Chapter 25 Summary: The Interrogation of Harrison Woolf
⚠️ 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 interview takes place on October 31, 2025, at the Hope Falls police station. Sergeant Luke Carter reminds Harrison Woolf he is under no obligation to be there. Harrison insists he needs to know what happened to his wife, Eden. He produces two rings—her wedding and engagement rings—explaining that Eden always leaves them behind when she goes running. Carter confirms they have not found Eden yet.
Harrison expresses anger about the woman who claimed to be Eden, first outside his house, then at the gallery, and later broke into their home and stole Eden’s car. Carter reveals the car was found abandoned about a mile from Hope Falls in Blackmoor National Park. Carter asks whether there could have been an affair, and Harrison reacts defensively, questioning whether Carter means him with the imposter or his wife with someone else. He again pushes for information about Eden’s possible suicide.
When Carter asks about children, Harrison mentions a daughter named Gabriella, who is eighteen and has never been to Hope Falls. Carter presses for contact details, then reveals that the woman claiming to be Eden also said she had a daughter named Gabriella. Harrison insists the woman was deluded.
Carter shifts to grudges and the couple’s financial situation, noting Harrison still owns a London flat. He asks about life insurance. At that point Harrison ends the interview, stating he will only speak further through his solicitor.
Key Events
- Harrison voluntarily attends the police station and shows Eden’s rings.
- Carter reports that Eden’s car was found abandoned in Blackmoor National Park.
- The possibility of an affair is raised; Harrison becomes hostile.
- Harrison acknowledges a daughter, Gabriella, who is eighteen and lives elsewhere.
- Carter links the imposter to the claim of having a daughter named Gabriella.
- The topic of life insurance and a second property causes Harrison to walk out.
Character Development
Harrison Woolf – His tone shifts from cooperative to defensive and angry. He deflects questions about an affair and is evasive about his daughter’s contact details. The mention of life insurance and the London flat triggers a refusal to continue, suggesting he may be hiding financial or personal motives.
Sergeant Luke Carter – Methodical and calm, Carter systematically probes Harrison’s story. He uses small reveals—the car, the daughter—to test Harrison’s reactions. His questions about grudges and insurance imply he suspects more than a simple missing-person case.
The imposter – Though not present, the imposter looms large. Her claim of having a daughter named Gabriella mirrors Harrison’s own statement, deepening the mystery of who she is and what she knows.
Eden Woolf – Absent but central. The rings left behind, the abandoned car, and the possibility of suicide all paint a troubling picture, though no facts are confirmed.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Deception and Disguise – The imposter’s act of pretending to be Eden echoes the larger question of who is telling the truth. Harrison’s own evasiveness suggests multiple layers of deception.
- Marital Trust – Carter’s affair question and Harrison’s defensive reaction highlight cracks in the Woolf marriage. The rings—symbols of fidelity—are left behind, hinting at a deeper rift.
- Identity and Substitution – The parallel between Harrison’s real daughter and the imposter’s claimed daughter blurs the line between the genuine and the fake, questioning the stability of identity.
- Control and Authority – Harrison tries to control the narrative by ending the interview. Carter maintains institutional authority, slowly closing in.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is the first direct interrogation of Harrison and the most substantial glimpse into his state of mind. It establishes key facts—the abandoned car, the daughter Gabriella, the imposter’s claim—that will drive the investigation forward. Harrison’s sudden exit when confronted with financial motives makes him a prime suspect in Eden’s disappearance, reframing the mystery. The parallel between real and fake daughters introduces a potential kidnapping or identity-theft subplot, raising the stakes for the rest of the novel.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Harrison react so strongly to the question about an affair?
Harrison’s immediate defensiveness—asking whether Carter means him with the imposter or Eden with someone else—suggests he either feels accused or knows something about an affair. His refusal to consider the possibility calmly makes him appear guilty or anxious.
2. What significance does the detail about the daughter Gabriella have?
The imposter also claimed to have a daughter named Gabriella. This uncanny detail implies the imposter has intimate knowledge of Harrison’s life, or that Gabriella herself may be involved. It ties the two women together in a way that cannot be coincidence.
3. How does the setting of the interrogation affect the tension?
The formal police station environment gives Carter authority while confining Harrison. The recorded interview format makes every word evidence, increasing pressure. The gray autumn date (October 31, Halloween) adds an eerie atmosphere, mirroring the uncertainty and hidden truths.