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Penny often weaves intricate mysteries but this story seemed unnecessarily convoluted. The threads seemed very tangled and as things ‘unraveled� it really was more frustrating than suspenseful.

Dialogue seemed very repetitive, the internal struggles seemed to lack depth (maybe even authenticity), most supporting characters were not needed, and even Armand Gamache’s usually compelling personality was nonexistent.

Penny bit off quite a bit to explore the duality of human nature. Her choice of environmental disaster, with its accompanying extreme proponents tied to the take over of the nation by diabolical politicians and government employees, did not seem current (which this reviewer guessed was Penny’s idea) and so far fetched as to be implausible.

It seemed overly grim, even at the resolution, until this reviewer realized the next book seems to be a direct sequel to The Grey Wolf—Penny was setting up The Black Wolf.
For all of that, Penny does hit upon many ‘truths� and for that, this reviewer increased the star ratings otherwise given.

Key Lines::
…feelings were more real, more powerful than thoughts. They were the engine of perception, which drove though, which became words and prompted action.
The framed photos on the wall, which Gauthier was glancing at, were out of date, showing many politicians, now dead, shaking hands with other politicians, now disgraced.
All for the public good. All with public consent.

One of us, thought Lacoste. There were few more dangerous phrases. Partly because it held truth. There were teams, tribes, families, companies. Friends. Us. But it was rarely just a description of a group. There was, about it, a distinction “Us� implies there was a “Them.� And “Us� was better than “Them.�

Key Points:
The out-of-control grandchildren with the character Ruth were distasteful and off-putting, not even close to charming or quirky.