Jerome returns in "The Penultimate Peril". Feeling guilty at his desertion of the Baudelaires, he has been researching their case and writing a book about injustice entitled "Odious Lusting After Finance" (a backronym of "Olaf"). He arrives with Justice Strauss to meet up with the Baudelaires and Dewey Denouement which led to them being confronted by Count Olaf. Jerome also meets his wife Esmé at the Hotel Denouement during the confrontation. When she dumps Count Olaf publicly, Jerome urges Esmé to rejoin his side. Esmé refuses his offer. When Dewey Denouement is accidentally killed during this confrontation which woke up all the patrons, Jerome states that the Baudelaires aren't murderers. He gives his book to Justice Strauss to be used as evidence against Count Olaf at Count Olaf and the Baudelaires's trial which was met with a mix of cheers and hisses. His book was later used for kindling when Count Olaf started the fire at the Hotel Denouement. As the fire starts, Jerome is last seen on the first floor with the Man with a Beard But No Hair's hand on him. When Jerome asks how arson is a good thing when he hears the Man with a Beard But No Hair praise Count Olaf, the Man with a Beard But No Hair changes his comment by helping the Woman with Hair But No Beard direct Frank and Ernest to the elevator.