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Aug 08, 2017JLMason rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
The theme of a “band of brothers” riven by differences in fundamental beliefs drives this mystery set in a remote Quebec monastery where both the monks and the Sûreté du Québec are beset by internecine strife. Parallel conflicts play out, one rooted in murder, the other leading to a lost soul in turmoil. The reader learns about the origins of Gregorian chant and the development of early musical notation, which are central to the mystery. The narrative could have been tightened by removing some of the repetitive emotional wallowing and reliving of past trauma, but Penny’s strength is how she immerses us in the minds and motivations of her characters. We understand them, the dark and the light, and sometimes recognize ourselves.