. Especially Three Pines.

Author Louise Penny's beloved Chief Inspector Armand Gamache returns in her 2020 novel, All the Devils Are Here. The story begins in Paris, where the family has gathered to dine with Armand's billionaire godfather, Stephen. When the party leaves, their restaurant Stephen is critically injured by a hit-and-run driver, and while he lingers between life and death in intensive care, Armand, his wife, and his allies work to find the driver and learn whether this incident was accidental or intentional.

I've only read a couple of the Gamache novels, so I'm not familiar with the family dynamics, and the family members play a large role in the book. There is a mysterious conflict between Armand and one of his sons, but otherwise, the family is primarily loving and supporting. This makes the reader feel warmly toward them, but i felt it also lessened the tension that is critical to a gripping thriller. However, there are some shocking twists that I didn't see coming.

At times, I felt there was too much discussion or exposition in the book at the expense of anything actually happening. But I think fans of the series will be very pleased with this new thriller. I enjoyed glimpses into Paris, the beautiful City of LIghts.

As usual, after reading a Chief Inspector Gamache book, I say this one is the best! I wasn’t expecting to like a book set in Paris nearly as well as one set in Quebec City and Three Pines, but what won my love was the getting to know so much more about Gamache’s family. Having them play such important roles in this book. Hurray for Reine Marie and the other librarians who show how important libraries are! Learning so much more about Gamache’s son, Daniel, was also a big part of my love for this book. Of course, its emotional. I needed Kleenex several times to wipe the tears away. I am so glad it ended up back in Three Pines. Of the fiction places I most want to visit, Three Pines is at the top of my list.

At the conclusion of A Better Man, Jean-Guy has accepted a position as a private engineer in Paris. The move settles him and his pregnant wife Annie closer to her brother Daniel, his wife, and their two daughters, but moves them further from Armand, Reine Marie, and the other beloved members of the Three Pines community. As they settle into their new life and Jean Guy adjusts to his new career in the private sector and the new challenges this brings, Garmache and Reine- Marie arrive to welcome a new addition to the family. At the conclusion of a lovely dinner, the group decides to walk to a nearby ice cream parlor however their night soon takes a shocking turn when Stephen, Armand's beloved 94 year old godfather, is intentionally struck by a delivery van in a hit and run incident. Armand quickly calls upon his friend Claude Dussault, the Paris Police Chief, for assistance however he quickly starts to doubt he can trust even Claude with the investigation. As Garmache starts to dig deeper into Stephen's background, he is quickly joined by Jean- Guy, who assumes his old role with ease and Reine-Marie, who lends her research expertise at the Paris Archives. Strange connections soon emerge involving Daniel's bank and Jean-Guy's new employer, men in positions of power who will stop at nothing to keep Armand from learning the truth. The group must work quickly and set old disagreements in the past as it soon becomes clear that Armand's whole family is in danger the longer they stay in Paris.
All the Devil's Are Here is a strong addition to the Chief Inspector Garmache series; full of love, family, trust, corruption, and of course murder. While the mystery itself is full of dark undertones and highlights many of the more menacing traits of humanity, it parallels nicely with the heartwarming side stories involving family, love, belonging, and a long overdue reconciliation. While long standing fans of the series will miss Three Pines and the beloved regulars who play only minor roles in this new chapter, Louise Penny masterfully brings the Garmache family and Paris to life, filling in any void created by the new setting. Louise Penny books are always a great lesson that every human is flawed and reflects this wonderfully in her multi faceted characters. I highly recommend this expertly crafted new addition in the Garmache series as well as the other previous books.

No Three Pines in Louise Penny’s latest Three Pines mystery? Never fear. “All the Devils Are Here,” out Sept. 1 from Minotaur and set entirely in Paris, is loaded with character development, including insights into two fans we don’t know well — Reine-Marie Gamache, wife of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who turns out to be an intrepid detective in her own right, and Daniel Gamache, their son. Ah, Daniel. A banker in Paris, he has a chilly relationship with his father, and we, along with Armand, finally learn why. The Gamaches are in Paris awaiting the birth of daughter Annie’s baby. A tragedy soon gives Armand a chance to work again with former second-in-command Jean-Guy Beauvoir, Annie’s husband. The mystery is intricate and satisfying; no need to say more, except to note that Penny promises a return to Three Pines in next year’s installment. (I’ll return to link to a print and online review in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch when published Aug. 30.)

All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny is a wonderful book. The bookhas evrything a reader would want in a story. There is mystery, adventure with villans and heros and dangerous adventures. There are heros and bad guys, love and danger. Louise Penny also added a surprise ending!d

Penny is the international best-selling Canadian author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. In this, the 16th book in the series, Gamache and his family are all in Paris as they await the birth of his daughter Annie's second child. One evening Gamache and his family witness Gamache's elderly godfather Stephen deliberately struck by a car, leaving him critically injured and in a coma. Gamache and Jean-Guy (his son-in-law and former second-in-command) investigate, finding Stephen's apartment ransacked and a dead body. As their search for the reason behind the attempt on Stephen's life widens, all of the family are put at risk and Gamache's relationship with his son Daniel is tested. While the book can certainly be read as a stand alone, it is not something I would recommend as much of the depth of the story would be lost. Instead I would suggest readers start with the first in the series 'Still Life' to be able to fully enjoy the writing of this mystery series.

Louise Penny’s Three Pines mystery series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache has grown from the early books that struggled to find a readership to its current ubiquity where the series is so incredibly beloved and every new entry is almost guaranteed instant bestsellerdom. Over the course of fifteen novels, Louise Penny has made Three Pines and its residents feel like home for so many readers. On rare occasions she has strayed from the confines of her mythical village to explore other parts of Canada, such as Quebec City, an isolated monastery, a luxury resort hotel, and even the Canadian/United States border. However, All The Devils Are Here (the sixteenth and latest novel in the series) will be the first to take Gamache outside of Canada. Where, one might ask? The series is off to Paris, France.

Not unlike predecessors such as Jessica Fletcher and Hercule Poirot, where Armand Gamache travels, murder is sure to follow. Armand Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie are in Paris for a much-needed respite: one that allows them to reconnect with their children, to be present for the birth of another grandchild, and to provide Gamache precious time with his godfather, the billionaire Stephen Horowitz. After a lovely dinner, their serene walk home is shattered by a tragic accident that gravely injures Stephen. Even though Gamache is certain this was an intentional attack on his cherished father-figure, being in a foreign country strips him of any authority – however that does not mean that he is unable to investigate.

What follows is a refreshingly slow excavation of Stephen Horowitz’s history – and the many secrets within. The word slow here is used to imply a methodical and organized examination of every small facet of the case, not as a pejorative meant to criticize in any way. Louise Penny’s writing skill allows her to create tension out of even the most innocuous of details and to elevate the risk with every sublime moment, so what readers end up with is a fully-immersive experience where they journey with the investigators through the course of their inquiries.

Investigators is the correct word here, as well. Since Gamache has no agency to run an official investigation in Paris, France, he must rely on his team – his family – in new ways. Of course, his former colleague-turned-son-in-law Jean-Guy Beauvoir is by his side at every turn and each dead-end. Longtime series fans will relish the prominent role Reine-Marie is afforded in All the Devils Are Here. Her research skills as a librarian prove invaluable and it is delightful to see her interact with her husband on this more professional level – with their core love and respect always serving as the foundation.

While dedicated fans will no doubt be dismayed that most of the other Three Pines residents only appear briefly in this novel, that development makes All the Devils Are Here an ideal place for new readers of the series to begin. There has been a larger story at play over the course of the previous few novels that may have been challenging to join in medias res, but with most of that resolved at this point, readers unfamiliar with the Three Pines series can pick up All the Devils Are Here and following along with little confusion.

Louise Penny has never been a writer to follow any set formula, so these deviations in All The Devils Are Here are not unexpected. Readers can rest assured that this still feels like an authentic Three Pines/Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery and in many ways it is setting the stage for the novels moving forward. There is no doubt that Louise Penny’s existing fans and the new ones who discover her with All the Devils Are Here will gladly follow her wherever that journey takes us.