The novel "The Cruelest Month" continues the series of investigations of the brilliant Chief Inspector Armand Gamache - a new character created by the pen of Louise Penny, the only five-time Agatha Christie Award winner in the world.

"The Cruelest Month" - so said poet about April. And to uphold his reputation, this month puts Chief Inspector Armand Gamache to the ultimate test. Together with his team, Gamache returns to the village of Three Pines to investigate the mysterious death of a certain Madeleine Farveau. During a spiritualistic seance, which local residents held in an old abandoned house, which is notorious, Madeleine suddenly dies. Everyone thinks that she was simply scared to death, because communication with the world of ghosts is not in vain for anyone. However, Gamache suspects that the matter is much more complicated than it seems at first glance. Having begun an investigation, he suddenly becomes the target of fierce attacks in the press related to one of his past cases. Now he needs not only to solve the alleged murder, but also to clear his name...