Chapter summaries The Last Devil To Die Richard Osman

Chapter 25 (Chapter 24) Summary: Ron’s Ambush and the Heroin Consignment

⚠️ 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

When Ron opens his front door, a man wrestles him to the floor, hand over his mouth. The intruder, Mitch Maxwell, claims he works for no one and that Dom Holt answers to him. Mitch explains that a box of heroin was delivered to Kuldesh Sharma on 27 December, and both the box and Kuldesh vanished. Kuldesh has since been found dead, but the heroin is still missing. Mitch suspects Ron has it or knows where it is. Ron denies ever meeting Kuldesh but admits he accused Dom of the murder. To buy time and show good faith, Ron offers to call his friends—Elizabeth, Joyce, and Ibrahim—to help sort things out. He rings Elizabeth first, then Ibrahim, ensuring he follows Elizabeth’s unspoken chain of command. Mitch agrees to wait, and even offers Ron whisky and heroin later. The chapter ends with the group about to assemble.

Key Events

  1. Mitch Maxwell ambushes Ron – As soon as Ron opens his door, Mitch tackles him, covers his mouth, and threatens him to stay quiet.
  2. Identity and purpose revealed – Mitch introduces himself and explains he is after the missing heroin that was delivered to Kuldesh Sharma, now dead.
  3. Ron denies involvement – Ron says he never met Kuldesh and implies the drug trade is to blame for Kuldesh’s murder.
  4. Ron calls Elizabeth first – He follows the group’s implicit hierarchy, phoning Elizabeth before anyone else.
  5. Ron calls Ibrahim – He then rings Ibrahim, making sure to call him on a first-name basis and joking about Meghan Markle.
  6. Mitch offers whisky and later heroin – While they wait, Mitch gets Ron a drink and casually offers to supply heroin in the future.
  7. The Tuesday Murder Club is summoned – Ron’s calls bring the rest of the group to his flat to meet Mitch.

Character Development

  • Ron Ritchie – Shows cunning and composure. From the moment he’s tackled, he maintains a defiant, cheeky attitude (reminding Mitch of 1980s police violence). He refuses to show pain from his hip and uses humour (“You proud of yourself?”) to unsettle his captor. He also demonstrates loyalty and trust in his friends by immediately calling them to help solve the crisis.
  • Mitch Maxwell – Introduced as a stylish, powerful gangster—older, richer, and more dangerous than Dom Holt. He is polite but menacing, revealing he knows Ron’s son is a boxer and that Elizabeth is involved. His mention of Connie Johnson shows he has done his homework.
  • Elizabeth – Even though she doesn’t appear physically, Ron’s decision to call her first reinforces her role as the de facto leader of the group.
  • Kuldesh Sharma – Though dead, his death is crystallised as a murder ‘through the skull’, and the mystery of the missing heroin now takes centre stage.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Trust amid danger – Ron and Mitch agree to a temporary truce: “Can I trust them?” “No.” “Can we trust you?” “No.” This blunt honesty becomes a fragile bond.
  • Power and hierarchy – Mitch insists he doesn’t work for anyone, yet Ron retorts that everyone answers to someone. The chain from Dom Holt to Mitch to higher criminal networks is hinted at.
  • Age and resilience – Ron’s hip pain underscores his age, but he refuses to show weakness. His banter (“I’m nearly eighty, mate”) is both challenge and cover.
  • The missing heroin as a McGuffin – The lost consignment drives the plot; its recovery (or not) will determine the fate of several characters.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 25 accelerates the central mystery: the heroin’s disappearance is now tied directly to Kuldesh’s death and Ron’s circle. Mitch introduces a new criminal layer above Dom Holt, raising the stakes for the Tuesday Murder Club. It also deepens Ron’s character, showing his quick thinking under pressure and his unwavering reliance on his friends. The chapter sets up a tense standoff that will likely involve all four members in the next scenes.

Study Questions & Answers

  1. Why does Ron call Elizabeth before Ibrahim?
    Ron knows Elizabeth expects to be the first person contacted for serious trouble. If he rang Ibrahim first, she would be angry and there would be “hell to pay.” This shows the group’s clear pecking order and Ron’s respect for it.

  2. What evidence does Mitch give that his heroin was delivered to Kuldesh?
    Mitch states that on 27 December a small box “absolutely stuffed with heroin” was delivered to Kuldesh. The next day both the box and Kuldesh had disappeared; Kuldesh later turned up dead with a bullet wound, and the heroin is still missing.

  3. How does Ron manage to maintain control of the conversation despite being ambushed?
    Ron uses humour, defiance, and a strategic offer to call his friends. He refuses to show fear or pain, accuses Mitch of being a psychopath, and acts as if he is doing Mitch a favour by arranging a meeting. This turns a violent intrusion into a negotiation on Ron’s terms.

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