The Shadows: A Novel

The red handprints are a recurring motif that signifies the bloody legacy of violence and the cyclical nature of trauma, connecting to the theme of The Inescapable Haunting of Past Traumas. First appearing at the copycat crime scene, the handprints are deliberate, ritualistic marks that connect the present-day murder to the original crime committed by Charlie Crabtree. When Detective Beck discovers them, she sees them as a “storm on the ground” (15), a description that captures their chaotic yet intentional nature. This visual signature serves as the tangible link between the two killings, demonstrating how the violence of the past is not merely remembered but actively replicated and how the original horror has left a permanent stain on the community’s psychological landscape.

The handprints function as more than just physical evidence; they are a psychological brand burned into the minds of those affected by the original murder. Paul’s mother, Daphne, ravaged by guilt, embodies this haunting. Her panicked outburst, “Red hands, Paul! There are red hands everywhere” (25), reveals that for her, the crime is not a distant memory but an active, terrifying presence. Her act of painting hundreds of crimson handprints in the attic is a manifestation of her internal torment, symbolizing a desperate and disordered attempt to confront a secret she helped keep.