Inspector Gamache Books in Order & How Many Are There?

If you’re a fan of mystery novels, you may have seen the popular series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Written by the acclaimed Canadian author Louise Penny, these books follow the detective as he solves crimes in the quaint village of Three Pines and beyond. But with over a dozen novels in the series, it can be hard to know where to start and in what order to read them.

That’s where this article comes in. In the following paragraphs, we’ll explore the Inspector Gamache books and provide an overview of the series. Whether you’re a longtime fan looking to revisit your favorite titles or a newcomer wondering where to begin, this guide will help you navigate the intricacies of one of the most beloved mystery series in recent years.

How many Inspector Gamache books are there?

The Inspector Gamache series consists of 18 books published by Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, with the initial book released in the United States in 2005 and the latest in 2022. There is also one short novella called The Hangman. We will now show you the order of the books by the release date.

• Still Life (2005)
• Dead Cold (2006)
• The Cruellest Month (2007)
• The Murder Stone (2008)
• The Brutal Telling (2009)
• Bury Your Dead (2010)
  • The Hangman (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)

Let us now see the best order to read them and what the books are about.

Inspector Gamache books in order

It is simple to read Inspector Gamache books in order, you just need to follow them in order by the release date. Still, we will now let you know what each book is about.

Still Life (2005)

The first book in the series introduces us to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache as he investigates the murder of Jane Neal, an elderly resident of the idyllic village of Three Pines. As Gamache delves deeper into the case, he uncovers secrets and grudges hidden beneath the town’s seemingly peaceful exterior.

Dead Cold (2006)

When strangers gather at a remote inn for a reunion, they soon find themselves snowed in and cut off from the outside world. But as tensions rise and old wounds are reopened, one is found dead in the morning. It’s up to Gamache and his team to discover which of the guests is the killer and what secrets they may be hiding.

The Cruellest Month (2007)

As spring arrives in Three Pines, the townsfolk gather at the old Hadley house for a seance. But what begins as a harmless bit of fun turns deadly when one of the participants dies suddenly. As Gamache and his team investigate, they discover a web of deceit and betrayal that threatens to tear the community apart.

The Murder Stone (2008)

When a family reunion at an isolated country estate turns deadly, Gamache and his team must unravel a tangled web of family secrets and long-held grudges to uncover the truth. But as tensions rise and old wounds are reopened, it becomes clear that the killer will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.

The Brutal Telling (2009)

When a mysterious stranger is found dead in the lounge of Three Pines, Gamache, and his team discover a hidden room full of priceless antiques. As they investigate the room’s origins and the dead man’s connection to it, they uncover a web of lies and deception that threatens to destroy the village and everyone in it.

Bury Your Dead (2010)

After a tragic mission gone wrong, Gamache is recovering from physical and emotional wounds in Quebec City. But when a historian is murdered in the basement of the Literary and Historical Society, Gamache can’t resist the opportunity to solve the case. As he delves into the past and present of the city, he uncovers secrets that may have a devastating impact on his own life.

The Hangman (2010) – Short Novella

In this short novella, Gamache is called to a small town to investigate the murder of a beloved schoolteacher. As he unravels the mystery, he discovers that the town’s long-buried secrets may have played a role in the crime.

A Trick of the Light (2011)

As the art world descends on Three Pines for a solo show by Clara Morrow, one of the artists is found dead in the garden. As Gamache and his team investigate, they discover a web of jealousy and betrayal that threatens to destroy Clara’s career and reputation.

The Beautiful Mystery (2012)

Gamache and his second-in-command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, travel to a remote monastery to investigate the murder of one of the monks. But as they delve deeper into the cloistered world of the monastery and its mysterious chants, they face a killer and a threat to their own beliefs and values.

How the Light Gets In (2013)

As Gamache struggles to clear his name and reputation, he receives a call from a desperate woman in Three Pines. Her life is in danger, and only Gamache can help her. As he returns to the village and uncovers the secrets hiding in plain sight, he must confront his past and the forces that seek to destroy him.

The Long Way Home (2014)

After retiring from the police force, Gamache sets out on a journey to find a missing friend. But as he travels through the wilderness of Quebec, he discovers that his friend may not have wanted to be found and that there may be a darker reason for his disappearance. As Gamache delves deeper into the mystery, he confronts his fears and doubts about his chosen path.

The Nature of the Beast (2015)

When a young boy goes missing in Three Pines, Gamache, and his team discover a sinister plot involving a secret research facility and a group of dangerous scientists. As they race to save the boy and stop the scientists, they must confront their fears and doubts about the future.

A Great Reckoning (2016)

As Gamache takes over as head of the Surete Academy, he discovers that the institution is plagued by corruption and hidden secrets. As he tries to root out the truth, he must also confront his past and his mistakes. But as the investigation deepens, he realizes his life may be in danger.

Glass Houses (2017)

When a mysterious figure appears in Three Pines, Gamache, and his team discover a plot involving a drug cartel and a web of hidden identities. As they race to stop the cartel’s operations, they must also confront the townsfolk’s dark secrets and hidden agendas.

Kingdom of the Blind (2018)

When Gamache receives a strange summons to a remote farmhouse, he discovers that he has been named one of the executors of a will. But as he and the other executors delve deeper into the mystery, they discover a plot involving stolen artwork, hidden identities, and dangerous secrets.

A Better Man (2019)

Gamache is called in to help with the search and rescue effort when a catastrophic flood hits Three Pines. But as the town struggles to rebuild and recover, a young woman goes missing, and Gamache must balance his duties as a rescuer with his responsibilities as an investigator. As he uncovers the truth about the woman’s disappearance, he must also confront the ghosts of his past and his present challenges.

All the Devils Are Here (2020)

When Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, travel to Paris to visit their children, they discover that the city is not as idyllic as they remember. When a close friend of Reine-Marie’s is involved in a hit-and-run accident, Gamache becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue and corruption that threatens to destroy the city and everyone in it. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he must also confront the demons of his own past and the challenges of his present. With the help of his loyal team and a few new allies, Gamache must stop the forces of evil before it’s too late.

The Madness of Crowds (2021)

As the New Year approaches in the village of Three Pines, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is asked to provide security for a lecture by Professor Abigail Robinson, a visiting professor of Statistics. But as Gamache investigates the professor’s background, he discovers a dangerous agenda and begs the university to cancel the lecture. When they refuse, Robinson’s ideas begin to infect the town, leading to fights and arguments. But when a murder occurs, Gamache and his team must investigate the crime as well as the popular delusion taking hold. With the promise of “ça va bien aller” or “all will be well,” the team must navigate a confusing and dangerous situation where the line between reality and delusion is blurred.

A World of Curiosities (2022)

As Three Pines emerges from a harsh winter, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir become increasingly worried when a young man and woman reappear in their lives after many years. The siblings were young when their mother was murdered, leaving them deeply scarred. Memories of the tragic case resurface as the discovery of an old letter leads them to an attic room filled with puzzles and hidden messages. But as they unseal the room, they unknowingly release an old enemy into their world, putting Gamache’s home and loved ones at risk.

Do you need to read Inspector Gamache books in order?

While it is not strictly necessary to read the Inspector Gamache books in order, it is highly recommended. The books in the series follow a chronological sequence, and each installment builds on the previous one, developing the characters, relationships, and ongoing storylines in a way that may be lost or difficult to fully appreciate if the books are read out of order. Additionally, each book contains spoilers for the ones that came before it, so reading the series out of sequence may spoil important plot points and diminish the impact of key events. Therefore, it is highly recommended to read the Inspector Gamache books in order, starting with “Still Life,” the first book in the series.

Will there be more Inspector Gamache books in the future?

Currently, there is no official news regarding upcoming books in the Inspector Gamache series. However, we believe that more books will be published in the future since the author, Louise Penny, typically releases one new Inspector Gamache book each year.