Chapter 37 Summary, Analysis, and Key Moments

⚠️ 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

Chapter Thirty-Seven opens with Alison and Mark arriving at Penny and Louise's annual Yule party, held on the winter solstice. Penny greets them warmly, wearing a hand-knit green sweater with spruce woven into her braid, and admires the gingerbread men Alison brought. Alison notes that Penny has not responded to her calls or texts since the evening she sat with Alison's mother, and this is the first time they have seen each other since.

Before leaving home, Alison reminded Izzy to keep a close eye on Olivia whenever she is with her mother, insisting the two never be out of sight. Theo is over, and the older girls and Olivia are playing cards with Alison's mother, who seems tired and has asked for extra morphine. Alison remains nervous, though Mark reassures her they are only five minutes away.

The chapter then reveals that Mark has taken the final days before winter break off from work, citing a family emergency. He has been following Alison around the house all day, and he sat with her while she pretended to call her fictional therapist. Mark now insists on accompanying Alison to her first appointment, wanting to speak with the therapist himself. He suggests they consider medication, or possibly time away at a private clinic in New Hampshire, which Alison angrily rejects, accusing him of looking into it without consulting her.

At the party, Alison asks Penny about her visit with Alison's mother. Penny seems shaken and asks whether Alison told her mother about Daniel, Penny's deceased son. Alison says she did not, and Mark would have had no reason to mention it. Penny reveals that Alison's mother knew things about Daniel that were impossible for her to know. Before Penny can elaborate, Mark approaches with mugs of grog, and Penny excuses herself.

Alison then seeks out Carmen, the owner of the occult store in Burlington who gave Penny the herbal protection pouch. Alison thanks Carmen for the amulet of protection, then confesses that she needs more help. She tells Carmen she is certain her mother is possessed by a demon named Azha, which is attached to a stone and intends to transfer to Alison's daughter when her mother dies. Carmen listens seriously, explaining that true possession is rare and that spirits can attach themselves to objects. She tells Alison the spirit cannot be destroyed, only bound, and advises her to take the stone far away from her mother and daughter, perform a binding spell, and hide it where no one will ever find it.

As Mark approaches, Alison quickly conceals the conversation by claiming Carmen was giving her advice about false starts on her new Moxie book. Carmen plays along, wishing Alison luck and inviting her to visit the shop if she needs more help.

Key Events

Alison and Mark attend Penny's annual Yule party; Alison is anxious about leaving Olivia with her mother.
Mark reveals he has taken time off work and wants to accompany Alison to her therapist appointment, suggesting medication or a private clinic in New Hampshire. Alison angrily rejects the idea.
Penny tells Alison that her mother knew about Daniel, Penny's deceased son, information she could not have known.
Alison confides in Carmen that her mother is possessed by a demon named Azha, attached to a stone, which intends to transfer to Olivia.
Carmen explains the spirit cannot be destroyed, only bound, and advises Alison to take the stone far away, perform a binding spell, and hide it.
Mark interrupts, and Alison conceals the conversation by claiming they discussed her book project.

Character Development

Alison is increasingly desperate and isolated. She is convinced of the demon's reality and willing to confide in Carmen, a near-stranger, while actively deceiving Mark. Her anger at Mark's suggestion of psychiatric care shows her fear that the supernatural explanation will be dismissed as madness. Her protective instinct toward Olivia drives every decision, but her secrecy is creating a rift in her marriage.

Mark is portrayed as worried and trying to intervene, but his approach alienates Alison. His suggestion of medication and a private clinic, while well-intentioned, reinforces Alison's sense that no one believes her. His constant presence, described as a worried shadow, adds pressure rather than comfort.

Penny is visibly shaken by her encounter with Alison's mother. Her reluctance to share details and her trembling hand suggest she has witnessed something deeply unsettling, and her forced cheerfulness when Mark arrives hints at her own fear.

Carmen emerges as a pragmatic authority on the occult. She does not dismiss Alison's claims outright, but she reframes them in terms of spirits and binding rather than demons, offering practical advice while maintaining a cautious distance.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The winter solstice serves as a backdrop of darkness and rebirth. Carmen explains that the solstice is not about celebrating darkness but about honoring the coming of light, a contrast to Alison's grim situation. The celebration of the sun's rebirth ironically underscores Alison's fear that her daughter's future is being darkened by the demon.

The protection amulet symbolizes Alison's fragile hope. She wears it under her sweater, but its power is limited; Carmen's advice suggests that true protection requires action, not just tokens.

The stone as a vessel is a central motif. Carmen's hotel metaphor—that the spirit is only visiting the mother, not truly at home—reinforces the idea that the stone is the demon's true anchor, and that removing it is the only path to safety.

Impossible knowledge recurs as a theme. Penny's revelation that Alison's mother knew about Daniel, a fact she could not have learned naturally, is presented as evidence of the demon's supernatural awareness, deepening Alison's conviction.

Secrecy and deception pervade the chapter. Alison hides her true conversation from Mark, Mark hides his research into clinics, and Penny hides the full extent of what her mother said. The party's cheerful atmosphere contrasts with the undercurrent of fear and mistrust.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it moves Alison from private conviction to seeking external help. Carmen's advice—to take the stone far away, bind the spirit, and hide it—provides a concrete plan that will likely drive the next phase of the story. The chapter also escalates the stakes by confirming that the demon's target is Olivia, and it deepens the conflict between Alison and Mark, who are now working at cross-purposes. Penny's revelation about Daniel adds another layer of supernatural evidence, making Alison's belief more credible to the reader even as it isolates her further.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Alison react so angrily to Mark's suggestion of a psychiatric clinic?

Alison's anger stems from her certainty that the demon is real. Mark's suggestion implies that her beliefs are symptoms of mental illness, which she experiences as a dismissal of her lived experience. She also feels betrayed that he researched clinics without consulting her, which reinforces her sense of being managed rather than believed.

2. What does Carmen's advice reveal about the nature of the demon and the stone?

Carmen explains that spirits can attach to objects and that the stone is the demon's true home, while the mother is merely a temporary host. This means the demon cannot be destroyed, only bound, and that removing the stone from proximity to Alison's mother and daughter is essential. The advice sets up a practical goal for Alison: retrieve the stone, perform a binding spell, and hide it permanently.

3. How does the Yule party setting contrast with the chapter's events?

The party is warm, festive, and communal, filled with music, food, and laughter. This cheerful atmosphere sharply contrasts with Alison's internal terror and the dark revelations about the demon. The solstice theme of celebrating the coming light also ironically highlights Alison's fear that darkness is closing in on her family.