62 pages • 2 hours read
David BaldacciThe 6:20 Man
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 57-67Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 57 Summary
Montgomery proposes to Devine that the two escape the city together, but Devine pragmatically declines, noting the suspicion it would raise. Their conversation reveals more about their backgrounds and aspirations, adding depth to their characters and highlighting the novel’s exploration of personal choices versus societal expectations.
Chapter 58 Summary
This chapter introduces the possibility that Montgomery’s role in Cowl’s life is part of a pattern, suggesting that she may be one in a line of “messenger girls.” The discovery of a previous girlfriend’s demise adds a layer of foreboding and expands the narrative’s examination of the expendability of individuals within the elite’s machinations.
Chapter 59 Summary
The decision for Montgomery to remain in her current situation underscores the theme of vigilantism in the face of danger. Devine’s revelation about Ewes’s artificial insemination, and the subsequent police interest in his potential role as the donor, propels the murder investigation forward while raising ethical questions about privacy and consent.
Chapter 60 Summary
At his home, Devine uncovers a firearm in Speers’s room, which raises red flags about her true nature. Tapshaw notices that he seems preoccupied, and he tells her about Stamos’s death and that he received another email from the same source as the one notifying him of Ewes’s death. Speers comes into Devine’s room seeking sex, but he turns her away, suspicious of her motives.
Chapter 61 Summary
The absence of Montgomery’s signal at the pool suggests a shift in the story’s direction. Devine’s interaction with the detectives continues to be fraught with conflict, reflecting the high stakes of the investigation.
Chapter 62 Summary
Devine seeks more answers at the Ewes’s residence, only to discover that Mr. and Mrs. Ewes have been murdered, a situation that implicates Devine further in Ewes’s death. His actions thereafter—wiping fingerprints and contacting Campbell—reveal Devine’s survival instincts and the urgency of his situation.
Chapter 63 Summary
The detectives shift their approach to Devine, now acknowledging his powerful connections. The discussion about the murders, including the gruesome details of Stamos’s death, highlights the novel’s dark exploration of vengeance and justice.
Chapter 64 Summary
Campbell corroborates the information on the Locust Group and entertains the possibility that the murders may be separate from Cowl and Comely’s illegal activities, adding complexity to the narrative and expanding the scope of the investigation.
Chapter 65 Summary
Tapshaw excitedly tells Devine that Chilton’s Mayflower Investments is investing $50 million in her dating app, Hummingbird. Devine feigns happiness for her, but inwardly he feels apprehensive about the potential repercussions of the money’s origins. Montgomery and Devine’s fruitless search at Cowl’s house and Campbell’s insistence on a meeting emphasize the urgency and danger surrounding the ongoing investigation.
Chapter 66 Summary
Montgomery accompanies Devine to a clandestine meeting with Campbell. Campbell reveals his theory that Cowl is involved in a large-scale money-laundering operation for shadowy foreign entities and that much of the money laundered through this operation is then given to US political leaders in the form of campaign donations, thus incentivizing the government not to investigate any potential criminality. Campbell hints that certain government officials are trying to squash the investigation. He also notes that two people wanted by Interpol were seen entering Christian Chilton’s townhome, owned by the Locust Group.
Chapter 67 Summary
Devine comes to realize Chilton’s connections to the Locust Group and his dealings with questionable individuals. He also pieces together the details of Chilton’s financial maneuverings, and Devine and Montgomery confront Chilton. Their tense interaction reveals Chilton’s unwillingness to cooperate, despite the potential fallout from Cowl’s actions.
Chapters 57-67 Analysis
The ethical implications of Devine’s unauthorized entry into the 51st floor raise questions about the legality of his actions, suggesting that The Search for Truth may come at a price. His civilian status and collaboration with Campbell blur the lines between lawful and extralegal investigative methods, a discussion that recurs as Devine navigates interactions with law enforcement, hinting at the complex relationship between private action and official procedure.
Instances of wordplay, such as an unintended pun by Ekman, inject a macabre humor into the dialogue. When Ekman describes the Eweses as “probably dead asleep” during the attack, the phrase inadvertently takes on a literal significance, revealing the layers of meaning that can be present in everyday language. Subtle clues peppered throughout the story also invite alternative interpretations. A conversation about Ewes’s terminated pregnancy suggests broader motivations behind her decisions, foreshadowing the eventual revelation of the murderer’s identity.
Literary devices like similes and metaphors enrich the novel’s character development and the plot. Devine’s growing sense of dread, likened to the pervasive spread of cancer, vividly conveys his emotional turmoil. In contrast, Chilton’s dismissal of an explanation as “clear as mud” employs metaphor and sarcasm to articulate confusion and misunderstandings, underscoring the obfuscation present in the narrative.
The novel’s depiction of the financial world is intricate, detailing the laundering of vast sums through real estate acquisitions. The complexity of these details suggests the specialized world that Devine inhabits and hints at the wide variety of misdeeds that may be hidden in such a tangled thicket. Additionally, Valentine’s character provides a distinct perspective on security and capitalism, as he chooses to live a simple, inexpensive life despite his high earnings. His comments on the risk of outspokenness in Russia serve as a chilling reminder of the dangers he faces, a foreshadowing that is tragically realized when he is murdered, echoing the perils he had sought to escape.
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