Freaking gold. Fantastic mystery, emotional reasonable, beautiful setting. I did miss my Three Pines friends though!! The app for listening still needs serious work, as it randomly stops constantly. But having Robert Bathurst back in my ears was a delight. I could not put this down.

This was my first book by Penny. The story is concise and kept me interested, The narrator I really enjoyed. He had a nice, soothing voice, and did the characterization voices well. I would read another by Penny, and I would also listen to another book done by this narrator.



4/5 Stars

Wow! Just when I wondered how Louise Penny could write a 16th book in the Gamache series and have it be every bit as good as the first, she delivers. I absolutely love this author and this series. I haven't found an author since Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series that could really hold my attention the way Penny does with this one.

At first, I was disappointed that this book takes place in Paris, but I quickly forgot that. One of the reasons I like this series is because I live in Vermont across from Québec Province and can relate to a lot of her physical descriptions in the books as well as the culture, etc. I like the little town of Three Pines as it is much like all the small towns in Vermont. I've been to Paris and, honestly, am not a fan, so was worried when this book took place there. But, of course, Penny weaves the story so well and describes sights and sounds so well that I could only remember the things about Paris which I liked.

This author always weaves so many stories into one with her characters. In some books, that would make it hard to keep up, but she does it so effortlessly that one is connected to all the characters and all the stories going on at the same time, while never being distracted from the main story.

For me, the smaller story within a story that really touched me was the relationship between Armand and his son, Daniel. It made me cry at times. There are thousands of parents who are estranged from their adult children and who don't know the reason why. I connected with Armand in a way that was very real and very touching. I don't want to write any spoilers, but it was sad and wonderful all at the same time to see how this relationship plays out in this book. I absolutely give her five stars for this "sub-story."

Another thing I don't like about many mysteries and thrillers is how the author will have one character at the end of the book tying up all the loose ends and then telling the suspects how the murder was done, for example. Many of those books are written in a kind of Agatha Christie style. Louise Penny actually does sort of the same thing as one is never entirely sure how Armand has solved whatever case until the very end when he explains it. However, It works for me in these series and I don't mind at all when Armand is explaining how he solved the case. Instead, I'm hitting my forehead and saying to myself "Oh, that's what happened then!"

Hands down this is the best book I've read thus far in 2020 and I am absolutely thrilled that NetGalley and the Macmillan Publishing gave me a free audiobook. It might as well have been the written version. I had to quilt, go for long walks and sit outside (all great things to do during a pandemic) and listen and listen until I finished. I also give kudos to the narrator, whom I absolutely love.

I'm a huge fan of Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache stories, so I am very grateful for the ARC audiobook of All the Devils Are Here the 16th in the series.

All the Devils Are Here takes while Armand and his wife Reine Marie are visiting their children and grandchildren who have moved to Paris. We are drawn into the family dynamics and learn about the tensions and distance between Armand and his son Daniel. Daniel's relationship with Armand is painful, stilted, frustrating and contrasts deeply with the ease that Jean-Guy Beauvoir and Armand share. It is difficult to stomach the coldness and pettiness with which Daniel treats his father especially since Armand is a bit of a father figure to us all. Fortunately, the source of Daniel's anger and coldness comes out later in the story.

The real mystery that Armand, Reine Marie and Jean-Guy seek to solve comes out early in the story. Armand spends time with his godfather Stephen Horowitz. During their walk after dinner, a truck barreling down the road mows Stephen down. Armand and Reine Marie are convinced that Stephen was targeted and they report the incident as a crime. The Parisian police regard Armand and Jean-Guy as provincial dullards and it is satisfying to watch these two detectives slowly prove their worth.

The real mystery is why was Stephen attacked and who is the dead man in Stephen's apartment. As Armand, Reine Marie and Jean-Guy find a hotel key in Stephen's pocket they also discover that Stephen has a secret project that likely drew the attention of a dangerous and powerful group. It takes Reine-Marie's investigative and critical skills as well as the abilities of Armand and Jean-Guy to unravel the mysteries. But their investigation draws the danger to their family and Armand finds dealing with Daniel almost as difficult and heartbreaking as the attack on his godfather Stephen.

All the Devils Are Here is engrossing and I couldn't stop listening. I am very much looking forward to reading the book when it comes out and savoring the language and the being there as Armand, Jean-Guy, Reine Marie and Daniel work on a puzzle that cost them dearly.

Is there anything like diving into a new series? No, no there’s not thankyouverymuch. Always one to buck the linear path I decided to start the Louise Penny, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, series with the most recent. All the Devils are Here is the 16th in the series. I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook narrated by Robert Bathurst and jumped for my headphones! This was a double edged sword, and I fell hard.
The 16th book in the series finds the Gamache family in Paris. After a family dinner while walking home Armands godfather, Stephen Horowitz, is critically injured. This draws Armand into a very personal investigation that uncovers years of secrets.
I am a huge audiophile. Audiobooks are my default this year. If you’re familiar with the series I stand by this. If you’re new to the series I’m going to recommend reading in print, and probably reading the first in the series before any of the others. Robert Bathurst is a phenomenal narrator and when he’s narrating the story I’m following, I’m immersed, I’m there for it. When he moves into a characters french accent I’m lost. I’m trying to follow a layered mystery plot, family connections which feature heavily in this book, and identify characters with accents and french words tossed in. In theory the differentiation of voices would help. It was one layer too complicated for this reader/listener to tease apart. I wanted to mentally peel it back and read. This surprised me as normally I love ensemble cast recordings, narrators with accents, etc.
The other edge of that sword, I’m hooked! I loved the story, the mystery, the family relationship dynamics, and immediately dove into the first book in the series, Still Life. I’m working my way through several in print and then will jump back into audio again. The talented Robert Bathurst narrates the series starting with book 11, The Nature of the Beast.
There’s a reason this is a best selling series, has a cult following, and Louise Penny has won numerous awards including being honored for her contributions to Canadian culture. Always mentioned with cozy mysteries I believe they far surpass this description. Characters are nuanced, and complex. The mystery layered and multifaceted. I recommend for lovers of mysteries, most specifically for those familiar with the series.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy. All opinions are my own.

The narrator for this story was perfect! The French accent really made me feel like I was there in Paris with them. I loved the story. The first couple chapters were slow but once the "mystery" started it really picked up and I did not want to stop listening.

This is not a bad novel by any means- it just wasn't for me. This is the first book I have read in this series and I could tell this was the kind of book that you read to catch up with your favorite characters. But I didn't come into the book with any sort of loving familiarity so I found them a bit boring and the whole book read really slow for me. But if you love these characters, it might be interested to read about them in France (which other reviews tell me is not where they normally are).

HUGE Thank You to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for allowing me to read and review this one.
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I really loved this book. Is anyone surprised? It’s a fantastic addition to the series. I LOVED being back with these characters so so much.
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In this book we see Armand Gamache having to solve a crime very close to home for him so this was a tough one to read (in the best way)
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Penny writes characters like no one else.
While these books always have a very exciting case to unravel the emotional stories that she tells with these characters are really what makes these books.
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Aside from the page turning mystery this book really focuses on Father / Son & Parent child relationships and all the complications that come with it and let me tell you, oof it was so heartbreaking to read.
Also the way Penny has been subtly setting up the story line in this book is great. You definitely see that in her past books as well but it blows me away every time something from Books way further back in the series comes full circle. Nothing she mentions is unimportant.
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My only critiques would be that since the book isn’t set in Three Pines like most of the rest of the series we didn’t get a lot of all the usual characters
And I found the way this one wrapped up a little unrealistic.
I’ll forgive it though because it’s a happier ending and I don’t read these books for realism I read them for the happy, beautiful, warm fuzzy escape

Loved this audio book! Exactly what I always expect from Louise Penny. The narrator was perfect and it kept my attention. Sometimes the narrator can ruin a great story. Cheers for another winner! @netgalley @louisepenny #allthedevilsarehere

I am a big fan of Louise Penny’s Three Pines series. After discovering the books several years ago, I eagerly await each installment. I started out this series on audio, and I absolutely loved Ralph Cosham as a narrator. I was so disappointed when I listened to the first book by his replacement, Robert Bathurst – he just wasn’t Gamache to me - and have read each installment since then. I did not get the requested print arc for this book, but was approved for the audiobook so decided it was time to give Bathurst another try. Though I think he will never replace Cosham for me, he is an excellent narrator. He seemed to mellow Gamache a little from his first Gamache book, and I would give his narration a good five stars. I love reading the books, but I may now go back to listening to the next book when it comes out.
I personally had some problem with the audio as I do not have a good ear for French, and I it was a little hard at times for me to keep track of some of the characters.
As for the story, I think the story was overall good and well-written, but it was not my favorite. I liked the peak into the Gamache family, but I missed Three Pines and its cast of characters. This book (and a few before this) seemed more thriller-like than mystery, but the grounding in or near three Pines allowed them to keep their cozy feel. I am very much looking forward to the return to a more cozy mystery (and having Gamache himself not embroiled in a life-or-death situation). I think the addition of Stephen will be good, and I am also looking forward to his interactions with Ruth. I saw one other reviewer say the resolution was a bit to Hollywood-y for their taste – I would agree with that assessment.
I really appreciate that Netgalley is now offering audiobooks- I listen to a couple books per week on my walk to and from work. There are some glitches with the netgalley audio app – the play stops at the end of some chapters and requires me to manually go into the app, go back a chapter, and then manually forward again.

All the Devils Are Here did not disappoint. When Armand Gamache’s second-in-command Jean-Guy Beauvoir accepted a position in Paris at the end of the last book, I was hoping for a Paris adventure, and Penny delivered, bringing the whole Gamache family into the plot. With Penny’s full cast of characters, plot twists, and red herrings, I know better than to try to solve the case, but I always enjoy going along for the ride. There were a few laugh-out-loud moments, but what I really loved about this book were the family relationships. Gamache’s daughter Annie is about to give birth to her and Jean-Guy’s second child, and his son Daniel and his wife are upwardly mobile, buying a new house and enrolling their girls in an exclusive school. All of the family dynamics are exposed as the case unfolds, and Gamache’s vulnerability and strength are on full display.
Fans will love this latest installment. I raced through it way too fast.

ah, so wonderful
this is my first story by Louise Penny
it is so very effective as an audio book - the narrator was awesome, so natural, and Armand's voice was super sexy! Kept my attention throughout!
the story had so many layers, was filled with suspense and intrigue, and little surprises along the way!
i loved the setting of Paris and Montreal.
the characters were interesting, strong and likable!
Makes me want to read more by Louise Penny!

Hmmmm
Okay so I DNFed this (did not finish)
I didn’t realize this was the 16th book in a series, and I feel the characters were already established. Maybe it could’ve been read as a stand alone, but I was honestly confused for about half the book.

The setting All the Devils Are Here is Paris🗼, my favorite place in the world. The whole Gamache family is involved in solving the mystery around Armand’s godfather’s hit and run. I loved being in Paris with the Gamache family as they went to hidden gardens, cafes and shopped at the little French shops. Armand has a lot to work through to solve this mystery mainly why is his son, Daniel , so upset with him. I enjoy Louise Penny’s writing. The story is not filled with a lot of violence, there are a lot of lies, deceit and misinformation and Armand has to decide who and what to believe. Louise keeps her reader on the seat of the chair trying to guess what will happen next. I have to be honest I did not figure this one out. I loved the story and give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.

All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny
Narrated By: Robert Bathurst
Publication Date: September 1, 2020 - Don’t miss it!
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Description from NetGalley...
“On their first night in Paris, the Gamaches gather as a family for a bistro dinner with Armand’s godfather, the billionaire Stephen Horowitz. Walking home together after the meal, they watch in horror as Stephen is knocked down and critically injured in what Gamache knows is no accident, but a deliberate attempt on the elderly man’s life.

When a strange key is found in Stephen’s possession it sends Armand, his wife Reine-Marie, and his former second-in-command at the Sûreté, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, from the top of the Tour d’Eiffel, to the bowels of the Paris Archives, from luxury hotels to odd, coded, works of art. It sends them deep into the secrets Armand’s godfather has kept for decades.

A gruesome discovery in Stephen’s Paris apartment makes it clear the secrets are more rancid, the danger far greater and more imminent, than they realized. Soon the whole family is caught up in a web of lies and deceit. In order to find the truth, Gamache will have to decide whether he can trust his friends, his colleagues, his instincts, his own past. His own family. For even the City of Light casts long shadows. And in that darkness devils hide.”
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Thank you to @NetGalley @macmillan.audio @macmillanbooks @macmillanreads for the audiobook in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
This is the 16th book of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. Wow!!! I had to pick my mouth off the ground when this book ended. Another proof why Penny has become a favourite author and Gamache a favourite character. She has created an inspiring inspector, who is strong, wise, intelligent and caring. I am just enthralled by his interpretation of human nature. I am hooked in his approaches, his logic and his way of solving crimes. The story did not disappoint and brought out different emotions. It made me yearn for Paris. The narrator was great and kept me interested. I want to move to Three Pines and be a part of Gamache’s inner circle!

I received both a digital ARC and the audiobook version from the publisher which I loved because I am a huge fan of immersive reading. The audiobook is narrated by Robert Bathurst, who has already narrated a handful of the Inspector Gamache novels so that was very enjoyable as well (even if the quality of the audiobook left a lot to be desired and took a while to get used to--but I checked and it seems that all audiobook ARCs all sound the same).

As for Inspector Gamache, I was not sure how he would fare outside of Three Pines, but I should not have worried because he had his family with him in Paris to support and aid him in this adventure. His time in Paris included the attempted murder of his godfather (who spends most of the novel in a comma and whose intentions Gamache has to piece together) and an investigation that involves international smuggling and a level of corporate greed where the principal players disregards people's lives.

The book has many twists and turns and though the resolution was too Hollywood-y for my taste, I still enjoyed the book.

Louise Penny's writing never ceases to amaze me, after 16 books in this series, I still found myself shocked and shocked again. I worried that by moving the setting of this book to France we would miss out on the chemistry that exists in Three Pines but that was not the case. Instead, we got a more intimate look at Gamache and his relationship with his family while learning more about his history. And luckily, we still got glimpses from some of our favorite Three Pines residents.

Robert Bathurst brings Penny's words to life in the audiobook, he captures Gamache as a whole person, his tenderness, his anger at injustice and perfectly executes his voice.

This is another great addition to the series. This time the Gamaches travel to Paris to visit their children and their families. When a dear friend has a suspicious accident Armand is drawn into a mysterious conspiracy. Written with Penny's elegant style, the book balances the horrific and the beautiful. An excellent read. This was the audiobook version. I don't usually listen to audiobooks but this was so engrossing, and the narrator so skilled that I was riveted.

This installment was a welcome relief to Louise Penny's series. It isn't bogged down in Surete corruption and malfeasance. I mean, there is corruption, but this time it's on a corporate level, and Armand is not under personal attack, and for that I am grateful. I enjoyed learning about the relationship between Armand and his son. Each book provides more detail about the Gamache's, their friends, and extended family.

I have read or re-read most of these series by audiobook, and I absolutely love the narrator. I think he does great justice to the story, and his voice is exactly how I originally imagined Armand Gamache to sound. You can't go wrong with this series! I'm looking forward to reading the next one!

Review:
Overall, I really enjoyed the change in setting of the latest book in the Gamache series. We get to delve in deeper to Gamache’s personal life and spend time with his family. It felt like a nice change of scenery and focus at this point in the series. I was satisfied with the mystery and resolution and am looking forward to seeing Gamache’s family more in later books! This one is probably one of my favorites of the series and especially of the lastest few installments. However, see my note below.

Note:
I have started to notice a trend in Louise Penny's descriptions of fat characters in her books. The descriptions seem overly focused on weight, stereotypical, and negative. For example in this book: “Beefy hands” and Gamache wondering if he’d have to do CPR on the character because he was turning from red to purple while getting animated.
This is disappointing and makes me less wanting to sing the praises of the Gamache series as I had been in the past.