The Hangman

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Robert Bathurst

On a cold November morning, a jogger runs through the woods in the peaceful Quebec village of Three Pines. On his run, he finds a dead man hanging from a tree. The dead man was a guest at the local Inn and Spa. He might have been looking for peace and quiet, but something else found him. Something horrible. Did the man take his own life? Or was he murdered?

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called to the crime scene. As Gamache follows the trail of clues, he opens a door into the past. And he learns the true reason why the man came to Three Pines.

This is a short audiobook for people on the go.

©2010 Louise Penny (P)2021 Louise Penny

Exploitation of a great series

This was probably the worst of all of the Inspector Gamache stories. Really a waste of a full Audible credit.

Disappointment

More like an outline than a novel. Cliff Notes version of Loose Penny. Very disappointing

Did not realize this was a short story.

Not blaming the author on this, but Audible. I thought I was spending a full credit on the next installment in the Gamache series. While that may have been technically accurate, this story was set aside from the rest of the character development and was more of a novella.

Also, I miss Ralph Cosham as the narrator and voice of Chief Inspector Gamache.

Short gem

Louise Penny never disappoints! Really enjoyed this short detective story set in the Three Pines world.

Good Story, Too Short

Too late, after spending my credit, I discovered vignette means shortstory. It is narrated by someone different so that was a bit of a jarring, getting used to. By now we all know what each character with repeat appearances is “supposed” to sound like, although I cannot fault the new performer in any way. I suspected it would be a smallish novel. It was a good story and I would very much have appreciated it 100%, had it been placed in a book of short stories. In fact, I had been wishing Ms Penny would write a book of short stories because I listen at bedtime, and fall asleep trying to get to end of chapter. That way I could set a slot of time to spend reading In what ch I would get to the end at a planned time, better, and not have to screen back to find the place my mind gave up the ghost & I remember nothing past that point.

On the whole, I really enjoy her works. I like that one not need follow the order written. I love the descriptions of the beauties and dangers of the areas. I love the detective and that there is a naturalness of his wife being included some times, getting a picture of him within a family & relationship. I like getting to know the history of both the area, familiarly within the specific area, and the history of the area..the actual history of Quebec/Montreal and between anglos & french, the architecture to a small degree, and of the police system, including those out of the 3 pines area. I find not enough clues within the mysteries, though, & often the murderer comes out of left field. Of course one wants to have some mystery in who-done-it, but I often do not find any clues leading to the actual murderer, within the game, making it NOT a game at all. This story was a great size for perhaps 3 or more stories in one book. Although the story was good, having wasted a credit on something so short felt like almost a swindle.

I will continue to finish Ms Penny’s series, though, and also check out the one she co-wrote with Hillary Clinton. I’m saving that for last because I anticipate enjoying it, albeit likely without all the beautiful descriptions of Canada, assuming it’s set here in the US. Pollution, crime, the drawbacks to living in city/suburbs isn’t something I look forward to hearing about since novels are our escape from such hard facts of life. Hillary, I hope will give insights of what her life was like in all the intriguing roles she has played, including being a very astute politician, as well as mother & wife & woman. It’s got me quite excited, but like Christmas, I don’t open presents until it is time to.

Read this before watching TV series

This short story was incorporated into the recent TV series about Three Pines. I enjoyed Audible because I couldn’t quite remember the TV version of “who dunnit!”

The series faltered

I have stayed true to the series even watching it on subscription channel which was also enjoyable. However, the hangman left me hanging (yes pun intended). Barely any background and any real investigation it went from victim found to subject arrested.
It usually takes me a couple days or a week depending on my leisure time, but this one was finished in exactly the time listed 1 hour. That is my fault since I did not notice the time length. Don't waste your $$ on it, seems like a filler. If you really want to read then go to your library website and borrow it for free.

Nice, quick read!

Enjoyable for a short story, and love all the Louise Penny books so far. I didn’t imagine it would be on the same level as her other ones but still a nice, quick read.

Short and Sweet

Very interesting premise, and Armand Gamache is still as engaging as ever, but the culprits seemed a bit underdeveloped as characters so when it came to their unmasking, the ending didn’t carry the same whodunit punch that Louise Penny typically delivers. Still, a good story, and Robert Bathurst delivers another superb performance as Gamache.

very short story. not really a novel.

ery short story I expected more ftom this auther. overall it was a nice short story