Glass Houses by Louise Penny

Cobrador del frac: men in black frock coats who, without speaking, name and shame debtors into paying their debts. That is the modern day version. The original cobrador, according to Louise Penny’s latest (the 14th) Gamache mystery, Glass Houses (after A Great Reckoning), was a conscience and went after those who has not been punished for a serious offense. When a version of that, dating back to the 1300s appears in Three Pines everyone gets nervous. Regardless of the fact that he stood there day in, day out, there was nothing that could be done. Even Gamache, head of the Surete, could not find a way to have him move on.  When Katie Evans, a visitor to the B&B is found dead, speculation increases.

Simultaneously, Gamache and the Surete are trying to eliminate the burgeoning drug/opioid trade that is taking hold in Montreal.

The story in Glass Houses, is told in the current time as Gamache testifies at the trial of the murderer and in the original time period of the events unfolding. Penny handles the back and forth with ease.

With Louise Penny, you get what you expect. All the residents of Three Pines are back in their idiosyncratic way. There is thought, action, unpredictable (and yet predictable) outcomes. The characters are endearing. She keeps it interesting, a hard thing to do. And she keeps us wanting more.

If you’re a Gamache fan, you’ll love this book. If you haven’t read Louise Penny, you should. You can start with the current book or start at the beginning with Still Life, from 2005.