Order of Inspector Gamache Books
Inspector Gamache is a series of whodunit mystery novels by Canadian author Louise Penny, featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. The series is set in Quebec and Gamache works for the Sûreté du Québec, where he heads the homicide department. The series features unconventional murders, a long list of suspects, plenty of red herrings and dramatic endings. The series is also known as the Three Pines Mysteries.
Louise Penny started her literary career with the first novel in the Inspector Gamache series, Still Life, in 2005. Below is a list of all of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache books in order of when they were originally released (which is also their chronological order):
Publication Order of Inspector Gamache Books
| Still Life | (2005) |    |
| Dead Cold / A Fatal Grace | (2006) | |
| The Cruellest Month | (2007) | |
| A Rule Against Murder / The Murder Stone | (2008) | |
| The Brutal Telling | (2009) | |
| Bury Your Dead | (2010) | |
| A Trick of the Light | (2011) | |
| The Beautiful Mystery | (2012) | |
| How the Light Gets In | (2013) | |
| The Long Way Home | (2014) | |
| The Nature of the Beast | (2015) | |
| A Great Reckoning | (2016) | |
| Glass Houses | (2017) | |
| Kingdom of the Blind | (2018) | |
| A Better Man | (2019) | |
| All the Devils Are Here | (2020) | |
| The Madness of Crowds | (2021) | |
| A World of Curiosities | (2022) | |
Notes: Dead Cold was also published as A Fatal Grace. A Rule Against Murder was also titled The Murder Stone.
I have just finished reading “the Long Way Home” and the first Chapter of “A great Reckoning “was included at the end. Noe I discover that “The nature of the Beast” comes before it? Can you explain please…which to read next?
Hi Josephine – The Nature of the Beast is 100% the next book to read after The Long Way Home. Perhaps it was a reprint you read that was giving a preview for her latest book? Either way The Nature of the Beast is up next for you 🙂
Which book is the one set in a monastery? I thought it was very good.
The Beautiful Mystery! My favourite.
I love the series. I don’t read in order and love every one.
Thanks for publishing this list of Louise Penny books. Now I can get the sequence correct. I check out the audio versions from my favorite library, Coronado, California, in the city where I am employed. They make the evening shift pass more quickly. And I really enjoy the voice actors doing every different voice that Ms. Penny writes in.
One of my absolute favorite characters is Ruth Zardo, such a crusty old lady!
Those reading the books in order should also realize that The Hangman is a novella written for “emerging adult readers” as a contribution to a literacy project. I can’t begin to say how much my admiration for Louise Penny (whose books I already loved) grew when I learned this. But there are not references to other books nor are there the French phrases to which most of us have grown to enjoy. As an educator, I still do plan to read The Hangman, but it’s good to know I can go right into A Trick of the Light without waiting for The Hangman (which has limited availability).
My daughter recommended this series to me about two years ago. I’m a stickler for reading series in the order published, so immediately picked up “Still Life”. Hooked right from the beginning. I read a lot, finished up the series to #11 within months and was anxiously awaiting the next and the next. Ms Penny is working on the next novel, though currently struggling with the passing of her husband. I will pre-order as soon as I can. Beautifully written and brilliant character studies, sprinkled with ‘life in Quebec’.
I have read the series from the beginning and always, always, pick up the next. Truly recommend that they be read in order. The development of the characters (really interesting people) is essential to the plot of each novel.
i just finished today “The Brutal Telling” – what a book!
Are there any more Inspector Gamache Books coming out?
The Nature of the Beast on August 25th.
Thank you…I’ll be watching for it! Enjoy these books so much!
It’s a bummer that I just spent $200 on the Gamache series to learn there are repeats with different titles.
It is… If you bought them through Amazon, they have a good returns policy.
You have to watch that. I am fond of UK mysteries and find that when they come to North America they change the titles also. I find that if I check on Goodreads.com or Amazon and check out the plots I find the ones that have different titles. I found this out after I searched high and low for a book and then found I had read it under another title.
I am reading “Rule Against Murder” now. I don’t see it on the list.
It’s also known as The Murder Stone.
Thanks so much!!
I just found this series and love it. Thanks for your information about these other books.
Thank you, Raquel. I’ll do my best to have the list corrected.