Chapter 2 Summary – 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
The chapter opens on Boxing Day with drug trafficker Mitch Maxwell personally overseeing the unloading of a drug consignment at his warehouse on an industrial estate in East Sussex. Usually he avoids being present when drugs arrive, but this shipment is special: a single terracotta box containing £100,000 worth of heroin, concealed among plant pots to appear as tatty garden ornaments. The box has travelled from Afghanistan through Moldova, overseen by his associate Lenny, then driven across Europe by a man named Garry. Mitch’s second-in-command, Dom Holt, reports that the box is now in the safe. Mitch reflects on the other businesses in the compound: a stolen‑car front, a Portakabin making MDMA and passports, and a legitimate English sparkling wine company that gave everyone a crate for Christmas. He briefly considered investing in the wine business but decided to stick with heroin, though recent troubles make him reconsider.
Mitch is also dealing with a family crisis. He fractured his father-in-law’s jaw in a fistfight about where they saw an actor on the Call the Midwife Christmas special. His wife Kellie texts him that her father is out of hospital and threatens to kill him. Mitch offers to buy him a Range Rover to placate him. The plan is for the box to be delivered the next morning to an antiques shop in Brighton run by Kuldesh Sharma, where a buyer will collect it. Mitch leaves the warehouse, unaware that a motorcycle courier is parked in a lay‑by watching him. The motorcyclist remains in place as Mitch drives home.
Key Events
- Mitch Maxwell supervises the unloading of a heroin shipment hidden in a terracotta box among plant pots.
- He reflects on his family conflict: a fistfight with his father-in-law on Boxing Day led to a fractured jaw.
- Kellie texts Mitch that her father intends to kill him; Mitch responds by offering a Range Rover.
- Dom Holt confirms the box is secured and arranges delivery to an antiques shop in Brighton.
- Mitch decides to stick to the heroin trade rather than invest in legitimate businesses like English sparkling wine.
- He leaves the warehouse, observed by a mysterious motorcyclist.
Character Development
Mitch Maxwell is portrayed as a nervous, pragmatic criminal. He bites his nails and scratches his ‘God Loves a Trier’ tattoo, revealing anxiety beneath a tough exterior. His personal life intrudes into his professional one: he fought with his father-in-law and now must manage both the heroin shipment and the threat from a powerful in‑law. Mitch tries to keep his marriage intact by offering a conciliatory gift. His decision to stay away from the drug itself shows a desire to maintain some distance from the illegal product.
Dom Holt is a trusted lieutenant who handles logistics. He and Mitch were expelled from school together, and Dom moved to the South Coast after a mistake. His son’s success at the Royal Ballet suggests Dom values family and normalcy, despite his criminal role.
Kellie (off‑page) is protective of her father and holds Mitch responsible for the fight. The text exchange reveals the dangerous dynamics between the families.
Mitch’s father-in-law is an off‑page menace, head of a Manchester gang. His threat to kill is not taken lightly; Mitch knows he must appease him with a Range Rover.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Crime as ordinary business – Mitch’s operation is mundane: unloading plant pots, worrying about cracked pots, selling to garden centres. The heroin is just another product. The warehouse shares space with a wine business and a stolen‑car front, normalising illegality.
Family versus criminal life – Mitch’s family conflicts directly affect his work. The fistfight over Call the Midwife and the threat from his father-in-law blur the line between domestic squabbles and gang violence.
Surveillance – The motorcycle courier watching Mitch as he leaves introduces a motif of unseen observation. This foreshadows danger and suggests Mitch’s operation is being tracked.
The terracotta box – An ordinary object that conceals valuable contraband, symbolising deception and the hidden dangers beneath a mundane surface.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter establishes a new plot thread separate from the Thursday Murder Club’s main storyline. It introduces Mitch Maxwell as a key player in a drug‑smuggling operation that will likely intersect with the club’s investigation. The shipment’s destination – a Brighton antiques shop – may connect to characters or events later in the novel. The chapter also sets up immediate stakes: Mitch must satisfy both his criminal contacts and his dangerous father-in-law. The final image of the motorcyclist hints that this seemingly smooth operation is under threat.
Study Questions and Answers
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What is Mitch’s main concern regarding the heroin shipment?
Mitch is most worried about customs. Once the box clears customs and is in his warehouse, he believes the hardest part is over. However, he remains cautious because recent seizures have made his organisation vulnerable. He keeps the operation small, using only trusted people. -
How does Mitch’s personal life conflict with his criminal activities?
Mitch’s Boxing Day fistfight with his father-in-law – a rival gang leader – creates a domestic crisis that distracts him. He must juggle the threat of being killed by his in‑law while overseeing the drug shipment. His wife’s text forces him to manage his family relationships even as he conducts illegal business. -
What does the final paragraph suggest about future events?
The motorcycle courier parked in the lay‑by is watching Mitch. Mitch does not notice him, meaning his operation is already compromised or under surveillance. This foreshadows that the shipment will be intercepted or that Mitch is being set up, raising suspense for the next chapter.