STILL LIFE by Louise Penny

I just finished this delightful mystery by a new author (for me). I actually read until 3 a.m. to finish the book and see "who dunnit."

From the book flap:

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebe and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it's a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter.

"Still Life" introduces not only an engaging series hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces --and this series--with integrity and quiet courage, but also a winning and talented new writer of traditional mysteries in the person of Louise Penny.

This book was first published in 2005 and there are several additions to this series since then. I will definitely be reading them. This book kept me on the edge of my seat - especially the last third of the book. I couldn't figure out who the culprit was and never saw it coming when it was divulged. The writing was charming, but also kept a sinister thread running through it. One part made my skin crawl -- I won't tell you what it was! The characters were interesting and fully developed and I wish there would be more crimes in Three Pines for Inspector Gamache to solve.