The Black Wolf
A Novel
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4.3 • 1.1K Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
The 20th mystery in the #1 New York Times-bestselling Armand Gamache series.
Somewhere out there, in the darkness, a black wolf is feeding.
Several weeks ago, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec and his team uncovered and stopped a domestic terrorist attack in Montréal, arresting the person behind it. A man they called the Black Wolf.
But their relief is short-lived. In a sickening turn of events, Gamache has realized that plot, as horrific as it was, was just the beginning. Perhaps even a deliberate misdirection. One he fell into. Something deeper and darker, more damaging, is planned. Did he in fact arrest the Black Wolf, or are they still out there? Armand is appalled to think his mistake has allowed their conspiracy to grow, to gather supporters. To spread lies, manufacture enemies, and feed hatred and division.
Still recovering from wounds received in stopping the first attack, Armand is confined to the village of Three Pines, leading a covert investigation from there. He must be careful not to let the Black Wolf know he has recognized his mistake. In a quiet church basement, he and his senior agents Beauvoir and Lacoste, pore over what little evidence they have. Two notebooks. A few mysterious numbers on a tattered map of Québec. And a phrase repeated by the person they had called the Grey Wolf. A warning…
In a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Gamache and his small team of supporters realize that for the Black Wolf to have gotten this far, they must have powerful allies, in law enforcement, in industry, in organized crime, in the halls of government.
From the apparent peace of his little village, Gamache finds himself playing a lethal game of cat and mouse with an invisible foe who is gathering forces and preparing to strike.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
The aftermath of a terrorist attack puts a legendary detective on his back foot in this installment in Louise Penny’s long-running Chief Inspector Gamache series. Gifted Quebecois crime fighter Gamache thought he had the Black Wolf in custody. When he finds out he may be wrong, he and his faithful agents Lacoste and Beauvoir begin painstakingly peeling back the onion layers of a conspiracy that involves the former deputy prime minister, organized crime, and a potential international crisis. Penny takes her time setting up the story and ratcheting up the suspense, but once things get going, The Black Wolf becomes an absolute pressure cooker. And we loved how, no matter how intense the action gets, there’s always an artful touch to her prose. We were easily drawn into Gamache’s world, where hot-button topics like climate change and international friction nip at the heels of classic, edge-of-your-seat thrills.
Customer Reviews
Read this one with an open mind and heart
It’s been a while since I read grey wolf, so upon picking up black wolf, I decided to reread grey, as the plots in both are quite complex. Glad I did, and while this black wolf was more disturbing and far more thought provoking, as it has such timely real life consequences, I am torn on my evaluation. I’m relieved that this book was written even with truths that are difficult to accept, and will remind all of us that change begins with each of us, no one can do it for us, and we alone control our actions and choices. A lot of heavy lifting for an entertaining pursuit, but all necessary.
Read this one with an open mind, take one action that you can do today to make a change, it is for all our futures.
As to the actual story, characters and art form of the writing, there is none better out there. Thanks Louise, for the courage, heart and fortitude it takes to putting your craft out there. Three pines will continue to comfort me, as long as you, continue to weave its magic.
An American’s View
My family is from Canada. Parents immigrated in the 1940’s, and we spent many weekends and vacations visiting relatives in Canada.
After a decade of ancestry research, I learned my (many times) great grandfather was one of the founding fathers of Quebec. All of these stories by Louise Penny give me bits of insight into life in a country I’ve only known through short visits. Interesting, fun, entertaining and
a review of my limited French vocabulary. I’ve enjoy each book. Keep writing Louise Penny!
Good bit not great
Dragged on a bit .. I thoroughly enjoyed the series except for this.