This installment of the GThe/Three Pine Mysteries does not take place in Three Pines, but rather in Paris. Therefore, the story lacks the charm of Three Pines and all the eccentric characters of the previous installments such as Ruth, Clara, Gabri, Myrna, etc.
But Paris is a beautiful setting for this story that explores history international corporate intrigue.
It also fleshes out relationships that were never fully explored in the earlier books. 4 Stars! ( )

THIS SERIES IS A DELIGHT. EACH STORY IS UNIQUELY DIFFERENT AND FACINATING. COMPLEX PROBLEMS, SOLVED BY THINKING CLEARLY. DELIGHTFUL CHARACTERS AND PAGE TURNING EXCITMENT. WITH HISTORY THROWN IN ALONG THE WAY TO EXPLORE, IF THE READER CHOSES. MY FAVORITE KIND OF BOOKS,,MIND-EXPANDING. ( )

The Gamache family has gathered in Paris in eager anticipation of the birth of Jean-Guy and Annie’s daughter. A few months earlier, Jean-Guy Beauvoir left his position as head of homicide in Montreal for a job in a private firm in Paris. His father-in-law, Armand Gamache, resumed his former position as head of homicide. A family vacation turns into a busman’s holiday for Gamache when his 93-year-old godfather, Stephen Horowitz, is run down and left for dead on a Paris street. Gamache must figure out the real reason that Stephen came to Paris to keep the rest of his family alive.

I should have saved this one for a weekend and lots of uninterrupted reading time. It was hard to put down, maybe because it’s more thriller than police procedural. Gamache is out of his jurisdiction, and his investigative team includes of his librarian wife Reine-Marie, his banker son Daniel, his lawyer daughter Annie. At least his son-in-law, Jean-Guy, has professional experience. The story touches on a lot of themes I love to read about – libraries and archives, art, the Holocaust, and a treasure hunt-like quest. Fellow Reine-Marie fans will be happy that she’s so prominent in this book. I also love that we finally get to know Daniel, who is often mentioned but seldom seen in other books. ( )

Armand and Reine-Marie are in Paris, awaiting the birth of Jean-Guy and Annie's baby. The family, even with strained dynamics between Armand and son Daniel, seem delighted to be together, so when Armand's beloved godfather, Stephen Horowitz, is run down after their family dinner, he can't help but be pulled into investigation mode when Stephen's recent life reveals many secrets. The new venue meant I missed some of those favorite characters in Three Pines, but so good to be back in their world. ( )

This book takes us to Paris where Annie is due to have a baby girl any day. But after a family dinner with both kids and Gamache?s grandfather, Stephen Horowitz, Stephen is hit by a car in front of the Gamache?s and critically injured. That begins the story of deceit and danger that the family must solve to keep everyone safe and alive.Very good book. Kirkus: Gamache goes to Paris.Armand Gamache of the S?ret? du Qu?bec has had an eventful time in Penny's last few books, taking over as Chief Superintendent, uncovering corruption at the highest levels, facing public scorn, and finally ending up back where he started, as head of the homicide division. Penny has always been a master of pacing on a serieswide level, moving between the overarching corruption story and more local mysteries and also occasionally taking a break from Three Pines, the beloved, unmappable Quebec village that is the main setting. This time around, Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, a retired librarian, are spending time in Paris, where both of their children now live, waiting for their daughter, Annie, to give birth to her first child with husband Jean-Guy Beauvoir, Gamache's former second-in-command. Gamache takes the opportunity to visit the Rodin Museum with his godfather, billionaire Stephen Horowitz, who then joins the extended Gamache clan for dinner¥only to be hit by a car and almost killed as they leave the restaurant. Gamache is convinced it was no accidentÂ¥an impression reinforced the next morning when he and Reine-Marie go to Stephen's apartment and find the place has been ransacked and there's a dead body behind the sofa. Soon the whole family is involved in the investigation, and everyone has a part to play, from Reine-Marie, who visits the Archives nationales, to son Daniel, a venture capitalist who moved to Paris to escape his father's shadow. Gamache calls on an old friend, the head of the Paris police force, but can he be trusted? As always, Penny's mystery is meticulously constructed and reveals hard truths about the hidden workings of the worldÂ¥as well as the workings of the Gamache family. But there's plenty of local color, too, with a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower to escape surveillance and a luxurious suite at the Hotel George V for good measure.If you're new to Penny's world, this would be a great place to jump in. Then go back and start the series from the beginning.