Chapter summaries The Last Devil To Die Richard Osman

Chapter 88 Summary: Connie's Burden of Guilt

⚠️ 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

Connie runs her criminal empire through Caroline, her contract killer, and reflects on recent events. After Ibrahim told her about Kuldesh’s murder, Connie launched a violent takeover of Mitch and Dom’s operation. She ordered the killing of Dom Holt, subcontracted the murder of Maxwell’s third-in-command Lenny Bright, and had Luca Buttaci targeted (though someone else killed him first). Samantha Barnes visited Connie proposing a partnership, but Connie had Caroline kill Samantha; Garth escaped. Connie also signed heroin deals with Sayed in Afghanistan, becoming a major importer. Despite her success, Connie feels an unfamiliar guilt. She admits she has lied to and used Ibrahim, whose kindness and belief in her haunt her. She wants to apologize but doesn't know how.

Key Events

  • Caroline, Connie’s contract killer, receives an encrypted email: someone else has murdered Luca Buttaci, saving Connie the job.
  • Connie reviews her recent orders: Caroline killed Dom Holt, subcontracted Lenny Bright’s murder, and was ordered to kill Luca.
  • Samantha Barnes proposed a partnership; Connie pretended to consider it but immediately had Caroline kill her. Garth survived the attack.
  • Connie has signed lucrative heroin import contracts with Sayed in Afghanistan, expanding her empire.
  • Connie struggles with a new emotion—guilt—stemming from her manipulation of Ibrahim.
  • She replays Ibrahim’s advice to “sit with” painful feelings and acknowledges she has lied to him.
  • Connie considers Garth a loose end who will eventually seek revenge for Samantha’s death.

Character Development

Connie undergoes a rare moment of introspection. Known for her ruthlessness and business instinct, she now confronts guilt. She distinguishes between killing rivals (acceptable to her) and using Ibrahim’s trust (unacceptable). Her attempt to apologize through flowers shows she lacks the emotional vocabulary for remorse. This chapter reveals a crack in her hardened exterior.

Caroline remains an efficient, detached tool of Connie’s will. Her personal feelings are absent; she simply follows instructions from the launderette coded system.

Ibrahim is present only in Connie’s thoughts, but his kindness and gentle soul are shown to have profound influence, even over a drug lord. Connie’s guilt centers on abusing his belief in her.

Garth is now a loose end Connie acknowledges may become an enemy. His survival instinct saved him; his future role remains open.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Guilt and Moral Boundaries: Connie distinguishes between killing “in the business” (acceptable) and betraying Ibrahim (unacceptable). This moral line underscores that even criminals have codes.
  • Trust and Manipulation: Connie used Ibrahim’s trust to gain information about Kuldesh, then turned that into a business opportunity. The betrayal of personal trust outweighs professional violence.
  • Opportunity and Expansion: The chapter highlights how Connie seizes every chance—Doms weakness, Samantha’s offer, Sayed’s contracts—to grow her empire, regardless of human cost.
  • The Concept of “The Business”: Connie repeatedly justifies murders by saying the victims were “in the business.” This separates her world from civilians like Kuldesh, reinforcing a criminal honor system.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it humanizes Connie, the antagonist, in a way that challenges reader sympathy. It also clarifies several plot threads: who killed Samantha Barnes (Connie ordered it), why Dom Holt died, and how Connie’s empire expanded. Connie’s guilt over Ibrahim sets up a future confrontation or reconciliation, and Garth’s survival plants a seed for potential revenge. The chapter deepens the moral complexity of the novel by showing that even a cold-blooded crime boss can feel remorse for personal betrayal.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Connie feel guilty about Ibrahim but not about ordering multiple murders?
    Connie distinguishes between professional killings (rivals in the drug trade who would kill her) and personal betrayal. Ibrahim is innocent and trusted her, and she used that trust to gain information and then attack Mitch and Dom. The emotional violation of a kind friend triggers guilt, whereas business kills are routine to her.

  2. How does Connie’s reaction to Samantha Barnes’ partnership proposal reveal her strategic thinking?
    Connie listens, sees the benefits, shakes hands, and then immediately orders Samantha’s death. This shows she considers partnerships only as temporary tactical moves; she eliminates rivals rather than cooperating, preferring absolute control. Her simultaneous consideration of the proposal and execution of the murder demonstrates her ruthless pragmatism.

  3. What does Connie’s inability to apologize or say “sorry” reveal about her character?
    It shows that while she can acknowledge her wrongdoing internally, she lacks the emotional tools for genuine remorse. She tries to substitute material action (sending flowers) for verbal apology. This suggests her guilt remains incomplete—she may regret but cannot yet perform the vulnerability that true apology requires.

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