The Madness of Crowds

This is the 17th installment in Louise Penny's  "Inspector Gamache" series. The topic is extremely timely as it addresses how a charismatic speaker can interpret actual (or alternate) facts and convince millions of people to not only believe what they're told but also act on it--even when the actions are legally or morally indefensible. The rights of the most vulnerable members of society and the aftermath of the pandemic are themes that run throughout the story as well. Gamache, as further punishment from the head of homicide at the Surete, is asked to provide security for a university professor of statistics coming to a small local university to give a talk; given that it's the holidays, it seems unlikely that anyone will turn out. When Gamache researches Dr. Abigail Robinson, however, he finds her topic so repulsive that he begs the local university to cancel the event. Dr. Robinson has concluded from her data during the pandemic that we cannot survive unless we eliminate all the non-productive people in our society--the old, the sick, the disabled. Given that Gamache has a granddaughter with Down's syndrome, this is a very personal issue. Dr. Robinson's controversial conclusions have attracted millions of followers and opposition; violence has often accompanied her public appearances. Sure enough, in spite of extensive precautions, someone shoots at Robinson during he talk and she is only saved by Gamache's fast action. Now Gamache's team must investigate an attempted murder. What complicates things further is that, on New Year's Eve, when the village of Three Pines is gathered to celebrate, a successful murder spoils the festivities. However, it is not Robinson who is killed, but rather her loyal friend and assistant. Was she killed by mistake or was she actually the intended victim. As usual, past events and their effects on the human psyche, even years later, become the focus of the investigation. And everyone seems to be hiding big secrets, even people Gamache has known for years. 

Kirkus concludes their review by saying "No one balances tight plotting, compassion for her flawed characters, and a broader vision of humanity like Penny." Similarly, Publishers Weekly offers "Seamlessly integrating debates about scientific experimentation and morality into a fair-play puzzle, Penny excels at placing her characters in challenging ethical quandaries. This author just goes from strength to strength." The New York Journal of Books goes even further: "High emotion is balanced by high intellect and a high level of craft, revealing an author at the top of her game. Don’t be surprised if she receives an award for this one."