The Madness of Crowds

May 2022 - The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny

The Madness of Crowds is the seventeenth novel in Louise Penny's murder mystery series that features Inspector Gamache and a small village in Canada called Three Pines. I have read them all.

I don't think you have to read them all. And I don't think you have to read the series in order. But...I don't know what will happen if you start with The Madness of Crowds.

Will you appreciate the nuanced relationships? Would you enjoy this book more after you've gotten to know Ruth, the abrasive poet, and Myrna, the owner of the used bookstore, and Olivier and Gabriel, the guys that run the Bistro? I can't say. Is it a better read if you know more about Gamache's marriage, his relationships with his children, and his history on the Surete with Jean-Guy and Isabelle. But, I am not reviewing the series, just this one book.

At least, that was what I thought I was doing.

I love the series for uncomplicated reasons. Inspector Gamache is Canadian, French Canadian (or is it Canadien?). The setting in Quebec allows a little window into cold winters, shoveling snow and curling up by the fire without actually having to experience the cold. We hear about the ongoing sibling rivalry between the French and the English. Art, poetry, and literature are often referenced in the series, and the well-read and well-rounded Inspector is often known to quote a line or two. We are given a window into Gamache's life that extends beyond work. The man is dedicated but seems to aim for a work-life balance.

Not every crime novel offers four sentences as a path to wisdom. We should all remember to use them as needed.

I don't know. I was wrong. I need help. I am sorry.

So there are many reasons that I love this series. The books often deal with difficult decisions. There is a running theme of how to balance feelings with facts, when to use logic and when to let love take the lead.

Her latest one, The Madness of Crowds, is a timely novel. It takes our shared experience of the pandemic and relates our diverse fears. It recounts for us the challenges and poses questions regarding the lessons learned.

In the aftermath of the global pandemic, Gamache is asked to provide security for a talk given by an academic statistician. The dull evening for a few dedicated participants becomes a crowded, emotionally intense event surging with danger. Abigail Robinson contends that statistical analysis proves that caring for the most vulnerable in society is a losing situation. The expense and resources allotted to the elderly, the infirm, and the handicapped are robbing the rest of the population of a better quality of life. As the story continues, we experience the heartache of caring for someone with dementia, the conflicting emotions of dealing with a special needs child and ponder the role of government in these big social issues. How do we measure our humanity?

But you don't have to get bogged down in politics. There is still a murder, and Gamache needs to solve it. And I will not judge you if you decide to dive in with The Madness of Crowds and see where it leads.

Get your copy at your local bookseller.