Letter from Best selling mystery writer, Louise Penny

Hello Joan. 
We have wonderful news! A publication date for THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY in the United States and Canada. It will be in stores and on sale on August 28^th! I hope you’re as excited as I am! The cover hasn’t yet been chosen but I am happy to say that the book is now available for preorder at many online retailers and of course you can stop into your local bookshop, too!, which is a terrific idea since the first editions sell out quickly. The latest book, A TRICK OF THE LIGHT, is already into it's fourth printing.

Advance Readers Copies - GIVEAWAYTo thank you for your help and support, I’ll be giving out a number of advance copies of THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY. These are called Advance Readers Copies, or ARCs and are very rare and collectable. Generally they’re saved for major reviewers and booksellers, who can read it ahead of the crowd and spread the word. It’s a marketing tool and very powerful one.

As a result, each book is precious. But Minotaur Books and I feel strongly that the main reason the Gamache books are growing in popularity is you! Without a doubt. You’ve discovered them, read them, and then did something magical. You told others.
I can’t begin to tell you how crucial that is in the life of a book and an author. Without your word-of-mouth, Gamache and the others would have a very short life.

I am deeply grateful to you, and I know that Minotaur Books feels the same way, as does Little, Brown in the UK.

And so, we’re setting aside a certain number of advance copies of THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY to give away. Starting with this newsletter.

If you’re interested, just write to me at: contact@louisepenny.com, and please put THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY in the subject line.

My Assistant Lise (we are having her name legally changed to that) will be helping with the contest, and there’s a chance you’ll hear back from her, and I promise to read your message.
The winners of the Advance Copy of THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY will be announced in next month’s newsletter – but since the ARCs won’t actually be available for a few months, the winners will have to wait. Minotaur Books will mail me the ARCs as soon as they’re available, I’ll sign them and we’ll mail them out as soon as we can – probably in June, but we’ll know more when it gets closer.

But we wanted to celebrate the fact we now have the release date (August 28^th - yay) – and to thank you for making the books such a success.

Note Louise's award winning books are at Chapters and in all the local libraries.

Nibble Your Way Through Louise Penny's Latest

Before you begin to read Louise Penny’s snappy mystery, The Brutal Telling, make sure your fridge is well stocked. And I don’t mean potato chips and coke either. Louise’s book is chock full of high class nosh and your desire for good food starts on page eight with a croissant and a latte in the tiny Quebec village of Three Pines, the setting of the novel, and proceeds, a page later, to the Chief Inspector’s house where a brunch of scramble eggs, fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh fruit, croissants and confiture is being enjoyed by the family.

Before long a body is discovered in the bistro at Three Pines and then the eating really begins. Everyone stops next door at the boulangerie for warm fresh bread before tucking into the fettuccini with shrimp and scallops sautéed in garlic and olive oil. The dry white wine is poured.

Unfortunately, the beloved bistro must close for the investigation, but the inhabitants of Three Pines get by on fresh salad from the local gardens and sandwiches of chicken, Brie and pesto.

Who in Three Pines did the deed? Many odd characters live nearby and the locals waste no time getting together to discuss the affair around the old plank table laden with corn on the cob from the garden and barbequed salmon.

By this time you have gained ten pounds but you can’t put the book down. You are on the scent with kindly Chief Inspector Gamache working out your own solutions.

The cops are also on the case fortified with a good breakfast of pain dore, sliced strawberries and bananas, maple syrup and back bacon. But at this point, unfortunately for your waistline, the bistro reopens and many more delicious meals and snacks ensue.

A romp of a book with a creepy mystery, snarky characters, a homespun setting and, of course, a laden table will keep you turning the pages to the end. By the time the villain gets his just desserts, you’ll barely be able to get out of your chair and make it to the fridge.