Reply To: How do the different locations in The Grey Wolf affect the tone of the novel?
As much as I enjoy Three Pines and its generous and quirky or colorful residents, I enjoyed the forays into other locations and agree that each location holds a piece of information that is integral to the plot. I am amazed at Louise’s ability to weave all of those together and, at least for me, they all fit. Fundamentally, they fit because Gamache has to cast a wide net and folks keep showing up from, going to or being connected to different places. The remoteness of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, the Saguenay region, the “windswept Les Iles de la Madeleine” and Blanc-Sablon paint a picture of remote and rugged country, a stark contrast to the relaxing setting of Three Pines where one enjoys a cafe au lait by the fireplace or an aperitif on the terrace. And the float plane ride to the Abbey was nothing short of harrowing. Both the Vatican and DC are the embodiments of intrigue! For all of those reasons, they set the tone for a tense story. They are central to connecting the people and clues. And I personally appreciated the inclusion of different locations and LP’s vivid descriptions of those places.
