Armand Gamache has come out of retirement to take over as head of the Surete Academy which needs cleaning up as badly as the Surete did. Meanwhile, the village of Three Pines is agog over an old map discovered in the walls of the bistro. These two events cross over into an intricate combination of murder and old history. 
 Armand is a complex figure, clever and just in his own way, a man who agonizes over decisions but takes all the responsibility for them. The residents of Three Pines are delightful and their relationships with the cadets that become lodged in their village only enhance the story. The cadets and professors at the academy are at the heart of this mystery. 
 Ms. Penny is such a wonderful writer and never missteps. I admit she shocked me at one point when I thought there was a typo for youth (fans of My Cousin Vinny will get this). The quality of her writing is excellent and her plotlines only encourage the reader to go faster and deeper into the story to see what happens next. I highly recommend all of her books, but this is one of the best.