For Discussion: Still Life

Hi friends,

Welcome to the first installment of our Inspector Gamache read-a-long. Today, we’re discussing Still Life, Louise Penny’s debut novel.

Rereading it, I was struck by how many of the themes Penny returns to later in the series appear in Still Life. I almost gasped when the phrase “surprised by joy” was said early in the book. I also had forgotten what a critical role Clara Morrow (one of my favorite characters) plays in solving this murder.

Some questions to kick off our discussion:

1)    Knowing what we now do about these characters, what stood out to you in Still Life?

2)    In this book, Gamache says his father died in his sleep. Penny later changed his backstory. Why do you think she did this?

3)    At the end of Still Life, Gamache tells Gabri and Olivier he doesn’t think either are capable of murder, but hints that Peter Morrow is. Books later, Gamach has arrested Olivier and Peter is murdered. What changes from this moment on?

4)    What do you make of Peter’s arc in this book?

We’ll discuss A Fatal Grace on March 22.