“Ms. Penny has no peer in her ability to situate the lives of sympathetic characters within such elaborate and thrilling storylines. Even if The Black Wolf were not so intelligent and exciting in its construction, it would be hard not to root for a hero who still believes: ‘There’s more goodness than cruelty in this world.’”—Wall Street Journal

“Penny brings her customary thoughtfulness, storytelling gifts, literary allusions, and humanity to a warning wrapped in a thriller that should resonate on both sides of the border.”—Airmail

“How does she do it? Twenty books into her Inspector Gamache series, Penny rolls out a sequel to her bestselling Grey Wolf that’s as up to date as today’s headlines. In a world where black is white and truth is mutable, you can fool anyone, even the brilliant detective of Three Pines. While it’s not essential to read The Grey Wolf before this book, I recommend it…This is a riveting book by one of Canada’s best.”—The Globe and Mail

“An intriguing tale of misdirection… thought-provoking and entertaining…”—BookTrib

“Penny’s talent for nail-biting suspense and quiet character moments fuse with surprisingly topical subject matter to deliver an unputdownable installment of an ever reliable series. Readers will cheer.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Penny is one hell of a writer: her Gamache novels, and the political thriller she co-wrote with Hillary Clinton (State of Terror, 2021), are tightly plotted and beautifully written. This one’s a bit different, though; while normally a gentle, thoughtful man, Gamache appears to be under more internal pressure here than we’ve seen before, as though he’s demanding something of himself that he might not be able to deliver: absolution for letting the Black Wolf get away. An absolute must-read.” —Booklist

"Uncannily prophetic..."—Kirkus Reviews

“Trust Penny to offer another smart, well-plotted, suspenseful tale.”—AARP.com

“A compelling whodunit that is virtually impossible to put down. Penny is simply the best of the best. Don’t miss this one, but PS: Definitely read The Grey Wolf first. The Black Wolf is certainly readable as a standalone novel, but your enjoyment (and horror) will be much deeper having availed yourself of the earlier book.”—BookPage (starred)

“A brisk and engaging read… Thankfully, Penny does not neglect Three Pines here… all Three Pines regulars make appearances. Delicious food is eaten at the Bistro. Armand hitches a ride with Ruth and her duck Rosa. Clara gets a solo art show. Three Pines proves even more welcoming than usual, giving texture and warmth to a plot that is otherwise as chilling as 2025 has been so far.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“The writing is exquisite --- the staccato alternating action, violence, humor, evil, and then, finally, the peacefulness of the town of Three Pines, which all fans of this series long to visit or even move to."—Bookreporter

“The twists and turns just kept coming… if you’re into well-written thrillers with a literary twist—and especially if you’ve enjoyed Penny’s books before—this one’s well worth picking up.”—Woman’s World

“As always, Louise Penny’s proof that the ‘I couldn’t put it down’ encomium isn’t hype.”—Lavender Magazine

“There are many twists and turns…”—Denver Post