The Long Way Home

It was always clear that Peter was troubled, but I hoped he would be redeemed at some point. As I came to the series pretty late, and having read #8 first, I knew there were many books in which Peter's redemption could happen. I waited, and it just didn't come. I hoped for it, and it seemed like he was worsening. And then, an ultimatum for Peter. I thought it might be the end of his story.
The ending of the previous book in the series left me uncertain where Penny would take us, as I knew there were at least 6 more books. I didn't know how Armand would keep investigating (does he become a private investigator?), and I didn't know if Peter would be with us. Again, I hoped for redemption, and I suppose that what I got. But this ending did not leave me with any apprehension about what would come next; I am not anxious for the next in the series.
I almost didn't read this book, feeling like I had spent enough time reading the series over the last year and I should try something else. But I had forgotten I'd already requested it from the library so when it arrived I dove in. I appreciated the divergence from the normal formula for the series. I have read that others did not like it, but I think it was serendipitous for me. It got me thinking about my mother quite a bit, as she was a painter of no great renown who past over a decade ago. I thought about the different exhibits we had seen over the years, and nodded along to the art analysis in the book. The subject, structure and plot worked for me in this moment. I have a stronger emotional connection to this particular book, more so than any other's in the series. And though the ending seemed a bit rushed, and the drama a bit predictable, I still bawled my eyes out.

Beautiful, as always. Many books in this series stand on their own, but with this one I think you need to have read through the series to really understand Clara and Peter's relationship.