Jealousy and resentment of another’s talent is an important theme in the novel, animating both the primary plot about Peter’s disappearance and the secondary murder mystery plot. Peter was jealous of Clara’s talent and success, and this jealousy undermined their marriage and led to their separation. Gamache reflects that even Peter’s love for his wife could not eliminate his jealousy, since Peter “lov[ed] the woman but hat[ed] and fear[ed] what she’d created. Peter didn’t want Clara to die, but he’d almost certainly wanted her paintings to die” (47). Ruth later connects Peter’s jealousy to his inability to be content and grateful, explaining that “some are born to be brilliant. Peter was. But he just couldn’t get there” (277).

Much like Peter, Massey is tormented by his lack of artistic vision. He becomes obsessed with Norman because the other man is a far more talented artist. When Peter and Gamache discuss why Massey preserved one of Norman’s paintings even as he gradually killed the other man, Peter concludes that “for all his faults, Professor Massey loved art. Knew art. I think that painting by Professor Norman must’ve been so great even he couldn’t destroy it” (360).