Goldilocks

I just finished the fourth Chief Inspector Gamache book by Louise Penny, A Rule Against Murder .

Here’s what I like most about her writing (this particular series—I’m unfamiliar with her other work):

∆ The Inspector is kind and patient. While he advises and/or corrects his subordinates, he never condescends—not even when he's righteously pissed off. Armand Gamache is stern when need be but gives second chances. He watches and waits before forming opinions.

∆ None of the characters are 2-dimensional. Even the most loathsome of them (Rule had a couple of total Karens and a Chad) have a backstory which illuminates but NOT excuse, their obnoxious or vile behavior.

∆ The group of friends in the village of Three Pines (where, so far, a lot of the stories are set) aren’t perfect by any means. Just like real life, everyone has flaws, odd quirks and sharp edges but they accept each other.

Sounds way cozy, no?

Cozy mystery is a sub-genre of crime fiction, where sex, violence, and cursing are kept to a minimum, and often happen off stage. The tone of cozies is generally light, comedic, and comforting. Think of a book you’d want to read on a bad day or at the beach, nothing too serious, but lots of fun with plot twists and a little over the top. I like to think of these stories as solving murders Scooby-Doo style. (source)

Louise Penny? Not exactly.
Fer instance:
∆ On curses, I believe there ARE some actual swear words but, in this last Gamache book, what stood out were the ones in French. I had to look them up, see. Words like tabarnak (tabernacle) and Câlice (chalice).

Quebec swear words, or in French sacres, are pretty much just words that go against the establishment; adjectives, verbs, and nouns deemed inappropriate by the general population. Or those who govern the general populace. Swear words are meant to stick it to the man, whether that be your parents, the government, or in the case of early Quebec, the Catholic church. (source)

If you’re interested in more French Canadian curses (WHO wouldn’t be?), there are a few more here.

∆ The physical violence was in fact primarily off stage though emotional/verbal violence was peppered throughout. 

∆ There were no deeply and elaborately written sex scenes. Fine by me—I don’t want my reading matter to be porn-y. 

∆ The Gamache books aren’t comedic like, fer instance Janet Evanovich’s. Neither are they deeply, tragically dramatic. I mean, yes they are deep and it’s tragic when anyone dies but we’re not talking Silence of the Lambs. Penny’s book are, however, appropriate for vacation and/or bad day reads.

So, not cozy but not high stress nail biters either. They’re juuuuuust exactly right.