A Fatal Grace

The village of Three Pines acts as a symbol of peace and serenity far away from the stress of urban life. The warmth of the village interiors stands in stark contrast to the frigid temperatures of Quebec province. Although winter can be a beautiful season, cold can kill. Three Pines seems impervious to that danger. That is, until two murders interrupt the setting’s pastoral simplicity.

Despite the underlying violence of the story, Three Pines retains its sense of innocence and magic throughout. Clara views Three Pines as “the enchanted village of her childhood.” (14-15). Myrna, too, views Three Pines as a place of enchantment: “Perhaps this was like Brigadoon. Perhaps it only appeared every number of years, and only to people who needed to see it” (16). Even Gamache views the village as a place that “promis[es] protection against a world sometimes too cold” (406).

The Li Bien ball is a Christmas ornament hand-painted by CC’s mother. It comes to symbolize a variety of concepts over the course of the book. Initially, CC describes Li Bien as an ancient oriental philosophy passed down through her family; therefore, the ball isn’t just an object but represents a way of life.

Later, in a flashback to CC’s childhood, the reader becomes aware of the emotional pain CC associates with the ornament: “CC leaned into the ball, losing herself in its peace and calm and light” just before her mother is taken away to a mental institution (37).