Chief Inspector Armand Gamache doesn't understand why he, as head of homocide, has been asked to provide crowd control for a statistics lecture held in the Christmas break. Who is likely to attend and why will feelings run high?

However, in the wake of the pandemic, dangerous ideas are gaining popularity. Who deserves to live in order for society to thrive? Professor Abigail Robinson is visiting to share her theories.

Days after the Professor's lecture, a murder is committed.

Gamache and his family have their own response to Professor Robinson, and the lines between good and evil, right and wrong are blurring.

Not previously having read anything by this author, I didn't know what to expect and was intrigued by the central character, and the Canadian setting.

The subject matter which provoked the crimes is a troubling one, though, and seemed out of place as a murder mystery, to me. However, it was a page turner and I'll be interested to read more by this author.