“Then his eyes dropped to the village in the valley below them, as though held in the palm of an ancient hand. A stigmata in the Quebec countryside. Not a wound, but a wonder.”

This quotation introduces the village of Three Pines, which functions as a key setting and important symbol in the novel. Three Pines symbolizes a sense of safety and security for Gamache and many other characters. Penny develops that symbolism by describing the village’s geography using the metaphor of a cupped hand, sheltered and safe. Penny also uses the metaphor of stigmata (marks appearing on hands and feet to reflect the traditional wounds inflicted on Jesus during the crucifixion) to introduce the theme that injuries and scars can be sources of power and salvation.

“This is my life, my problem, not yours. Do you think every damsel is in distress? Did I just become a problem to be solved? A weakling to be saved?”

Clara speaks these words when lashing out at Gamache. She is angry that after she confided in him about Peter’s disappearance, he immediately told others. Clara’s character is revealed in this quotation: she is independent, self-reliant, and likes to be in control. The quotation establishes a tension between Gamache and Clara that will resurface several times during the novel as they argue about who should be in control of the investigation. Clara also highlights the gender dynamic, challenging any notion that Gamache might expect to be in control because he is a man.