The Madness of Crowds

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What to expect

The new book in the internationally bestselling Gamache series by 'one of the greatest crime writers of our time' (Denise Mina).

The incredible new book in Louise Penny's #1 bestselling Chief Inspector Gamache series.

When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is asked to provide crowd control at a statistics lecture given at the Université de l'Estrie in Quebec, he is dubious. Why ask the head of homicide to provide security for what sounds like a minor, even mundane lecture?

But dangerous ideas about who deserves to live in order for society to thrive are rapidly gaining popularity, fuelled by the research of the eminent Professor Abigail Robinson. Yet for every person seduced by her theories there is another who is horrified by them. When a murder is committed days after the lecture, it's clear that within crowds can lie madness.

To uncover the truth, Gamache must put his own feelings about the divisive Professor to one side. But with her ideas gaining ground, the line separating good and evil, right and wrong, is quickly blurring - especially when the case leads unexpectedly close to home...
Includes a bonus conversation between the author and audiobook narrator Adam Sims.

(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

Critics Review

  • Penny is on peak form… The Madness of Crowds is a grown-up, timely thriller that considers the nature of cowardice – “there’s no peace without courage” – and how to find and defend “that spot between freedom and safety

    The Times
  • The Madness of Crowds is very much a book that will make you think.

    SHOTS
  • A satisfying and multi-layered mystery, the 17th in Penny’s excellent series.

    Irish Independent
  • This is a book of great ideas and wonderful characters

    On Magazine
  • Louise Penny is one of the greatest crime writers of our times

    Denise Mina
  • She makes most of her competitors seem like wannabes

    The Times

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