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Cover of The Beautiful Mystery by Louise PennyThe Beautiful Mystery
Modern · Fiction, Mystery

The Beautiful Mystery

by Louise Penny
2012 · Fiction
68.8Must-Read
Score Modern
Critics' pick

What it's about

No outsiders are ever allowed into the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, deep in the Quebec wilderness. Its two dozen monks have taken a vow of silence, yet they're world famous for their chant, known as 'the beautiful mystery.' Then a crime shatters their peace.

Why it's worth reading

It won the Anthony Award. It's a locked-community mystery in Louise Penny's much-loved series.

You'll love it if you liked

Cover of The Name of the Rose by Umberto EcoThe Name of the Rose
The Name of the RoseUmberto Eco
Cover of The Brutal Telling by Louise PennyThe Brutal Telling
The Brutal TellingLouise Penny
Cover of How the Light Gets In by Louise PennyHow the Light Gets In
How the Light Gets InLouise Penny

Good to know

It's part of a long series, and earlier books add context about the characters.

By the numbers

68.8Must-Read Score
  • Readers50 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Bestseller31 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Buzz1 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Won
Anthony Award winner (2013)

Reads as

Gripping

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

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Quick answers

Is The Beautiful Mystery worth reading?

Yes. It won the Anthony Award. It ranks #1,527 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.8 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is The Beautiful Mystery about?

No outsiders are ever allowed into the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, deep in the Quebec wilderness. Its two dozen monks have taken a vow of silence, yet they're world famous for their chant, known as 'the beautiful mystery.' Then a crime shatters their peace.

What awards has The Beautiful Mystery won?

Anthony Award winner (2013).

What should I read after The Beautiful Mystery?

If you liked it, try The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny or How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny.