The Truth about the Devlins

Lisa Scottoline

61 pages 2-hour read

Lisa Scottoline

The Truth about the Devlins

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

The youngest Devlin sibling and the self-described black sheep of the family. TJ works as an investigator at Devlin & Devlin, the family law firm. He is a recovering alcoholic who spent time in prison following a severe lapse in judgment. He drives a Maserati and feels like an outsider among his polished relatives, constantly seeking his father's withheld approval.

Key Relationships

Younger Brother of John Devlin

Younger Brother of Gabby Devlin

Ex-Boyfriend of Carrie

Sponsee of Jake

Romantic Interest of Maya

Caretaker of Mango

The eldest Devlin sibling and a highly successful lawyer at Devlin & Devlin. John is widely considered the "Good Son" who can do no wrong in his parents' eyes, and he is being groomed to eventually take over the family firm. Despite his pristine reputation and polished exterior, he harbors serious flaws and relies heavily on his family's protective instincts to shield him from consequences.

Key Relationships

Older Brother of TJ Devlin

Older Brother of Gabby Devlin

Husband of Nancy

Father of Connor

Accuser of Neil Lemaire

The patriarch of the Devlin family and a prominent Philadelphia lawyer who founded Devlin & Devlin. Paul values his social status and business success above almost everything else. He holds rigid views of his children, viewing John as his perfect successor and dismissing TJ as a constant disappointment.

Key Relationships

Husband of Marie Devlin

Father of TJ Devlin

Father of John Devlin

Father of Gabby Devlin

Lawyer for Stan Malinowski

The Devlin matriarch and a skilled family law attorney at the firm. She quietly manages the family dynamics behind the scenes while letting her husband act as the figurehead. She is highly intelligent and relies on the writings of Dante Alighieri for wisdom. She holds a deep, nurturing affection for TJ despite his past mistakes.

Key Relationships

Wife of Paul Devlin

Mother of TJ Devlin

Mother of John Devlin

Mother of Gabby Devlin

The middle Devlin child and a lawyer at the family firm. She frequently takes on pro bono cases, which earns her mild disparagement from her father and older brother. Currently, she is building a lawsuit against entities involved in historical medical experimentation at Holmesburg Prison. She acts as the family conscience and possesses a strict moral compass.

Key Relationships

Older Sister of TJ Devlin

Younger Sister of John Devlin

Daughter of Paul Devlin

Daughter of Marie Devlin

Wife of Martin

Lawyer for Chuck Whitman

Supporting Characters

An accountant working for Runstan, a company going through a major acquisition. John confronts him regarding suspected financial irregularities. He is a private man who lives alone with his diabetic cat, and his sudden disappearance sets the central investigation in motion.

Key Relationships

Accused by John Devlin

Owner of Mango

Boyfriend of Daniel Rocha

Coworker of Lillian

Neil Lemaire's ginger cat. Mango is diabetic and requires regular insulin injections, making the pet highly dependent on a reliable caretaker following Neil's disappearance.

Key Relationships

Pet of Neil Lemaire

Ward of TJ Devlin

TJ's sponsor in his recovery program. He provides a steady, non-judgmental voice of reason, encouraging TJ to engage with life rather than retreating from it when challenges arise.

Key Relationships

Sponsor of TJ Devlin

The owner of Runstan and a long-time client of Devlin & Devlin. His company is in the process of being acquired, making him highly motivated to avoid any negative publicity or financial scandals.

Key Relationships

Client of Paul Devlin

Client of John Devlin

TJ's ex-girlfriend. Their relationship ended abruptly and painfully after TJ made a terrible, alcohol-fueled mistake involving her young daughter. She remains a significant emotional anchor in TJ's mind.

Key Relationships

Ex-Girlfriend of TJ Devlin

Mother of Emily

Carrie's young daughter. Her safety was severely compromised by TJ's past addiction, serving as the primary catalyst for his ongoing sobriety journey.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Carrie

Former Dependent of TJ Devlin

Patrick's niece and a fellow Penn State attendee. She represents a potential fresh start and a rare romantic prospect for TJ as he tries to build a normal, sober life.

Key Relationships

Niece of Patrick

Romantic Interest of TJ Devlin

TJ's friend and professional connection in the seized car business. He tries to help TJ in his personal life by setting him up with his niece.

Key Relationships

Friend of TJ Devlin

Uncle of Maya

John's wife and the mother of their son, Connor. She maintains public appearances for the sake of the Devlin family image but harbors private marital struggles.

Key Relationships

Wife of John Devlin

Mother of Connor

The young son of John and Nancy Devlin, representing the next generation of the family.

Key Relationships

Son of Nancy

Gabby's husband. He provides a steady, supportive presence for Gabby and extends genuine kindness to TJ despite his complicated reputation within the family.

Key Relationships

Husband of Gabby Devlin

The bookkeeper at Runstan who worked closely with Neil Lemaire. She provides TJ with important context about Neil's habits and expresses deep concern for his abandoned cat, facilitating TJ's adoption of the pet.

Key Relationships

Coworker of Neil Lemaire

Acquaintance of TJ Devlin

One of the plaintiffs in Gabby's pro bono lawsuit. He is a survivor of medical experiments conducted at Holmesburg Prison and seeks legal recourse for the resulting harm to his health.

Key Relationships

Client of Gabby Devlin

A plaintiff in Gabby's lawsuit who is suffering from cancer resulting from his time awaiting trial at Holmesburg Prison. He holds a cynical view of the legal system's ability to hold wealthy people accountable.

Key Relationships

Client of Gabby Devlin

Interviewee of TJ Devlin

A mysterious man tracking TJ's movements across the city. His aggressive surveillance raises the stakes of TJ's informal investigation and prompts TJ to dig deeper into corporate secrets.

Key Relationships

Shadow of TJ Devlin

Neil Lemaire's on-and-off boyfriend. He provides TJ with critical information about Neil's state of mind and the maroon Volvo Neil was driving on the night he disappeared.

Key Relationships

Boyfriend of Neil Lemaire