The Brutal Telling

The setting of The Brutal Telling is Three Pines, a small village community outside of Montreal. Due to its seclusion and small size, Three Pines is a tight-knit community. People move there to find a respite from stressful big-city lives, but Three Pines has a specific ethos and rules. Adhering to the village’s neighborly ethos ingratiates one to the tight-knit community. Due to the small size of the village, villagers know one another intimately. Ironically, intimate spaces breed more secrets. The closer the villagers become, the more they risk revealing secrets. For example, Olivier has a successful life in Three Pines, both professionally and personally. But the closer he gets to other villagers, the more he must protect his secret about Jakob. Olivier doesn’t want to betray his reputation or risk his relationships by revealing the truth. He is able to hide his flaws because the welcoming environment of Three Pines gives him ample opportunity to show his generosity instead.

As such, when Olivier is implicated in Jakob’s murder, the villagers stand by him. Even when he is officially accused of murder, his friends maintain his goodness. The safety of the small community provides unconditional love, a loyal support network, and the ability to tackle the challenges of the world together. However, not everyone benefits from this tight-knit community. For people who are considered outsiders, like Marc Gilbert, this small community suddenly becomes oppressive, not supportive. Marc and Dominique don’t ingratiate themselves with the villagers: They live apart from them because the old Hadley house is high on a hill, overlooking the rest of the village. Gabri goes so far as to confront the couple about their competing business, but this unspoken rule is not something they would know as outsiders. Overall, Three Pines is small and therefore exclusive; had the villagers been more inclusive with the Gilberts, tension between Marc and Olivier could have been avoided. On the other hand, the Gilberts could have done more to learn about the village. Several characters discuss the conflict of being considered an “outsider.” There is danger to being an outsider because fewer people will help or trust you, as Marc learns firsthand. Thus, in a small community, there is both safety and danger in tight-knit dynamics.

Three Pines may be idyllic, but its quiet makes it a prime location for evil. Because it is so secluded from larger towns and cities, it is easy for Jakob to disappear in the forest. For decades, no one but Olivier knows that Jakob and his cabin exist. Jakob himself was certain no one would bother him because people in small towns tend to fixate on their own town, not the outside world. Furthermore, people may think they can get away with more crimes in a place like Three Pines because there are few witnesses and no police department. Overall, Three Pines’ sheltered nature is its blessing and its curse.