Louise Penny - A Fatal Grace

In Louise Penny's A Fatal Grace, the second novel in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, the picturesque Quebec village of Three Pines is once again marred by murder. On a frozen lake during the annual Boxing Day curling match, a newcomer, the universally despised socialite CC de Poitiers, is electrocuted in plain sight. Chief Inspector Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec arrives to investigate a case that appears impossible, as no one among the large crowd saw anything happen. CC, a cruel and manipulative "lifestyle guru," had alienated almost everyone, including her husband, her lover, and her teenage daughter, leaving Gamache with a long list of suspects. As the investigation digs beneath the idyllic surface of village life, it uncovers secrets, resentments, and a shocking connection to a recent murder of a vagrant. Gamache must navigate the complex web of relationships in Three Pines while also dealing with enemies from his own department. The story explores themes of forgiveness, betrayal, and the deep-seated darkness that can lurk within seemingly peaceful communities.