Table of Contents
Its hard to decide what provides the most pleasure in this enjoyable book: Gamache, a shrewd and kindly man constantly surprised by homicide; the village, which sounds at first like an ideal place to escape from civilization; or the clever and carefully constructed plot.
Chicago Tribune
Cerebral, wise and compassionate, Gamache is destined for stardom. Dont miss this stellar debut.
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Terrific. Like a virtuoso, Penny plays a complex variation on the theme of the clue hidden in plain sight.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Booklist (starred review)
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Extraordinary Praise for STILL LIFE
A stellar debut novel. The setting is entrancing... Well done!
Deadly Pleasures
A gem of a debut novelclever, charming, with perceptively realized characters ... and the enormously appealing Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. I cant wait for the next installment.
Deborah Crombie, author of Water Like a Stone
An excellent, subtle plot full of understanding of the deeper places in human nature, and many wise observations that will enrich the reader long after the pages are closed.
Anne Perry, author of Long Spoon Lane
Georges Simenon kept Maigret going for over a hundred books. It will be a delight for all of us who love detective fiction if Louise Penny can stay around long enough to do the same for Gamache.
Reginald Hill, author of The Stranger House
Still Life is a masterpiece of a traditional drawing room mystery, repainted in the autumnal colors of the Canadian countryside. Louise Penny is a storytelling artist.
Julia Spencer-Fleming, author of To Darkness and to Death
What a joy it is to discover a detective like Armand Gamache, strong, calm and charismatic, and at work on a good mystery in a believable setting.
Peter Lovesey, author of The Circle
What a joy to read a crime novel written with such skill and integrity, strong on character and atmosphere ... I couldnt put it down.
Margaret Yorke, author of False Pretences
Still Life is a lovely, clever book and I hope I shall be reading a lot more by Louise Penny!
Ann Granger, author of That Way Murder Lies
NOTE: If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously.
STILL LIFE
Copyright 2005 by Louise Penny.
Excerpt from A Fatal Grace copyright 2007 by Louise Penny.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martins Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Herman Melville, copyright 1940 and renewed 1968 by W.H. Auden. For the Time Being, copyright 1944 and renewed 1972 by W.H. Auden, from Collected Poems by W.H. Auden. Used by permission of Random House, Inc. I Need to Say, copyright 1995 by Liz Davidson, from In the Cave of My Heart I Found... by Liz Davidson. Used by permission of Liz Davidson. Lady Mink, Apology, copyright 2000 by Marylyn Plessner from Vapour Trails by Marylyn Plessner. Used by permission of Stephen Jarislowsky.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2006041992
ISBN: 0-312-94855-7
EAN: 9780312-94855-9
Printed in the United States of America
First published in Great Britain by Headline Book Publishing
St. Martins Press hardcover edition / July 2006
St. Martins Paperbacks edition / May 2007
St. Martins Paperbacks are published by St. Martins Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
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This book is given, along with all my heart, to Michael
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This is for my husband Michael, who has created a life for us full of love and kindness. He allowed me to quit my job, pretend to write, then gave me unstinting praise even when what I produced was drivel. Ive realised that anyone can be a critic but it takes a remarkable person to offer praise. Michael is that person. As is Liz Davidson, my wonderful friend and inspiration. She allowed me to steal her life, her time, her poetry and her brilliant art. And in return she got to hear about every burp from my book-baby. What luck. Im grateful to her husband, John Ballantyne, who also allowed me to steal his life; Margaret Ballantyne-Powermore a sister than a friend - for her encouragement spanning years; and Sharon and Jim, who never failed to celebrate. Thank you to the lively and caffeinated members of Les Girls: Liz, France, Michele, Johanne, Christina, Daphne, Brigitte, and a special thank you to Cheryl for her love and her prayer stick ritual for Still Life. Thank you to the No Rules Book Club, to Christina Davidson Richards, Kirk Lawrence, Sheila Fischman, Neil McKenty, Cotton Aimers and Sue and Mike Riddell. Thank you to Chris Roy for giving me archery lessons and not mocking, I think.
My brothers, Rob and Doug, and their families have offered love and support without qualification.
Still Life would never have been noticed beyond the other wonderful unpublished novels out there had it not been for the generosity of the Crime Writers Association in Great Britain. The CWA has created the Debut Dagger award for an unpublished first novel. Im almost certain mine would never have been noticed had Still Life not been short-listed and then Very Highly Commended, coming in second for the CWA Debut Dagger in 2004. It was one of the most remarkable things to have happened to me. Here is a group of successful authors who take time to read, support and encourage new crime writers. They gave me an opportunity most of them never had, and Ill be forever grateful. I also know its a gift designed to be given away.
Kay Mitchell of the CWA has been wonderful and her own novels have given me such pleasure. Thank you as well to Sarah Turner, a heroine in our household, and to Maxim Jakubowski.
My editor at Hodder Headline is Sherise Hobbs and at St Martins Minotaur it is Ben Sevier. They have made Still Life so much better through their critiques, firm suggestions and enthusiasm. Its both an education and a pleasure to work with them.
Thank you to Kim McArthur, for taking me under her literary wing.
And, finally, my agent is Teresa Chris. It is solely because of her that Still Life is in your hands now. She is brilliant and fun, a great editor, pithy in the extreme and a superb agent. I am particularly fortunate to be working with her, considering I almost ran her over the first time we metnot a strategy I would recommend to new writers, but it seemed to work.
