Dead Cold is the sequel to Penny's successful debut novel, Still Life. She has created a complex and engaging world, centred on the (fictional) village of Three Pines in Quebec's Eastern Townships. We enter into a Christmas panorama, full of swirling snow and figures swathed in thick winter clothing, including multi-coloured tuques. We meet the egregious C.C. Poitiers, a Montreal entrepreneur and purveyor of specious Eastern philosophy who makes an enemy of everyone she encounters and who has recently purchased the big house on the hill above the village. It is her fate to be electrocuted at the annual Boxing Day curling match. A murder investigation ensues, headed by inspector Armand Gamache, with whom the reader is delighted to renew acquaintance. In Gamache, Penny has created a detective of classic stature, a thoughtful and deeply human character as well as a brilliant investigator. Comparisons could be made to Poirot and Morse.