Chapter summaries Shadow of the Solstice Anne Hillerman

Chapter 35: The Search Intensifies and a Family Confronts Grief

Spoiler Notice
This summary covers Chapter 35 of Shadow of the Solstice. If you have not read this chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

Greg drives Mrs. Raymond and Darleen away from the hotel. Mrs. R, now energetic, directs them to locations given by a hotel contact named Warren. At a coffee stop, she shares a list of possible places to find her grandson Droid. The first stop, The Beating Drum, is closed, but a young woman says Droid was there yesterday looking desperate. Greg calls the police to report a missing minor. At a church food distribution point, staff say Droid argued with someone and ran off. The kitchen director gives an address for a youth shelter. At the shelter, staff confirm Droid is inside but will only let him decide to see them. Mrs. R goes in alone, carrying a small turtle fetish Darleen found. Greg waits in the car, noting that Mrs. R has called him “my son” three times that day. He expresses hope that they can help Droid return to hózhó (balance).

Key Events

  • Mrs. Raymond reclaims her leadership role, directing the search with a list from Warren.
  • The group stops for drive‑up coffee and doughnuts; Mrs. R requests a chocolate doughnut.
  • At The Beating Drum, a young woman confirms Droid was there the previous day, looking “strung out.”
  • Greg files a missing persons report with the Phoenix police, providing Droid’s description.
  • At a church food distribution site, staff report Droid argued with someone and fled.
  • The kitchen director gives the group the address of a youth shelter Droid had expressed interest in.
  • At the shelter, staff confirm Droid is present but will allow him to decide whom to see.
  • Mrs. Raymond enters the shelter alone after receiving a message that Droid wants to apologize to her.
  • Before entering, she accepts the turtle fetish from Darleen, saying she had missed it.
  • Greg reflects that Mrs. R has called him “my son” three times, a change from her usual distance.

Character Development

  • Mrs. Raymond (Mrs. R): She shifts from exhaustion to determined action, showing her sharp memory and ability to take charge. She reveals vulnerability when she mentions her deceased daughter’s smoking and her wish that therapy could help Victoria. She softens toward Greg, calling him “my son” repeatedly, and accepts the turtle fetish as a source of wisdom.
  • Greg: He takes practical steps (calling police, driving the search) and shows emotional openness when he admits he and Droid both avoid talking about Droid’s mother. He is willing to call the police again to ensure Droid comes home.
  • Darleen: She offers quiet support by handing over the turtle fetish and calling family, while respecting the family’s need for privacy. She shows empathy for Mrs. R’s grief.
  • Droid (Andrew Morgan): Although not present, his actions – running off, drinking, fighting, and finally agreeing to see his grandmother – portray a young man struggling with grief and addiction but not yet lost.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Grief and healing: Mrs. R’s recollection of her daughter’s smoking and her wish for therapy highlights unresolved loss. Greg’s admission that he pushes sadness away contrasts with Mrs. R’s call for them to “put down sadness and pick up hope.”
  • Hózhó (balance): Greg explicitly invokes hózhó at the end, linking the search for Droid to a restoration of harmony in the family.
  • Turtle fetish as wisdom: Mrs. R treasures the small carving, referring to “turtle wisdom.” The fetish connects her to tradition and provides comfort as she faces her grandson.
  • Fake therapy vs. genuine help: The hotel program is dismissed as fake; the youth shelter offers real support. This underscores the danger of exploitative “therapy” vans.
  • Intergenerational bonds: Mrs. R’s changing relationship with Greg (calling him “son”) and her determination to save Droid show family ties strengthening through crisis.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter builds toward the climax of Droid’s recovery. It clarifies the family’s emotional stakes: Droid is not just a runaway but a grieving son, and his grandmother’s grief for her own daughter mirrors his. The contrast between the fake therapy program and the legitimate shelter reinforces a warning about exploitation of vulnerable people. Mrs. R’s willingness to accept the turtle fetish and Greg’s openness about sadness signal a turning point. The chapter ends with hope – Droid wants to see his grandmother, and the family is working together to restore hózhó.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Mrs. Raymond’s behavior change from the start of the chapter to the end, and what does that reveal about her character?
Initially she is exhausted but quickly becomes decisive, taking charge of the search. Her sharp memory for Warren’s list shows her determination. Her vulnerability emerges when she shares her daughter’s smoking habit and her wish for therapy for Victoria. Accepting the turtle fetish and calling Greg “my son” multiple times signals a softening of her usual reserve. This reveals that beneath her stern exterior, she carries deep grief and a capacity for connection when the family crisis demands it.

2. What role does the turtle fetish play in this chapter?
Darleen hands Mrs. R the small turtle carving she found earlier. Mrs. R smiles, says she has been missing it, and calls it “turtle wisdom.” The fetish links her to Navajo tradition and provides emotional grounding as she prepares to meet Droid at the shelter. It symbolizes the wisdom needed to face difficult family truths and the continuity of cultural practices that support healing.

3. Why does Greg decide not to insist on entering the shelter, and what does this decision indicate about his growth?
Greg respects the shelter’s rule that Droid must decide to see them, even though he could call the police again to force the issue. He agrees to wait in the car after Mrs. R goes in alone. This indicates growth: he is learning to balance his protective instincts with trust in the process and in Droid’s own agency. His final comment about working together to bring Droid back to hózhó shows he values harmony over control.

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