Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Secret Life of Jeremy Rosco
⚠️ 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
Detective Jen Rafferty wakes up in Imogen Holt's garden after being knocked down. Imogen, wrapped in a dressing gown, mistakes Jen for a burglar. Jen identifies herself as a police officer and asks to come inside. Imogen explains she just returned from a two-day work trip in Morocco and her car was clamped near the airport, so her neighbour's call woke her. Jen informs Imogen that Jeremy Rosco is dead, murdered in Greystone. Imogen appears shocked and horrified, though Jen questions why no one contacted her given the media coverage. Imogen reveals she and Rosco were in a secret relationship for years, at his insistence to protect his privacy. She describes their dynamic: she provided stability, handled his finances and travel bookings, while he remained free of adult responsibilities. Rosco disappeared weeks earlier for a "mysterious project" without telling her where he was going. Jen asks about letters redirected to Imogen's address; Imogen says she never opened them. When Jen mentions the name Nelly Wren, Imogen recognises it as the name of Rosco's first boat, named after Eleanor Lawson, his first girlfriend—"the love of his life." Jen searches Rosco's office in the flat, finding travel journals, a world map with many pins, and a filing cabinet containing old contracts and a fat envelope of fan mail. She takes Rosco's computer for digital analysis. Imogen denies any recent stalkers, saying Rosco missed the attention of fame. Jen leaves Imogen to grieve.
Key Events
- Imogen Holt confronts Jen in her garden, mistaking her for a burglar.
- Jen breaks the news of Jeremy Rosco's murder to Imogen.
- Imogen reveals she and Rosco were in a long-term secret relationship.
- Rosco left weeks ago for an unexplained "mysterious project."
- Jen learns that Rosco had mail redirected to Imogen's address but never discussed it.
- Imogen identifies Eleanor Lawson (Nelly Wren) as Rosco's first girlfriend and the namesake of his boat.
- Jen searches Rosco's office, seizes his computer and a collection of fan mail.
- Imogen admits Rosco missed being recognized by the public.
Character Development
Jen Rafferty shows persistence and empathy. She asks sharp questions about the secrecy of the relationship and Imogen's lack of news awareness. Her internal reflections reveal a growing awareness of her own feelings about children and neglect, linking Rosco's restless lifestyle to a fear of responsibility.
Imogen Holt evolves from a groggy, theatrical figure to a grieving woman. She admits to loving Rosco despite being used as a combination of mother and PA. Her grief mixes with regret over wasted years, and she reveals her own career success—landing a role in a new play. She is cooperative but guarded about Rosco's secrets.
Jeremy Rosco (through Imogen's testimony) is portrayed as a charismatic but manipulative man who craved privacy yet missed attention. He deliberately kept their relationship hidden and used Imogen for domestic and emotional support while maintaining his freedom. His "itch for a new adventure" may have masked a new lover or a risky project.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Secrecy and Privacy
The chapter centres on the hidden nature of Rosco's relationship with Imogen. The couple kept their romance secret not only from the media but from friends, suggesting Rosco's need for control over his public image.
Celebrity and Fame
Rosco's fame faded, yet he still valued his privacy. Imogen notes that he missed being recognised, highlighting the paradoxical desire for both attention and anonymity.
Manipulation and Unequal Relationships
Imogen describes her role as providing "stability, a home, sex on tap" while Rosco had "no responsibility." The power imbalance is clear; she did all the adult work while he remained a perpetual adventurer.
Unrequited Love and Nostalgia
The reference to Eleanor Lawson as Rosco's "first girlfriend" and "love of his life" suggests he may have been chasing a past ideal, leaving a trail of women who loved him without full reciprocation.
Adventure as Escape
Rosco's world map covered with pins and his constant travel indicate a man who used movement to avoid emotional commitment. Imogen's observation that "no home meant no real responsibility" reinforces this theme.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal because it finally gives a face to Rosco's secret life. Imogen Holt's testimony confirms that Rosco deliberately cultivated a persona of isolation, even from his partner. The revelation that Rosco may have been excited about a "new woman" or a new adventure before his death introduces a plausible motive—perhaps jealousy or a lover's quarrel. The mention of Eleanor Lawson ties back to the earlier clues about the name Nelly Wren and the boat, linking the present crime to Rosco's past. Jen's seizure of the computer and fan mail opens new forensic avenues, while Imogen's grief provides emotional depth. The chapter also strengthens the suspicion that Rosco's death was not random but a targeted act by someone close to him.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why did Jeremy Rosco insist on keeping his relationship with Imogen secret, according to the chapter?
Rosco valued his privacy and did not want his private life "plastered all over the media." He also enjoyed the public perception of him as a lone adventurer. Imogen suggests he was using the secrecy to avoid responsibility and to stay free of the "hassle" of fame.
2. What does Imogen's reaction to Rosco's death reveal about their relationship?
Imogen is genuinely shocked and grief-stricken, but her tears also reflect regret over wasted years. She admits she knew the relationship was one of convenience—Rosco used her for stability and sex while giving nothing real in return. Her tears are for both loss and time lost.
3. How does Jen's search of Rosco's office contribute to the investigation?
Jen finds travel journals, old contracts, and a stash of fan mail that could contain a stalker's threat. She takes Rosco's computer, which will be analysed for digital evidence like emails about the "mysterious project." The world map with many pins shows Rosco's restless nature but offers no direct clue to his killer.