Summary: Gamache and Beauvoir’s first case together is introduced in flashback as a mystery in Three Pines slowly unfolds.
This fall, I have reread the entire Inspector Gamache series because I was asked to contribute an essay to an online collection of essays inspired by the Gamache series. Yesterday my essay was posted. And next week, there will be a discussion of A World of Curiosities.
I cannot think of another series that has kept my interest after 18 books. Inevitably with a series so long, there has to be an exploration of the characters in ways that will not entirely make sense of the timeline until this point. We previously know that Gamache got Beauvoir from his exile as an officer in charge of evidence lockup because no one wanted to work with him. A World of Curiosities explores that first case together and fills in the back story. Of course, new characters are introduced in ways that do not entirely fit in, but new characters must keep being introduced to the series to keep it fresh.
One of my minor frustrations with the series is that the Three Pines and the surrounding community expand and contract to fit the storyline. Again the community expands, and the history of Three Pines is explored. I appreciate most of this because it brings depth to the series to thicken the characters and setting. I want to say having finished the book about a week ago, I did enjoy the book, and I might go ahead and reread it before the end of the year.
On the positive side, this book explores Gamache’s weaknesses and resists making him too much of a perfect hero. I also appreciate how Penny uses real people and events to ground the series and provide ideas for the mysteries. In this case, the mass shooting at the start of Gamache’s career was an actual event. Likewise, the Paston Treasure painting, which is a significant part of The World of Curiosities, is also real. There are other real people referenced that I won’t detail for fear of giving away part of the story.
On the negative side, this book needs a content warning. Child sexual abuse and a ritualized serial killer are discussed in the book. I do not like reading about either of those two types of crime. It is one of the reasons I’m not too fond of the Robert Galbreath series, even if I like the main characters, because the crimes are stomach-churning.
Secondly and more problematic, I think, for this book and for maybe a sign of weakness in the series, this book, in particular, attempts to use the idea of being able to “see evil” in people as a theme.
Gamache looked deep into Claude Boisfranc’s eyes and saw … nothing. Well, he didn’t see a monster, a lunatic. He did see anger, but that was not uncommon for a cop.
If something is clear from the history of crime, crime fiction, and even Christian theology, evil can’t be seen. Satan was supposed to be the most beautiful of all angels. Abusers are often likable and good-looking. I don’t understand how this can be a theme within the book at this point in the series, even if Penny is trying to subvert it. The fact that it is Gamache who discusses looking at people to see evil does not fit the character.
But in the end, this book expands our understanding of Gamache’s history, how Beauvoir came to work for Gamache, and how dealing with individual evil is part of pushing back against the systems of evil in the world.
A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Gamache #18) Purchase Links: Hardcover, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook