Book Club Friends Discussion Guide For:
A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny
A Fatal Grace is Book #2 of the Chief Inspector Gamache series
Published: 2008-02-05
A Fatal Grace Discussions
Please note that all discussions may contain spoilers.
Truncated topics below. Full questions available in the forums via direct links.
Topic
Date
Direct Link
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Gamache’s thoughts on mistakes
Gamache tells Lemieux, “All the mistakes I’ve made have been because I’ve assumed something and then acted as though it was fact.” Have you ever made important assumptions that turned out not to be true?17/05/2025 -
There are so many clues hidden in plain sight in the book.
Did you spot any of them in advance, and did you solve any of the various puzzles before Gamache did?19/05/2025 -
The power of the word
Near the end, Gamache says, “This whole case has been about belief and the power of the word.” What does he mean? What are the ways in which words have power?23/05/2025 -
A Fatal Grace flaws
Did you have any issues with A Fatal Grace. Are these flaws you can overlook? Why or why not?28/05/2025 -
Detecting The Wisdom of Gamache
Sleuth work: The Wisdom of Gamache in A Fatal Grace: Identify phrases in this book that embrace Gamache’s approach to life. ONLY comment with the phrase! Discussion of the selected phrase will take place next week after Louise reveals her phrase.18/06/2024 -
The spirit of the Three Pines community
Identify a phrase or scene that embraces the spirit of Three Pines in A Fatal Grace. What does the phrase or scene mean to you? How does it inspire you?19/06/2024 -
The humour of Louise Penny
What’s your favourite phrase or scene that demonstrates Louise’s humour in A Fatal Grace?20/06/2024 -
An insight into human nature
Identify a phrase or scene that demonstrates an insight into human nature in A Fatal Grace. Discuss the quote or scene and what it means to you or how it has impacted you.21/06/2024 -
A historical detail of interest
In A Fatal Grace, did you pick up on any historical or geographical details of interest? Tell us about it and what you appreciated learning about in A Fatal Grace.22/06/2024 -
An enticing food moment
Tell us about your favourite food moment in A Fatal Grace! Has the food in this book inspired you to try a new dish or bake/cook something new?23/06/2024 -
Discussion of The Wisdom of Gamache phrase chosen by Louise Penny
Discuss The Wisdom of Gamache phrase chosen by Louise. What does this phrase mean to you? How does it inspire you?25/06/2024 -
What are the clues to the murders in A Fatal Grace, and how does Louise Penny hide them in plain sight?
In the golden age of classic murder mysteries, the Detection Club, whose founders included Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie, drew up a list of rules for crime fiction that included the following: “No clue that is important to the solution of the puzzle may be concealed from the reader.”28/09/2023 -
A number of the people in the novel have had damaging childhoods. What helps or hinders them in moving beyond those childhoods?
Consider the lines (from “A Sad Child,” by Margaret Atwood”): “Well, all children are sad/but some get over it.”30/09/2023 -
03/10/2023
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Additional Discussion Questions About A Fatal Grace On Book Club Friends
Answer posted questions or pose your own questions for the group to answer
Three Pines
Reference: Home! Real world location: The Town of Brome Lake…
Published on Book Club Friends with permission from Louise Penny.
Tap images to enlarge
Want to know more about Ruth Zardo’s Poetry?
“I’m so happy I made, by some miracle, Ruth a poet. Again, contrast. The embittered elderly poet, with such insight into the human heart (sometimes filled with frost), and human condition. Later in the series, as you might know, we find out who hurt her once, ‘so far beyond repair…”
“I wish I could take credit for the poetry, but the fact is, the poetry is mostly from two works…Margaret Atwood’s Morning in the Burned House…and a privately published book by the late Marylyn Plessner.” ― Louise Penny
Louise also credits Leonard Cohen, Stevie Smith, Ralph Hodgson, Mike Freeman, Liz Davidson, Robert Service, and W.H. Auden for poetry quoted in her books.
Tap image to enlarge
Lady Mink: A Sort of Requiem
&
God Be In My Head
by Marylyn Plessner
from Vapour Trails
“For those that are interested in Margaret Atwood’s work in association with her poetry referenced in Louise’s books, I encourage all to read her newly published short story compilation Old Babes in the Woods. She is an amazing writer! I saw some similarities in writing styles with Louise. I listened on audio, and Margaret read several. These stories have a broad range and some may be considered odd. If you don’t like one, just move on. I particularly loved several stories about long-married Tig & Nell, if you need help with aging and loss as many of us do.”
Three Pines Poetry Sources
Morning in the Burned House
These beautifully crafted poems, by turns dark, playful, intensely moving,…
The Essential Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen’s album “Essential Leonard Cohen” contains the song “Anthem”…
All the Poems: Stevie Smith
The essential edition of one of modern poetry’s most distinctive…
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