Join the Louise Penny party tonight

Above: Nathaniel Parker starred as Inspector Armand Gamache in a 2013 televised version of Louise Penny's novel "Still Life."

When I worked at The Spokesman-Review, I held a number of positions. One of my favorites was book columnist, which required me to compile the weekly author readings (mostly at Auntie's Bookstore) and to pass on other regional book news.

I had a button posted to my computer terminal that read "So many books, so little time."

I share that bit of miscellany because of what I'm going to type next: Until last fall, I had never heard of Louise Penny. Check that: Maybe I had heard of the name, its being so unique and all. But I had no knowledge of the person behind the name.

But then I listened to an audiobook edition of Penny's novel "The Nature of the Beast" and I was transformed into an instant fan. Penny, as her fans well know, is the Canadian author of the Armand Gamache "Three Pines" mystery series. And the 12th edition of that series, "A Great Reckoning," is now available.

Gamache, for you other Penny newcomers, is head of the homicide department of the Sûreté du Québec, though by the time of "The Nature of the Beast" he has retired (yet is having second thoughts).

In honor of that release, Auntie's is holding a special Louise Penny Mystery Party tonight at 7. Information for pre-registration can be found here. If nothing else, maybe you can pick up a copy of the book.

One further note: No knowledge of French is required.