Chapter summaries The Truth about the Devlins Lisa Scottoline

Chapter Thirty-Nine Summary: Wake, Confrontation, and New Evidence

⚠️ 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

TJ arrives early at Jacobson’s Funeral Home for Neil’s wake, hiding in his car to avoid his family while waiting for Mike Dedham. He intercepts Mike in the parking lot and shows him the photo of Fake Elliott Thompson. Mike says the man looks familiar but wants to check old photos at home. John and Stan spot TJ; Stan shoves and attacks him, witnessed by Asit Shah—Vuarnex’s in‑house counsel—endangering the acquisition deal. Later, at Mike’s house, they discuss the Shah’s concerns and possible financial improprieties at Runstan. Mike shows a faded photograph of a young Stan, himself, and a man named Ryan Martell—a union steward linked to embezzlement—who resembles the fake Thompson. TJ searches online for Martell but stops when he finds two detectives from the Chester County DA’s office waiting outside his home.

Key Events

  • TJ parks behind the funeral home, wearing a ball cap and sunglasses to avoid detection.
  • He watches arrivals: Lillian, Stan, his own father and brother in separate Range Rovers.
  • TJ intercepts Mike Dedham as he arrives; shows him the phone photo of Fake Elliott Thompson.
  • Mike says the man looks familiar and agrees to look through his old photographs after the wake.
  • John and Stan appear; Stan shoves John aside, grabs TJ, and throws him against Mike’s car—a violent outburst witnessed by Asit Shah, Vuarnex’s counsel.
  • TJ drives to Mike’s home in Broomall; they discuss the fight’s impact on the acquisition.
  • Mike explains the Shah’s role and why the outburst could cause Vuarnex to question Runstan’s stability and culture.
  • Mike describes his HR career and his view that Stan learned embezzlement tactics from John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty of Local 98.
  • Mike retrieves a vintage photo showing a young Stan, Mike, and a blurry third man named Ryan Martell.
  • TJ compares the photo to his phone and believes Martell matches the fake driver’s license image.
  • TJ drives home, searching for Ryan Martell online; he sees a black SUV and two men (detectives) talking to his neighbor Susanne.
  • The detectives introduce themselves as Detective Sergeant Bill Willoughby and Detective Jim Balleu from the Chester County DA’s office.

Character Development

  • TJ Devlin: Takes a calculated risk by approaching Mike at the wake. Shows determination to identify the imposter but remains vulnerable to family aggression. His parole limits his options when he finds detectives at his house.
  • Mike Dedham: Functions as a cautious but cooperative ally. He understands the political stakes but is willing to help because he is retiring and unafraid of Stan. His HR perspective adds layers to the company’s dysfunction.
  • Stan Devlin: Loses control in public, physically attacking TJ in front of a key deal influencer. His behavior signals instability and a lack of regard for corporate appearances.
  • John Devlin: Attempts to mediate and protect TJ, yet his primary concern appears to be the acquisition’s success rather than his brother’s safety.
  • Asit Shah: Though present only briefly, his role as the Vuarnex representative forces the family to confront how their internal conflicts might kill the deal.
  • Detectives Willoughby and Balleu: Introduce official legal scrutiny—a new threat distinct from the criminal underworld TJ has been navigating.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Appearance vs. Reality: The funeral home’s modern, professional exterior contrasts with the violent family conflict inside. The “wake” metaphorically applies to the Devlin family’s dying unity as well as Neil’s death.
  • The Weight of the Past: Old photographs and the name Ryan Martell link current fraud to Stan’s early business associates. The past literally surfaces through a blurred image and a faded back‑side inscription.
  • Corporate Greed and Instability: Mike’s description of the acquisition as “fish swallowed by the sea” underscores the power imbalance. Stan’s temper endangers a deal that would make him rich, exposing his recklessness.
  • Surveillance and Paranoia: TJ constantly checks for tails; the chapter ends with state authority replacing underworld surveillance.
  • Family Dysfunction as Liability: The public fight at a grieving widow’s wake illustrates how the Devlins’ private battles have external consequences.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter Thirty-Nine moves the investigation forward by providing a concrete suspect—Ryan Martell—with ties to both Stan’s past and a history of union embezzlement. The confrontation with Stan forces the acquisition into jeopardy and highlights the high financial stakes. The arrival of the DA’s detectives escalates the legal peril for TJ and suggests that the fake Elliott Thompson may not be the only threat. The chapter also deepens Mike Dedham’s role as an insider willing to share information, and it foreshadows upcoming scrutiny of Runstan’s books and business practices.

Study Questions

  1. Why does Mike Dedham agree to help TJ despite the obvious risks?
    Mike is retiring soon and has already given notice; his pension is secure. He also feels no loyalty to Stan, whom he describes as a necessary evil. Helping TJ costs him little and may satisfy his curiosity about the company’s secrets.

  2. What does the fight in the parking lot reveal about the Devlin family dynamics and the acquisition’s future?
    The fight shows that Stan cannot control his temper and that John is caught between protecting TJ and appeasing Stan. Asit Shah, the Vuarnex attorney, witnesses the violence, which may cause him to question Runstan’s stability and culture—potentially derailing the deal.

  3. How does the photograph of Ryan Martell connect to the broader mystery of the fake Elliott Thompson?
    The photo places Martell as a young associate of Stan and Mike. Martell’s later involvement with a union official indicted for embezzlement suggests a pattern of financial misconduct. TJ sees enough resemblance between Martell and the fake driver’s license to make him a prime suspect in the Thompson impersonation.

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