Louise Penny’s The Black Wolf is a follow up to The Grey Wolf. The book more than satisfied my anticipation for the sequel and the latest in the Armand Gamache series. While The Black Wolf continues the saga, Penny has penned a totally new story. Political intrigue and action blended with climate change awareness and the age-old need for basic survival. And what is more critical for a country than clean water?

Climate change is central to the novel. Specifically, the author writes about wildfire, similar to the huge wildfires North America has experienced over the last few years. She deftly ties the wildfires to water quality. Furthermore, Penny takes this point one step further. “What happens when the water runs out?” Historically, wars are fought over resources and power. Penny stresses this fact throughout The Black Wolf. And as often happens fiction can be a precursor to life. Is it possible that Canada could become the 51^st state?

One of the complexities of the Gamache series is the plethora of characters. It is possible for the reader to become confused. Another difficulty relates to Inspector Gamache inability to decide who the mastermind is. And who can be trusted. This is intentional. The twists and turns engage the reader.

The characters are divided into three groups, those always in the books, those appearing from time to time and first-time appearances. New readers will have a hard time keeping everything straight in The Black Wolf. Perhaps even devoted followers.

One of the zingers in the novel relates to the current political climate. The plot of The Black Wolf hinges on strained relations between Canada and the United States of America. Penny proposes in her fiction that a plot is underfoot to merge the two countries. Both misinformation and disinformation play a part. Power figures include politicians and the mafia as well as various police forces. The current real-life idea of a fifty-first state iterated by President Trump mirrors the fiction. Penny unknowingly foreshadowed this power move. Again, it boils down to “What happens when the water runs out?”

The Black Wolf lives up to expectations. In fact, the novel exceeds. The added climate change theme fits well with current events. This is fiction, but what will happen if the climate scientists are right and the United States runs out of water? Is invasion of Canada a possibility? Inspector Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie think so.

This is a great book to borrow, or buy, and share. Louise Penny has another winner.