Ron Ritchie: The Gruff Heart of the Thursday Murder Club in The Last Devil To Die

Overview

Ron Ritchie is a former trade-union activist who now lives at Coopers Chase retirement village. In The Last Devil To Die (2023), the fourth Thursday Murder Club novel by Richard Osman, Ron provides comic relief through his blunt opinions and running feud with technology, yet his sharp instincts and unwavering loyalty make him an indispensable member of the team. He is the club’s “colour” – the gruff, streetwise ex-boxer’s father who can talk his way through a confrontation as easily as he can charm a suspect.

Plot Role in the Kuldesh Sharma Investigation

When the Thursday Murder Club learns that antiques dealer Kuldesh Sharma has been murdered, Ron joins Elizabeth, Joyce, and Ibrahim in the unofficial investigation. He is the member who “adds colour” during the stakeout of Dominic Holt’s warehouse (Chapter 13), where his Lidl binoculars and deadpan humour defuse tension. Ron also becomes a direct target when drug trafficker Mitch Maxwell breaks into his flat (Chapter 24), interrogating Ron about the missing heroin. Ron coolly calls Elizabeth to summon the “Tuesday Murder Club” – a moment that cements his role as the group’s grounding force under pressure.

Beyond the main murder plot, Ron works on the romance-scam sting for neighbour Mervyn Collins. He helps Ibrahim and Bob Whittaker lay a trap for the fake “Tatiana,” reading her letters with a theatrical accent (Chapter 22). This side investigation shows Ron’s compassion for a lonely man and his willingness to play a part, even if he rails against computers.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Loyalty above all – Ron’s driving motivation is protecting his friends. When Mitch Maxwell threatens him at home, Ron’s first move is to summon Elizabeth rather than retaliate. He later comforts Stephen’s widow Elizabeth after Stephen’s death (Chapter 64, implied in the “grey chainmail” passage), sitting silent beside her.

Blunt honesty masked as gruffness – He tells Mervyn’s prospective scammer exactly what he thinks, and he refuses to soften his language even for diplomacy. At the tense lunch with suspects (Chapter 51), Ron provides dark humour about donkey rides – a deliberate deflection that keeps the conversation moving.

Sharp mind hidden by bluster – Despite his claim to hate computers, Ron accurately reads people. He instantly distrusts Dom Holt during the stakeout and later suspects that Mitch Maxwell killed Dominic Holt (Chapter 41). His instincts are validated when the group discovers Holt’s corpse.

Stubborn pride – His Christmas row with Pauline over present-opening time (after breakfast vs. after lunch, Chapter 13) is a running joke, but it reveals Ron’s difficulty compromising. He misses her terribly yet refuses to apologise until after Stephen’s funeral (Chapter 64). The text shows that this pride is both a flaw and a source of his integrity.

Character Arc in The Last Devil To Die

Ron begins the novel in a state of minor personal crisis: his relationship with Pauline is on hold after the present-time dispute, and he feels sidelined in the investigation (he complains about having “nothing to do” during the stakeout). Over the course of the story, he:

• Reasserts his value by being the first to withstand Mitch Maxwell’s intimidation.
• Deepens his friendship with Bob Whittaker, bonding over snooker and the Tatiana trap.
• Reconcilies with Pauline after Stephen’s funeral, admitting his ridiculousness and accepting her love (Chapter 64).
• Grows in empathy: he initially dismisses Ibrahim’s therapy work, but by the end he sits with Elizabeth in silence, understanding that grief cannot be solved.

His arc mirrors the novel’s theme that friendship and loyalty endure even when pride gets in the way.

Relationships in Coopers Chase

With Pauline – The relationship is both a comic subplot and a source of emotional depth. Ron is genuinely smitten (“She’s a smashing bird, really she is, and Ron knows he’s punching above his weight”), but his stubbornness causes friction. Pauline’s patient affection (“We’re both ridiculous people, Ronnie”) and her willingness to show up at his door in black for Stephen’s funeral underscore Ron’s capacity for love.

With Elizabeth – He respects her quietly but never fawns. When she withdraws after Stephen’s death, Ron gives her space and trusts her judgment. The evening after the funeral, he texts Pauline and accepts that grief must run its course.

With Joyce and Ibrahim – Ron treats Joyce with fond tolerance, often rolling his eyes at her chatter but defending her fiercely. He needles Ibrahim about his “finite luck” theory but values Ibrahim’s logical mind. The three of them form a balanced unit: Ron provides muscle and bravado, Joyce the warmth, Ibrahim the analysis.

With his son Jason – Ron beams with paternal pride when Jason gives advice about the heroin trade (Chapter 45). He sees in his son a “grafter” who has turned his boxing fame into a legitimate career, and he is keen to remind Chris and Donna that Jason is a “good lad.”

With Bob Whittaker – Ron initially dominates the conversation about computers (Chapter 22), but later invites Bob to watch snooker, treating him as a mate. This opens Bob’s shy personality and integrates him into the club.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Connections to Themes and Symbols

Friendship and Loyalty – Ron’s entire arc is a testament to the novel’s theme of friendship. He is the friend who will enter a trap, endure a beating, and then make jokes about it – because that is what loyalty demands.

Grief and Loss – The chapter where Coopers Chase wears “death like chainmail” (Chapter 62) explicitly includes Ron texting Pauline and receiving no reply. His empty feeling foreshadows Stephen’s loss and highlights that Ron, too, is vulnerable to grief – though he expresses it through action rather than tears.

Deception and Fraud – Ron’s involvement in the Tatiana sting aligns with the novel’s theme of deception. He plays the part of a gullible marksman, but his sharp eyes detect the scam. Similarly, he distrusts Dom Holt from the start, reading his lies correctly.

Mortality and Aging – Ron’s jokes about his age (“Aye, aye”) mask a genuine awareness of his own mortality. He knows his boxing days are over, but he still wants to be useful. His reunion with Pauline affirms that life continues even as friends fade.

Justice vs. Law – Ron has no patience for police procedure. He would rather give a fraudster “a good hiding” than trust the courts (Chapter 22). His mindset embodies the club’s willingness to operate outside the law, as long as justice is served.

Five Book‑Specific Questions and Answers