The Brutal TellingThe Brutal Telling
Score Modern
What it's about
A stranger is found murdered in the village bistro and antiques store in Three Pines, and every clue points to the owner, Olivier. Chief Inspector Gamache and his team must strip back layers of lies, exposing treasures and long-buried secrets.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Anthony Award. It's a turning point in the Gamache series.
You'll love it if you liked
Bury Your Dead
A Trick of the Light
How the Light Gets InGood to know
It's the fifth Gamache book; Bury Your Dead follows it directly.
By the numbers
- Readers73 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller28 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 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
- #105 of the 623 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #471 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #941 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Louise Penny
A Great ReckoningHow the Light Gets InBury Your DeadA Trick of the LightIf you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Verity
Gone Girl
The Martian
2666
Gideon the NinthExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Brutal Telling worth reading?
Yes. It won the Anthony Award. It ranks #941 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Brutal Telling about?
A stranger is found murdered in the village bistro and antiques store in Three Pines, and every clue points to the owner, Olivier. Chief Inspector Gamache and his team must strip back layers of lies, exposing treasures and long-buried secrets.
How long does it take to read The Brutal Telling?
About 13 hours (506 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Brutal Telling won?
Anthony Award winner (2010).
What should I read after The Brutal Telling?
If you liked it, try Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny, A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny or How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny.