Jeff Rand

Arnold Rivers

Arnold Rivers, a wealthy collector, hires Jeff Rand to investigate Lane Fleming's murder, creating a tense but cooperative detective-client dynamic.

Gladys Fleming

Gladys Fleming, Lane's widow, develops a flirtatious and emotionally charged relationship with Jeff Rand, mixing attraction with suspicion.

Lane Fleming

Jeff Rand is hired to investigate the murder of Lane Fleming, a gun collector, making Lane the central victim of the case.

Humphrey Goode

Humphrey Goode, a fellow gun expert, clashes with Jeff Rand over the investigation and their competing knowledge of firearms.

Stephen Gresham

Stephen Gresham, a lawyer and executor of Lane Fleming's estate, works with Jeff Rand to sort out legal and financial matters related to the murder.

Fred Dunmore

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

Anton Varcek

Anton Varcek, a volatile European émigré and gun enthusiast, is openly antagonistic toward Jeff Rand, whom he sees as an intruder.

Mick McKenna

Mick McKenna, a private investigator colleague, assists Jeff Rand with legwork and local intelligence during the case.

Walters

Walters, Lane Fleming's butler, provides Jeff Rand with household information and serves as a quiet, reliable source.

Pierre Jarrett

Pierre Jarrett, a French gun dealer and rival collector, is suspicious of Jeff Rand and competes for access to Fleming's collection.

Dave Ritter

Dave Ritter, a fellow gun collector and old friend, supports Jeff Rand's investigation and shares insider knowledge of the gun community.

Nelda Dunmore

Nelda Dunmore, Fred's wife, is a nervous acquaintance who provides Jeff Rand with reluctant but useful information about her husband's dealings.

Murder in the Gunroom

The detective protagonist, hired by Gladys Fleming to investigate Lane Fleming's death.

I

Private detective and arms expert; hired by Gladys Fleming to appraise and sell the collection.

II

Explains his reasoning for believing Lane Fleming was murdered and consults with Carter Tipton about the Fleming family and business.

III

Introduces himself as a firearms expert and private detective; reveals he is a member of the Mississippi Bar and former FBI agent.

IV

Visits Stephen Gresham to discuss the Fleming collection and learns about Rivers' fraudulent activities and suspicions about Fleming's death.

V

Visits Rivers's shop under the guise of an arms expert, buys a Leech & Rigdon revolver, and refuses to return it.

VI

Arrives at the Fleming house, parks his car, and is shown to the gunroom. He reveals Rivers's higher offer and inspects the collection.

VII

Interviews Carl Gwinnett, begins cataloging the collection, and discovers evidence of theft.

VIII

Reveals Rivers' higher offer, discusses the collection's value, and asks about the inventory ledger.

Chapter IX

Investigates the missing firearms from Fleming's collection and discusses the merger with Cabot.

Chapter X

Discusses his theories about the theft and murder with McKenna, reveals Rivers's fraudulent dealings, and agrees to cooperate on the case.

XI

Retrieves the Colt revolver from Kirchner, fires it, and later visits Karen Lawrence's shop.

XII

Retained by Stephen Gresham to investigate Rivers's murder; discusses case details and plans to inspect Fleming collection.

XIII

Investigates the murder of Arnold Rivers and the theft of pistols from the Fleming collection; uses General Semantics in his work.

XIV

Lays out his theory about Walters stealing pistols and selling them to Rivers; assigns tasks to Ritter; visits Pierre Jarrett and discusses time theories.

XV

Continues cataloging the collection, receives news of Jarrett's arrest, and tests Walters's familiarity with the arms.

Chapter XVI

Confronts Goode, visits Karen's shop, arranges lawyer for Pierre, and times a route from the gunroom to Goode's house.

XVII

Discovers his revolver has been swapped and investigates the substitution. He also handles Walters' confession and arranges a temporary butler.

XVIII

Plans to act as bait to lure the murderer into attempting his life; leads the raid on Gwinnett's house and retains the recovered pistols.

XIX

Reveals his belief that Fleming was murdered, warns Gladys to leave the house, and discusses the case with Dunmore.

The Trap Springs

Survives an assassination attempt thanks to a bulletproof vest; kills Fred Dunmore in self-defense.

XXI

Reveals his financial gains from the case and explains the behind-the-scenes machinations to Gladys.