Chapter 21 Summary & Analysis – The Last Devil To Die
⚠️ 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
Samantha Barnes hosts her monthly book group in Petworth. Her partner, Garth, avoids the gathering because he dislikes fiction, calling it “lies.” A flashback reveals how they met: Garth entered her shop with a gun, upset over a trick inkwell she had sold him. After learning Samantha was widowed, he offered her a stolen painting, beginning their criminal partnership in art theft. During the evening, Samantha receives a phone call from Elizabeth, who asks about Kuldesh Sharma and heroin dealers. Samantha deflects, but Elizabeth warns that Joyce and Ibrahim will visit, adding that Samantha should never lie to a liar. Troubled, Samantha weighs the risks and potential profit of meeting them. She decides to discuss it with Garth, suspecting there may be money involved.
Key Events
- Samantha’s book group meets at her home; Garth leaves, carrying a cricket bat.
- A flashback explains how Samantha and Garth began working together after he confronted her with a gun over a trick inkwell.
- Garth invited Samantha to buy a stolen painting; she accepted, launching her into art crime.
- Elizabeth calls Samantha, asking about Kuldesh Sharma and heroin. Samantha refuses to answer.
- Elizabeth reveals that Joyce and Ibrahim will visit and advises Samantha that lying to a liar is pointless.
- Samantha considers leaving town but ultimately sees an opportunity in the situation.
Character Development
- Samantha Barnes: Already established as a dealer in stolen art, she shows both caution and opportunism. Her grief over her husband’s death is still raw, yet she has built a new life with Garth. The call from Elizabeth unsettles her, but she quickly weighs potential rewards, revealing a pragmatic, risk-calibrating nature.
- Garth (mentioned): Portrayed as indifferent to social niceties but deeply loyal to Samantha. His question “Is there money in it?” defines their partnership and foreshadows how Samantha will approach Elizabeth’s offer.
- Elizabeth (off-page): Demonstrates her spy-craft thoroughness by tracking down Samantha, knowing details about Kuldesh Sharma, and predicting Samantha’s lies. Her confidence and directness intimidate Samantha.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Truth and deception: Elizabeth’s warning “Never lie to a liar” underscores the chapter’s preoccupation with honesty among criminals. Samantha’s entire livelihood depends on deceit, yet she is outmatched by Elizabeth.
- Opportunity in danger: Samantha’s “nose for trouble” is also a nose for profit. The chapter shows how risk and gain are intertwined in the world of stolen goods and drugs.
- Domesticity vs. criminality: The book group setting—wine, coffee, gossip about Wolf Hall—contrasts sharply with the flashback of a gunpoint meeting and the current heroin inquiry, highlighting the double life Samantha leads.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter introduces Samantha Barnes as a new character with direct links to the Kuldesh Sharma case and the heroin trade that Elizabeth is investigating. It establishes a parallel criminal network alongside the Thursday Murder Club’s amateur sleuthing. The phone call deepens the mystery: why does Elizabeth think Samantha knows about Kuldesh? The chapter also develops the theme of hidden worlds—ordinary book groups can conceal art thieves and drug inquiries.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Elizabeth call Samantha, and what does she want to know?
Elizabeth calls to ask about Kuldesh Sharma and heroin dealers. She suspects Samantha has information and tries to pressure her into a meeting by mentioning that Joyce and Ibrahim will visit. The call is a fishing expedition designed to gauge Samantha’s knowledge and cooperation.
2. How does Samantha’s flashback with Garth explain her current life?
The flashback shows that after her husband died, Samantha was grieving and financially adrift. Garth’s offer to buy a stolen painting gave her a new purpose and income. It explains why she now deals in stolen art and is open to another criminal venture involving heroin.
3. What does “Never lie to a liar” reveal about the power dynamic in this phone call?
Elizabeth’s statement indicates she knows Samantha is being dishonest and that she herself is skilled at deception. It establishes Elizabeth as a superior strategist who can see through Samantha’s evasions, making Samantha feel exposed and outmaneuvered.
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