# Fred Dunmore — Murder in the Gunroom character guide

> Fred Dunmore in Murder in the Gunroom by H. Beam Piper.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Dunmore

**First appearance:** 0002-i

## Snapshot

A Fleming friend and fellow collector whose synthetic cheerfulness and pointed questions about the investigation keep Rand's guard up.

## Who they are

Dunmore moves through the household with a bluff, backslapping manner, grateful to Rand for recovering the stolen pistols and quick to admit he'd objected when Gladys first brought the detective in. But his curiosity about whether Rand is investigating Lane's death, and his careful fencing when Rand turns the question back on him, suggest a man with something to protect. He's the kind of supporting figure who could be a loyal friend or a nervous accomplice, and Rand watches him closely for exactly that reason.

## Relationships

### [Jeff Rand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/jeff_rand)

_rivalry_

Fred Dunmore, a shady gun dealer, is hostile and evasive with Jeff Rand, as Rand suspects him of involvement in the murder.

### [Arnold Rivers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/arnold_rivers)

_professional_

Arnold Rivers and Fred Dunmore have a tense business relationship, as Rivers distrusts Dunmore's shady gun trade practices.

### [Anton Varcek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/anton_varcek)

_rivalry_

Anton Varcek and Fred Dunmore are bitter rivals in the gun trade, each accusing the other of theft and underhanded dealings.

### [Jeff Rand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/jeff_rand)

_rivalry_

Fred Dunmore, a shady gun dealer, is hostile and evasive with Jeff Rand, as Rand suspects him of involvement in the murder.

### [Jeff Rand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/jeff_rand)

_rivalry_

Fred Dunmore, a shady gun dealer, is hostile and evasive with Jeff Rand, as Rand suspects him of involvement in the murder.

### [Anton Varcek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/anton_varcek)

_rivalry_

Anton Varcek and Fred Dunmore are bitter rivals in the gun trade, each accusing the other of theft and underhanded dealings.

### [Anton Varcek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/anton_varcek)

_rivalry_

Anton Varcek and Fred Dunmore are bitter rivals in the gun trade, each accusing the other of theft and underhanded dealings.

### [Arnold Rivers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/arnold_rivers)

_professional_

Arnold Rivers and Fred Dunmore have a tense business relationship, as Rivers distrusts Dunmore's shady gun trade practices.

### [Arnold Rivers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/arnold_rivers)

_professional_

Arnold Rivers and Fred Dunmore have a tense business relationship, as Rivers distrusts Dunmore's shady gun trade practices.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/i)

Husband of Nelda; insists on handling the sale and obtained a $10,000 offer from Arnold Rivers.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as the person to whom Rivers made his offer for the collection.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned as someone who thought he was handling the collection.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/viii)

Defensive about his earlier $10,000 deal, embarrassed in front of the women, and later makes a private phone call.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/xv)

Anxiously questions Rand about the murder investigation and worries about the family's involvement.

### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/xvi)

Accused by Geraldine of being involved in Rivers's ten-thousand offer; remains silent.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/xvii)

Present at breakfast and later implicated by Varcek as a possible murderer.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/xix)

Confronts Rand about the investigation, speculates about Varcek's guilt, and shows concern about the family's reputation.

### [The Trap Springs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/xx)

Revealed as the murderer; dies in a shootout with Rand and Ritter.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/xxi)

Posthumously revealed to have signed a contract with Gresham to force the merger, and to have murdered Rivers.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/fred_dunmore
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters