Glass Houses

by Louise Penny
Penny has done it again, another interesting story about Inspector Gamache and the quirky citizens of Three Pines.  In this story a strange character, in a black cape with a bird nose mask (like from Venice) stands  in the town square silent but staring.  They find out the character is like a Spanish character called a Cobrador del Frac, a conscience or "debt collector" who followed guilty people around to frame them.
Gamache approaches the character but the character won't speak. Everyone if the village fears it might be there to shame them.
There are two couples visiting the town at this time.  They come to the town annually but a little later this time.  There are also two new employees, a baker's assistant and a dishwasher, aspiring chef.
A few days later the black figure is gone but shortly after Gamache's wife discovers one of the woman visitor's dead in the church basement dressed in the costume.
As the story is told Gamache is on the witness stand and there appears to be friction between him and the Crown Counsel.  The Judge can sense it be can't figure out why.   She is unaware that Gamache has made the decision to commit perjury on the witness stand.
We learn that while the trial is underway Gamach, who is now Chief of the Surete, and his team are working to catch a major drug ring operating in the province.
In the end they find out who killed the woman (the sister of a man the woman rejected years before who killed himself) and they do catch the drug lords but not without violating some police policies so that both Gamache and the Crown Counsel find themselves removed from their jobs and under investigation.
 As always a great story including the antics of the locals.