The Impossible Fortune Chapter 24 Summary & Analysis
⚠️ 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
Danny Lloyd is in Portugal, having flown from Gatwick on a Friday. He stands on his hotel balcony, observing a group of ex-pats playing golf on the 15th green below. The heat is intense and church bells ring from a local village. Danny has spent the previous day consulting his lawyer about the house, which is in Suzi’s name with little he can do. He learns that if Suzi dies, the house would revert to him—unless she revises her will, which Danny expects she will. He considers hiring someone to murder Suzi, planning to use multiple layers of paid intermediaries to keep himself distanced from the crime. Jason Ritchie, by contrast, would be an easier target because he has many enemies; the police would face a long list of suspects. Danny imagines a straightforward shooting from a speeding car. One of the golfers, an amphetamine dealer from Billericay, shouts a greeting; Danny waves back but promptly re-enters his room and draws the curtains, wary that word of his presence could reach Jason Ritchie, who would likely kill Danny if he learned of his location. Danny reflects that this is a dangerous business but admits there is nothing quite like it.
Key Events
- Danny arrives in Portugal and settles into a hotel with a view of a golf course.
- He reviews his legal situation: the house is in Suzi’s name, and her will currently leaves everything to him, but he expects she will soon change it.
- Danny devises a plan to have Suzi murdered through a chain of hired contacts to shield himself.
- He assesses Jason Ritchie as a simpler target due to Jason’s many enemies and envisions a quick, anonymous shooting.
- Danny recognizes an ex-pat acquaintance on the golf course but retreats into his room, closing the curtains to avoid revealing his location.
- He acknowledges the risk that Jason might kill him first if discovered.
Character Development
Danny Lloyd: This chapter deepens Danny’s portrayal as a calculating, cold‑blooded criminal. He is not impulsive; he consults a lawyer before acting, considers the legal and practical implications of murder, and plans multiple layers of separation from the killer. His caution in hiding his presence shows he is aware of the dangers from his targets, especially Jason. Danny treats murder as a business transaction, weighing pros and cons with detachment. His final thought—“What a business. There’s nothing like it.”—underscores his moral vacuum and his enjoyment of the criminal life.
Suzi and Jason Ritchie: Though not present, these characters are fleshed out through Danny’s assessment. Suzi is described as a “psycho” but “no fool,” implying she is aware of Danny’s intentions. Jason is characterized as having many enemies, making him vulnerable but also dangerous if alerted.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Morality and criminal pragmatism: Danny treats murder as a logistical problem, not a moral one. He analyses each target’s circumstances and the police investigation as though running a business model.
- Trust and layers: The motif of “layers” recurs. Danny plans to use a chain of trusted but separate individuals to distance himself from the crime. This suggests that trust in the criminal underworld is both essential and fragile.
- Liminal spaces: The hotel balcony is a threshold between the orderly world (golf, church bells) and Danny’s hidden criminal planning. He steps out to view normal life but retreats inside to conceal his intentions.
- Heat and exposure: The dancing heat on his skin, the open balcony, and the potential for being spotted symbolize the risk of exposure. Danny’s immediate retreat behind curtains highlights his need for secrecy.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 24 is a turning point where Danny commits to a murder plot against two people central to the story. It establishes the mechanics of his scheme and raises the stakes: if Jason finds Danny first, the planned killer could become the victim. This chapter also foreshadows potential complications with Suzi’s will and the difficulty of maintaining secrecy. It deepens our understanding of Danny’s character and the moral landscape of the novel.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Danny plan to avoid detection for Suzi’s murder? Danny intends to use a chain of intermediaries. Each hired contact will handle a portion of the payment and know only the person immediately above or below them. This creates multiple layers between Danny and the actual killer, making it difficult for the police to trace the contract back to him.
2. Why does Danny consider Jason Ritchie an easier target than Suzi? Jason has many enemies and has been involved in numerous dangerous situations. If he turns up dead, the police will have a long list of suspects, and Danny doubts he would even rank in the first fifty names. This gives Danny anonymity and reduces the risk of being investigated.
3. What does Danny’s interaction with the ex-pat golfer reveal about his caution? When the golfer (an amphetamine dealer from Billericay) shouts a greeting, Danny waves back from the balcony but immediately ducks inside and pulls the curtains. He does this to prevent word of his presence from reaching Jason Ritchie, who would likely kill him. The scene shows that despite his calm exterior, Danny is acutely aware of the personal danger he faces.