Chapter 45: The Interview with Old Stu

⚠️ 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

On October 31, 2025, Sergeant Luke Carter interviews Old Stu at the Hope Falls police station. Old Stu initially resists giving his full name but eventually cooperates. He describes walking his dog Tilly on the coast path at dawn when he saw a woman running uphill toward the local suicide spot (likely a cliff or waterfall). The woman looked upset — her nose was red from crying — and she ignored Old Stu’s greeting. As the path is straight with clear sightlines, Old Stu later looked back and found the woman had vanished. He did not see her jump. Crucially, he mentions another woman who ran up the hill after the first woman, implying that the second woman may have witnessed what truly happened. Old Stu becomes irritated with Luke’s repetitive questioning and suggests the police bother the other woman instead.

Key Events

• Sergeant Luke Carter interviews Old Stu, an elderly local, about a woman seen running on the coast path.
• Old Stu identifies the woman as heading toward the “suicide spot” at dawn, crying and distracted.
• He confirms he did not see her jump, but that when he looked back she had disappeared from the straight path.
• Old Stu reveals there was a second woman who ran after the first woman.
• Old Stu dismissively tells Carter to question that second woman instead.

Character Development

• Old Stu: Initially uncooperative, he insists on being called “Old Stu” and shows impatience with formal police procedure. His sharp memory (“I’m old, not senile”) contrasts with his reluctance to engage. His long history with Luke (known him since childhood) adds local colour. He is protective of his dog Tilly and uninterested in art gallery events, grounding him as a stubborn but credible witness.
• Sergeant Luke Carter: Follows protocol by insisting on a full name for the recording. He is methodical but repetitive, prompting Old Stu’s irritation. He does not share any prior knowledge of the woman or the second woman, suggesting the investigation is still in early stages.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

• Suicide and ambiguity: The “suicide spot” is a known dangerous location; the woman’s disappearance raises both the possibility of a deliberate jump and the alternative that she may have been intercepted or taken another route.
• Witness reliability: Old Stu’s memory is presented as clear, but he admits his eyesight is poor and he cannot be sure the second woman existed or whether the first woman wore earphones. The chapter plays with the gap between what is seen and what is known.
• Time and aftermath: The interview date (October 31, 2025) places this chapter after the main events, framing the narrative as a retrospective investigation.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 45 is the first direct account of the woman’s final movements on the coast path. It introduces Old Stu as a key witness and, more importantly, reveals the presence of a second woman who chased after her. This second woman — possibly Lily, Rosie, or another character — may hold the truth about whether the woman jumped, fell, or was pushed. The interview style also signals that the novel’s ending may be revisited through police testimony, adding a layer of narrative distance and uncertainty.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Old Stu refuse to say his full name at first?
He is informally known as “Old Stu” in the community and resists formalities. His irritation with the process suggests he feels his word should be enough, reflecting a distrust of official procedures.

2. What detail does Old Stu provide that contradicts the idea the woman was alone?
He states that another woman ran up the hill after the first woman. This second person is far more likely to have seen what happened, meaning any conclusion about a suicide is premature until that witness is interviewed.

3. How does the setting (the straight coast path) affect the credibility of Old Stu’s story?
Old Stu emphasises that the path is straight with clear sightlines; a person cannot simply vanish unless they left the path (for example, by jumping off a cliff, entering the water, or being taken). This makes his claim that she “vanished” more significant and less likely to be a simple oversight.

Navigation
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