62 pages 2 hours read

Jessie Burton

The Miniaturist

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014

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Part 3, Chapters 27-35

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 3: “December, 1686”

Part 3, Chapter 27 Summary: “Stains”

As Nella cleans up the blood in the hall, Cornelia cries over Rezeki, whom Johannes rescued as a puppy. They take the dog’s dead body to the cellar. Otto blames himself for Rezeki’s death and feels he has endangered the household. Reaching for Otto’s hand, Marin says she does not believe Jack will risk going to the authorities.

Nella’s next parcel from the miniaturist contains a verkeerspel board. Realizing she never delivered her request for the board, Nella discovers her letter to the miniaturist has disappeared from her pocket. An accompanying note with the parcel reads, “THE TURNIP CANNOT THRIVE IN THE TULIP’S PATCH OF SOIL” (225).

Nella sinks a miniature fish knife into the chest of Jack’s doll. She picks up Rezeki’s miniature and notices a red stain on the dog’s head. Nella writes to the miniaturist, asking what she should do.

In the early hours of the morning, Nella gets up, intending to deliver her letter to the miniaturist. However, she is distracted by a strange noise. Going down to the cellar, Nella sees Marin, who appears to be washing bloody rags. Marin angrily orders Nella to get out.