Chapter summaries Spirit Crossing: A Novel William Kent Krueger

Chapter 23 Summary: The Investigation Deepens at the Howling Wolf

Spoiler Notice: This summary and analysis contains details from Chapter 22 of Spirit Crossing: A Novel by William Kent Krueger. If you have not yet read the chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

Cork O’Connor leaves Crow Point in the early afternoon accompanied by Theresa Lee. During their walk, they discuss Waaboo’s unusual spiritual connection and the lost soul of Fawn Blacksmith. Theresa mentions that Waaboo told her Fawn is still trying to cross to the other side. Cork reflects on how burial ceremonies from different traditions share the purpose of helping the living say goodbye while providing a sense of connection to the spirit world. He worries that his grandson’s gift is a heavy burden.

Back in Aurora, Cork receives a call from Daniel, who wants to meet with Monte Bonhomme and Agent Shirley. They gather in Sheriff Marsha Dross’s office. Dross reports that Olivia Hamilton’s body has been officially identified and the FBI is withdrawing, leaving the BCA in charge. The buried body in the blueberry patch is assumed to be Fawn Blacksmith, based on a beaded bracelet that matches one made by her grandmother. The group discusses possible links: Mathias Paavola is missing, and Erno Paavola’s habit of bartering blueberries means many people could know about the patch. Cork suggests pulling on threads, starting with Paavola’s possible presence at the Howling Wolf bar the night Olivia Hamilton disappeared. Daniel proposes taking Waaboo back to the blueberry patch to sense Fawn’s spirit, despite Cork’s protest.

Cork and Dross drive to Yellow Lake and enter the Howling Wolf. The bar’s owner, Cy Cedarholm, is hostile and uncooperative. He denies recognizing a photo of Mathias Paavola and reluctantly provides names of the barmaids who worked the night Olivia disappeared. Cork notices a wooden gnome carved by Erno Paavola and asks if Paavola bartered blueberries; Cedarholm claims not to remember. As they leave, a customer who had walked out calls them over. He identifies Paavola from the photo as a regular who comes with a work buddy—a man with a misshapen right ear hidden under a stocking cap who habitually calls women “sluts.” The customer, a father of a daughter, says he hates that word and is helping them for that reason.

Key Events

  • Cork returns from Crow Point with Theresa Lee, discussing Waaboo’s spirit gift and Fawn’s lost soul.
  • A meeting at the sheriff’s office confirms Olivia Hamilton’s identity and that Fawn is likely the blueberry patch victim.
  • The group decides to investigate Mathias Paavola’s connection to the Howling Wolf bar.
  • Cork and Dross visit the Howling Wolf; Cy Cedarholm refuses to cooperate.
  • A customer outside the bar identifies Paavola and describes a suspect with a misshapen ear who uses misogynistic language.
  • Daniel insists on bringing Waaboo back to the blueberry patch to sense Fawn’s spirit, despite Cork’s concern for Jenny’s reaction.

Character Development

  • Cork O’Connor: Shows a reflective side when contemplating the nature of death and spiritual comfort. He is protective of Waaboo but willing to follow leads, even to the hostile Howling Wolf. His history as sheriff gives him insight into the bar’s reputation.
  • Marsha Dross: Takes charge of the local investigation despite the FBI’s presence. She is persistent with Cedarholm and gathers names.
  • Daniel: Pushing to use Waaboo’s spiritual gift again reveals his deep belief in his son’s ability and his willingness to risk conflict with Jenny.
  • Cy Cedarholm: Presented as a physically intimidating, obstructive bar owner who resents police presence. His evasiveness and loyalty to his customers suggest he may know more than he admits.
  • The anonymous customer: A logger who steps forward not for personal gain but out of disgust for misogyny, adding a morally grounded voice.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The Path of Souls: Theresa Lee admits she once thought of crossing to the other side as metaphor but now wonders. The motif of spirits needing guidance recurs, linking Fawn’s lostness to Waaboo’s burden.
  • Bartering as a hidden web: Erno Paavola’s bartering of blueberries creates a web of potential suspects who know the hidden patch, symbolizing how one person’s habits can entangle many.
  • The word “slut” as a thematic marker: The customer’s explanation for helping—hatred of the derogatory label—connects the crime to a pattern of misogyny and dehumanization of women, possibly pointing to the killer’s mindset.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter advances the dual-murder investigation by providing a concrete lead: a man with a misshapen ear who may have been with Mathias Paavola at the Howling Wolf the night Olivia Hamilton vanished. It deepens the mystery around Fawn Blacksmith, whose spirit Waaboo touched, setting up a possible return to the blueberry patch. The chapter also reinforces the novel’s spiritual dimension—Cork’s meditation on burial ceremonies and Theresa’s evolving view of the afterlife—while grounding the plot in police procedural details. Finally, the customer’s motive reminds readers that the story’s violence is rooted in real-world misogyny.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Cork agree to go to the Howling Wolf, and what does he hope to accomplish?
    Cork wants to show a photo of Mathias Paavola to the bartender and staff to see if Paavola was present the night Olivia Hamilton went missing. He believes pulling on that thread might connect to Fawn’s murder as well.

  2. What does the customer’s description of the man with the misshapen ear suggest about the case?
    The man’s habit of calling women “sluts” and his physical anonymity (stocking cap obscuring his ear) suggests he may be involved in crimes targeting women. The customer’s disgust at the word implies that such language could be a behavioral signature of the killer.

  3. Why is Daniel so determined to take Waaboo back to the blueberry patch?
    Daniel believes Waaboo’s spiritual sensitivity could reveal more about Fawn’s death, similar to how he sensed Olivia Hamilton’s spirit at the cabin. Despite Cork’s protest that Jenny will be furious, Daniel feels it is worth the risk to find answers for Fawn.