The Grey Wolf

A Novel (Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, Book 19)

De: Louise Penny

Narrado por: Jean Brassard

"Brassard's accents—whether French Canadian, Italian, or continental French—create indelible characters. His performance lets us feel Reine Marie's warmth and Armand's affectionate nature, and he adds an additional layer to surly Ruth and her potty-mouthed duck. Exciting and entertaining."—AudioFile (Earphones Award winner)

The 19th mystery in the #1 New York Times-bestselling Armand Gamache series.

Relentless phone calls interrupt the peace of a warm August morning in Three Pines. Though the tiny Québec village is impossible to find on any map, someone has managed to track down Armand Gamache, head of homicide at the Sûreté, as he sits with his wife in their back garden. Reine-Marie watches with increasing unease as her husband refuses to pick up, though he clearly knows who is on the other end. When he finally answers, his rage shatters the calm of their quiet Sunday morning.

That's only the first in a sequence of strange events that begin THE GREY WOLF, the nineteenth novel in Louise Penny's #1 New York Times-bestselling series. A missing coat, an intruder alarm, a note for Gamache reading "this might interest you", a puzzling scrap of paper with a mysterious list—and then a murder. All propel Chief Inspector Gamache and his team toward a terrible realization. Something much more sinister than any one murder or any one case is fast approaching.

Armand Gamache, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, his son-in-law and second in command, and Inspector Isabelle Lacoste can only trust each other, as old friends begin to act like enemies, and long-time enemies appear to be friends. Determined to track down the threat before it becomes a reality, their pursuit takes them across Québec and across borders. Their hunt grows increasingly desperate, even frantic, as the enormity of the creature they’re chasing becomes clear. If they fail the devastating consequences would reach into the largest of cities and the smallest of villages.

Including Three Pines.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

©2024 Louise Penny (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Narrator Change Really Disappointing

Let me start by saying the narration of an audiobook is key for me. Also it's important to say that I can hardly believe that I would ever leave anything less than a 5 star review on any audiobook in the Gamache series. Unfortunately the narration of this one has led to this 3 star review.

With the first narrator change years ago the adjustment was minimal. The maturity, overall richness and ability to individualize each character was close enough that it worked out great! This time the change is just very disappointing to me. Jean Brassard is a professional narrator and his voice reflects emotion but it is very difficult for my Anglo ears to distinguish between the characters. They all sound too much the same! I also feel like his voice sounds younger than appropriate. I noticed other little things that annoyed me like the pronunciation of the son Daniel’s name to the more female version of Danielle. Regardless of the spelling his name has been pronounced as Daniel for years and years . To change it now is disconcerting. The nuances for Gamache are missing for me as well. This narrator yells at a monk instead of the expected controlled stern voice I would expect.

As always the story is intricate and interesting. I have LOVED this series and have listened to all of the audiobooks 5-6 times, enjoying them again and again. I have been waiting and waiting for this latest one to come out. Now I only hope that a different narrator will be chosen for future novels.

Monotone narration ruins complexity of characters

it was a struggle getting through this book. Please bring back the last narrator so we can enjoy the rich complexity and depth of the characters again.

Concerned by negative reviews

I haven’t finished the book yet, I’m about halfway through. but I wanted to say that I was concerned by the dramatic, negative response to the narrator. After listening here is my opinion: He is different than the last two…and he does a good job. I’m enjoying listening to the story.

Great!

Another fantastic book from Ms. Penny. I listened to entire book in one day. Already waiting for the next one.

Terrific plotting. Great handling of large cast.

The broad-ranging and truly terrifying home-grown terrorist plot was excellently handled. But I missed Three Pines and the humanity its characters always provide.

Too much current events, narrator not up to snuff

I prefer the earlier, more character-driven mysteries. The recent books have reflected the complexities of the modern world, but I want to escape to the good folk of Three Pines!

The narrator didn’t help to enliven the story, as previous narrators have done. Between the narrator and the recent plot lines of terrorism, ecological collapse and political shenanigans, i may have to sit out book 20.

The cliffhanger!

I simply love Louise Penny’s writing style. In her Armand Gamache books she’s developed well a wonderful cast of characters!

Very disappointing new narrator

It's very disappointing that the new narrator that was chosen for this book is not nearly as talented as the previous two. There is little modulation to his voice in tone, volume, or speed. He doesn't really have the voice talents of the prior narrators, so it's very difficult to distinguish which character is speaking as he does them all in approximately the same voice, tone, and speed. The past two narraators really PERFORMED the books, which made the audible versions more compelling than just reading the books. This narrator basically READS, more than performs. Best to skip the audio version of this one and just read the book.

I'm not the only reviewer who has posted about this. Hoping Louise Penney will read these reviews and seriously consider either another new narrator, or asked that this one get more voice acting training before letting him marrate her next book. 🙏

The BAD Narrator.

We waited 2 years for this book and can hardly listen to it because the narrator is AWFUL! He has brought no life to the story or characters. He just reads it and it is awful. please redo this and use a narrator that you've used on her other books. we have bought every single one of them and we would never buy another one now with him narrating. it is like nails on a chalkboard. Louise Penny big big mistake.

Not my cup of tea

Very disappointed in The Grey Wolf. Too many names of unknown people and places. Not enough of The Three Pines setting or characters. The narrator needs to do a better job differentiating between characters voices, both male and female.