Chapter 39 Summary – The Grey Wolf
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens in a dim chapel where Armand Gamache lowers his gun to better study Jeanne Caron’s face as he questions her. Caron explains that she broke into Marcus Lauzon’s antique rolltop desk that morning and found hidden papers, which now sit in a satchel on the altar. She claims she tried to alert the RCMP by calling Gamache on Sunday because she knew he was incorruptible. She then reveals the plot: someone will poison Montréal’s drinking water, creating mass panic, forcing the Prime Minister out of office, and allowing Lauzon to seize dictatorial power. Caron names Joseph Moretti, head of the Sixth Family (the Canadian mafia), as Lauzon’s co-conspirator. Gamache presses her for details, and she admits that she helped Lauzon earlier with bribes and other crimes but was cut out of the final scheme.
Dom Philippe, the Abbot and Caron’s uncle, interjects that he gave Caron a note reading “Water” after Brother Robert’s warning. Caron confirms that the LaSalle water treatment plant is the likely target because botulinum toxin can survive that plant’s treatment process. She stole the papers to find the exact toxin but has not yet read them all.
Gamache receives a text from Isabelle Lacoste: Brother Robert has been murdered. As he shows the phone to Beauvoir, Gamache notices a glint in the shadows of the chapel. Before anyone can react, a shot is fired.
The scene shifts to the monastery in France. Lacoste and Inspector Dussault find Brother Robert’s body face-down in the grass. They determine he was killed, not an accident. The monks pray; the Abbot reports that Brother Constantine is missing. Lacoste asks Sébastien to take her to Brother Robert’s cell, which has been ransacked—the mattress emptied, books thrown about, the Bible on the floor. They then check Brother Constantine’s cell, also empty. Sébastien suggests the infirmary, where the elixir for Chartreuse is mixed at night. As they hurry there, the sound of a helicopter signals the arrival of the Grenoble police.
Key Events
- Gamache interrogates Jeanne Caron about the water-poisoning plot.
- Caron reveals that Marcus Lauzon and Joseph Moretti are behind the plot to poison Montréal’s water.
- Caron admits past complicity but claims she was not included in the final plan.
- Dom Philippe explains that he gave Caron the “Water” note after Brother Robert’s warning.
- Caron identifies the LaSalle water plant as the likely target and botulinum as the probable toxin.
- Gamache receives word that Brother Robert has been murdered.
- A glint in the chapel shadows precedes a gunshot.
- In France, Lacoste discovers Brother Robert’s body and a ransacked cell.
- Brother Constantine is missing; monks fear he may be involved.
- Grenoble police arrive to take over the investigation.
Character Development
- Armand Gamache remains methodical and relentless, pressing Caron for the truth and assessing every statement for holes. He trusts his instincts about when to believe a suspect and when to push harder.
- Jeanne Caron sheds her manipulative mask for a moment, revealing genuine fear. Though she initially helped Lauzon, her desperation to stop the plot suggests a shift—or a calculated ploy.
- Jean-Guy Beauvoir stays alert, ready to act, and shares a quick understanding with Gamache when they realize Caron is likely telling the truth about the toxin.
- Dom Philippe appears increasingly sincere but remains ambiguous; his story about feeding Paolo Parisi and his role as Caron’s estranged uncle adds complexity.
- Isabelle Lacoste acts decisively across the Atlantic, leading the investigation in France. She challenges Sébastien to consider the possibility that the killer is one of the monks.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Power and Corruption: The plot to poison a city’s water supply to stage a coup exemplifies how political ambition can override ethics.
- Deception and Trust: Nearly every character operates on hidden agendas; Caron’s confession may be genuine or another layer of manipulation.
- Water as Vulnerability: The motif of water—essential yet dangerously exposed—highlights how easily society’s infrastructure can be weaponized.
- Sacrifice and Duty: Brother Robert died for his knowledge; Lacoste and others push forward despite personal risk.
- The Monastery as Sanctuary and Trap: The chapel and monastery initially feel safe but become sites of murder and ambush.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 39 is a turning point in the novel. It confirms the grand conspiracy behind the attacks and introduces Joseph Moretti, elevating the threat from domestic corruption to organized crime. The murder of Brother Robert shows that no one is safe, and the cliffhanger gunshot leaves Gamache’s fate uncertain. This chapter also deepens the parallel investigations in Canada and France, creating tension across two locations.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why did Jeanne Caron claim she contacted Gamache rather than the RCMP? She argued that Gamache was the only person she knew who could not be corrupted or intimidated, citing how he had charged Lauzon’s daughter despite Caron’s earlier bribe and threats. This gave her confidence that he was not involved in the plot.
2. How does the botulinum toxin factor into the plot, and why is the LaSalle plant the likely target? Caron suspects botulinum because it is one of the few toxins that survives the sodium hypochlorite treatment used at the newer LaSalle facility. She had Langlois stationed there to investigate but he was killed, suggesting he found evidence.
3. What does the ransacking of Brother Robert’s cell suggest about the killer? The cell was torn apart, with books thrown and the mattress emptied. This indicates the killer was searching for something—likely the recipe or other documents. The disorder also implies a non-professional or a panicked search, possibly by someone within the monastery.