Amber Dermont's novel is beautifully written and probably one edit shy of a 5 rating. The numerous characters came alive throughout the story. Many of the passages I committed to memory. You don't have to be a 17 year old boy to appreciate this extremely well-crafted story.

This is the second book in the Piper Donovan Mystery series, featuring a young actress turned wedding cake designer. I enjoyed book as a quick read, but I yearned for more character and plot development. The characters, even Piper, seemed one-dimensional, not really coming alive on the page. Having nailed the culprit early on, I was hoping for plot twists to throw me off. I felt that the story was in a serious need of a more judicious editing. There was a boatload of unresolved filler, which probably only served to bring up the page count and annoy the reader.

Thank you for introducing me to Louise Penny through your First Impression Program. A Trick of the Light is the 7th Inspector Gamache mystery and the first that I read. Like a gracious and welcoming community, the novel’s characters came to life within the book and I found myself deeply interested in their dreams, misgivings, hopes and fears. Through the storyline of a solving a murder mystery, the reader learns about the community of artists, critics and gallery owners. Running throughout the storyline are the challenges faced by addicts and recovering addicts. The story is well paced, with multiple plot twists to keep the reader thoroughly engaged. The story is entertaining and informative and the writing is exceptional. I will now hunt down Ms. Penny’s older books and anxiously await her next book. Thank you again for the introduction.