The Nature of the BeastThe Nature of the Beast
Score Modern
What it's about
When a young boy known for crying wolf goes missing, Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache, new residents of Three Pines, join the frantic search, and stumble on a community secret about a long-ago betrayal and murder.
Why it's worth reading
It was an Anthony Award finalist. Louise Penny's Gamache novels are among the most beloved mysteries.
You'll love it if you liked
A Great Reckoning
The Brutal Telling
How the Light Gets InGood to know
It's the eleventh Gamache book; the series is best in order.
By the numbers
- Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics18 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller29 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz4 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
- #152 of the 623 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #595 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #1160 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 In
Bury Your Dead
A 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 Nature of the Beast worth reading?
Yes. It was an Anthony Award finalist. It ranks #1,160 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Nature of the Beast about?
When a young boy known for crying wolf goes missing, Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache, new residents of Three Pines, join the frantic search, and stumble on a community secret about a long-ago betrayal and murder.
How long does it take to read The Nature of the Beast?
About 10 hours (385 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Nature of the Beast?
If you liked it, try A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny, The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny or How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny.