Adam and Amelia Wright reach the summit of a hill near the chapel, only to find their hopes of a phone signal or civilization dashed by the vast, snow-covered isolation. Adam is disturbed by a fleeting glimpse of a woman at the cottage, triggering an unsettling déjà vu. He reflects on his prosopagnosia (face blindness), which prevents him from recognizing faces, even Amelia's, knowing her only by shape, scent, and mannerisms.
Chapter 37: Adam
As the weather turns from sleet to hail, Adam and Amelia begin their descent, the worsening storm mirroring their growing dread. Amelia spots a figure entering the chapel, and Adam is disturbed to see the person wearing what looks like a red kimono, reminiscent of his mother's. His unease escalates when he realizes the figure unlocked the chapel doors, despite him having the only key. His suspicion about the trip intensifies, and he presses Amelia about the raffle she supposedly won. Her claim of winning the grand prize with a single ticket seems increasingly unlikely, solidifying his fear that they have been deliberately lured to this isolated place.
Chapter 38: Robin
The narrative shifts to the mysterious woman, Robin, who possesses her own key and a deep, personal connection to the chapel. After leaving her pet rabbit, Oscar, at the cottage, she walks to the chapel, knowing Adam and Amelia are on the hill and unable to stop her. Inside, the scent of Amelia's perfume and their dog irritates her. She moves with familiarity, her actions fueled by a cold, calculated anger.
Robin's intrusion is a systematic violation of the Wrights' privacy. She goes through their belongings, first in the bathroom, where she pours out Amelia's shampoo and uses their toothbrushes to scrub the toilet. She steals a jar of expensive face cream, a small act of personal reclamation. In the bedroom, she finds Adam's wallet and discovers a small, burnt origami crane, which momentarily softens her anger, making her "hate him a little less." Her discovery in Amelia's bedside drawer is more sinister: she finds an inhaler and prescription sleeping pills. She empties the inhaler and takes it, along with the pills, deliberately removing a vital medical aid. Her tour of sabotage concludes with a trip to the bell tower, where she rings the chapel bell, a clear signal that the Wrights are no longer alone.
Chapter 39: Amelia
Amelia struggles to keep up with Adam as he races back to the chapel. Her asthma flares up, and she realizes with dawning horror that she left her inhaler behind. When she hears the chapel bell toll, she assumes Adam has made it inside. The blizzard intensifies, reducing visibility to almost zero. When she finally reaches the chapel, she finds the main doors wide open and a pair of unfamiliar wellington boots in the entryway. The scene is unnerving, made stranger by smiley faces drawn in the dust on a bench.
Frantically, Amelia searches the empty chapel for Adam. He is nowhere to be found in the main rooms, the bedroom, or even the bell tower. Her panic escalates when she checks the bedside drawer and confirms her inhaler is gone. Just as she is about to check the crypt, she hears Adam's voice. He calls out from behind a large bookcase in the lounge, revealing a secret door. Amelia pushes it open to find a hidden study. Adam, sitting at an antique desk, tells her the intruder is gone but left the study door open. He then delivers a shocking revelation: he recognizes the room from a magazine article and now knows who owns Blackwater Chapel. He declares that their arrival was no coincidence and Amelia's raffle win must have been a lie.
Chapter 40: Copper (Anniversary Letter)
This chapter is an anniversary letter from Amelia to Adam, written for their seventh anniversary (Copper) on February 28, 2015. The letter exposes the deep fractures in their marriage, a theme of Marriage and Betrayal. Amelia recounts the recent death of actress October O'Brien, the star of Adam's passion project, Rock Paper Scissors, which has now been cancelled. The couple is in New York, ostensibly to celebrate their anniversary, but the trip has been co-opted by Adam's work with the famous author Henry Winter.
Amelia expresses profound loneliness and resentment. Adam is completely absorbed by Henry, whom she describes as a hermit who "drinks like a fish, and is impossible to please." She feels Adam's relationship with the older author is an unhealthy obsession, a desperate search for a father figure and validation he never received. During their anniversary dinner, they argue bitterly after Adam announces he's flying to L.A. with Henry, further postponing his own creative work. He cruelly tells Amelia she has "no friends or even a life of your own." The letter reveals Amelia's own secret: while feeling abandoned, she has been texting with a "new friend at work" who "missed me," hinting at an emotional connection outside her marriage. The theme of Secrets and Deception is central here, as both partners are hiding things from each other.
Chapter 41: Robin
The perspective returns to Robin, who has been hiding in another room within the chapel. After Adam and Amelia are safely inside the secret study, she slips out undetected. She is now outside, listening to their conversation through the study's stained-glass window. She is not alone; she has a "silent companion" with her. Robin reflects on The Inescapable Past, musing on how a single bad decision can lead to a point of no return. She thinks about how people hide dark secrets, using the local shopkeeper with a criminal record as an example. Her thoughts are tinged with regret and a sense of fatalism, believing that secrets and past mistakes inevitably catch up with you. She is patiently waiting for the right moment, orchestrating events from the shadows as the Wrights begin to uncover the truth she has laid out for them.
Character Development
- Adam Wright: Adam's vulnerability is emphasized through his prosopagnosia and his traumatic memories of his mother's death. The anniversary letter reveals his deep-seated insecurities, his neglect of Amelia, and his obsessive need for approval from Henry Winter, a surrogate father figure. He shifts from a passive, disgruntled husband to an active investigator as he realizes the danger they are in.
- Amelia Wright: Amelia's physical vulnerability (asthma) is made acute by Robin's theft of her inhaler. The anniversary letter provides a powerful look into her psyche, revealing years of resentment, loneliness, and a sharp, critical view of her husband's ambition. The introduction of her "new friend" suggests she is not merely a victim but a character with her own secrets and agency.
- Robin: Robin transforms from a mysterious background presence into the story's primary antagonist. Her actions are revealed to be premeditated and malicious. Her internal monologue shows she is driven by a past wrong and a twisted sense of justice, positioning her as a figure of Revenge and Justice. She is intelligent, patient, and in complete control of the situation.
Themes & Symbols
- The Inescapable Past: This theme is central. Adam is haunted by the death of his mother, triggered by the sight of the red kimono. Robin is driven by past events she cannot escape, reflecting that "our secrets have a habit of finding us." The anniversary letter is a document of past grievances that define the present.
- Secrets and Deception: The entire premise of the trip is revealed to be a lie. The discovery of the secret study is a literal uncovering of secrets. The anniversary letter is a catalogue of things unsaid, including Adam's secret phone calls with Henry and Amelia's secret correspondence with a friend.
- Identity and Misperception: Adam's prosopagnosia is the most literal manifestation of this theme, as he cannot truly "see" his wife. This is mirrored by the characters' inability to perceive each other's true motives. The Wrights misperceive Robin as a housekeeper, while the letter shows how much Adam and Amelia misperceive each other's needs and feelings.
Key Objects
- The Missing Inhaler: This object symbolizes Amelia's vulnerability and the very real, life-threatening nature of the game Robin is playing. It transforms the psychological threat into a physical one.
- The Chapel: The chapel functions as a character in itself—a container of secrets, hidden rooms, and a troubled history. It is both a prison and the key to unlocking the past.
Key Quotes
"no friends or even a life of your own."
Adam's cruel words to Amelia in the anniversary letter highlight the deep-seated resentment and lack of empathy within their marriage. This quote encapsulates the emotional neglect Amelia has endured, revealing Adam's blindness to her needs and feelings. It also foreshadows Amelia's potential for seeking connection outside the marriage.
"our secrets have a habit of finding us."
Robin's reflection encapsulates the theme of the inescapable past. It suggests that the characters' past actions and hidden truths will inevitably come to light, shaping their present circumstances. This quote foreshadows the unraveling of secrets and the consequences that will follow.
Why This Matters
This section marks a crucial turning point, shifting the narrative from a troubled marriage on a strange holiday to a psychological thriller with a clear antagonist. By revealing Robin's identity and malicious intent, the stakes are dramatically raised. The inclusion of the anniversary letter provides essential backstory that re-frames the entire novel, deepening the complexity of Adam and Amelia's relationship. The discovery of the secret study propels the plot forward, moving the characters from passive victims to active participants in solving the puzzle of why they are there.