Chapter summaries Shadow of the Solstice Anne Hillerman

Chapter 23 Summary: A Phone Call from Phoenix

⚠️ Spoiler Notice

This summary and analysis covers events of Chapter 23 of Shadow of the Solstice. If you have not read the chapter yet, proceed with caution.

Summary

Darleen, staying at Bernie’s house, takes a call from a woman named Gigi Blackhorse, a Navajo employee at a behavioral health office in Phoenix. Gigi explains that Mrs. Raymond—an elderly Diné woman—asked her to call Darleen and Mrs. Raymond’s daughter because she is worried about her missing grandson. Darleen is confused, believing that both grandmother and grandson were missing. Gigi clarifies that Mrs. Raymond is part of a group from Best Way Rehabilitation, a facility that treats substance abuse, not stroke recovery as Darleen had assumed. The group is staying at Broadway Manor, an old hotel in Phoenix used before clients move to sober homes. Darleen learns the area codes are not New Mexico. After the call, she tries to reach Bernie and then Chee for advice, unable to calm her mounting worry.

Key Events

  • Darleen answers a call from an unknown number while Mama sleeps nearby; she steps into the kitchen to avoid waking her.
  • The caller, Gigi Blackhorse, says Mrs. Raymond asked her to make contact because the grandmother is anxious about her missing grandson.
  • Gigi reveals that Mrs. Raymond is participating in a substance‑abuse rehabilitation program with Best Way Rehab, not a stroke‑recovery group as Darleen had believed.
  • Darleen learns the group is currently housed at Broadway Manor, an old hotel in Phoenix (the Valley of the Sun).
  • Darleen attempts to call Best Way Rehab, the Broadway Manor number, and Bernie—all without success.
  • Finally, she calls Chee, hoping for his sage advice to ease her anxiety.

Character Development

  • Darleen: Shows increasing maturity by staying quiet to protect Mama’s rest and by seeking help from family. Her confusion about Mrs. Raymond’s situation reveals her deep caring but also her limited knowledge of the elder’s activities.
  • Gigi Blackhorse: Appears briefly but demonstrates compassion and cultural connection. She helps Mrs. Raymond despite not knowing her, and her mention of homesickness for her own grandmother underscores the theme of Diné community.
  • Mrs. Raymond (indirectly): Remains off‑stage, but the call reveals she is proactive (finding a fellow Diné to call) and still capable of worrying about her grandson, even while in a rehab program.
  • Bernie and Chee (absent): Their unavailability heightens Darleen’s isolation and the chapter’s tension.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Communication and Misunderstanding: Darleen’s initial belief that Mrs. Raymond was missing is corrected, but the partial information leaves her with more questions. The phone call is a lifeline yet also a source of confusion.
  • Substance‑Abuse Recovery: Best Way Rehab introduces a new layer to the story, shifting the focus from a simple missing‑persons case to the complexities of addiction treatment among Indigenous communities.
  • Diné Identity and Kinship: Gigi’s recognition of Mrs. Raymond as Diné and her willingness to help because of that bond highlights the importance of cultural ties across distances.
  • Worry and the Unknown: Darleen’s anxiety is palpable; she cannot reach Bernie or Chee, mirroring the larger uncertainty about the Raymond family’s fate.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 23 serves as a turning point in the mystery. It reveals that Mrs. Raymond is not a helpless missing elder but an active participant in a substance‑abuse program, complicating earlier assumptions. The call provides concrete locations—Best Way Rehab and Broadway Manor in Phoenix—that give Darleen and readers a geographical focus. It also deepens Darleen’s role as an investigator, pushing her to seek help from Chee. The chapter underscores the theme of hidden struggles, showing that even well‑meaning characters can be unaware of a loved one’s challenges.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why is Darleen confused during the call with Gigi?
    Darleen assumed Mrs. Raymond and her grandson were both missing. Gigi’s message that Mrs. Raymond is in a rehab facility and worried about her grandson contradicts Darleen’s earlier belief that the grandmother was also missing.

  2. What new information about Mrs. Raymond’s circumstances does this chapter reveal?
    The chapter reveals that Mrs. Raymond is part of a substance‑abuse rehabilitation program run by Best Way Rehab, not a stroke‑recovery group. She is currently staying at Broadway Manor, an old hotel in Phoenix, before moving to a sober home.

  3. How does Darleen’s response to the call demonstrate her character growth?
    Darleen handles the call with restraint—keeping her voice down, moving to the kitchen, and trying to contact family members rather than panicking. Her decision to call Chee for advice shows she is learning to rely on her support network.

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