Chapter summaries The Truth about the Devlins Lisa Scottoline

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Job Search, AA Confrontation, and a Near Relapse

⚠️ 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

After a discouraging day that included a lawyer meeting and Maya’s rejection, TJ returns home and eats a sandwich while searching for jobs online. He discovers that nearly every paralegal, executive assistant, or secretary position requires either a college degree or a typing speed of ninety words per minute. Looking into private investigation, he learns he needs a PI license, three years of related experience, and would be disqualified by his criminal record. He considers returning to school but cannot afford the tuition. Feeling hopeless and reminded of Rigel’s death and the bug in his house, TJ attends an AA meeting. He shares his despair with the group. Suddenly a beefy man with muttonchops enters, and TJ confronts him, suspecting he is linked to the late Rigel. TJ reveals that Rigel infiltrated the group. The group leader, Jake, orders TJ to leave for being disruptive. After leaving, TJ drives to his old bar and fights the urge to drink. A memory of his daughter Emily in the car seat stops him, and he decides to go home instead.

Key Events

  • TJ searches online for jobs and finds that every position requires a college degree or specific skills he lacks.
  • He calculates that selling the Rolex and Maserati will cover expenses only temporarily.
  • He reflects on Rigel’s death, the bug under the couch, and the tracker in the garage.
  • TJ attends an AA meeting and shares his hopelessness, feeling close to picking up a drink.
  • A stranger (Muttonchops) enters the meeting; TJ confronts him, believing he is connected to Rigel.
  • TJ reveals to the group that Rigel had infiltrated the meeting.
  • Jake ejects TJ from the meeting for being disruptive.
  • TJ drives to his old bar but stops himself from relapsing after remembering his daughter Emily.
  • He returns home without drinking.

Character Development

  • TJ Devlin: His vulnerability deepens as he faces practical barriers to employment and the psychological pressure of being watched. The confrontation at the AA meeting shows his growing paranoia, which may be justified. His near relapse and subsequent choice to stay sober highlight his ongoing struggle and his bond with his daughter as a source of strength.
  • Jake: The group leader prioritizes group harmony over TJ’s concerns, refusing to listen to TJ’s explanation about Rigel. His reaction underscores the tension between personal safety and AA’s open-door policy.
  • Muttonchops (the newcomer): His sudden appearance and evasive behavior make him a suspicious figure. Whether he is actually working with Rigel remains ambiguous, adding to the theme of uncertainty.
  • Brian: Revealed as an unwitting dupe—he met Rigel at the Y and brought him to the meeting without knowing his true identity.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Barriers to reintegration: TJ’s job search illustrates how a criminal record and lack of education can trap a person, even when they are trying to change.
  • The temptation to relapse: The neon sign of the bar represents the pull of addiction, while Emily’s car seat symbolizes the responsibility that keeps TJ sober.
  • Paranoia vs. reality: TJ’s suspicion of Muttonchops could be justified given Rigel’s infiltration, but the narrative leaves it unclear, forcing the reader to question how much of TJ’s fear is rational.
  • AA as a sanctuary and a conflict zone: The meeting room is a safe space for recovery, yet it becomes a place of confrontation and expulsion when TJ brings the outside threat inside.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens TJ’s isolation and financial desperation, setting the stage for a possible radical decision. It also advances the mystery by showing that the conspiracy may extend to TJ’s recovery network. The near-relapse scene demonstrates how his daughter remains his anchor, reinforcing a key emotional thread. The confrontation with Muttonchops and TJ’s expulsion from the meeting may push him to act alone, increasing the stakes for the remainder of the story.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. What factors prevent TJ from finding a legitimate job?
    TJ lacks a college degree, which is required for most paralegal and assistant positions. He also does not meet the typing speed for secretary roles. His criminal conviction blocks him from getting a private investigator license, and he cannot afford tuition to return to school.

  2. Why does TJ confront the newcomer at the AA meeting, and how does the group react?
    TJ believes Muttonchops is connected to Barry Rigel, who had infiltrated the group earlier. He demands to know the man’s name and purpose. The group leader, Jake, sees TJ’s behavior as disruptive and orders him to leave, dismissing his concerns.

  3. What stops TJ from relapsing at the end of the chapter?
    TJ remembers that his daughter Emily was in the car seat during a previous drunk-driving incident. The image of her trusting him prevents him from entering the bar. He starts the ignition and drives home instead of giving in to the urge to drink.

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