The Cruelest Month

The Cruelest Month, by Louise Penny, is the third novel in the Three Pines Mysteries series, which feature Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, published in 2008.

In December 2022, the novel was adapted to streaming television at Amazon Prime Video as the two-part second arc of Three Pines, starring Alfred Molina, written by Jamie Crichton and directed by Tracey Deer.

Plot summary
The novel, set in the small Canadian town of Three Pines, takes place around the Easter season. A group of friends visits a haunted house, hoping to rid it of the evil spirits that have haunted it, and the village, for decades. One of them ends up dead, apparently of fright. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team from the Sûreté du Québec investigate the old house and the villagers of Three Pines.

Awards and recognition
The Cruelest Month was the recipient of the Agatha Award for best mystery novel of 2008.

It was also nominated for the Anthony Award, the Macavity Award and the Barry Award for best crime novel of 2008.

Adaptation
In December 2022, the novel was adapted as the two-part episode of the same name, serving as the second arc of the mystery television series Three Pines, starring Alfred Molina as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, written by Jamie Crichton, directed by Tracey Deer, and released to Amazon Prime Video.